Loving Greene

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

“Don’t you think it's a bit odd na parang ang bilis niya namang maging mabait sa’yo.”

Fidel and I were talking about these strange things that's happening between Atlas Greene and me. Of course I'm loving all the attention from him but there's a rational part of my head that is still confused about how fast all of these was. Well, he never asked me to become his girlfriend or whatnot pero nagtataka pa rin ako dahil ang bilis gumaan ng loob niya sa akin.

“Could it be pinaglalaruan ka lang?”

My heart hurt at what Fidel said. I know he's a hater pero may point din naman siya. Why would Atlas Greene be drawn to me all of the sudden? I know I saved him from potential destruction pero naguguluhan talaga ako ngayon.

“Tama na, Fidel. You're not helping,” I said and glared at him. He just shrugged it off. Bakit nga ba si Fidel ang kinakausap ko tungkol sa mga bagay na ‘to? He hasn't an ounce of experience, just as me.

Buong araw na bumagabag sa akin ang bagay na iyon. At recess, may inilapag na yakult si Greene sa aking desk. He never said anything about it. He just left it there and walked back to his seat. Naguguluhan man ay kinuha ko pa rin ang inumin. When I went to get water at the fountain, naroon din siya. He even asked about me and my wounds.

“You should bring that to the clinic so that the nurse can dress it. Or I could come with you and dress the wound myself.”

As much as I would love the offer, I declined. What if he's truly just playing with me? Though the other part of my mind disagreed, I've known him since then and I know that he's not that kind of guy. Yet the other part was still uncertain, I've only known the parts of him that he shows and not what is really going on inside his head.

“You alright?”

His voice woke me up from my reverie. Kaagad kong sinara ang gripo ng tubig dahil kanina pa pala puno ang aking water bottle at umapaw na ito. I immediately shook my head and was about to take my leave pero naisip kong hindi ako matatahimik hanggat hindi ko siya nakakausap tungkol sa bagay na ito.

“What am I to you?” Diretso kong tanong sa kanya. It was embarassing but it needs to be done. Nakita ko ang gulat sa kanyang mga mata dahil sa aking tanong.

“Y-you’re someone special…”

Kahit anong pigil ko sa aking sarili, my cheeks went red at what he just said. His lips rose because of that. 

I looked around and checked if somebody could hear our conversation. Nang makita ko ang pinakahuling estudyanteng lumiko sa malayong corridor ay tsaka na ako nagpatuloy sa aking mga sasabihin.

“Special? It's only been weeks since we started being civil to one another. You liked Marina, right? Am I just your rebound?”

Nagulat siya sa aking sinabi. The smile that was plastered on his face immediately disappeared. Napalitan iyon ng kanyang seryosong reaksiyon.

“What makes you think of that?” He sighed. “I’m sorry I wasn't clear with my intentions to you. I sort of lied when I told you that you never caught my attention.”

Nakita ko ang kanyang mariing pagpikit na para bang nahihirapan. “I was admiring you from afar since the seventh grade. I've liked you eversince and it seems like my affection has grown into something stronger and I can't make it stop. I like you so much, Adelaida.”

Huh?

I couldn't stop blinking when I walked back to our classroom. I was speechless. It feels like time has stopped, everything stopped. My heart is racing inside my chest and it feels like I'm running out if air inside my lungs. What was that? And why did he leave after his confession? This is madness! Hindi ko alam kung nagbibiro ba siya pero hindi talaga ako makapaniwala. Atlas Greene liking me since the seventh grade?! This can't be real.