III
"BAKA naman kasi hindi ikaw 'yong iniilingan. Maybe, you're just being paranoid." Raena stated while laughing, and scanning my room.
She came here to pick me up, but without a car. Yes, pick me up but we're using my car.
"He's looking at me while shaking his head! Ano, banlag ba siya?" I tried to knock some sense to her, feeling irritated, while walking back and forth.
Umupo naman siya sa kama ko at may niyakap na unan. "Fine. Let's say that he was looking at you—"
"Sa'kin nga!"
"— Ano naman? What's the big deal?" She asked while raising her hands on the air and looking at me like I'm some kind of a crazy girl.
"What's the big deal?! You are really asking me that?" I asked skeptically. "For Pete's sake Raena, he's a weirdo! A weirdo!"
"Woah, woah. Relax, Joshan! Anong nangyayari sa'yo?" She asked worriedly, "Breathe!"
That's when I noticed that I'm having a heavy breathing. A panic-attack. It's been a while since I've got one, and it's because of that geek! What the hell!
I sat beside her and calmed myself. When she noticed that it's a serious case, the hint of humor on her face was gone. "Breathe, Joshan. You're having a panic-attack. Breathe."
I closed my eyes tightly and did exactly as what she instructed. Few minutes and I felt myself calm down.
"Do you mind telling me what happened?" She worriedly asked.
I stared at her and hesitated. Sasabihin ko ba sakaniya? We just met. Kahit na alam kong hindi siya 'yong tipo ng taong ipagsasabi 'yong nalalaman niya, hindi ko pa siya gano'n kakilala.
I sat properly and sighed. "May nangyari kasi sa'kin na connected sa weirdos. Not exactly a weirdo, but a really close one. I'm... traumatized."
Her eyes widened and stared at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
I just smiled at her and shook my head. "Sorry rin. Hindi ko naman kasi sinabi sa'yo kaagad. I'll tell the story some other time." Some other time.
"Don't worry, Joshan. He's safe. Maybe it's just a coincidence. Na baka may naalala siyang hindi maganda and that's the reason why he shook his head, at nagkataong nakatingin siya sa'yo." She said while patting my back.
I am reacting like this because he's the President of Journalism Club. Meaning, magkakaroon ako ng connection sakaniya kahit papaano. Makakasama ko rin siya sa club activities. At hindi naman pwedeng i-give-up ko ang pagsali rito just because of him. He's also my classmate. Long story short, we'll be seeing each other every-fucking-day.
"Tara na? Simula na ng registration." Tumango naman ako at sinulyapan ang sarili ng isa pang beses sa salamin bago kami lumabas.
If he's really a weirdo, mapipilitan akong gamitin ang connection ni Dad sa St. Paul para patalsikin siya sa pwesto. It's my first time joining a club, entering a school, and it will be ruined because of a guy like that?
"Where are you going, young lady?" Speaking of my Dad.
I introduced Raena to him earlier. He's happy because I already have a friend. Parehas kasi naming inasahan na mahihirapan ako dahil homeschooled nga 'ko.
Lumapit naman ako sakaniya at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. "I told you about this last night, right? Today's the registration day for the clubs."
"And... you are joining the Journalism Club?"
