AGS 3: The Stag Party (PUBLISHED)

1. Hopeless Beauty

"Grabe, ang guwapo talaga ni Leo."

I glanced at Jules after she said that. We were peeking in the corridor to see Leo. May dadalhin yata sa office ng arki.

Jules was so right. Leopold Scott is an arki student sa Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts. First year college pa lang kami pero parang hindi na siya first year lang.

He's tall and handsome. Hindi siya maputi pero hindi siya super dark complexion. Moreno. He always walked like he was prepared to talk to our dean for a serious debate. His eyes were sharp, and he looked like a lion ready to prey on something weak. He paired that with a serious reaction, like he was bragging about something without saying anything. Lagi siyang nakapamulsa habang nakataas ang mukha. He was seeping with a dark aura, and he looked like a walking nightmare, and I couldn't explain it any better.

"Single 'yan, di ba?" tanong ni Lesley habang pinipisil-pisil ang balikat ko. Nakasilip naman siya sa itaas ng ulo ko para makita rin si Leo. "Kaso masungit. Naalala ko ang kuwento ni Risalyn. Sinipa raw siya niyan n'ong hinarang niya sa hallway."

"Ang lala naman ng sinipa!" Jules exclaimed.

"Pero totoo raw. Nakita rin nina Joaquin 'yon."

"Pero barkada sila ni Patrick Lauchengco, di ba?"

"Yung taga-DLS?"

"Oo."

"Gagi, ang bait-bait ni Patrick."

"Parang si Patrick lang naman ang mabait sa kanila lol."

"Inaaya na 'yan ni Coach Jao sa varsity kaso ayaw," Lesley told us. "Magdo-double degree na lang daw siya."

"Siya ba 'yong kumuha ng academic program sa Applied Physics sa PLM?"

I was a bit shocked at what Jules said.

Applied Physics? Pero architecture student na siya. Hindi ba siya mahihirapan doon? Lilipat na ba siya ng school? What about me?

"Gagi, parating na!"

We all stood up straight and waited until Leo walked past us.

My heart was beating double time, and Jules was pinching my hand because we could hear footsteps coming in our direction.

"Girl, ayan na siya . . ." Lesley murmured.

Then, it felt like the universe paused for a second for me to appreciate the beauty in front of me. I swallowed hard as I looked up at Leo passing in front of us.

"Leopold!" Jules yelled. And my feet felt like Jell-O ready to melt.

Leo didn't stop walking. Jules pushed me in front of him at nagulat na lang ako nang maitulak siya kasi sa kanya ako bumangga.

"Sorry!" I quickly shouted and bowed down. "Sorry, Leo!"

Pagtayo ko nang deretso, ang talim na ng tingin niya sa akin. Hindi man lang siya napaurong ng pagtulak ko.

"Sorry . . ." I said, as quietly as I could.

He licked his lower lip slowly and glared at me. "Ikaw na naman?"

"Sorry, sorry talaga."

"Tantanan mo 'ko. Isang sunod mo pa, ire-report na kita sa admin." Tinabig niya ang balikat ko paglampas niya sa akin at ako ang halos matumba dahil sa ginawa niya.

I froze for a moment, trying not to digest his warning kasi sasamâ lang ang loob ko.

I . . . I have been stalking him since our high school days sa FE Alabang. Hindi ko pa alam kung paano siya lalapitan noon. If only he knew, I would be here sa FE Manila because of him.