I immediately pulled myself back, but he faced me already.
"Hi, it's nice to see you again," he smiled. I just smiled, not knowing what I should reply. "What's your name by the way?"
"Lucy," sagot ko, pero unti-unti nang nababawasan ang mga tao at naiwan na ako ng mga kaklase. "Bye!" I waved my hand and left him there. My classmates were cleaning when I entered the classroom. Everyone has their own world, and only my friends and some of my classmates looked at me. Boys at the back were jamming like they didn't see others cleaning and sweeping the floor. Few of the girls were talking about their idols. The studious ones were busy discussing our teacher's mistake in grammar last Friday, while my friends, and some of my classmates were sweating bullets as they clean the mess around the classroom.
"Saan ka galing?" tanong ni Pia.
"Sa gym, na stuck ako don eh."
"Weh? Baka palusot mo lang yan kasi ayaw mong maglinis?" biglang sabat ni Roger, he was the most annoying among the boys.
"Oo nga, kawawa naman yung leader natin tinatakasan mo palagi tuwing uwian," dugtong ng kaibigan nitong si Harry sabay turo kay Trina. Hindi ko sila pinansin at kumuha nalang ng walis.
I was thinking about the guy I met at Liga while I was sweeping the floor. I just realized he got a new haircut today, and he had a fresh gleam unlike when we first met. Maybe because he was stressed that time?
"Hey, okay ka lang?" Chris asked me. His way of speaking was more feminine, even his fingers looked lovelier than mine.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I nodded.
"Parang hindi naman, namumutla ka eh." He looked at me with concern. Napatingin tuloy yung mga kaibigan ko sa akin nang may halong panunukso.
"May anemia ako kaya normal lang to."
What's with him?
I was more surprised when he got a rag from the drawer and wiped the dust off the window near me.
"Lucy, can I ask you something?"
"Ano yun?"
"Do you really like me?" he flinched when I stared at him. he stuttered, trying to lower his voice.
"Why not? I don't mind if you're gay, Chris. It doesn't hold me back from liking you," I answered honestly. We were deeply looking at each other's eyes, and this time I forgot about our classmate's presence.
I like Chris until now. I won't deny it even if he asks me. Chris is the most genuine, caring, and humble person I ever met. I was attracted to him at first because of his handsome face, cute eyes and dimples. Pero habang tumatagal ay mas lalo akong napahanga sa kanya dahil sa kabutihan niya. Ika nga, somebody can be good enough to be a friend, but not good enough to be a lover. I don't care if hindi magiging kami, hindi naman yun ang intensyon ko. Liking someone doesn't mean you have to own them. I am aware of my feelings, and I know I'm just infatuated with this guy...or I should say gay.
"I like you na talaga teh. If I was a boy, I would court you," aniya habang nakangiti.
"Seryoso ka ba?" natatawa kong tanong. "Tama na ah, hulog na hulog na ako sa'yo." I frankly said. Wala talagang preno kung makapagsalita to. Alam na nga'ng may gusto ako, dinadagdagan pa.
"Sa true teh. You know what? You're one of a kind," sabi pa niya at napailing naman ako sabay harang ng kamay ko.
"Tama na, please." I chuckled.
"No, listen. You're really likable, Lucy. You're a beauty and a brain, plus talented pa"
I snorted. "Pfft! Parang di naman. Ikaw nga tong matalino sa ating dalawa eh! Pinapagaan mo lang ang loob ko."
"Don't degrade yourself, Lucy. Sa tingin mo ba makakasurvive ka dito sa section na to kung hindi ka matalino?"
I can't say a word. Tama nga siya. It's just that I am not confident enough with my intellect. I have academic insecurities, and because of academic discrimination I lost my confidence.
"Matalino ka girl. Don't be too hard on yourself, okay?" My heart melted when he put down the rag he was holding and held both of my hands. My heart was fluttered. Siya lang ang kauna-unahang nagsabi sa akin ng deretsahan tungkol sa magagandang katangian na taglay ko.
I was invisible to other guys out there, but I don't care as long as my crush appreciates my worth.
"Oy ano yan?"
We both snapped when Dani spoke. Agad niyang binitawan ang kamay ko. I felt my cheeks heating up.
"Yieeeeeeeeeee!"
Siomai rice! When will they stop?
"Wala," I scratched my neck. "Pinagpagan niya lang ang kamay ko," palusot ko.
"So, kailangan pa talagang ganito?" she then grabbed Roger and demonstrated how Chris held my hands. All of my classmates teased me. The boys even pounded their armchairs as if it's a drum.
I glanced at Chris and he's laughing.
Weird. Ba't parang ayos lang sa kanya? Is he playing a game or something?
Hindi ko maiwasang magduda habang tinitingnan sila isa-isa, lalo na si Chris. I am happy that he was not avoiding me after knowing what I felt for him, but I am also doubting that they might just making fun of me. What if they are betting on me?
