Pen and Paper

2

2

                “Ianne, over here.”Anthony called over to me. He raised his arms and waved for me to see. He sat at an empty table at the middle of the cafeteria. Several heads turned in my direction as Anthony called my name. I rolled my eyes. I don’t know why they can’t get over the fact that I, Marianne De Guzman, am Anthony Crawford’s best friend. For all I know, they are still dead jealous because I am closer to Tony than anyone else in the school. And as I looked at Tony, I don’t think I can blame them much. He smiled at me, showing his perfect set of brilliant white teeth, his mahogany brown hair is flipped back by the wind as if a prince on a horseback, his glowing green eyes is a touch of shading mystic grandeur, his pearly soft skin radiating gently against the sun that touches him. Just perfect, I thought. And I sniggered as the group of girls I passed through shot me venomous glares.

                   I mock-punched him playfully on the shoulder before I sat on the seat beside him. “Can you stop being gorgeous even for just one day?” I scowled at him as people began to whisper and look at me as if I’m something so undesirable. He laughed. “Yeah. Right. As if you’re not already used to them.” He nudged his head towards the crowd. “You’re thicker than anyone I know. All you’ve got to do is punch them, then we’re outta here.”

                   I stared at him incredulously. He laughed again. “Kidding Ianne. Why are you bothered of my exquisite perfection today anyway?”

I scoffed pretending to vomit on my plate. He poked me at my sides. “Yeah, Ms. My-Bestfriend’s-hideously-ugly-even-if-all-the-others-think-he’s-gorgeous-and-handsome-and-incredible. What’s up?”

                  “It’s Valentines today.”I told him. He winked at the group of sophomores passing by. They squealed and flushed tripping at the stool in front of them. I laughed. “You are so evil!” I pinched him at the elbow. He snickered. “So what about Valentines?” He asked innocently. I took a bite at my doughnut before I looked up at him. “Don’t you have a date?” He shrugged, as if it really doesn’t matter. Then he stared at me. “Why? Do you have a date?” I shook my head slowly. “But that’s the point really. I don’t have a date.” He cocked his head. “And?” I drank my lemonade. “And I think I don’t have a date because you are always hovering by me. And you are, as everyone says, incredibly gorgeous. You make my admirers feel small by comparison, so they don’t dare come near me. So I’m asking you to please stop being gorgeous even for just today.”

                     He let out a loud guffaw. “So you think it’s my fault that no one’s asked you out today?” I flushed crimson and I stepped hard on his foot. “Not just today you know.”I said silkily. “Nobody has ever asked me out since the day we met.” He laughed harder. “Don’t kid me Ianne. I know for a fact that you were never asked out ever, even before we met.” He chuckled. “How about this, because you are blaming me for your isolation to the romantic world, I’ll pay you up. I’ll stay with you today so you won’t appear alone.”

                     I rolled my eyes. “Yep. How totally romantic.” He grinned at me, before he turned his back to the pools of admirers standing behind us. “I’m all your today.” And he said it so seriously, and his face all grave that I laughed out loud.

                    We didn’t really do anything today. But I had a lot of fun watching the girls skirting by us and giving Valentines to Tony. They all have their own ways to show Tony how much they ‘love’ him. Some had sprung out on us, and started singing a love song for him. Some had created large banners that says ‘Marry Me Anthony’ and posted it everywhere we pass by. One had even posted ‘I’m more gorgeous than Marianne. So leave her and love me.’ And it was posted all over the school. I had laughed out loud at that. But Tony shooked his head, looking bemused. Everything was so corny, that it was torture to keep a straight face. I pretended to sneeze all the time to hide my laugh. And after all these, I cannot believe that Tony wasn’t all that pleased by everything. He didn’t even boast to me about it, which was a little unusual of him. He ignored all of it and acted as if it was just a normal day and we were simply strolling by the school grounds, feeling hot in our tight school uniforms, and laughing and joking until we realize we were late for our next class.