Super Freaky Girl

Iris'

I twirled a strand of my honey-blonde hair around my manicured finger, my gaze fixed on Alas as he dribbled the basketball down the court. His every move was mesmerizing—the flex of his muscles under his jersey, the confident smirk that graced his face after every perfect shot. 

Alas Timothy Aragon isn't just the school's basketball captain; he is the dream. My dream. 

Handa akong gawin ang lahat just to get him, whether he likes it or he'll like it.

Parang mga tangang nagsigawan ang lahat ng tao na narito as he scored another three-pointer, his name echoing through the gym.

I sat perched on the bleachers, wearing my limited-edition designer sneakers and my cheer jacket, kahit na hindi naman ako parte ng cheer squad—why ruin my nails doing stunts? Duh.

I have something far more important to do tonight, at iyon ay ang mapansin ako ng future husband ko. 

The referee blows the whistle, signaling a break, and my heart skips a beat. Ito na 'yung pagkakataon ko.  I grab my custom pink towel embroidered with 'A' (for Alas, obviously) and my glittering tumbler filled with cold water. Everyone else's cheap plastic bottles make me cringe.

But as I walk toward him, my perfect lips glossed to a shimmering pout, I freeze.

There she is. This week's flavor—Chelsea, Cassidy, or whatever her name is.

Alas has his arm draped casually over her shoulders as she giggles at something he whispers. Tangina. Ako dapat iyan eh! My pink towel feels forgotten in my hand as my blood boils.

"Alas," I call, my voice sweet but tinged with just enough irritation to show I'm not thrilled. Humakbang ako palapit, holding out the towel. 

"You look like you need this. You know, something that actually matches your standards."

Hindi manlang siya lumingon sa akin, he wiped his sweat with her towel instead. 

Then, as if I don't even exist, he leans down and kisses her.

Kisses her. Fuck!

The audacity.

My jaw tightens as I clear my throat. The girl turns to me with a smile that I'm sure she thinks looks sweet. It doesn't. It's smug, infuriatingly smug.

"Can I help you with something?" tanong niya while tilting her head. Her tone is syrupy, fake, and I fucking hate it.

"I'm helping him," I say, hindi pinapahalatang naaapektuhan. "But I see you've got that covered. For now."

She blinks, clearly not expecting me to fight back.

"Oh, how thoughtful. But, you know, Alas prefers things... simple." Tinignan niya nang nanguuyam ang tumbler na hawak ko, then back to me with a condescending smile.

I laugh, a sharp, mocking sound. 

"Simple? That's one way to describe you."  I let my gaze travel down her basic, off-brand sneakers and her poorly matched outfit.

"Though basic might be more accurate." Dagdag ko pa. 

Namula ang pisngi niya sa inis, but she doesn't back down. "At least I don't need glitter to get noticed."

"Oh, sweetie," I say, stepping closer, my tone dropping to an icy chill. "You think he notices you? You're just a page in the book. A filler chapter. Me? I'm the fucking ending."

Alas, who's been watching the exchange with an amused smirk, finally steps in.

"Bakla," he says, his tone almost lazy, "you do realize this isn't a rom-com, right?"

I blink at him, caught off guard. "W-What's that supposed to mean?" Tanong ko.

Did he just called me 'Bakla'? For a moment, I debated whether I should be mad—offended, even. But O-M-G! He actually gave me an endearment. An endearment, bitches! My heart did a ridiculous little flip, and suddenly, all I could think was, This is progress, right?

"It means," he continues, leaning against the bleachers casually, "if you're trying to play the part of the girl I fall for, you're way off script. This? All of this?" He gestures vaguely at me—the towel, the tumbler, my flawless outfit.

"Hindi.Ako.Pumapatol.Sa.Bading."

The gym feels like it's spinning as laughter bubbles up from the players and a few spectators nearby who overheard. My face burns, but I refuse to let it show. I straighten my shoulders, tossing my hair back with a forced smile.

Gusto ko siyang irapan dahil sinira niya ang moment ko, pero nangibabaw ang pagmamahal ko sa kaniya. Tinignan ko ang babaeng naka-lingkis sa kaniya at saka umirap. 

As I step away, I hear him chuckle behind me, but I don't look back.

Wala akong pakialam.

It's all the same to me. He can have his basic girls, and I'll still be here. Still waiting. Still loving him. Because one day, he'll realize. He'll see I'm the one who's worth it.

Until then, I'm perfectly freaking fine.