Meet me in the golden scenery

03

"PWEDE po ba iba nalang 'yung partner ko sa research, ma'am?"

Kanina pa ako dito nagmamakaawa sa teacher namin na sana palitan 'yung partner ko. It's tiring to do this research individually but it's much better than to do it with Kian.

"Also, isn't unfair sa ibang students? Two high achievers get paired up together? Right guys?" I stood up and faced the class. Hoping they would agree.

"Tama, ma'am! Ang unfair naman kapag silang dalawa 'yung pair!"

"True! Unfair nga!"

"Tama!"

I hid a smirk on my face. Nakahinga ako nang malalim sa mga reklamo nila. Baka magchange 'yung mind ni ma'am. It was getting all good but then-

"I beg to differ," Biglang pag sulpot ni Kian. He was calm and laidback. He's sitting on his chair comfortably while playing with a pen on his left hand.
"they would keep on relying on us if you stick with them all the time."

A sudden silence in the room. Napalunok ako at tinignan ang likod niya sa harap ko. He is still sitting in his chair infront of me. I could only see his broad and wide back from this view. Huminga ako nang malalim bago naglakad sa harap at huminto sa harap niya. He didn't even bother to look at me.

"People have different potentials, Kian. It's not entirely a bad idea to rely on someone." I whispered with gritted teeth. I looked at his left hand spinning a pen. Maya-maya, inangat na niya ang tingin niya sa'kin. so slow, so time consuming.

"They wouldn't be able to function on their own without our presence—Kheanne." Panggagaya niya sa tono ng boses ko.

It made my blood boil even more. Pero hindi ako nagsalita. I'm afraid I'd say unnecessary insults if I do talk. I wouldn't want to lose my cool.

"Pake ko, basta—ayaw kitang Ma-ka-sa-ma." Idiniin ko pa ang pang huling salita para magets niya. Inaasar niya lang ako, e!

I saw him smirked. He didn't even try to hide it.

"E, gusto kitang makasama, e." His smirk became a smile. Nakatingin pa rin siya sa'kin habang ako naman ay nakatayo sa harap niya. My intrusive thoughts kept saying to punch him in the face but I just couldn't.

"Ulol, naniwala ka naman. Uto-uto." His smile faded in a split second. At mas lalo pa akong nainis. I stepped on his foot intentionally with so much force. He groaned but he tried staying quiet.

"Kheanne, go back to your seat. If you don't want Kian as your pair, I'll just simply give you deductions."

My eyes widened with what she said. Deductions?! Seriously?!

"Fine," Pag pigil ko sa galit at inis na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Mas lalo pa akong nahirapan sa pag pigil nang nakita kong ngumiti si Kian at mukhang natutuwa pa. I kicked his leg and witnessed pain in his face before I rolled my eyes at him. I then walk away.

***
"Ma'am, wala na po ba'ng other student na pwede kong maka pair? If wala, I'll just work individually, ma'am."

"Kheanne," Ms. Fendez sighed."this is your chance."

Agad namang kumunot ang noo ko. Puno ng pagtataka ang ulo ko.

"Chance?" I replied with confusion."What chance, ma'am?"

"Chance na magbati kayo ng kapangalan mo!" Her tone was high but it wasn't a shout.

Kapangalan ko? Si Kian?

"Ms. Fendez, hindi naman po kami kaaway." I tried keeping my temper as it is. Bumubukal kase 'yung dugo ko kapag naririmig ko ang pangalan niya. Malas pa at same pronunciation pa kami ng pangalan.  Kian, Kheanne.

"Sinong niloloko mo, Adelstein. Atsaka, kayo naman ang pinapili ko ng pair, hindi ako."

Mas lalo pa akong naguluhan sa sinabi ni Ms. Fendez. I can't think right at the moment.

"Hindi ho ikaw 'yung nag pair sa'ming lahat?" My tone is wrap in confusion once again. "E, wala naman akong sinabi'ng gusto ko si Kian na maka-pair. Sino po 'yung nagpair sa'min?"

Who the hell is this duckhead who wanted me and Kian to be pairs?! Do they have a death wish?

Rinig kong tumawa nang mahina si Ms. Fendez. She looked at me teasingly and said, "It was none other than Kian, himself."

My heart dropped but my blood rises. I've now imagined all the ways that I could kill him. I should poison him, or slit his throat.

"Si Kian? Why would he even do that? There's no way, Ms. Fendez." I nervously laughed it out.

"Totoo nga! Yesterday, he went here in my office and asked me to pair him with the second smartest in the room. And that's you!"  Tinapik niya ang kamay ko. "I do think the boy likes you, Kheanne." She gave me a teasing wink.

"What? There's no way he likes me." I almost vomit of the thought. "If he does, he wouldn't be this shitty to me."

"Psh! Language!" Lumaki ang mga mata ni Ms. Fendez. Nagulat sa bigla kong pagmura sa harapan niya.

"Apologies," I said borely.

Umuwi akong wala sa mood. Nagdadabog akong pumasok sa kwarto ko at pabagsak na humiga sa'king kama. After a while, I stood up and walked to my window. My chest tightened with anger when I saw the window just infront of my window. Alam ko kasi kung kaninong bahay yan noon. It was Kian's room before. I still remember the times I've seen him through his window. Mabuti nalang talaga at lumipat na sila ng bahay. I don't know if I could hold myself still if I could see Kian's every move throughout my window.

"Kheanne," A knock from my door grabbed my attention. It was mom.

"Mom?" I walked to the door and opened it. I saw her standing with a sweater on. And a smile on her face.

"I have good news!" Masaya nyang sabi. I could feel every excitement on her. Na excite rin tuloy ako.

"Really? What is it?" An uncontrollable smile appeared on my face.

"Naalala mo ba 'yung kababata mo? Si Kian?" A smile still is visibly on her face.

Loud thumps on my heart is the only thing I could feel right now. Kinabahan ako bigla. Nothing is good news when it involves Kian.

"I don't want to hear anything about him right now." I'm now such a nervous wreck.

"But-"

"Mom, please," I held her hand with pleading tone. "pagod ako, bukas na please?"

Her excitement wore off completely. It honestly breaks my heart pero ayaw ko talagang marinig ang pangalan ni Kian ngayon. I feel like I'm gonna explode.

"Alright, sweetie, bukas na lang." Hinaplos niya ang pisnge ko.

"Thanks, ma." I held her hand on my cheek.