Hey You

Chapter 10

The next day, Jane was about to leave the lockers before school starts when she heard someone call out to her.

"Jane," Nella waved at her.

"Uy, hi," Jane immediately felt a boost of energy swimming through her body. She thought it must be the happy hormones that are somehow released every time she's with Nella.

"Hi, good morning," Nella greeted back with a smile. "I was hoping I'd find you here."

Jane couldn't hide the huge smile that formed on her face when she heard what Nella just said to her. "Good morning. Everything okay?"

Nella nodded. "Oo, everything's okay. I just—I just thought—" she hesitated.

"What is it?" Jane asked with concern.

"It's not that I'm assuming na you'd look for me during lunch. It's not like that. I just wanted to tell you na I won't be at the library later," Nella informed her.

Jane's expression turned serious. "Oh okay. Do you have to leave early?"

Nella shook her head. "Eto kasing si Ms. Schafer, she told me I need to participate more sa mga activities sa school, so I'll be at club rush. I'm going to shop for a club to join. I wanted to let you know lang kasi I don't want you to think na I'm hiding from you, eh wala kasi akong number mo."

Jane found it so sweet and thoughtful of Nella to even think about letting her know about her plans for lunch. She gave her a smile. "I appreciate that. Thank you for making an effort to find me and sabihan ako. Kasi you're right, baka pag hindi kita nahagilap mamaya, iisipin ko nga siguro na I scared you off kahapon when we ate lunch together."

"Huy, hindi ah," Nella denied. "In fact, I enjoyed having lunch with you. Sa uulitin—kung may time ka."

Jane let out a little giggle. "Oo naman, but busy ka later, and I'm busy too. Buti na lang nahanap moko kasi balak ko ring hanapin ka to let you know na I'll be at club rush later, too."

Nella's eyes lit up. "You are? You were told na you needed to join a club, too?"

Jane smiled. "No, not really. I'm one of the organizers of club rush tsaka I'm in a few clubs, too."

Nella's eyes widened. She forgot Jane was a member of the school's ASB (Associated Student Body). They were in charge of most of the events in school. "Wow, oo nga pala. I forgot nasa ASB ka. Busy year for you pala."

Jane nodded. "Yeah, unfortunately. Don't worry, I can help you decide which clubs are good for your college application—I mean, they're all good naman pero some are more involved with school activities than the others. Yung iba kasi parang na-form lang for the sake of having and joining a club tapos they don't really do much for the school or the community."

Nella nodded. "Naku, eh busy ka. Okay lang. I'll learn more about the clubs naman later sa club rush."

Jane shook her head. "Okay lang noh. Eto naman. Here," she handed Nella her phone. "If okay lang sayo, can we exchange numbers so we have a way of communicating with each other?"

Nella smiled. She handed Jane her phone.

"Cute, mommy mo?" Jane looked at her after seeing her phone's wallpaper.

Nella smiled a little. Then she nodded.

"Ang cute naman. You two must be really close. Bibihira na lang yung mga tao na wallpaper nila mommy nila," Jane smiled while she saved her number on Nella's phone.

"She died after sophomore year. Feeling ko kasama ko sya kahit nasan ako kapag nakikita ko sya every time I look at my phone. It makes me feel like she's closer to me," Nella explained.