Cheer Up, Captain

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Suddenly, I didn't know how to act! I mean, how did I act before ba? I should just go to school... right? Paano ba ako before? I was so confused!

I almost had a heart attack when I heard a knock on the door. I knew naman na pupunta si Finley dito. He said na sabay kaming papasok sa school. I reminded him na 'private' lang kami. Yes, private because I hated him calling himself my 'secret boyfriend.' He made it sound like we're doing something wrong!

I checked my reflection on the mirror. I woke up earlier than usual para mag-ayos. Nag-aayos naman ako before. I make sure na maganda ako palagi, but I didn't know... I just wanted to be extra-cute today. Kasi... fine. Sabay kaming papasok sa school ng boyfriend ko. What a dream!

The negative part of my brain was starting to form negative thoughts, but I quickly quashed them. Hindi naman ginusto ng parents ko na malagay sa financial scuffle. Surely, hindi din nila gusto na maging ganito ang first romantic relationship ko. No one wanted this! But at the same time, were it not for this, I seriously did wonder...

"Umagang-umaga," Finley said when I opened the door.

I was frowning at him as he handed me a cup of iced coffee. Ugh. Bakit alam niya na agad iyong order ko? So thoughtful.

"Ano na naman ginawa ko sa imagination mo?" he asked. My lips parted. How?! He could even read my mind now?!

Finley scoffed. "What? I was right? You're frowning, first thing in the morning, dahil may ginawa ako sa imagination mo?"

I locked the door behind me and rolled my eyes at him. "You make me sound insane."

"Hindi ba?"

I frowned even harder. "If I'm insane, then why are you with me?"

"Because you're cute," he said as he pinched my cheek.

I hated that he could make me blush just by calling me cute! Kainis! Ano kaya ang pwede kong sabihin para pwede din siya magblush? Unfair naman if it's always me!

But I couldn't come up with anything, so I just settled with wrinkling my nose. Finley looked like he was about to tousle my hair, but stopped midway like he just realized that I put a lot of effort sa hair ko. He settled with two little pats on the top of my head.

"So, do I ignore you in school?" he asked.

"It's not like I'm asking you to pretend that I don't exist."

"Paano kapag nakita kita sa hallway?"

"We're literally in different buildings," I told him. Magkaiba kaya kami ng strand. Thankfully! I couldn't imagine like what if classmates kami? Sobrang shameful pa naman ni Finley. He'd definitely stare at me. Tapos I'll feel conscious.

"We do cross paths sometimes."

"Hmm... you're right."

"So, you want me to ignore you?" he asked.

My imagination ran wild again. Bigla kong na-imagine na nagka-salubong kami ni Finley tapos he ignored me. I didn't like that one bit. I had the urge to frown again. Bakit ba pinapa-sama ko ang loob ko?

"Yan na naman—"

I quickly pushed him away nung biglang bumukas iyong elevator. Finley was looking at me like he was so shocked. I was shocked, too! Hindi ko alam na ganoon pala kabilis ang reflex ko. I was amazed!

'Oh, gosh,' I said inside my head nung makita ko na si Mandie iyong pumasok sa may elevator. Imagine the gossip that would circulate in school if she saw Finley pinching my cheek or something!