Been Through (SCS #3)

13.

I never got interested to someone during my entire student life. Crush? Nah, I never had one.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga kaklase noon na nagsasabing mas g'wapo ang isang lalaki kaysa sa isa kaya nila nagustuhan. I mean, men have their own unique features? How would you distinguish if a man is more handsome than the other one? Anong standard ang sinusundan nila? Same goes to women. How would you know if a woman is prettier than the other one? Anong basehan? Aren't we all equally beautiful and handsome?

I don't get them sometimes.

"Alam kong gwapo ako, Yara pero, bawasan mo naman ang kakatitig," I snapped out of my thoughts when a voice errupted. I blinked and saw Janus beside me. Nakatukod ang pisngi niya sa kamao niya at nakaharap siya sa akin.

"Assuming ka," I told him and went back to reading. I planned to study in the library but, this guy just followed me here and told me that he'll study as well for the next subjects. It's our second day of examination.

He chuckled before leaning closer. "Deserve ko ng reward," aniya kaya muling nabalik sa kaniya ang tingin ko. Kunot noo ko siyang tinignan at ngiti ang sinukli niya sa akin.

"Hindi na ako nakikipagbugbugan, nagsusuot na ako ng uniform ko nang maayos tapos, nag-aaral na ako nang mabuti!" he proudly stated before raising his brows at me. "Wala ba akong makukuhang reward?" tanong niya ulit kaya pinakita ko ang kamao ko sa kaniya.

"Ito, reward," I stated but, he only frowned at me.

"Ang daya naman. Good boy na kaya ako tapos, walang reward?" pagmamaktol niya kaya napatitig ako sa kaniya at napangiti bago bahagyang napailing. I cleared my throat before lifting my hand. I placed it on his hair and my fingers worked to comb his messy hair. Natigilan naman siya at napalingon sa akin.

"Ang galing mo. I'm happy because you're doing good," sabi ko at ngumiti sa kaniya bago ko ibinaba ang kamay ko. He remained looking at me and my eyes also never left him.

Janus is attractive and that's why girls adored him. Kung noon ay maraming nahuhumaling sa kaniya dahil sa mala-badboy na itsura niya ngayon ay mas dumoble. With his clean look, girls surely got their heart eyes for him.

"Nasabi ko na ba sa 'yong ang ganda mo?" he suddenly blurted, making my eyes a bit wide. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin nang seryoso. Sinubukan kong alamin kung nagbibiro ba siya pero, seryosong-seryoso ang mata niya kaya hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin. He suddenly faced me before lifting his hand to caress my cheeks.

"Ang ganda mo, Yara. Kahit siguro anong ekspresyon ang gawin mo, gandang-ganda pa rin ako sa 'yo," aniya sa malambing na boses at sinabayan pa ng pagngiti niya. Natulala na ako dahil doon habang siya ay nakangiti pa rin habang nakatingin sa akin.

Hindi ko alam kung paano kakalma gayong nararamdaman ko na ang pagtibok ng puso ko, mabilis 'yon kaya para hindi niya mapansin, umiwas ako ng tingin at ibinalik ang tingin sa binabasa.

"Akala ko ba mag-aaral ka?" I mentally cheered when I didn't stutter. "Kung ano-ano sinasabi mo, mag-aral ka na!" I said before giving him his notes. My cheeks are still heating up so, I did my best to not look at his way.

When the examination time came, I packed my things before standing up. Hindi ko pa man nasusukbit ang bag ko ay may umagaw na no'n kaya natulala ako.

"Janus..." I trailed but, he already walked away, carrying my bag with him. Ang ending, nakatungo akong naglalakad sa tabi niya dahil alam ko kung ano ang tingin na binibigay ng mga estudyanteng nakakakita.

When we reached the classroom, he placed my things on my chair before looking at me. He even smiled and caressed my cheeks.

"Goodluck, Yara."