In Those Eyes

Kabanata One

"Ano na teh? Anong balita sa iyong oplan kaibiganin si kuyang STEM?" Aisle said while we were eating.

"Ang bagal mo naman, Red!" Jace said as he ate his food.

"Ano na? Two months mo na ata tina-try makipag friends don ah?" Kali said and his mouth was full of food kaya medyo tumalsik pa ito. He earned a glare from Aisle.

"Ano ba kasi?!" Aisle said with her brow raised. "Pag nanguya pa kasi i-close nalang ang mouth—- ate ko, Red, ayun yung crush mo oh!" Her mood suddenly changed and pointed to one direction. Liningon ko naman iyon at nakita ko ang aking soon to be B.F.F.

Napangiti ako dahil doon. I stared at him like a hawk preying on its prey. He was laughing with his friends like the usual, ang pogi. I was daydreaming while staring at him nang bigla siyang tumingin sa direksyon ko at nagka eye to eye contact kami. Hala, sign na ba ito? Charot, hala nag panic ako kaya naman iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya at nagkunwaring inililibot ko ang aking mata.

"Uy, kinabahan." Asar sa akin ni Aisle.

"Tarantado!" Singhal ko sa kanya bago sulyapan ulit si Jem na ngayo'y tumatawa na ulit sa mga kaibigan.

Ang cute niya talaga, sobra. Also, his vibe? I feel like he's a good catch. Always naka smile and he looks very very friendly and approachable. Kaso marami kasing kaagaw eh. Kaya siguro hindi ko pa nakukuha attention niya. Ugh! Cons of having a crushable na crush.

I don't know what I'll do na! I-aapproach ko ba siya out of nowhere? Do I introduce myself? Mag jojoke ba ako sa kaniya? Mag papanggap ba akong nag-bump sa kaniya? How do I get to know him?

"Miss Valeno!" The teacher's voice brought me back to life. I got carried away thinking about him! That is so not me! "You're being excused by the council. You may go now." She calmly said and proceeded back to her lesson.

I fixed my stuff and went outside. I was welcomed by the Student Council President, buti na lang at kaibigan ko ito kaya hindi masyadong nakakahiya. Sinundan ko siya papunta sa office ng council kung saan naroon ang iba pang council.

"So, you are all gathered here kasi may announcement from the Student Coordinator and Principal kanina lang." He started and it got my attention kasi ibig sabihin non ay may gagawin kami. "Next week, Monday, daw ang magiging Intrams natin. Meaning we have 5 days, including today, to prepare for it. For now, we'll focus on the pubmats para ma-announce siya mamaya and we'll also plan the events na rin."

My gosh this is not it! They're really going to rush us? Buti nalang at Senior High lang ang kasali dito at bukod yung sa mga Junior High School!

Meron kaming production team na for pubmats at pictures or videos for events lang kaya mas napadali na yung trabaho namin. We planned about the events at flow nito, kung anong araw or what. We looked for compatible hosts and those who will paint for each strand banner. Combined na yung grade level per strand kaya 4 teams in total ang meron, GAS, STEM, ABM, and my beloved HUMSS.

Nag prepare na ako umuwi after non kasi medyo late na kami natapos kasi may napasamang chika kaya natagalan kami. Sabi ko sa mga kaibigan ko na huwag na akong intayin dahil baka malate nga kami.

Nag-lalakad na ako papunta sana sa tusok tusok kasi nagutom ako nang biglang may bumatok sa akin hindi naman yung batok na palong palo though.

"Tagal niyo." Jace said and I saw Kali strolling right behind him. They waited for me, well normal na naman sa akin yon kasi lagi naman nila talaga akong hinihintay kahit sabihin ko na umuna na sila. Sabi nila kasi para sure daw na safe ako makakauwi.

"Umuna na si Aisle, hinatid na namin, may gagawin pa raw kasi siya sa kanila eh." Kali said when he got nearer.

"Tara tusok, libre ko na." I said at nauna na maglakad kasi gutom na talaga ako.

After that, pumunta pa kami sa bayan para mag pares kasi nag crave kami bigla at wala bonding na namin ito eh. It's something we got used to.

"Luh, irurush kayo sa intrams? Eh kakatapos lang ng prelims? What is rest nga naman diba?" Natatawang sabi ni Kali bago siya mabulunan kaya humahalpak muna kami ng tawa bago siya abutan ng tubig.

"Tarantado talaga, mamamatay nako tinatawan pa ako." Reklamo pa niya.

"What are friends for?" Sabi naman ni Jace bago kami nagpatuloy kumain.

Hinatid na nila ako after that. Libre ulit pamasahe ko, buti nalang may motor yung dalawa.

"Hi, darling. How was your day?" My mother welcomed me when I entered home. My father is still at work I guess, because usually he'd welcome me with a tackle or surprise tickles when I enter the house.

"Mommy, I had a long, long day! And I saw my crush!" I giggled. I was open about it with my mom, not so much with my dad though because he'd sulk right after and say that I'm no longer going to be his princess anymore. That I'd be someone else's princess and that I'd love him less. Oh my father.

I went to bed right after my chitchat with my mom during dinner. She even said na kinikilig din siya because she remembered how it used to be when it was her and dad. They were highschool sweethearts! Never broken and separated! She even said na muntik na silang maging besties for life because walang umaamin sa kanila nung una, but then boom! During their prom for 10th grade my father said that he liked her and that he would court her. They stayed together up until now. Oh to be loved like that.