He's Loving Girl

Chapter 9

Irene's Pov

"Hey!" Bati sa akin Jd, umupo siya sa upuan niya seconds after the bell rings, but since this is Sir Albert's class it's the same as being early.
I nod, hoping to appear casual," your aunt seems nice." Tumingin siya sa'kin habang nilalaro 'yung ballpen sa ibabaw ng upuan niya,

"Yeah, she's great," I mumble, ng biglang nag-paalam si Sir Albert na lalabas daw muna saglit.

"I don't live with my family either," Jd says, bigla na naman tumahik 'yung room dahil sa pag-sasalita niya, as he spins the pen on the tip of his finger, napakagat ako sa ilalim ng aking labi, kinuha ko 'yung iPod sa scret comparment ko, wondering how rude it would seem if I turned it on and blocked him out too. "I'm emancipated," he adds.

"Seriously?" Tanong ko, kahit gusto ko ng matapos 'yung conversation namin. It's just, I've never met anyone who was emancipated, and I always thought it sounded so lonely and sad. Though from the looks of his car, his clothes, and his glamorous friday nigths at the Kogi Bulgogi Restaurant, he doesn't seem to be doing so badly.

"Seriously." He nods. At 'nung sandaling huminto siya sa pag-sasalita, narinig ko 'yung bulungan nila Stacy and Suzie, calling me a freak, and a few other things much worse than that. Pinanood ko kung paano niya paliparin pataas 'yung kanyang ballpen, lihim akong napangiti 'nung muntik ng tumama sa mukha niya 'yung ballpen. "So where's your family?" He ask. At ang weird lang dahil bigla na naman natahimik sa kaingayan 'yung mga class mates ko, ilang sandali nag-iingay na naman sila,

"What?" I squint, distracted by the sight of Jd's magic pen now hovering between us, as Suzie makes fun of my clothes, and her boyfriend pretends to agree even though he's secretly wondering why she never dresses like me. And it makes me want to lift my hood.

"Where does your family live?" He ask. Pumikit ako, pagmulat ko tumitig ako sa kanya.

"Patay na sila," sabi ko, at saktong dating ni Sir Albert.

"I'm sorry."

Nakatitig si Jd sa akin habang papalapit ako sa lunch table namin ng mga kaibigan ko, iginala ko 'yung paningin ko sa buong canteen para hanapin ang dalawa kong kaibigan, 'nung nakita ko silang nakapila sa counter, pinatong ko sa lamesa 'yung lunch pack ko, pag-kabukas ko ng baunan ko may nakalagay na red tulip sa gitna ng sandwich at chips-----a tulip! Ganito yung binigay sa akin ni Jd 'nung friday night. At kahit wala akong idea kung paano niya nilagay sa lunch pack ko. Sigurado akong siya 'yung may gawa 'nun. Pero hindi 'yun ang pinagtataka ko kung paano niya namagic 'yun. It's more the way he looks at me, the way he speaks to me, the way he makes me feel----

"About your family. I didnt realize..." tumingin ako pababa sa drinks ko, pina-ikot ikot ko ito, hiniling ko na sana kalimutan na niya 'yung usapan namin kanina.

"I don't like to talk about it." Nagkibit balikat ako.

"I know what it's like to lose the people you love," he whispers, reaching across the table and placing his hand over mine, parang napanatag ako sa ginawa niya, ang sarap sa pakiramdam, nakakakalma, at feeling ko safe----pinikit ko 'yung mga mata ko at hinayaan ko siyang hawakan 'yung mga kamay ko. Hinayaan ko 'yung sarili kong sumaya kahit sandali lang. Greatful to hear what he says and not what he thinks.

"Umm, excuse me."
Minulat ko 'yung mga mata ko at nakita ko si Sam na nakalean sa gilid ng table, her brown eyes narrowed and fixed on our hands. "So sorry to interrup."

I pull away, shoving my hand in my pocket like it's something shamsful, something no one should have to see. Gusto kong mag-explain sa nakita niya na wala lang 'yun, at walang malisya para sa 'kin, kahit alam ko kung ano ang totoo. "Where's Ryan?" I finally say, not knowing what else to say.