Walk on memories

Chapter 2

“Class, I want you all to meet your new classmate.” Unang bungad ng teacher namin. Hindi pa siya tuluyang nakapasok no’ng sinabi niya ‘yon.

Mula sa kaniya, my eyes went to the boy walking next to him. Ito ang tinutukoy niyang bagong kaklase namin. But if you look at him mukhang hindi siya bago, because the way he walked, wala kang mababakas na uneasiness kagaya ng makikita mo kadalasan sa karamihang new students. He’s walking with full of confidence. He stopped at the front center.

I looked at my classmates who seemed to be excited to know more about our so-called new classmate. I rolled my eyes. I don’t see any interesting in him aside from his confidence.

Until he cleared his throat and started to speak at the front.

“Good morning, I believe most of you already know me, but there are some who still don’t…” he paused and met my eyes. It stayed there for a while and he smiled before looking away.

I blinked.

Wait!

Did he just wink at me?

“My name is Patrick Jopierre V. Constantine a.k.a JP. Yes, the legend one from Cupid section. Ang  kasing-gwapo ni Kupido.” He even made a pogi sign.

My classmates laughed at his remarks and action. Hindi ako makasabay, because my mind was on something. Did he just say Cupid Section? The last section of our batch in this school? Kung ganoon hindi siya transferee at lumipat lang ng section? And Wow! From last section, he made into the first one. That’s something. He must have worked hard for it.

“Can I sit here?”

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa nagmamay-ari ng boses.

“Yeah, sure.” I said.

Wala naman akong choice kundi um-oo kasi itong katabi ko lang ang bakanteng upuan dito sa room namin.

“Thank you. I’m Jp, by the way.”Muli niyang pakilala, as if hindi ko narinig ang pagsasalita niya kanina sa unahan. Tumango ako at  tinanggap ang nakalahad niyang kamay, but I didn’t say anything.

“You’re Ally, right?” He asked in a low voice, but it was enough to reach my soul. My heart started to pound harder on my chest.

“Huh? How did you know?” I asked him back.

But he didn’t reply. Instead, he smiled then focus his attention to our teacher. He stayed like that until our teacher dismiss us. Kahit no’ng pumasok ang next subject teacher namin, ganoon pa rin ang nangyari. He sometimes looked at me and smiled but never said anything.
 
Days passed, unti-unti akong nasanay sa presensiya niya at ganoong treatment niya sa akin. I mean parang naging ka-close na niya halos lahat ng mga kaklse namin, maliban sa akin. Hindi naman kasi siya masiyadong nagsasalita sa akin at ayoko rin maunang mag-initiate ng conversation. If he wants to be close with me, he should be the one to do the first move. Not the other way around.

Our days went on like that, until one day…

“For today’s activity, you will be paired with your seatmates. You have to cooperate with each other if you want to finish this act successfully.” Our science teacher announced

I scratched my forehead. I guess I have no choice now but to work with him. I don’t want a failing grade after all.

“So…” I said as I looked at him, I paused when I realized that he was already staring at me.

I waved my hand. Tila natauhan naman siya.

“Ah… what were you saying?” He asked.

“Partner tayo.”