Isabela
Bar
That was...
Ewan ko. Hindi ko alam paano ipaliwanag 'to sa sarili ko. Day by day, I became extra intimidated by his move, by his words. It kept surprising me to the extent.
After our praisworthy presentation in our history report, I was with Ate Thalia now inside the SUV being picked up by our driver. I was still shaking upon remembering how Art Hervin carried me, washed my sandals, and foot. Isa pa, I was so embarrassed to remember that he read the Maria Isabela Ardiente Tedesco. He started teasing me with that which just made everything so embarrassing, but what matters to me now was how he showed a kind gesture.
Arriving at home wasn't special anymore. Because of him, I wanted to go back at school straight away. After lunch, I was in the kitchen while making him a sandwich. I wanted to give him this for such a kind act he did. I didn't know why I was actually like this. I wanted to text him pero nakakahiya naman, kanina pa ako naghihintay sa text nya pero hindi sya nag text. Baka may inabala lang.
I went back to school for my class. Well, my classmates didn't mind me at all compared to the past meetings na may naririnig ako about myself. They became more careful about their words and actions already, and I had no idea why.
"Kayo na ba ni Art Tedesco, Isabela?" Sofia my classmate asked. We were on the way to our next class right now, the last subject.
Nagtitilian ang mga iba nyang friends na kaklase ko rin. "Ah, hindi. Magkaibigan lang kami." I timidly responded.
Tumunog ang cellphone ko kaya tinignan ko ito kaagad, it was Art Tedesco's text message that flashed on the screen. My heart boomed.
From Art:
Kumusta? Nasa school ka?
I immediately replied to his text message until we continued replying to each other. I just smiled more when he said he would wait for me after my class.
"Eh? Nanliligaw sayo?" My other classmate asked.
"Gwapo si Art Tedesco, sya pinaka gwapo dito sa campus para sakin."
"Kaya nga tas maraming nagka-crush sa kanya."
"Pati Ate Mae Anne ko dati nagkagusto sa kanya. Baliw na baliw nga sya, e."
They started talking about him which made me even more nervous. "Hindi naman sya nanligaw sakin. Magkaibigan lang talaga kami." I responded.
"Maganda pa ang katawan, halatang may experience sa..."
"Kama!" Nagtawanan silang lahat ng sabay-sabay silang nagsalita.
I felt my face getting hot from hearing that. I also recalled the strange sensation I had when he washed my foot kaninang umaga. There was a feeling I didn't want to remember anymore that the way he touched me was the main reason.
"Good kisser daw din 'yan sya." Si Stacy.
Among my classmates, I just knew their group. Kilala ko na silang apat. They seemed kind, they actually smiled at me, they talked to me, and they looked actually very approachable. In my case, they were the ones initiating to talk to me.
"Tsaka malaki ang ti-"
"Guys, bilisan na natin!" I cut them off so I would not hear anything anymore about Hervin. I didn't know why I was reacting like this, I didn't want to think of him now because I might think of him the other way.
"Tara na!"
In our last subject, we just had a discussion. I was somehow excited to end the class so I could meet him. I just listened to the lecture then I wrote down what was written on the board. I immediately got out of the classroom so I could find him in the field. It was still far, and I was rushing now.
