Sunset Of Hope [ UNDER REVISION ]

CHAPTER 3

**KIM**

I’m here now, walking to the library. This is my second day tutoring Hernandez. While I walk, I overhear rumors about me and Ace. It all started when I began tutoring him.

“Girlfriend ba siya ni Ace?”

“Yuck, di ba siya yung sa canteen?”

“Ha ha, disgusting.”

Those are just a few of the rumors. It’s all wrong. Pagkapasok ko, agad kong nakita si Hernandez na naka-upo, halatang pagod na pagod. Kaya, mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya.

“Sorry, late ako,” I sincerely said, but he just looked at me with his bored expression.

“Where did you come from and how long have you been?” Nose bleed na man tong si Ace, napangiwi ako ng tingnan ako nito ng masama.

“May kinuha pa kasi ako sa room ni Dean,” I said softly. He just nodded in response.

“Let's start?” I asked, half-questioning.

While explaining, I noticed something. I looked at him.

“Nakikinig ka ba, Hernandez?” I asked because he was staring at me the whole time, and it made me uncomfortable.

“Yes.” Then he nodded. I just nodded back and looked away.

“Ahm... answer this?” I said, pointing to the problem he needed to solve.

“Sabihin mo lang kung nahihirapan ka.” I added. As usual, he just nodded.

Habang nag-aanswer siya, nag-ring ang phone ko. Tiningnan ko kung sino iyon at nang makita ko kung sino, agad ko itong sinagot.

“Hello, Clark.” sabi ko while having a small smile in my lips.

“Hey, may sasabihin ako, Kim.” sagot niya sa kabilang linya.

“Ano 'yon?” I asked.

“Pwede ba tayong magkita?” tanong niya na parang umiiyak.

“S...sige,” nag-aalangang sagot ko, saka binalingan si Hernandez sa mesa. Kita kong nakatingin lang siya sa ginagawa niya.

“Ahm... bilisan natin?" sabi ko sa kanya, at pinabilis ang pagtuturo. Nagpasalamat ako kasi wala akong narinig na tanong mula sa kanya.

After that, nagpaalam ako at lumabas na para puntahan ang café na pinagtatrabahuan ko para makausap si Clark.

Habang nag-uusap kami, sobrang tamlay niya. Sinabi niya na ang babae na gusto niya ay gusto ang ibang tao. But I told him that there are many women, but he just said, “What can many women do? My heart is still with her. Even though hundreds of women have flirted with me, she is still here.”

Ako yung naawa sa kanya, pero pagkatapus ng pag-uusap namin, napapansin ko na nagiging okay na siya at pansin ko ring umiba na ang taste niya sa kape.

**ACE**

I stared at her back as she walked away. I wondered why she suddenly hurried away. Tsk, I don't care.

I was curious about her yesterday because I heard a rumor, so I went to the Dean’s office and searched for her file, but the Dean was not there. Now I know that she is a scholar here at my parents' school, kaya pala siya kinuhang tutor ko. Tsk.

“Hey bro, lalim ah.” laughed Ryle, inirapan ko lang ito.

“Oo nga, di ko masisid.” sagot din ng isa.

“It’s nothing.” I said while drawing in my notebook.

“Matanong ko lang.” nakakalokong sabi ni Cris. I just raised my eyebrow.

“Sino yung babae?” tanong nito. Hindi na ako magugulat, I'm sure he's talking about that Kim girl.

“How did you know?” sabi ko. he just smile teasingly.

“Madaming bubuyog dyan sa tabi-tabi, oh,” tumatawang ani nito. Tsk.

“Wala 'yon, tara na nga.” inis na sabi ko saka naunang naglakad palabas ng library.

“Hintayin mo kami!” pasigaw na ani nito. Agad naman siyang pinagalitan ng librarian, which is he deserves.

While walking to the cafeteria, Natasha's face came back to my mind. Bakit ko ba siya naiisip?

We usually go to the canteen para tumambay. Actually, dun naman talaga kami tumatambay every break. “Bro, for real, if maayusan lang si Santos, maganda siya.” I didn't know how to react to what Cris said, but it made me irritated.

“Tsk, shut up.” I said.

“Pero totoo, maybe she’s a nerd and naive, but she’s pretty inside.” kibit-balikat na saad ni Ryle.

Napaisip naman ako dun. Yeah, she’s pretty, but she’s so lampa and shy she can't even protect herself from bullies.

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako sa sinasabi nilang dalawa, nagpalumbaba ako sa mesa ng canteen at ipinikit ang mga mata.

**KIM**

Now I'm back at school, walking to the library again. While I teach Ace, I noticed that he was improving, so I secretly smiled.

I’ve been teaching him for a few weeks now, and everybody has already noticed that we’re getting close. Before, I didn’t want him to be my friend, but now the opposite has happened.

“Hoy, ayos ka lang?” I looked at him, shocked by what he did. I heard him giggle, and I don’t know why, but my heart throbbed a little.

“Oy, ano ba, may itatanong ako eh.” I blinked a few times and then returned to normal. I just smiled at him.

“Y-yes, ano iyon?” I asked. Natawa ito saka mas lumapit pa sa akin.

“Paano to gagawin, ma’am?” tanong nito, saka tinuro yung mga letra na hindi niya alam kung paano gawin. Habang tinuturo ko sa kanya, napapansin kong nakatingin siya sa akin. Tiningnan ko siya.

When our eyes locked, my heart reacted immediately. What is wrong with this heart of mine? It always beats fast when he stares into my eyes or when he is nearby.

“H-hey.” ako kaagad ang unang nakabawi kasi naiilang ako sa lapit ng mukha namin. Napakurap-kurap ito ng ilang beses saka umiwas ng tingin.

“A-ahm... Salamat sa p-pagturo,” nautal na sabi nito saka lumipat na ng kabilang upuan.

Pasekreto akong napahawak sa dibdib ko kung nasaan ang puso ko at pinapakalma ito. shit...