an old crumpled story

Chapter 01

Chapter 01

I like him but not to the point that I’d stay in our school and wait for any interaction between us. Gusto ko siya dahil may iba sakaniya na hindi ko maramdaman o makita sa ibang lalaki. I recall how we locked gaze on each other as I spin my ballpen on my fingers. Nakapalumbaba ako dahil hindi makapag-concentrate sa ginagawa.

Nakauwi na kami ng kapatid. We took a tricycle to go home and now I’m here inside my room, trying to make my promise come true. I am trying to study Science now pero may hula ako na baka katulad ng kahapon, makatulog nanaman ako ulit!

I sighed. It's not my first time seeing handsome people like him. I've been courted by many guys, guwapo rin pero hindi ko alam kung bakit iba ang epekto sa akin ng isang 'to. May nanligaw na rin sa aking matalino pero hindi naman ako na-motivate na mag-aral nang mabuti. Well, siya naman ang nagkagusto sa 'kin, hindi ako, kaya bakit ko siya paluluguran?

There was surely something in him that I couldn't explain. Sinusubukan ’kong mag-aral para naman kahit papaano, may chance ako... ayaw daw sa bobo, eh. I'm not dumb though. I tilted my head as I remembered our unfortunate interaction.

“Anong sagot dito? Patingin nga ako, Ella.” I said as an excuse and removed my hand from Darren’s hand.

Darren is courting me but I don't like him being touchy and clingy. Gusto ko na ngang bastedin pero bibigyan ko pa ng chance.

“Kopyahin mo nalang 'yung sa akin,” Darren suggested when he heard me.

Umiling ako. Siyempre, kung hihingi ako ng sagot, doon nalang sa matalino. Ella is one of the friends I found here in my school. She's one of the achievers and the president of our section. Ang grupo ko, nag-sama sa iisang school. I can easily make friends so even without them, I’m okay here.

She gave me her notebook. I felt Darren trying to hold my again but I refused.

“Teka, may ginagawa pa ako,” I said lazily.

I felt him playing with my hair now. I rolled my eyes and just let him. Then, I heard the a knock and our door opened. Immediately, I closed Ella’s notebook and sat properly. Break time namin ngayon at ang sunod na teacher ay terror. He wants everyone properly seated before he enter our classroom. Ayaw niya sa maingay kaya nang bumukas ang pintuan, natahimik ang klase. I know everyone expected our terror teacher to come.

“Oh, sorry.” I heard a deep voice.

Napaangat ako ng tingin. It is not our teacher. Dashing with his hair properly trimmed, a deep blue longsleeve and black slacks, he surveyed everyone as if looking for someone.

He's gwapo!

I know everyone is also curiously looking at him. From my seat, I could hear my classmates saying how good looking he is.

“Is Sir Francis not here?” he asked one of my classmates.

Umiling ang babae ’kong kaklase at hindi nag-salita.

“Okay, thank you.”

He smiled and then left.

“He looks good.” I whispered, enough for Ella to hear.

Mukhang narinig yata ako ni Darren. I cleared my throat.

“Mas guwapo ako do’n,”

Hindi ako umimik. The last thing I want to do is to offend him, lalo na at babastedin ko rin naman siya.

“I know him. Taga ibang school ’yon, college na.”

I nodded. Hindi na nag-tanong, as if uninterested. Obviously, he's not from our school. He's wearing a blue I.D. lace. Ours is gray.