The Rank - Series II

Chapter 2

Please read The Rank I first. Thank you.

"Hey Clovs!"

Huminto ako sa paglalakad at nilingon kung sino ang tumawag sakin though i already recognize the voice. I see a very handsome guy with his tootpaste smile na pangcommercial. Nakaksilaw eh. "Peeta."

"Teka lang." Humahangos na pakiusap nya sakin.

At hinintay ko naman sya.

Peeta is my friend, isa sa dalawang kaibigan ko dito sa School. Yes, i only have two friends in Timothy — Ang baliw ko na best friend na si  Margaret at itong si Peeta. Actually hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit ako kinaibigan ni Peeta.

I mean ang layo ng status namin sa school, Peeta is popular, center forward of Timothy's football team, sobrang pogi, nagkakandarapa ang babae sa kanya. And there's me. Just no one.

"Ang bilis mo maglakad." Humihingal na sabi ni Peeta pagkalapit sakin.

I gently push my eyeglasses up to my nose, lagi kasing bumababa kahit lagyan ko pa ng stopper. "Bakit ka kasi tumatakbo?"

Peeta smile at me. "May ibibigay ako sayo eh." At may inabot sya sakin na paper bag. "I bought you chocolates."

I love chocolates that I wouldn't trade it for anything. When i feel sad i eat chocolate, when i feel happy i eat chocolate — Chocolate is my comfort. I'm just lucky na hindi ako tabain, I always have lean body which I'm grateful for.

Napatingin ako kay Peeta bago kuhain ang binibigay nya sakin. "Salamat pero hindi ka na sana gumastos. 3x this week mo na akong ibili ng chocolates eh."

Natawa si Peeta. "Wala yon, kasama sa budget ko ang chocolate mo —" And he notice na medyo ulo ang buhok at necktie ng uniform ko. "Teka, napano ka? Bakit parang binagyo ka."

I instantly feels shy and embarrassed. "Hindi naman." Nagblush pa nga ako by remembering Olivia. That girl is so pretty. "Nagkabanggaan kami ni Olivia kanina."

"Olivia?" Peeta is confuse because there's only one Olivia in Timothy. "The Olivia Advincula?"

"Yes." Tumatangong sagot ko sa kanya.

But Peeta is still unsure if what he heard is right. "The Rank 2?"

"The Rank 2." Pag-uulit ko.

Peeta is part of elite group but he doesn't like The Rank girls for many reasons. "Are you okay though?" Concern nyang tanong sakin. "Nasaktan ka ba? Did she even say sorry —"

"Yes she did say sorry." I assured him with a smile.

"Good." At inakabayan ako ni Peeta. I actually don't mind the gesture at all. Sanay na ako na ganito sya sakin. Besides, he never take advantage of it. "Magbibirthday na pala si Mushroom ano?"

Oh mushroom is my little sister.

And yes, as weird it may sound — my mothers name her Mushroom.

Nagpapasalamat nalang ako na hindi nila sakin ipinangalan yan — I'm okay with Clover.

"Ano bang gift ang gusto nya?" Tanong ni Peeta habang naglalakad kami.

Maraming tao sa corridor, nagkaknda banggaan ang mga naglalakad — ano ba kasing Meron?

Bumitaw si Peeta sakin at nauna syang naglakad para mag-usisa sa nangyayari. Kaya sumunod lang ako sa kanya.

"Move, move!"

At halos dumikit ang mukha ko sa pader ng biglang may tumulak sakin.

"Clover!" Agad nalumapit sakin si Peeta.