Find me in your pages | THE WATTYS 2023

Chapter 7:

After a few weeks after I said yes to Nikolai, it went well. He was still courting me Kahit na may kami na and I was loving it. "You wrote this for me?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang hawak ang letter na binigay nya sa akin. It was romantic and I've got to say, I actually love it. Ngayon lang ulit ako kikiligin nang ganito. And what surprised me even more is lalaki ang nagpapangiti sa akin. He respects me, my pronouns and my sexuality.

"Yeah...I wrote it for you last night sweetheart. Did you like it?"

"Are you kidding me, Nikolai? I fucking love it!" Hiyaw ko sa kaniya sabay yakap. He returned my warm embrace. "You...You really didn't have to-"

"But I want to. Let me show you how much I appreciate your existence, alright?" He whispered softly. I hated him at first but he's not that much of a bad person, never expected to date him. His phone suddenly rang and I saw the name 'mom' "hold on. Must be important. I have to take it." Paalam nya at umalis naman kaagad after nya magpaalam sa akin.

"Hey, Xerena." Napatalon naman ako sa gulat nang biglang lumabas si Lucas sa gilid ko. "Kamusta kayo ni Nikolai? Is he treating you well?"

"Of course he is! He gives me poems every once in a while, we exchange actually..." Saad ko kay Lucas and he seemed proud and happy for me. "Kayo ni Raya?"

"Babe!" Tawag nang isang babae mula sa hallway na biglang napatingin sakin, mukha syang masungit.  "Who's this?" Bago lang ata sya dito and just transferred. "Lulu, who's this?"

"Oh this is Xerena. My friend since the start of this school year, one of the best." Pagpapakilala ni Lucas sa akin, this must be his girlfriend, Raya. "Xerena, this is Raya. My beautiful girlfriend." Bulong nya sabay halik sa pisngi ni Raya.

"Hi Xerena. It's nice meeting you!" Pakilala ni Raya sa akin as she reached for my hand na agad ko naman na hinawakan para mag shake hands. "You look nice, I like your fashion."

"Xerena...nice to meet you." Bulong ko at napangiti agad ako sa sinabi nya sa aking pananamit. "Thank you." Saad ko sa kanya at tumingin kay Lucas. "You should go eat lunch with Raya, I still have to see Cleo for help sa pagintindi nang assignment ko." That was a lame excuse to leave them alone. I don't want to be labeled as someone's girl best friend now that those kind of people have a bad image. Ayoko rin na may kumalat na balita na ikakasira namin ni Nikolai. I was really going to see Cleo for a small girl talk though.

"Leaving already?" Malungkot na saad ni Raya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Sure Xerena. I'll update you na lang when Nikolai is back. Baka busy ulit yon, maybe when I see him around again." Sagot ni Lucas sa akin habang hinila papalapit sa kaniya si Raya.

Naglakad ako sa hallway papunta sa library since doon ko na madalas makita si Cleo, si gwen ay nalipat sa kabilang building kaya bihira ko na lang sya makita sa building na to. Baka busy rin sya masyado. "Xerena!" Bati ni Cleo nang magkasalubong kami. "Hiii how are you?"

"Oh hey. Akala ko nasa library ka."

"I was earlier pero kakatapos ko lang hanapin yung book na kaylangan ko. Do you need anything?" Takang tanong ni cleo sa akin at napaupo muna kami sa metal na bench sa may hallway.

"It's about Nikolai..."

"What about him? Did he hurt you?" Tanong ni cleo sa akin habang tinatapik ang aking likuran.

"No...I just...want to spend more time with him pero he's always too busy to pay attention to me sometimes. He always talks about business...Alam ko naman and I'm trying to understand pero...Ewan ko ba. Hindi ko maipaliwanag nang maayos." Saad ko kay Cleo habang naguusap kami.

"Maybe you should talk to him about it you know? Communication, you know? I'm sure he'll understand your reasons naman so you don't have to worry that much about his response." Pang rereassure sa akin ni Cleo, she was one of the first people to know my relationship with Nikolai. One of the people I trust aside from my boyfriend and Lucas. "Maybe later you should talk to him, also, are you afraid to confront him about it ba?" Tanong muli ni Cleo.