Shades of Kagan

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Avian Burn's Point of View

Have you ever experienced liking someone since they kept teasing you about them? Because that's exactly my case. I don't see him as my love interest, yet it happened.

Liam Xeno Cane, or simply Liam, is the most popular boy in our school. It's not because of his good looks but because he excels in class and sports. What makes him sexy? For me, it's his smart brain. His eyes are so attractive, and the way he smiles, everything is so perfect. Boyish grin with a jocular voice. All I know is that he's funny as fuck, I wanna be close to him. 

Hindi ko na alam kung ilang minuto ko siyang tinititigan dito sa bleachers habang nagprapractice siya kasama ng kanyang team ng soccer. He was in my class since middle school and I see him nothing more than a classmate. We greeted each other occasionally, like a long lost friends, catching up with each other. Lalo na at madalas ko itong nakakatabi sa upuan dahil magkadikit lang ang surname naming dalawa. Burn and Cane. Madalas kasing by surname ang seating arrangement kaya kahit gusto ko o hindi ay magkatabi kami.

He was really nice. We almost see each other grow up. Maliit lang ang lugar namin kaya halos magkakilala ang lahat ng pamilya. If you ask someone about this surname, they already know who it is. Ilang beses ko na rin naging kagrupo si Liam sa mga term papers at case study. He always finished his task on time and patiently taught me whenever I needed help understanding something. He motivates me too. Giving me compliments that I shouldn't be conscious of the callouses on my fingers since this is a sign that I did my best playing the piano.

Mayroon pang pagkakataon na siya pa ang nagturo sa aking kung paano mag solve sa basic calculus namin subject. There are times whenever we see each other in the corridor; he will smile at me and ask me to give him a high five before turning to his friends. My years became bearable because of Liam. He puts a smile on my face, and I am glad that we met.

Not until the last year of our senior year in high school. Hindi ko alam kung saan kailan nagmula kung kelan ako umiwas sa kanya. Maybe when my friends started teasing me with Liam. I see Liam as nothing but a boy in class, but when my friends teased me about Liam, that's when everything started. I become awkward around him, even in our class. And when I admitted to myself that I had a crush on him, I looked forward to seeing him in class every day. Just like that, Liam and I no longer have a daily interaction with each other. Sa tuwing nagkikita kami sa corridor ay nilalagpasan na lang namin ang isa't isa. Of course, it breaks my heart, but I already decided to ignore him now that I finally have feelings for him. Dati ay napakadali lang lumapit sa kanya pero ngayon meron na akong nararamdaman ay nahihiya na akong kausapin siya.

"Matutunaw na 'yang si Liam sa katitig mo." Emma just appeared out from nowhere. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib dahil sa pagkagulat sa pagdating niya.

"Emma! Hinaan mo naman 'yang boses mo at baka may makarinig sa'yo." Inilibot ko kung sino ang mga taong possibleng makarinig ng paguusap namin ni Emma. She tap my shoulders and sat besides me.

"It's okay, Avi. Everyone in the class knows that you have a crush on Liam. And for sure, you are not the only one who likes him." She said, laughing. I rolled my eyes at her.

"And whose fault is that?" May inis na sabi ko at pinadyak ang aking paa.

"Them?" Turo niya sa parating na bulto ni Summer at Sam. Kumaway sila sa amin at patakbong pumunta sa bleachers.

"Bakit? Anong pinaguusapan niyo?" Sam asked when she approached us. Kasama niya si Summer na parehas galing sa debate club nila. They are members of that club, so they have to participate in whatever activity they have there. Emma is an executive in the music club since she has been a member since day one. I chose the literature club. I always wanted a quiet place, and the literature club is the epitome of peacefulness. Kaya ito ang pinili ko. Una, dahil hindi nakakapagod. Pangalawa, hindi masyadong demanding. Every student must join at least one club since its a prerequisite to enroll for the next semester and to graduate.