Hidden Popularity

Scene #13

ANI

After the interview. Finch is in a bad mood.

I can't read his expression at all. I don't know kung disappointed ba siya. Malungkot ba siya. Or maybe pissed off. It's not like him to be sad or anything. I stared at him while he's looking on the ground.

"ANI" Patricia called out for me.

I shifted my attention to her.

"Why are you still sitting there? We have to go" Pat said. I nodded and thanked the staff pati na rin si Kuya Austin for inviting me in this interview. Sinabihan ko si Pat na sandali lang. So I walked towards Finch who's looking down right know.

"May something ba sa sahig?" tanong ko. He looked up at me and tried to smile.

"Hey..." he said. There was 3 second silence. I took a deep breath.

"Gusto mo talagang magkapair ang cards sa lovers no? Don't worry it's just a game. Next time we play pagplanuhin natin na pair tayo sa lahat." Ngiti ko. He let out a chuckle.

"Haha. Sige but to tell you. Hindi ko alam kung anong naramdaman ko nun"

"Huh? Ano bang---"

"I like you. Pero nung nakita kong hindi match ang cards sa lovers. Parang... I felt so relieve that were just strangers." he said at tumawa siya ng mahina.

I looked at him shocked. Not sure what to say.

"A-ah g-ganun ba? Haha m-mabuti naman. Sige ma-mauna na ako. Bye" I stuttered and immediately left him.

He felt relieved? I feel so stupid for thinking that he felt disappointed but it's the opposite. If he felt so relieve then he wouldn't be saying that he likes me. If he liked me then dapat umiiyak siyang nakahiga sa sahig wishing na dapat magkapair kami! Pero hindi. He felt sooo relieve! So so so relieve!

Argh! I don't care anyway!

I need to chill. Why am I even making a big fuss over what he felt. I breathe in and breathe out. Besides it's not like I'm expecting something from that game!

I woke up the next day with bags under my eyes.

I look like a zombie. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. After that I took a half-bath. Put on my uniform, ate breakfast then left the room. It's the usual uniform wear. Silicon face mask, complete with pimples and freckles.

I check my phone for messages. There's one message from pat.

Ani ini-invite ka Mr. Winaloto to his birthday part on thursday. Make sure that your free on that day. I'll give you the invitation later. You need to have an escort.

I ignored it.

Sumakay ako ng taxi papunta sa academy. When I got out there were tones of people( mostly girls ) stormed the front gates. This must be because of that jerk. Ano nga ba pangalan niya? Nakalimutan ko.

"Finch!!" Rinig kong sigaw nila.

Ahh. Oo nga pala. Finch ang pangalan niya.

Huminga ako ng malalim before charging in a raid of fan girls. I have no other choices. It's either ma-late ako or recklessly jump of the pits of death. I don't want to be late so I choose the second option.

Before I could even enter the first row of girls nadapa na ako. Ganito ba talaga ako ka lampa? I stood up and pat-off the dust on my skirt.

"At this rate I'll be late." bulong ko sa ere. Suddenly someone grabbed my arm and dragged me through the crowd. Hindi ko makita ang mukha niya all I could see is his back. The shape of his back is really familiar in a way that I've seen it before.