Tricks of Fate

Chapter 7

Friends

Dylan's P.O.V.

I was on my way into the principal's office when I suddenly hear a very melodic sound of a piano. Ang ganda at ang soothing sa pandinig. Sa sobrang ganda eh, mapapahanga ka talaga.

Binuksan ko ang music room at bumungad sa akin ang isang magandang babae. Nakaupo sya at nagpia-piano. Brown hair, perfect face and talent. That's what made me fall inlove with her.

She is Elizabeth Anne Romualdez. My music teacher. She made me change. She is like an angel sent from above.

At first, I thought that this is just a silly emotion; that I could get rid of it. Pero, mali pala ako.

Aware ako sa relasyon namin. Teacher-student love story. But who cares? Hindi naman nalalayo ang edad namin.

Araw-araw, mas lalong lumalalim ang pagtingin ko sa kanya. She is the best teacher for me. Sa subject lang nya ako nagkaka-gana.

One day, I confessed to her and I was shocked when she said that she likes me too. Though, there is a little part of me that was afraid, I still took the risk. Wala eh, tinamaan ako. Pag-ibig.

"So let's see each other today?" I asked her. I was talking to her at the phone.

"Yeah, I missed you already." She replied that made me chuckled.

"I do too. So, gotta hang-up. I love you." I said.

"Love you too." She replied then hung-up.

Then there was her 'love you'. I accidentally read about I love you without an I is not real. Meaning, hindi totoo yung feelings. And even my friends believe that. Sabi nila, 'sinong mag-i-i love you? May we love you nga eh!' Nung isang beses ko silang natanong. Pero hindi ko binangit si Eliza.

Aaminin ko, minsan may doubt. Syempre, marami na syang narating sa buhay. She became a teacher, she graduated college and she has many men to choose from. Isa lang naman ako sa mga lalaking may gusto sa kanya. But somehow, I feel lucky. Lucky because I have her.

I grab my keys and I'm ready to go. I have to tell her that I already have a date. Shit! Mom's being impulsive again. Hay! Manang-mana talaga sa kanya si Jewel!

Yes. Kakambal ko si Jewel. O mas kilala nang lahat bilang Yanna. I used
To call her that since we are young. Mas matanda sya sa akin nang 3 minutes. Hindi kami magkamukha. At mas lalo naman na hindi magka-ugali. Although, my mom says that we have some similarities.

Sa wakas ay nakarating na rin ako sa meeting place namin. Isang resto. Sabay kasi kaming mag bre-breakfast.

As soon as the guard opened the door, a smile rose from my face. Grabe! Kahit araw-araw kaming magkasama nang babaeng ito, hindi nakakasawa yung feeling na lagi syang nandyan.

"Hi, babe!" I greeted her. She smiled at me then kissed my cheeks. I swear, I never had the chance to kiss that kissable lips of hers.

"Hello, Dyl! Good morning. Let's eat?"

Tumango ako. "Yup. Order na tayo." Sabi ko at nagtawag nang waiter.

We ordered chocolate truffles and waffles. Of course coffee.

"So, how's it going? Is there any problem? Anything you wanna say?" Eliza said while eating her meal. Am I that transparent?

She laughed. "No, silly! You are not transparent! Ang dali-dali mo lang kayang mabasa. Your face shows exactly what's in your head." She said then continued eating her meal. I chuckled. That's one thing I love about her. She is pure. She says what she wants.

"Sorry. Well, I got a date." I said and her smile was turned into a frown. Alam nya kasing hindi ako pupunta sa party mamaya. Tsk! Sabi na nga ba!

"Mom, she's being impulsive and manipulative again. I'm sorry. It just happened last night." Sabi ko.

Tumango sya. With a fake smile she said. "It is alright with me. Ang alam kasi nang family natin is we are both single. So who is she?"

"Her name is Liezel. Classmate ko sya." Sabi ko.

Tumango sya. "I know her. Diba she is your sister's bestfriend?" She shrugged. "Sya yung laging late." Then she laughed. She looked at me, "There's no problem with me. You can go with her." She said. That's what I've been waiting for, for her approval.

I smiled at her. "Thanks babe. I love you." I said.

She giggled. "Love you too."
Then we finish our foods.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, I insist that I'll drop her home. Besides, iisang village lang naman ang tinitirahan namin.

While in the car, kung ano-ano lang ang ginagawa namin. Kwentuhan, asaran and pagiging cheesy.

"So, we arrived. Thanks for droping me by." She said.

"Take care, okay?" I kissed her forehead. "I'll see you tonight? At the party?" I asked her.

"Yep! So, bye?"

"Bye, babe. I love you."

"Okay. Love you too."

Then I hugged her.

AUTHOR'S P.O.V.

Yung nga ang nakitang pangyayari ni Liezel. Nagpasya na lang kasi syang maglakad dahil nasira daw ang makina nang sasakyan nila. Hassle man, pero okay na rin para sa kanya. Aniya 'Ayos na rin ito. Para naman matunawan ako.'

Gulat na gulat si Liezel sa nanyari. Paano nangyari na ang snob na lalaking laging natutulog sa klase ay kasama ngayon nang bagong teacher na maganda at nagyayakapan pa.

"Bakit magkasama sila? Wala namang klase ngayon ah? At mas lalo naman na hindi yan tutor ni Dylan." Takang tanong nya sa sarili.

She shrugged. "Whatever. Pake ko naman sa kanya. O baka naman..." Sabi niya nang may nanlalaking mata.

Dali-dali syang nagtungo sa bahay ng mga Serrano at sinadya nya talagang sa garahe na lang maghintay. Nang makita ang kotse ni Dylan ay may sumilay na ngiti sa kanyang mukha. Ipinark na ni Dylan sa kotse nya at as usual, nilagpasan si Liezel.

Hinabol naman ni Liezel si Dylan. "Huy, Dylan. Nakita kita kanina. At may nakita ako.." Sinadya nya talagang bitinin ang sinasabi.

Natigil naman si Dylan sa paglalakad. Napangiti naman nang malapad. Alam nya nang may itinatago ito. Dahil kung wala ay hindi nya lang iyon papansinin ni Dylan at dire-diretso lamang na aalis.

Marahas na lumingon sa kanya si Dylan. "Ako? Nakita mo?"

Tumango si Liezel. "Yup. Sa kotse mo. I saw you with.."

"With?"

"With Ms. Romualdez. So tell me, honestly ah?" Sabi niya at humakbang palapit kay Dylan.

"Are you dating her?" She asked curiously.

Umiwas nang tingin si Dylan. "What are you talking about? What the hell, Liezel. Will you please stop bothering me?" Tanggi nang binata.

Tumango si Liezel. "So, wala lang yun?" Sabi niya. Tumango si Dylan. "So, pwede ko yung sabihin kahit kanino?" Sabi pa nito.

Tumingin naman sa kanya si Dylan nang may nanlalaking mga mata. "What the fvck are you saying?"

She eyed him. "What? You said it was nothing and then you are infront of me cusing. What's wrong if I tell my bestfriend about it?"

Iniling ni Dylan ang ulo nya. She cannot believe this girl! Ugh! Sa lahat ba naman nang pwedeng makakita eh ang babae pa na ito.

"What do you want?" He said.

"Well, I want you to be nice with me." She said and the boy was really near to his outburst. He's never been nice to anyone. Even his family.

"Fine."

And Liezel smiled. "Friends?"

Tinignan nya ang kamay ni Liezel. He never does this to any girl.

Without looking. "Yeah. Whatever."
And he walked out.