I held tightly to the strap of my bag and looked at the stairs to the second floor.
I breathed heavily. I can feel my heart beat faster because of the trembling I felt. How will my classmates react when they see me? Maybe manghihinayang and disappointed sila sa akin.
"Why are you just looking at the fucking stairs?" I looked at him.
"I-I feel nervous, H-Henry. What should I do?" I asked him.
Inakbayan naman n'ya ako. "Gawin na natin ang plano, love."
I suddenly paused. What love is he talking about? I held his necktie tightly. His face got closer to mine because of what I did.
I looked at his adam's apple when it moved, and looked directly into his eyes again. Nakaiwas na ang tingin n'ya sa akin.
"Why do you look nervous, love?" Pang-aasar ko. I make sure na may diin ang love ng banggitin ko ito.
"Baka may makakita sa 'tin," he said hesitately.
"That's actually good kasi 'yon ang plan natin. If may makakita man sa atin now. I'm sure makakarating 'yon sa parents natin. That's what you said to me kaha--"
I didn't finished what I was going to say when he suddenly hugged me.
"I guess hindi mo inalam ang meaning ng flower na binigay ko sa iyo," he whispered.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Humiwalay na s'ya sa pagkakayap sa akin.
"Iyon ang edelweiss flower. Do you still keep that?"
My eyebrow furrowed. "I still have it pa naman, but why did you give it to me?"
He just smiled and held my hand. He led me to the second floor. When we were in front of our classroom na, I tried to remove his hand.
"Hindi naman kailangan magkahawak ang hands natin." I whispered to him.
"Do you have another idea para hindi sila maghinala sa gagawin natin?"
I breathed heavily when I couldn't think of any other idea, so they don't suspect that we only have fake relationships.
Itinaas ko naman ang magkahawak namin na hands. "I think this is better na lang."
He nodded, and we entered the classroom together.
"OMG! Why are they both together?" I heard my classmate say.
"I thought magkaaway sila."
"Anong magkaaway ang pinagsasabi mo? Magka-holding hands na nga silang dalawa."
"What if silang dalawa na pala?"
"Kaya siguro hindi naging top 1 ang class president natin, dahil posibleng hiniling ni vice president na gusto n'y--"
"Can I call all of your fucking attention?" Pinisil ko ang hand n'ya ng sabihin n'ya ito. Don't tell me, he wants to announce th--
"Lyra and I had been in a relationship for almost a year. We both thought about telling you all of this, so we don't have to hide our relationship anymore and to those who are planning to court Lyra." He held my waist to bring me even closer to him.
"She's already mine." Nagsigaw naman and nagtilian ang mga classmate namin when he finished saying that. My heart beat faster when I looked at him. It's good that they immediately believed in us.
Suddenly, Ma'am Reyes entered, and we all sat down in our seats.
"Bakit may naririnig akong nagsisigawan ng papasok na ako rito? Did something happen?" Ma'am Reyes asked and placed the books she brought on her table.
"Sila president and vice po kasi. May announcement po silang sinabi sa amin, ma'am. Kaya hindi po namin maiwasang lahat na magsigawan para sa kanilang dalawa."
Napatingin naman si Ma'am Reyes sa akin. "Anong klaseng announcement ang tinutukoy nila, class president?"
I stood up. "Iyong relationship status po namin ni Henry, ma'am."
Ma'am raised her eyebrows. "Kaya pala. Anyway, congratulations."
"Thank you, maam," I said and smiled brightly to make it more convincing.
"Sa totoo lang, ship ko rin kayong dalawa. I'm hoping na kung ikasal man kayong dalawa sa future, you should invite me. Do you understand, class president?" Ma'am Reyes asked. I can feel na kinikilig s'ya para sa aming dalawa ni Henry, but sadly, this is just a fake relationship.
"Yes, ma'am," I said and umupo na sa chair ko. Nagsimula ng mag-discuss si ma'am so I just listened.
***
When it was lunch time, Henry immediately approached me. Henry extended his hand in front of me. Even if I wanted to refuse, I couldn't do anything. We need to prove to everyone na kami na talaga ni Henry.
I held his hand and stood up. I just hope it's really effective for our parents. We left the classroom together. When we got down to the first floor ay nakasalabong ko naman si Ash.
Napahawak naman s'ya sa batok n'ya. "Mukhang totoo yata ang sinabi nila."
"Ang alin?" I asked confusedly. Napatingin naman s'ya hands namin ni Henry na magkahawak. Agad ko itong tinanggal.
"Narinig ko na kayo na ni Henry. Congrats, Lyra." He smiled while saying it. My heart suddenly ache ng sinabi n'ya ang dalawang words na 'yon. Pakiramdam ko kasi na pinapamukha n'ya lang sa akin na hindi n'ya talaga ako mahal.
"Can we talk, Ash? May gusto lang akong sabihin." He nodded.
***
"Anong gusto mong sabihin, Lyra?" he asked. Napatingin ako sa paligid to make sure na wala talagang tao rito. Nasa rooftop kasi kaming dalawa now.
"Actually, Henry and I were not really in a relationship. We're just faking it for our parents to realise something," I explained.
Nakita ko naman sa mga mata n'ya ang pagka-relief. Ayaw n'ya siguro si Henry para sa akin.
I breathed heavily. Siguro ito na yata ang perfect timing to confess. Matagal ko na rin kasi itong pinaplano. I think enough na ang na build ko na lakas ng loob to say it to him.
"Can I hug you, Ash?" I asked the guy that I loved the most.
"Para saan?" he asked confusedly.
Kaya ko ba ‘to?
I didn't answer his question. Instead, lumapit pa ako sa kaniya and hugged him tightly. This is the last time that I will let my heart love him and the only day that I will allow myself to cry for him.
"I knew from the beginning that you don't love me, that you only see me as your friend, but I still can't stop myself from loving you, Ash." I bit my lips para pigilan ang sarili ko na umiyak.
"I had a girlfriend already, Lyra," he said seriously and tinanggal ang arm ko na nakapulupot sa waist n'ya.
"I already know that, Ash. Ang sabi mo pa nga sa akin dati, ako ang first na sinabihan mo na may girlfriend ka na, and I'm so stupid to say congratulations to you, even if it's breaking my heart into pieces already."
"Then why are you doing this?" he asked coldly.
I breathe heavily. "Nang dumating s'ya sa buhay mo. Ang bilis mong mahulog sa kanya. Five months mo pa lang siyang nakilala, but ako, ilang years mo na akong kilala. We have a lot in common, and we agree almost on everything. But why can't it be me? Bakit siya? Ano bang meron siya na wala ako, Ash?" I can feel my knees starting to tremble after saying those. I always wanted to ask him those for a long time, but I'm afraid of his answer. An answer that might break my heart again.
"Walang problema sa 'yo, Lyra. Mas mabuti kung kalimutan mo na lang ang nararamdam mo sa akin. Kalilimutan ko rin na may nangyaring ganito ngayon. Ayaw kong mawalan ng importanteng kaibigan na katulad mo," he said seriously and tinalikuran na ako.
I smiled bitterly. If gano'n na nga lang sana 'yon kadali, Ash. I would never confessed to you.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Mendacious Top Tier
Teen FictionLyrainne Alvarez is known for being smart, confident, beautiful, and coming from a rich family. She is always in the top tier, which is the highest rank in the school. Many students admire and envy her because of her almost perfect and fairy-tale li...