One Hundred Fifty

36 - Beauty and the Beat

"You're a broken instrument to me. And to you, I'm a mute flute you can't hear."

Here it is again, the sound of the piano coming out from the music club.

Napa hugot muna ako ng hangin saka binuksan ang pinto at agad namang nag tama ang paningin namin. He's sitting infront of the piano, dramatically pouring his emotion as he press another key and absorbing the sound it makes.

It's not happy this time, it's slowed and blue.

"Jian," I called. "Pinapatawag ka ni Ma'am Soriano."

He looked at me and then goes back at his piano, "Hi there, Belle. Beautiful as always."

Hindi sinasadyang napairap ako. Kada mag kikita kami lagi s'yang mag babanggit ng kung ano anong matatamis na salita, rhyme pa minsan. Para bang pinag didiinan n'ya saakin na marami s'yang kayang gawin na hindi ko magawa. Nakakainis naman kasi yung nag i-excel na nga s'ya sa academics pati literary at music inangkin na n'ya, sama mo pa yung ang galing n'yang sumayaw.

Matalo lang talaga kita sa academics, mag papa-party talaga ako.

"You're weirdly blabbering again." I said. "Sige na, una na ko."

I was about to open the door but he stopped me with his voice. "Teka, sabay na tayo."

"Papunta akong canteen, opposite direction of where you're going."

"Tamang tama," He smiled and get his bag saka nag lakad papunta sa direksyon ko. "Bibili muna ako ng pampagising bago ako pumunta sa faculty."

Hinayaan ko nalang s'yang sumabay saakin. Jian Alvarez is always the friendly type while I'm the type na mahirap pakisamahan. Kaya ewan ko ba kung pa'no n'ya ko natitiis na laging kausapin. I'm aware of my competitive aura, and so are they. They know I consider them as my rival though hindi naman to the point na magiging sore loser na ko. I make sure I'll do my best the next time if I lose not just getting insecure and sulking like a little kid, so low.

"Kamusta volleyball kanina?"

I immediately let out a 'psh' and touched my forehead na medyo namumula pa and also throbbing in slight pain.

Napakunot ang noo ko ng natawa ito na tinuro turo pa ako, "Pang ilang beses ka na bang natamaan ng bola?"

"Pang dalawa palang naman no. I don't know why I always space out when it's P.E, hindi ko kasi talaga field ang mga yun. I don't like sweating especially getting hit."

"I can relate. Ilang beses narin akong natamaan, and I don't know if I hate or like it." Nakangise nitong sabi saka tumingin sakin saglit.

"Why in the earth will you like it? At saka akala ko hindi ka naman nakaka laro since you're the music club representative nga." I said with a frown in my face.

"Lowgets ka po."

"Eh di ikaw na po, prodigy."

Natawa nanaman s'ya. I notice some staring at him when he smiles and laugh. Jian is really not that handsome guy na mapapanganga ka. But I don't know. He's kind and almost good at everything kaya siguro nag ra-radiate nalang ito papuntang muka n'ya. He looked gorgeous whenever he's happy.