Between Never and Maybe

Six.

"I don't believe in coincidence or fate
But I know one thing for sure.
Your face was meant to be
Burned into the deepest reaches
Of my blackest memories."
― Cassia Leo, Black Box

"Found you."

Pansin ko ang paglaglag ng panga ng dalawa kong kasama, like they saw a ghost or something. Lumingon ako sa kung sino man ang tumawag sa akin. I turned around to see Tyler Van Howell looking at me, with his hands in his pockets as usual. He was wearing the university uniform with his name on the right and the words "Film" under it. His hair was tousled and he was panting like he ran all the way here. His golden skin glistened under the sun and he smiled at me, showing his dimples. I ransacked my brain to wonder why on earth is he here.

Oh, kaya pala. I told him we were supposed to meet today, me and my disarranged thoughts. I stood up and brushed the stray dust from my skirt if there was any. He looked flustered for some reason but I didn't have the courage to ask, since that would make me some sort of clingy. And he's still a stranger, to boot!

"Sorry, Janssen. Nawala sa isip ko e hehe." I faked being squeamish and scratched the back of my head. Wait lang Natasha Vivienne, kailan ka pa naging feeling close at tinawag mo siya sa second name niya? I mentally slapped myself on the forehead. He seemed surprised for a second, but he quickly regained his composure and gave me a grin.

I suddenly felt conscious on what I was wearing. I was wearing denim pants under a brown-colored oversized shirt that surprisingly seemed too wrinkly upon his presence. Ano ba namang lalaki 'to, halos lahat ng features niya sumisigaw ng karangyaan.

"It's fine, care to introduce me to your juniors?" He said, glancing behind me at lumingon naman ako kay Ronica at Jane na mukha pa ring naestatwa sa mga naganap. Kahit naman ako maloloka. I wasn't considered as a nobody in this school, but di rin naman ako ganoon kasikat. If I were to describe it, I guess I would identify myself among the average group? Tamang nag-aaral lang at naghahabol ng scholar.

The biggest jock (and the Founder's grandson to boot!) suddenly spilling attention on me is surely a spectacle to behold. I would be flustered, too!

Thankfully, I know the reason behind it.

"Ah, si Ronica at Jane pala. Juniors ko sa org. Ronica, Jane, kilala niyo naman siguro—" Di ko na naituloy ang sasabihin ko dahil bigla na lang sila nakipagkamay sa kanya! Ramdam ko ang pagkawindang ng sistema ko dahil kala mo ba ay matagal na nilang kakilala ito nakngtokwa. Kita ko rin ang pagkagulat ni Van Howell sa mga nangyayari, but he seemed to handle the crowd very well dahil wala akong nakitang bakas ng inis sa mukha niya. O sadyang magaling lang siya magpanggap? Di ko na rin alam.

"Hi kuya! Ang pogi mo po huhu crush po namin kayo una pa lang uwaaaa." Bulalas ni Ronica, at napatawa na lang ako. Ronica has always been known for voicing out her thoughts regardless of who she is with. Hindi siya marunong mag-filter ng sinasabi sa mga kaharap which reminded me so much of Mich. Pilit naman siyang hinahatak ni Jane na tila ba nahihiya.

"Hala salamat haha, alagaan niyo si ate Natasha niyo ha?" Bilin ng kumag, na para bang jowa niya ako! Para namang bulateng inasinan ang dalawa sa kilig. This is bad, I need a diversion! I tugged at his

"Sige Janssen tara na. Ronica, Jane mauna na—" lumingon ako sa dalawa at napamura ako sa utak ko nang makitang malayo na ang dalawa sa akin! Ang mga gaga, iniwan ako! And to make matters worse, sumigaw pa si Ronica!

"Go kuya Tyler! Bagay kayo!" Sigaw ni Ronica kasabay ng paghila sa kanya ni Jane , her shouts attracted the attention of some of the students. This earned a lot of stares, including not so friendly ones. Nataon kasi na papasok na ang mga estudyante para sa afternoon class. I lowered my face to hide my embarassment and he is still staring at me, I stared back.