FUNNY VALENTINE

5

Valentine Kim Santos 

I stood there, frozen, my mind racing a hundred miles per hour. Ano'ng nangyari? Did that really just happen? My lips still tingled from the kiss, and my heart was pounding in my chest. What the hell is wrong with that girl?!

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, still feeling the heat from Victoria’s lips. Crap, late na ako! Pero paano ako papasok sa room after everything that just happened?

Bakit ko ba siya hinayaan na halikan ako? And what was she talking about? Memorized every inch of my body? No, no, no. I can't deal with this right now.

I took a deep breath and started walking back to the classroom. I had to pretend nothing happened. But my mind was racing. Who is this girl, really? And how much does she remember from that night?

Pagdating ko sa room, I could feel all eyes on me. Lahat ng mga kaklase ko parang nakatingin. I tried to ignore them and headed straight for my seat. Nakaka-paranoid 'to, parang everyone was watching me like they knew something I didn’t.

"Luningning!" I hissed as I slumped into my chair beside her.

"Oh, anong nangyari sayo?" Ning's voice pierced through the chaotic thoughts in my head the moment I stepped into the classroom. Her teasing tone was impossible to ignore, but I tried.

I didn't answer. Instead, I threw my bag on the floor and sank into the seat next to her, letting out a frustrated sigh. My heart was still racing from earlier. That encounter with Victoria... it wouldn't stop replaying in my mind. Her words. Her touch. That kiss.

Bwesit talaga. Bakit ba hindi siya mawala sa isip ko?

Thankfully, the teacher wasn't here yet. At least I wouldn't have to deal with any awkward questions if I got called on. But Ning? She wasn't about to let this go.

"Si accla naka turtle neck! Init-init ng panahon, tapos naka ganito ka? Ano ba ‘to, feeling mo ba nakatira ka sa Iceland?" Ning smirked, clearly amused by my fashion choice. She was always like this—sharp, observant, and sometimes, annoying as hell.

“Pero teka... bakit parang namumula ka? Nilalagnat ka ba?" She furrowed her brows in mock concern, then reached out and pressed her hand to my forehead.

I stiffened in my seat. No, not from her touch, but from the fact that I was still flushed, and it had nothing to do with the weather or a fever.

"Hindi ka naman mainit. Pero bakit parang kulay kamatis yang mukha mo?" Ning's voice had shifted from teasing to genuine curiosity.

I could feel the heat creeping up my neck again, and I knew I had to get her to drop it—fast. "Ano ba!" I quickly raised my hands and covered my face, turning slightly away from her.

Victoria's lips flashed in my mind again. Damn it. Why now? Nakakainis sya!!!!

"Huy, huy, bakit parang defensive ka?" Ning was relentless, her curiosity only growing with every second. She leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hala! May tinatago ka ba, Valentine? May kaganapan ba na hindi ko alam?"

I groaned inwardly. Ning was my best friend, but she had this way of prying until she got what she wanted. "Wala! Wala talagang nangyari," I mumbled through my palms, trying to steady my voice. But the truth was, something *had* happened, and I didn’t even know how to process it.

"Talaga lang ha?" Ning’s playful smirk only deepened as she leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "So, bakit ka naka-turtleneck, Val? I mean, ang init ng panahon! Unless… may tinatago ka talaga?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.