Boyfriend Premium (October Write With M: WIP #2 Alexander)

Eleven

"OKAY GUYS, settle down for a while. Nandito si Dean Ramos."

Nag-angat ng tingin si Juris mula sa sinasagutang activity sheet. Nasa laboratory class sila ngayon at nagsi-sieve and weigh ng sample soil specimen. Anong ginagawa ni Dean dito?

Dean Ramos elegantly strutted her way in their class. Isa ito sa pinakabatang dean sa Mondstville. She was always wearing at least three inches tall heels and always poised walking down the halls like a beauty queen.

Nang tumapat ito sa gitna ng klase ay ngumiti ito sa kanila. "Good morning, Class A."

"Good morning, Dean Ramos," they all said in unison.

"Nagulat siguro kayo sa biglaan kong pagpunta dito. That is because I am pleased to finally announce the return of our annual foundation promenade this year."

Napuno ng excited na bulungan ang klase nila. Kahit ang mga ka-grupo niya ay nasagi pa 'yong isang soil sample na kakalagay lang nila sa container. Napangiwing inayos niya 'yon.

"As you all know, because of the global pandemic we experienced in 2020, all large functions and gatherings involving close contact with individuals in our community came to halt. Gano'n din ang nangyari sa annual foundation promenade. Now that the pandemic has settled down in a much less health threat, we finally got the go signal to continue our yearly tradition."

Nagpalakpakan ang lahat, masaya sa narinig na announcement. Their class was the first batch of freshies when the promenade got canceled. Kaya hindi nakakapagtaka na tuwang-tuwa ang lahat dahil bago man lang ang graduation ay ma-experience pa pala nila 'yon. Napalingon siya sa kanan niya nang maramdaman ang titig na nagmumula doon. Alexander smiled at her, looking like a puppy. Sa sobrang pagngiti nito ay halos mawala na ang singkit na mga mata nito. Kagat niya ang gilid ng pisngi para iwasan ang pagngiti pabalik dito.

Their lab professor had to shush them down because the class was all murmuring when Dean still had something to say. "Okay. Now that the event is decided, the school administration appointed some students from each graduating class to facilitate the preparations together with the appointed advisers. For this class, we handpicked four students to come with me for the elections of officers later before your lunch break."

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa narinig. Was it part of the extracurricular pointing system? What if she wasn't handpicked? Could she volunteer? Ang dami agad dumaan sa isip niya dahil gusto niyang sumali do'n.

"The name of the students I'm going to announce will be your class representatives. Please rise and come forward, Miss Juris Celeste Araneta."

Malaki ang ngiti na tumayo siya at naglakad papunta sa unahan. She was so glad and relieved to know she was handpicked by Dean. Kinikilig siya to be honest. Nag-abot ng kamay si Dean sa kanya, pinagpag niya ang kamay sa gilid ng lab gown niya bago tinanggap ang handshake nito.

"I'm looking forward to working with you, Miss Araneta."

"Thank you for your trust, Dean Ramos," tumabi siya dito at hinarap ang klase nila. Dumapo ang tingin niya sa matangkad na nakahalukipkip sa bandang likuran ng klase. Nag-thumbs up pa si Alexander sa kanya, tumatango-tango ito.

"Next is Mister Alexander Daniel Chen."

Natigil ang pagtango nito, naiwan sa ere ang thumbs up sa kanya nang marinig na matawag ang pangalan nito. Lumingon ang lahat dito saka naghiyawan at nagpalakpakan. She kept her lips shut, stopping herself from letting out even the smallest laugh. Walang nagawa ang binata kundi tumayo at maglakad palapit sa unahan. Nakipag-shake hands din ito kay Dean bago tumabi sa kanya. Their arms brushed, bahagya pa siyang binunggo nito.

"Nice working with you, little devil," mahinang bulong nito sa kanya.

Hindi siya tumingin dito para hindi siya matawa at diretso lang ang tingin sa klase nila.

"The third one will be... Mariah Nadine Escudero."

Naramdaman niya ang pagtakas ng kulay sa mukha niya nang marinig ang pangalang 'yon. Ang ilan sa kaklase nila ay natigilan, alam na hindi magandang kombinasyon na magkasama silang dalawa sa iisang grupo. But some of Nadine's friends cheered while raising their eyebrows at her.

Tumayo ang babae mula sa pwesto nito pero siniguro niyang hindi magtagpo ang mga tingin nilang dalawa. Alexander grazed his fingers on the side of her hands. Maliit niya itong nilingon. Are you okay? He mouthed. Lumunok siya bago maliit na umiling. Tumaas baba ang dibdib niya dahil sa iregularidad sa paghinga. She calmed herself, nasa harap sila ng buong klase, nasa tabi ni Dean at ng lab prof nila. Juris maintained a poker face when Nadine finally reached the front and stood beside Alexander.

"Looking forward to work with you, Xander," narinig niyang sabi nito sa katabi niya.

She didn't hear a response from him, she didn't dare to look her way to even know.

"Now for our fourth and final representative... Mister Austin Warren Lopez."

That was the final blow for her. May mga kaklase silang pumalakpak at humiyaw pero karamihan ay natahimik. The calm and serious guy near the front seats rose and looked straight at her. Para siyang nalunod sa tingin ng binata. Sa lalim ng titig ng halos itim nitong mga mata. Nang magsimula itong maglakad ay hindi nito pinuputol ang tingin sa kanya. Tuloy-tuloy lang ito hanggang sa matapat kay Dean. Nakipagkamay lang ito sandali. Nadine moved a bit closer to Alexander, giving him the space to stand beside her.

But Warren went his way and walked towards her and stood on her side. Nanigas siya sa kinatatayuan lalo na nang dumaplis nang bahagya ang braso nito sa braso niya. Napalunok siya, hindi inaasahan ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso niya na dulot no'n. So her heart didn't forget the feeling yet, huh?

"Let's give a warm round of applause to Miss Araneta," Alam niyang namumutla siya sa pagitan nina Warren at Alexander. "Mister Chen," Alexander was smiling at their class but the tiniest bit of his finger was trying to reach her for comfort. "Miss Escudero," Malakas ang hiyawan para kay Nadine na aware siyang ikinalaki ng ngiti nito. "And Mister Lopez." Lumakas din ang palakpakan para kay Warren na alam niyang straight-faced at nonchalant ang itsura ngayon.

Warren, Juris, Alexander, and Nadine in a group? Well, good luck to the unraveling of at least three years of history of romance, lies, and betrayal that's about to unfold.