Willing to You

CHAPTER FIVE

[UMIKA]

Grade 10 – Last year of Junior High School

"Umika, nakapagpasa ka na ba ng essay mo kay Ms. Racquel?" tanong ng kararating lang na si Laster sa aking gilid. But I did not make an effort to even spare him a glance.

"Huy, ano?" Patuloy na pangungulit nito ngunit sumenyas lamang ako na huwag siyang maingay.

My eyes still fix on him, on Lael Shawn, walking to his seat inside the classroom while I'm here outside peeking through the window.

"Ano ba kasing tinitingnan mo riyan?" tanong muli nito at bahagyang sumilip din sa aking tinitingnan.

I heard his gasp and later on follow by his slight nudge on my left shoulder.

"Binigay mo talaga?" pabulong na sigaw nito sa akin, bahagya ko itong nilingon dahil nadama ko ang gigil sa boses nito.

Tumango ako and suddenly embarrassment washes over me. Pero kiber lang. Chance ko na ito para macrushback.

I wrote a long letter dahil nauuso ito ngayon, sabi nila the more na mahaba ang letter mo ay mas naga-appeal as sincere ito sa bibigyan mo. I've seen some of my schoolmates giving it to their crush and poof suddenly mutual pala ang feelings. Kaya naman tinry ko rin ito.

My letter measures the size of a cartolina which I divided into two and to actually exaggerate it, I used two cartolinas. I filled it with poems written by my favourite authors and my personal letter for him. At hindi pa nga ako nakuntento dahil sinamahan ko pa ito ng isang rubics cube which is his favourite stress reliever.

Now, I'm here outside peeking if he already seen it kasi I just left it on his desk.

I just rolled my eyes on Laster and starts peeking again.

I saw him na hawak ang letter na nakaroll at rubics cube. Lumingon-lingon pa ito kaya naman dali-dali kong hinablot ang ulo ni Laster at hinila ito pababa.

I counted one until ten seconds and peeked again.

Since it's lunch break, our classroom is almost deserted. May mangilan-ngilan lamang na nasa loob. Nakita kong lumapit si Lael Shawn sa isa naming kaklase hawak-hawak pa rin ang mga iniwan ko sa kanyang desk kanina.

"Sino nag-iwan nito sa desk ko?" I heard him asked.

I saw my classmate shook his head, Lael Shawn bid thanks and return to his seat.

Relief washed over me though I heard Laster 'tsk' on my side. He's still here pa pala. Lowkey Marites din talaga.

But as Lael Shawn was about to go back to his seat, my classmate called him again.

Naningkit ang aking mata habang pinapanood ang nangyayari sa loob ng aming classroom.

"I think I saw Vallesteros went on your side earlier. " Usal nito.

Panic washes over me and I immediately look at Lael Shawn to see his reaction.

Tumango lamang ito na tila ba hindi na rin nasurpresa sa kaniyang nalaman. Pag-upo nito sa kanyang desk ay tila ba napailing-iling ito while looking at my gifts.

As the classes proceed in the afternoon, tila ba tinubuan ako ng hiya sa aking ginawa kaya naman halos hindi ako lumilingon sa direksiyon ng upuan ni Lael Shawn. Gayundin, narinig ko ang ilang mga maintrigang tanong ng aming mga kaklase kung kanino galing ang regalo. I didn't hear him answer but I felt his eyes on me which confirms the assumption of our classmates.

After our last teacher dismisses the class, I basically bolted outside the classroom. Kaya naman nang maabutan ako ni Laster sa paradahan ay halos mayanig ang bungo ko sa batok nito.