Playing Cupid (YL Series #1)

Chapter 1

"Hey, do you think love really exists?" tanong niya sa akin habang nakatingin sa langit at nakikinig ng mga sad songs. Nasa labas kami ngayon at nakaupo sa isang bench. Maaga pa at hindi pa nagsisimula ang klase.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Napano ka na naman?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Just answer" he replied.

"Hmm... well, yeah" I honestly answered.

"Why?"

Because if it didn't, then it wouldn't hurt like this. Hindi ako masasaktan araw araw kung hindi ito totoo. Hindi mo ako masasaktan ng ganito...

"Because if it didn't, bakit ka nasasaktan ngayon, Mateo?" I asked him. Siya, nasasaktan dahil iniwan siya ng ex-girlfriend niya---which, by the way, was more that 7 months ago---- ako, nasasaktan dahil alam ko, hanggang dito lang ako. I will forever be his best friend. Para kaming mga tanga, hinahayaan namin na masaktan ang mga sarili namin dahil sa lecheng pag-ibig na yan.

"...I guess you're right. It wouldn't hurt like this if I didn't love her." he said as he leaned his head on my shoulder and just stared into nothing.

Binatukan ko siya. "Baliw, magmove on ka na kasi. Wala pa kayong dalawang buwan, at kasama na doon ang ligawan stage niyo." I reminded him.

"Aray! Nagmomoment ako eh," He glared at me and rolled his eyes before he continued talking. "Huwag mo kong iwan, ah? Promise me you won't leave me. Kahit mag na college tayo or magtrabaho na, dapat best friends pa rin tayo, ah?" he innocently said, not knowing na nasaktan ako sa sinabi niya.

I looked away and smiled bitterly. Okay, pinamukha mo lang naman sa akin na wala tayong chance. "Napaka madrama mo" sagot ko nalang at inirapan siya.

"Magpromise ka nalang kasi" he said, leaning his head on my shoulder once again. Does he seriously think my shoulder is a pillow?

"Whatever. Ang bigat ng ulo mo, umalis ka nga" I said, jokingly pushing him away.

"Esmeeeeee!!! Nandito ka lang pala---" Napalingon kami sa sumigaw at nakita ko si Iya. "What in the world are you doing?"

Tinulak ko na ng tuluyan si Mateo at tumayo. "Nothing. Anong kailangan mo? If you need to borrow my notes again, kunin mo nalang sa bag ko. Kung magpapatutor ka naman, mamayang after class" sabi ko agad sa kaniya.

"Ay grabe siya. Pinapatawag ka kasi ni Maam sa faculty."

"Ha? Bakit? Sinong maam?" tanong ko naman.

"Si Maam Danica"

Ah, adviser pala namin.

"Sige punta na ako. Nasa faculty siya, diba?"

Pumunta na ako sa faculty at kumatok bago pumasok sa loob. Nagulat ako nang makitang may babae na naka-upo sa harap ng lamesa niya at parang kinakausap ni maam. Lumapit ako. "Maam? Pinapatawag niyo raw po ako?"

Napatingin si Maam Danica sa akin. "Ah, Esme, nandito ka na pala. Esme, meet your new classmate, Weslie. Weslie, siya si Esmeray, siya ang class president. Kung may kailangan ka or concerns, sabihan mo lang siya, okay? Esme, paki guide si Weslie at ipakilala mo na rin siya sa mga classmates niyo." utos ni maam.

Wait, Weslie? Don't tell me...

Lumingon ang babae at tumayo. Nilahad niya ang kaniyang palad sa harap ko. "Hi, its nice to meet you, miss president. I'm Weslie De Leon---"

"Weslie?! Omg ikaw nga! Kamusta ka na???" Sabi ko at agad ko siyang niyakap.

"Wait, Esme?! Is that you?" gulat niyang sabi. "Grabe ang laki ng pinagbago mo! Hindi kita nakilala agad. Gosh, grabe ang glow up mo ah. Parang dati lang bungi ka pa"

"I can say the same for you---"

"Ehem" Napatahimik kami at napatingin kay maam. Ay hala nakatingin na pala sa amin ang lahat ng teachers. "Do you know each other?"

"Ah.. yes po. We're chilhood friends po, maam" sagot ko.

"Ah, I see, alright, please guide her, Esme. You may leave now, mags-start na ang class niyo in 10 minutes" maam said, kaya nagpaalam na kami at umalis.

"Gosh, I can't believe na classmates tayo ngayon. I didn't know na dito ka na pala nagaaral, you said you didn't like living in the city before, right? Do you still live in the same house I remember?" tanong ni Weslie habang papunta kami sa classroom.

"Hm? Ah, no. Lumipat kami ng bahay nung naghighschool ako. My parents got a job here so lumipat kami dito. How about you? You didn't tell me na umuwi ka na pala! Seriously, since when did you come back? How was life abroad?" Tanong ko naman sa kanya.

Nawala ang ngiti niya. "Oh, well.. I came back with my mom around a week ago. My parents decided to seperate. But, life abroad was fine."

I got shocked and guilty when I saw the expression on her face. "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that" I apologized.

I never expected na maghihiwalay sila tito at tita, they used to be so in love nung bata pa kami. I remember nung bata pa ako, I always dreamt of a perfect lovestory like theirs. But now? No thank you.

"Its fine." she said with a smile.

"Oh, we're here. Come in" sabi ko nang makarating kami sa harap ng classroom namin at binuksan ko ang pinto. Pumasok ako at sumunod naman siya. Hindi agad napansin ng mga kaklase namin na pumasok kami at  pinagpatuloy lang ang pagiingay. "Shhhhh okay, quiet. Attention everyone!" Tumahimik sila at tumingin sa amin. "Say hello, this is Weslie De Leon, our new classmate. Be nice to her. Okay, Wes, magpakilala ka na" I said and looked at her.

She looked at me and nodded. Humarap siya sa mga kaklase namin at ngumiti. "Hi everyone, I'm Weslie De Leon. I'm currently 14 years old and I enjoy watching movies. I hope we get along well."

Our classmates all greeted and welcomed her. Isa isa silang nagpakilala sa kanya.

"Tanong lang, single ka ba?" tanong ni Kent, isa sa mga kaklase namin.

Binatukan siya ni Mateo na nakaupo sa tabi niya. "Loko ka talaga"

"Aray! Bakit?" reklamo niya.

Umiling-iling nalang si Mateo at tumingin kay Weslie na kanina pa nakatitig sa kaniya.

Ah, oo nga pala, kailangan ko siyang ipakilala kay Mateo. Pinatahimik ko na ang mga kaklase namin at sinabihan sila na malapit ng magstart ang class. I held Weslie's wrist and guided her to the back row near the window were there was one empty seat. It was beside mine. Sinundan kami ng tingin ni Mateo at kinailangan pa niyang umikot dahil nasa likuran ng upuan nila ang upuan namin.

"Ah, oo nga pala, Wes, that guy's name is Mateo, he's a friend of mine but you can just ignore him if he bothers you. Mateo, this is Weslie, my friend. Don't bother her" Pagpapakilala ko. Mateo frowned and Weslie laughed. "And that guy beside him is Kent, just ignore him too, he's a playboy."

"Hey!" pagreact ni Kent pero di namin siya pinansin.

I noticed Weslie and Mateo staring at each other. Nakatitig lang sila sa isa't isa na para bang silang dalawa lang ang nandoon. I stared at the two of them who looked like they were shooting a movie, wondering what were they doing.

Several seconds later, sabay silang umiwas ng tingin. I noticed Weslie's face flushed red and Mateo's ear was red as well. Parehas pa silang nag-ehem at pinaypayan ni Weslie ang sarili niya gamit ang kamay niya. "Gosh, ang init pa rin sa Pinas" palusot nalang niya. Hindi napansin ng iba ang nangyari kaya hindi sila nagreact.

I saw Mateo trying to hide his smile. I paused when I realized what was going on. Nagbalik balik ang tingin ko kay Mateo at Weslie. Don't tell me... do they like each other already?