Sobrang saya ko buong weekend. Kung kaya ko nga lang bumangon kahapon ay nag-jogging ulit ako dahil nasisiguro kong nasa park ulit si Mr. Yniguez. And I wanted to soak up every moment I could have with him outside of school. Ibang-iba kasi siya. He was less formal, more relaxed. It was like getting a glimpse of another side of him, a side I rarely saw when he was standing in front of the class, commanding our attention with his calm authority. Out in the open, he felt more approachable, more real.
Kaya lang, pagod talaga ako sa ginawa kong takbo noong Sabado. Medyo ginalingan ko rin kasi talaga. Nagpabida kahit alam ko naman ang kapasidad ng katawan ko. Pero kahit pa ganoon, masaya pa rin ako.
"Audrey, may sagot ka na sa assignment natin sa Math?"
Tiningala ko si Bea nang lapitan niya ako in between period. Tumango ako at inabot sa kaniya ang notebook ko. Parang nagulat pa siya na meron akong sagot.
"Wow! Sipag mo, Aud, huh?" She chuckled, taking my notebook. "Pakopya ako, ah!"
"Sure," I smiled widely. Maganda ang mood ko ngayon kaya kahit lahat ng gawa ko ay kopyahin nila, ayos lang.
Hindi lang si Bea ang kumopya sa akin, maging sina Elise ay ganoon rin. Iba't ibang assignment sa iba't ibang subject. Usually, I'd be a bit annoyed by the constant requests, but today? I really didn't care. Let them take advantage of my good mood while it lasted.
As they crowded around my desk, busily copying my answers, I took out my phone and unlocked it. Syempre pa, binalikan ko na naman ang picture namin ni Averianov noong Sabado sa park. There was something about that image that I loved—a reflection of a moment that had made my whole week. That Saturday morning had completely set the tone for my mood, and I couldn't wait to see him later in Advanced Biology.
Hay, sir.
I swiped my thumb across the screen, enlarging the photo slightly, tracing the faint outlines of our figures. It wasn't a clear picture, but to me, it was perfect. Just looking at it brought a smile to my face, remembering how unexpected and wonderful that morning had been.
"Audrey, sino 'yan?" Usisa ni Belle, sumilip siya sa cellphone ko at kuryosong pinagmasdan rin ang larawa. "Nasa story mo 'yan noong Sabado, ah! Bagong boyfriend mo? Akala ko pinsan mo lang kaya hindi ko masyadong pinansin."
I quickly locked my phone, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. Sabagay, sanay naman kasi sila na nagpopost ako ng pictures kasama ang iba sa mga pinsan ko minsan. Kaya lang, syempre, kung isa iyon sa napakaraming De Salvo, bakit ko naman tinititigtitigan pa? It wouldn't make sense to them kaya malamang ngayon ay buo na ang kanilang isipan na boyfriend ko nga iyon at hindi lang pinsan.
"Wala, Belle! It's just a photo," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
But of course, Belle wasn't going to let it go that easily. "Come on, tell me! That didn't look like just a photo. Sino 'yan kasama mo? Bagong boyfriend mo nga?"
Her question drew the attention of the others, who started crowding around even more.
"Omg! Audrey," Elise chimed in, smirking. "May bago ka bang ka-date na hindi namin alam? Ang akala ko rin ay isa sa mga pinsan mo lang ang kasama mo!"
I rolled my eyes, but the heat in my cheeks gave me away. "Wala, okay? It's nothing. Just someone I met at the park."
Dammit! Mali ata ang sinabi ko dahil parang mas naging curious sila?
"Someone you met at the park?" Bea repeated, her eyebrows raised in amusement. "And sino naman 'to na nagjo-jogging with you sa park?"
I hesitated, not sure how much I wanted to share. The last thing I needed was rumors spreading about me and Mr. Yniguez. But then again, it was just a photo, right? Nothing more.
