Senior high school, I was transferred to another school. Shits happened in the family and I'm the one who suffers.
My life is pretty much boring, hindi exciting. Walang bago, kundi puro problema. After spending a year in this school, it was peaceful.
Though my life seems dark as I portrayed it, it was colorful. Somehow my paints gave it shades of life. I was an anonymous artist on social media. I posted my art there and it gained attention. I also get paid from every commission.
That was the ideal life for me, being alone at peace until I graduate from my second year in senior high pero nagbago yun when a certain someone crashes into my peaceful world.
"Hi, may nakaupo ba dito?"
I didn't bother to look up and answer. No one has ever seated beside me for the school year, I didn't care though
Hindi siya nakakuha ng sagot mula sa akin kaya akala ko aalis na ito, pero I was wrong. Inalis niya ang bag kong nakalagay sa tabing upuan at inilagay niya ito sa sahig para makaupo siya, that was the moment I looked at him. He was grinning from ear to ear, it was annoying
"Hi, I'm Ellie nice to meet you!"
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko when I heard his name. Shit really happens to me all the time. Hindi ko siya ulit pinansin at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa, which I heard him gasps
"Oh my gosh, don't tell me you're the Sun Pallette? Oh my gosh!"
Napangiwi ako at napatingin sa kanya, he was covering his mouth, face full of surprise
"How the hell did you know?"
No one has ever known my identity, nor did they try to know me. So the hell did he know me?
"Ahh, that"tinuro niya ang sketch pad na hawak ko
I was currently drawing my next piece, a continuation from my recent one.
Lihim nalang akong napamura at napatampal ng noo. Stupid
"Oh don't worry, I won't tell anyone"his smile is wide as he gets closer and whispers "I'm a fan!"
Kumunot ang noo ko, "You are?"
"Yes, I so love your artwork, it's colorful and full of life. I have been wanting to know you, you know!"he excitedly say
I just looked at him as he talked full of admiration. I never met or talked to a fan before. It was new and not bothering as I thought
He continued talking about what he liked about my art, I only listened and continued on what I was drawing. He only stopped when our teacher came inside.
As the class ended, I got up and cleaned my table. I was about to leave when I heard him call me
"Sun!"
Kumunot ang noo ko at nilingon siya, "Don't call me that"
"Sorry, isn't that your name"
Bumuntong hininga ako, "That's not my name"
"Oh, so what is your name?"
Hindi ko na siya pinansin at dumiretso na paalis ng silid, he still pestered me and walked besid me
"Hey, let's have lunch together"
Ellie, was bothersome. He always pester me, he seems genuinely want to have me as a friend but I don't want to have a friend. I don't want to be sentimental about this high school shits about friendship
I didn't know how he managed to break my walls but he was able to claim me as a friend. It wasn't that pleasing but he was a good company
A week passed and we somehow became close in a way. Today is monday, nasa cafeteria kami ng school, we were sitting in front of each other as he talked about what happened to his weekend
"Can you believe he did that? He was such an idiot, good thing hindi nakita nila mommy kundi lagot talaga ako"may irap na sabi niya
Tumango-tango nalang ako habang iniinom ang banana milkshake na binili ko. He was talking about his childhood best friend or something, I wasn't really listening
"Oh my gosh, speaking of the devil!"he covered his face using his hands, as if it would magically hide him and disappear
"Ellie, you know you can't hide right?"
A voice from my back, I didn't looked back and study Ellie's face, he pouted as if he was really hiding and got caught
He stuck his tongue out, very childish.
"What do you want ba?"
"You left this, pinadala ni tita sakin"
Tuluyan ng lumapit sa tabi niya ang lalaking kausap. He was tall, wearing the school's basketball jersey, red hair, he had his back on me kaya di ko kita ang mukha niya
But I saw how he pinched Ellie's cheeks and place something to the table, a blue pouch
"Hala omg, thank you. I was looking for this, need ko 'to sa next class ko mamaya!!"
"Ayan, burara kasi"
Umirap naman si Ellie, "Shut up ka nalang"
Narinig kong tumawa ang lalaki at umupo sa tabi no Ellie, I could finally see his face clearly. He has thick eyebrows, hazelnut eyes, long eyelashes that I could clearly see, long pointy nose, and a pouty red lips. Overall he looks handsome.
As if he was conscious of my stares he looked back at me, nakakunot ang noo
"Who?"
"Oh right, this is Eli my new best friend!" Ellie excitedly say
Mas lalo namang kumunot ang noo ng kaibigan niya, "Ellie din name mo?"
Napabuntong hininga ako, "It's Elio, E L I O"
"Oh, I'm Caelus. Nice to meet you, pre"
I just raise nod at him, lihim na napangiwi, pre daw
Not that I did not expect but I somehow became part of their life, became a friend as they say, best friend pa nga raw
But as much time I spend with them, something was forming that shouldn't have form. It was disturbing to feel, I don't like it nor I want it
Making my life a shit full of problems was not enough that the universe made it more shittier by making me like someone who's impossible to like me back
"Sino ba talaga ang gusto mo, dude?"
Kumunot ang noo ko, ng may marinig ako dito sa court
Akala ko ako lang kaya I decided to take a nap behind the chairs in front kaya hindi nila napansin na may ibang tao pa pala dito.
"What are you talking about, Nathan?"
It was Caelus and his basketball mate
"Come on, I know you like someone. Sino, I might help you with him you know"
Narinig kong tumawa si Caelus sa sinabi ni Nathan
"I don't need to let you know"
"Is it Ellie?"
And it was silence. Hindi ko na narinig ang sinagot ni Caelus sa sinabi ng kasama niya dahil para akong nabingi sa narinig ko. It's like I was blocking my hearing so that I won't hear him confirm or deny it
"Seriously Caelus?"narinig kong sabi ni Nathan, full of shocked
"Oo nga, let's go na. Ihahatid ko pa si Ellie pauwi"
The next thing I know narinig ko nalang sumara ang pinto ng gym making me left here alone
Bumuntong hininga naman ako at napaupo mula sa pagkakahiga. Napatitig sa pintuan ng gym saka napaangat ng tingin sa bubong nito.
Muling bumalik saakin ang narinig ko.
So he likes Ellie?
Shit lang.
Of course it's the other Ellie, sino bang niloloko ko.
Of course it would be the childhood best friend.
Sino ba naman ako para gustohin niya diba?
Ah shit. Here goes my first love failure.
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