Between

Six

Chapter Six. (Elizabeth's)

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What is he talking about?

"Have you read uhm.. Harry Potter series?," I shrug.

"Are you into dystopian novels? Or contemporary novels?," tanong nya ulit.

"No, I'm not reading books," I said in-a-matter-of-fact tone.

"Sabihin mo nalang kung anong genre ang gusto mo, horror, romance, rom-com, what?," tanong nya na naman.

Napahawak ako sa sentido ko.

"I told you, di ako nagbabasa ng libro, ikaw na bahala," sabi ko.

Napakamot sya sa batok nya.

"Movies? Wag mong sabihin na di ka pa nakakapanood ng movies?," I looked at him.

"I don't waste my time with those things na puro gawa-gawa lang. You should know better, puro fiction lang mga yun. And don't ask me again, ikaw na nga ang bahala, babasahin ko nalang yung scratch paper mo," at doon sya nagsimulang magsulat. I don't have the littlest idea of what he's writing. Kaya nya na yan.

Halos 25 minutes na syang nagsusulat, tumitigil lang para mag-isip at pagkatapos magsusulat na ulit. Smart boy huh.

Nabigla pa ako sa kanya ng bigla syang huminga ng malalim at tumigil sa pagsusulat. Nabadtrip siguro sa'kin dahil di ako tumutulong. Ginusto nya yan.

He looked at me, "Tapos na." and smiled.

That made me feel... nervous. I thought he'll explode and get mad.

"If I were you, I'll read this summary. Mahirap na, baka magtanong si Miss sa plot ng book," sabi nya, mahinahon pa ang boses nya. He's not even pissed off.

"What book did you pick?," I asked him, while looking at his handwriting. It looks presentable enough for a boy's hand.

"A walk to remember, Nicholas Sparks. May movie din yan, pero I guess, hindi mo pa napapanuod," imbes na mainis ako sa sinabi nya, napatango na lang ako.

"Basahin mo yung review na ginawa ko. Or kung gusto mo, panuorin mo. Promise, maganda yun," tumango na lang ako.

"If I saw a shooting star tonight, maybe I will," then I took the scratch paper from his hand.

"Okay, then," he smiled.

That kind of cheeky smile that says, "I know something you don't". I rolled my eyes with the thought.

"Times up," and the class has ended.

***

What is he up to?

Kanina pa nya ako sinusundan, like what the? Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at umupo sa pinakamalapit na bench sa harapan ko.

I'm not even surprised when he popped in front of me. He sat beside me, I'm gonna punch him.

"What do you want?," I asked him.

"Uh, nothing, I just ----"

"Get away from me, you numb," I said in angst.

"Oh, I meant no harm, Elizabeth," I scoffed. He doesn't know I can harm him, he looks like he can't even throw a good punch at a tiny little boy. He won't, by the way.

"Leave my eyesight," tumayo ako at naglakad palayo sa kanya. Don't follow me, don't follow me, I muttered under my breathe.

"What if I can't?," he obviously didn't get what I said.

"Don't make me curse you, Alex," mas binilisan ko ang paglalakad ko.

"You would not do that," sabi nya, still behind me.

Humarap ako sa kanya and said, "Damn you, Alex, leave me alone," at naglakad ulit.

"You didn't mean that."

"Oh yes, I do."

"You're different, a good different," sabi nya na nagpatigil sa'kin sa paglalakad.

"You're insane, no, you're drunk, you're out of your mind. You know what, let me give you three steps to a peaceful life. Shut your mouth. Turn around. Get away from me. There, go, don't follow me or else I'll flip you and bash you're crazy head in the wall," and with that, I immediately walked away.

I'm a good different? Hah! Only if he knows. And if he did, he'll ran into his mother's back whilst shivering in fear.

"You're a good different, I know, I feel it," I heard those words before I disappeared in the crowd of students.

I always meant whatever I say. But this time, I feel that I really don't mean the things that I told Alex.

Di ko na napansin na natapos na ang huling klase na pinasukan ko. I'm a bit preoccupied.

The sun sets, the moon rises. But still, I can't think straight. He has some awkwardly unknown effect on me. I do not want it.

I looked up and saw stars. And one thing more, I saw a shooting star. And remembered...

"Basahin mo yung review na ginawa ko. Or kung gusto mo, panuorin mo. Promise, maganda yun."

"If I saw a shooting star tonight, maybe I will."

I closed my eyes, and silently, I cursed.

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Author's.

Logan Lerman as Alexander Will. :)