Friends Don't Do This

CHAPTER 12: Highschool (2)

ALISTAIR

SABADO NGAYON, walang pasok. Kaharap ang kanyang laptop, hinihintay ni Alistair si Eros sa isang cafe malapit sa kanilang high school.

Nakipagpalit siya kahapon sa isang kaklase upang maging ka-partner si Eros sa activity sa EFAPP. Ayaw sana ng supposed-partner nito na magpalit sila, lalo na't mukhang interesado ito kay Eros.

Buti na lang, nasuhulan niya 'yung babae ng sandwich na nabili niya sa labas.

"Excuse me, Kuya," tawag ng isang boses na hindi kay Eros. "May kasama ka po ba sa table?"

Tumango siya nang hindi ito tinitignan. His nose scrunched unconsciously. Amoy ng pambabaeng pabango ang pumuno sa kanyang ilong--malakas, parang synthetic, peke, nakakasulasok.

"Sungit," whispered the girl at narinig niya ang mga hakbang nitong papalayo.

Alistair didn't really care. He continued typing on his laptop.

'I still have,' he thought as he looked at the bottom right of his laptop screen, '5 minutes to finish this up.'

His fingers danced over the keyboard, the rapid clack of each keystroke echoing through the quiet cafe.

Alistair was deep into his essay, the words flowing effortlessly as he laid out a compelling argument on the importance of political participation among the youth for his UCSP subject.

His thoughts aligned, and the structure of his essay was taking shape. Each paragraph was built on the last with precision.

But then, a voice pierced through his near-perfect focus, shattering the rhythm he'd carefully crafted.

"Hello! I'm Blaire Anne San Jose! Same strand po tayo! Grade 11 din po ako at palagi kitang nakikita sa second floor. I know you because you're already famous kahit kaka-transfer mo pa lang three weeks ago," said a high-pitched irritating voice.

Walang sinagot dito si Alistair. His fingers were still typing fast. 'Why is everyone being so unnecessarily friendly today?'

"Kuya, pwede ko po kunin number mo? Same org din kasi tayo!"

'Man, it’s only when Eros calls me 'Kuya' that I get that weird flutter in my gut.'

Umiling siya nang hindi tinitignan ang babae.

'Eros will be here in three minutes.'

Perhaps the girl needed a blunt verbal cue to finally take the hint and fuck off, so he said, "No."

Pero makulit ang babae.

"Baka kasi may inquiries din ako in the future, I think you might be of help. You're part of the HUMSS org, 'di ba? I'm also a part of it, Kuya!"

In her excitement, she shoved her phone right in Alistair's face, not realizing how close she was. The sudden movement knocked his eyeglasses off, sending them clattering to the floor.

Alistair's eyes flicked to the fallen glasses, then back to her, his expression utterly void of emotion.

Unang beses niyang inalis ang tingin mula sa pagkababad sa laptop, at dahil pa iyon sa nahulog niyang salamin.