He's Loving Girl

Chapter 5

Irene pov

"You're never gonna get a boyfriend dressed like that," Aicelle said, loungin on my bed as I rush through my morning routine, trying to get ready for school and out the door----more or less on time.

"Yeah, well, not all of us can just close our eyes and poof, have an amazing wardrobe." Sabi ko habang sinusuot yung rubber shoes and tying the laces.

"And what's with the hood? You in a gang?

"I don't have a time for this," sabi ko kinuha ko yung backpack,book, iPod heading for the door, "Sama ka?" Lumingon ako para tumingin sa kanya, lumabi siya, at nag isip sandali.

"Ok," she finally says. "But only if you put the top down. I just love the feel of the wind in my hair," maarte niyang sabi.

"Fine." Pababa ako ng hagdan habang kinakausap siya "Just make sure you're gone by the time we get to Ryan's. It's creeps me out to see you sitting in his lap without his permission."

Mag-kasabay kaming pumunta ni Ryan sa school, nakita ko si Samantha na naghihintay sa may gate, nag-palinga linga siya sa buong campus, na parang may hinahanap. Pag kakita niya sa amin agad siyang nag salita.

"Ano ba yan five minutes nalang mag-riring na yung bell, and still no sign of Jasper, sa palagay niyo nag-droped out na kaya siya? Tumingin siya sa amin na parang napakalaking kawalan sa kanya na hindi makita si JD.

"Bakit naman siya mag-dropped out? Nagtransfer pa siya kung ganun," sabi ko naglakad akong papuntang locker ng bigla siyang sumulpot sa tabi ko,

"Uhm because we're not worthy? Because he really is too good to be true?" Patanong niyang sabi.

"Papasok 'yun hiniram niya kaya yung koypa ni Irene sa Wuthering Heights, which means he has to return it." Ryan says, before I can stop him.

Umiling ako, binuksan ko yung locker ko, i saw Sammy in my peripheral vission, na masama ang tingin sa akin.

"When did this happen?" Nagpamaywang siya at tumingin sa'kin. "Because you know I called Mike, right? Bakit wala akong nakuhang update? Bakit ni isa sa inyo wala man lang nagkwento sa akin? Huling rinig ko sayo hindi pa kayo nagkita."

"Ohh, she saw him, alright. Muntik ko na ngang i-deal yung 9-1-1, pero natakot siya." Ryan laughs. Umiling ako bahang nilolock ko yung locker ko at nag lakad ako palayo sa kanila.

"Well it's true." Sabi niya kay Samantha, nagkibit balikat siya at naglakad patungo sa tabi ko.

"So let me get this straight; you're more of a liability than a threat?" Samantha peers at me through narrowed, heavily lined eyes, huminga ako ng malalim at tumingin sa kanila, thinking how if they weren't my friends.

Gusto kong sabihin sa kanila na walang katotohan ang lahat ng ito. I mean, kelan pa tinawag si Mike sa ibang pangalan? Besides, it's not like I'm all that datable, in my current voice-hearing, aura-seeing, baggy-sweatshirt-wearing condition.

But I don't say any of that. Instead I just say. "Yes, I'm a liability. I'm huge uninsurable disaster waiting to happen. But I'm definitely not a threat. Higit sa lahat hindi ako intresado, at alam kong mahirap paniwalaan, with him being so gorgeous and sexy and hot and smoldering and combustible or whatever is that you call him, dahil ang totoo I don't like Jasper Dwayne Lee. At wala na akong iba pang masabi."

"Uhm felling ko hindi mo na kailangang magsalita pa." Bulong ni Samantha, her face frozen as she stares straight ahead. Sinundan ko yung tingin niya kung saan dun nakatyo si JD, all shiny dark hair, smoldering eyes, amazing body, an knowing smile, feeling my heart skip two beats as he hold the doors open and says,

"Hey Irene, after you."

Naglakad ako patungo sa upuan ko, umuiwas ako sa bag ni Stacy na sinadyang ilagay sa daraanan ko. As my face burns with shame, knowing JD's right behind me, and that he heard every horrifying word I just say.

Nilagay ko yung bag ko sa sahig, umupo ako sa upuan ko, inangat ko ang hood ko, at naghead set ako para makaiwas sa ingay, at malihis sa utak ko yung nangyari kanina. Assuring myself that a guy like that----a guy so confident, so gorgeous, so completely amazing----is too cool to bother with the careless words of a girl like me.

Nung mag-umpisa na akong mag-relax, at i-convinced yung sarili kong kalimutan nalang yung nangyari kanina. I'm jolted by an overwhelming shock---an electric charge infusing my skin, slamming my vien, and making my whole body tingle.

And it's all because JD place his hand upon mine. It's hard to surprise me. Ever since I became psychic, si Aicelle lang nakakagawa sa akin 'nun. And belive me, she never tires of finding new ways. Pero nung sumulyap ako sa kamay ko mula sa mukha ni JD ngumiti siya at sinabing, "I wanted to return this." Then he gives me my copy of Wurthering Heights.

And even though I know this sounds weird and more than a little crazy, nung sandaling nag-salita siya ang buong room ay tumahimik. Seriously, parang kanina lang ay sobrang ingay ng mga classmates ko. Akalain mo 'yun boses lang pala niya ang makakapag-tahimik sa maingay kong mga classmates.

Kahit alam kong hindi kapani-paniwala. Umiling ako at sinabing "Are you sure you don't wan't to keep it? Hindi ko pa naman kailangan, I already know how it ends."

"I know how it's ends too." He says, gazing at me in a way so intense, so insistent, so intimate, agad kong inalis yung tingin ko sa kanya.

I'm about to reinsert my earbuds, para hindi ko marinig ang mga mapang-insultong bulungan nila Stacy at Suzie, kung bulong nga bang matatawag yun.

Nang bigla na naman akong kalabitin ni JD and says, "Ano yung pinapakinggan mo.? At muli na namang natahimik ang buong room. Seriously, for those few brief seconds, wala na naman akong narinig anumang ingay, wala din akong makita o marinig na nagbubulungan. Nothing but the sounds of his soft voice.

Narandaman kong nag-init ang buong katawan ko at parang may dumaloy na kuryente nung hawakan niya ako, I mean It's not like I haven't had my hand touched before, though I've yet to experience anything remotely like this.

"I asked what you're listening too?" He smiles. A smile so private, and intimate, pakirandam ko nag-init na naman yung mukha ko.

"Oh-oh uhm, it's just some goth mix my friend Samantha, made. It's mostly old,eighties stuff, you know." I shrug an able to avert my gaze as i stare into his eyes, trying to determine their exact color.

"You're into goth?" Tanong niya, nakataas yung dalawang kilay niya habang sinusuri niya yung buong mukha ko, nailang ako bigla, kaya ako nalang ang nag-kusang umiwas ng tingin sa kanya.

"No-no not realy, Samantha all into it." Utal kong sabi sa kanya.

"And you? What are you into?" Hindi parin natanggal yung mapanuring tingin niy sa akin.

At bagao ko pa masagot yung tanong niya. Biglang dumating si Sir Albert, and then JD leans back in his seat. Huminga ako ng malalim ibinaba ko yung hood ko muli ko na naman narinig yung maiingay kong mga classmates. And Stacy, Suzie, and Craig, all wondering what the hot guy could possibly see in me.