Sparks Fly (ONGOING)

Chapter 6

Nasa may hallway na kami kung nasaan ang locker rooms ng swim team.

Si Julia patuloy-tuloy ng pagdaldal. Tinatanong if nakita ko daw ba kung gaano kagaling team nila Sol. Nirereplay pa ni bruha yung ganap kanina, akala mo naman hindi ako kasama manuod!

Nagsisilabasan na ang mga swimmers kaya napahinto na magsalita si Julia. Ako naman ay tumalikod na para umalis.

“Hoy, san ka pupunta?”

Liningon ko ng mabilis si Julia. “A-ah may gagawin pa ‘ko.” Nagpalusot pa ko.

May posibilidad kasi na magkita kami ni Mr. Pogi. Ayaw ko na makita niya ko. Ngayong wala ng tama iyong alak sa akin, nakaramdam ako ng hiya sa ginawa namin. Sumayaw lang naman kami at walang masama ‘don pero hindi ko maiwasang 'di mahiya!

“Miss.”

hahah putangina naman

‘Di ko nalang pinansin yung tumawag sa’kin at patuloy nalang lumabas ng building. I heard footsteps near me going louder and louder which means someone is following me!

“Are you ignoring me?”

Sinilip ko siya sa peripheral vision ko, I noticed that we’re walking side by side now. I’m fast walking while he’s just walking normally. Ang tangkad naman kasi! Ang lalaki ng hakbang.

Patuloy lang akong naglakad at ‘di na siya pinansin.

“Dianna”

Yes, say my name… joke!

Napatigil ako nung tinawag niya pangalan ko. What the fuck??!? Ba’t pati boses n’ya ang hot? Grabe ka Lord, masyado ka atang generous sa lalaking ‘to. Todo effort ata biniyaya mo dito eh.

Gwapo siya, maganda ako, bagay kami hehe.

“Y-yes?” Hindi ko talagang mapigilang ‘di kabahan ‘pag kausap siya. I mean who wouldn’t? Nakakaintimidate naman kasi neto! Ang gwapo niya na nga tapos part of the swim team pa!

Artistahin malala dating!

I don’t know what people would think if they found out I, a figure skater, is talking to a swimmer, the so called “royals” or “elites” of this academy.

‘Di bali, it’s not like they care about figure skaters. I’m pretty sure only a few people know who are part of the skating team. Only my friends and my classmates know that I’m part of it.

So nandito kami ngayon, sa labas ng building. Nagtititigan kami sa isa’t isa, parang tanga lang.

Tatalikod na sana ulit ako para umalis nung umangat ‘yong isang side ng labi niya. “I didn’t know you’re from here.”

You and me both.

“A-ah, bago lang k-kasi ako,” nautal nanaman ako. Anoba, Dianna Amethyst! “I just started studying this year.”

“You’re new here?” He asked curiously.

“Does that mean I can tour you around?”

Baby, you can do more than that.

Oh my God! Get a grip! Salamat nalang at ‘di niya nadidinig ‘tong mga nasa utak ko.

Napaisip ako, ilang months na din ako nag-aaral dito pero until now, I still haven’t seen everything. I’ve only been to the building where we take our classes and to the rink where I train.

“S-sure.”

Mas lumaki ‘yong ngiti niya at sabay lahad ng kamay sa akin. “I’m Lukas by the way, Lukas Santos.” I accepted his hand and l felt my blood rushing through my face. With my pale skin, for sure I look like a tomato!

We were quietly walking beside each other, he’d point at the buildings and tell me the names and their purposes. He would also state random facts about them. Ang cute niya!

Paikot-ikot lang kami hanggang sa tumigil kami sa may tapat ng basketball court. “I never got your name, last name I mean.” Sabi niya.

“It’s Vicencio.” Vicencio-Santos in the future.

“Dianna Amethyst Vicencio”

“Huh, a pretty name for a pretty girl.” Sabi niya habang nakatitig lang sa aking mata. ‘Di ko mapigilang hindi mamula. Grabe kilig ko inside! Ang intense kasi ng titig niya ‘tas ‘yong sinabi niya pa.

Dianna Vicencio, 19, cause of death: sobrang kilig.

Tumawa ako para magmukhang ‘di ako apektado. “‘To naman, ano bang gusto mo kaya nambobola ka?”

“Ikaw”

Hanudaw??!? Naputol tawa ko kasi napaubo naman ako at tuluyang namula!

“H-ha”

“I meant to ask, ‘Ikaw, what’s your sport?’” He replied nonchalantly, but basing on the teasing smirk he has on his face, he knew the effect he has on me.

Kinabahan ako ‘don. It’s not like I’m ashamed to say my sport, but everyone who knew about it started to ignore me besides Julia and Soleil. I liked talking with Lukas. He’s the only boy I enjoyed talking with so far and not to mention, the first guy I like! I don’t want him to stop talking to me because of my sport. I know if I tell him, he could have a different answer from what I am thinking pero pinangungunahan ako ng takot.

Maybe I can tell him once I have fully adjusted here. I’m not ready for everyone to know. For him to know, for I am scared of the outcome. I mean there’s a no bullying policy, but alam niyo naman may mga nakakalusot.

Bago pa man ako makaisip ng paraan kung paano ko maiiwasan ‘to, biglang tumunog cellphone ko. It looks like Julia texted me to come join her and Sol to celebrate their win.

Nang ibalik ko ang tingin ko kay Lukas, nakita kong nakaangat ‘yong kilay niya. Para bang hinihintay sagot ko.

“I have to go.” Pilit akong ngumiti at aalis na sana kaso nagsalita siya. “Can I have your number?”

Kitang-kita ang gulat sa mga mata ko. “W-why?” Nagtataka kong tanong.

Tumaas lalo kilay niya. “Why not?”

Oo nga naman, Di. Bakit namang hindi?

In the end, we exchanged numbers. What’s the harm anyways? He looks like a nice guy naman. And I could just block him if he does something stupid.

“Text me when you’ve arrived to wherever you’re going, okay?”

I smiled and nodded. We parted ways after that. He insisted to drive me to wherever restaurant my friends decided to eat kaso tinanggihan ko siya. Mukha ngang gusto niya pa ko pilitin pero in the end he just made me promise to text him once I arrived.

Ganto pala feeling magkagusto ng tao. Feeling ko sasabog na ‘ko dahil sa mga paru-paru na nararamdaman ko sa tiyan.

Nang mawala na siya sa pananaw ko, biglang nawala ‘yong ngiti ko. Natandaan ko kasi ‘yong sabi sa’kin ng coach ko dati. Hindi daw ako pwedeng matagumpay sa career at sa love life, iisa lang dapat.

Figure skating has always been my dream, but Lukas… he’s making me feel things I haven’t felt before. Is it worth exploring whatever I am feeling towards him?