New Romantics : She Who Hides and He Who Seeks

Vanilla

va·nil·la

vəˈnilə/

noun

1.a substance obtained from vanilla beans or produced artificially and used to flavor sweet foods or to impart a fragrant scent to cosmetic preparations.

"vanilla ice cream"

2.a tropical climbing orchid that has fragrant flowers and long podlike fruit.

adjective

informal

1.having no special or extra features; ordinary or standard.

"choosing plain vanilla technology wherever you can will save you money"

"ANYWAY, di ba nililigawan mo si Mika? May progress na ba?"

Iyon ang bumungad sa pandinig ni Glimmer nang magising ang diwa niya. The sound of Takahiro slightly teasing Kaji felt like a needle entering her heart and there was nothing new about that ever since she fell in love with him.

Nagpatay-malisya siya at nagpanggap na natutulog pa habang pasan-pasan siya nito sa likod nito.

Ah... We're this close yet so far.

The irony. Not that she had something to do about it. Wala naman siyang choice.

Kahit hindi niya nakikita ang hitsura ng kababata ay alam na alam niyang gumuhit sa mukha nito ang pagkairita.

"Wala pa. May bodyguard, eh."

Her heart clenched. Mukhang kailangan na naman niyang gumawa ng strategy plan para mailayo si Kensho kay Mika para naman makaporma si Kaji rito.

"Kaji..." She uttered mindlessly. Siyeeeet.

Narinig niyang natawa ang dalawa. Mabuti na lang at hindi napansin ng mga ito na gising na siya.

"Ah! If it isn't Glimmer's boyfriend~" rinig niyang bigkas ni Takahiro.

She immediately opened her eyes and there, she saw Tattsun. Man, he was dashing and cool as ever, the complete opposite of the one holding her. Well, Kaji's rather the cute type.

Oh... Your type?, ani ng isip niya.

She brushed the thoughts away and quickly put on a smile as she waved her hand to Tattsun. "Yo!"

Tattsun smiled widely. "Should I carry you instead?"

Kaji groaned. "Kanina ka pa gising, hindi ka nagsasalita diyan! Pinagsasamantalahan mo yung pagbubuhat ko sa'yo."

She tapped Kaji signaling him to let go of her already. "Chill. Wag ka nang magalit diyan. May bago na akong biktima."

Suminghot siya bago tumawa ng nakakaloko nang lumapag siya sa lupa. Pagkatapos noon ay basta-basta na lang niyang tinalon ang likod ni Tattsun.

Effortlessly, she was lifted by him. Totally the ideal piggyback ride.

"Okay ka na ba, Glim? Ano bang nangyari at hinimatay ka kanina?" tanong ni Takahiro sa kanya na ikinakamot lang ng ulo niya.

"Ayos na ako, Takahiro-niichan. Don't worry. Mainit lang kaya nahilo ako."

"I'll bring you home then, G," ani Tattsun sa kanya. Sanay itong G ang itinatawag sa kanya.

She embraced his neck. "Jyaa, let's go to your place, Tatsuhisa-sensei~!"

"Okay, okay. I'll nurse you all night long."

"Oi, Glimmer Cervantes. Don't do anything reckless," banta ni Kaji sa kanya.

Well, wala naman silang gagawin ni Tattsun para magpaliwanag siya. Tattsun knew everything as well as she knew what Tattsun was going through now.

"Don't worry, Kaji. You'll be the godfather."

Nakita niyang namula ito nang bahagya. Natawa na lang din si Takahiro sa sinabi niya.

"Anyway, we're going! Thanks sa pagbubuhat sa akin. Bye, Kaji! Bye Takahiro-nii!"

"Unfair! You should call me niichan, too, you know."

"Wag na. Mas mukha pa akong Ate mo, eh."

She waved goodbye as Tattsun moved to go home.

She sighed when they turned right to the direction of Tattsun's house.

"Pwede mo na akong ibaba rito," aniya na sinunod naman ng lalaki. They walked side by side like usual since they've got together since the first term started. Technically, hindi naman talaga sila. They were just licking each other's wounds. That's all.

"Okay ka lang? Nakapag-pacheck-up ka na ba ulit?"

Ang tinutukoy nito ay ang lagay ng puso niya. She has a heart disease and only Tattsun knew it. That was the reason she collapsed at the hallway before.

She smiled. "It's just a simple attack. Sabi ng doktor ko, normal lang daw yun."

Tattsun reached the lock of the gate and she followed him as they get inside the house.

"Ojamashimasu!"
"Tadaima!"

As usual. No one's home. Trish's not home. That bitch really sucks, what's there to expect? Pero kung hindi dahil dito, hindi niya makukumbinsing maging pretend boyfriend si Tattsun. She knew that it was unfair but at least, she has the capacity to take care of Tattsun until the end of their contract.

Yes, just until Kaji and Mika get together. Just until Kaji get his happiness so she could say goodbye properly.

"Bakit malungkot ka? Naka-tsansing ka, ah?" maya-maya'y sabi ni Tattsun sa kanya.

Hinampas niya ang binata. Muntik pa tuloy na tumapon ang juice na inaabot nito sa kanya.

"Loko ka," she said to him lightly.

Tattsun smiled tenderly. "Hug?"

She nodded and in a second, she was wrapped around in his arms. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya rito. She tapped her hand on his back, saying that everything will be fine. Someday.

"Nagsama pa tayong mga losers..." natatawang sabi nito sa kanya.

She closed her eyes. Nakakagaan talaga ng pakiramdam ang mga yakap nito sa kanya.

Soon, she knew that everything will be over for her. By then, she wished everyone will still smile... including Tattsun.

Kahit makita niya lang na masaya ang mga ito hanggang sa...

Humiwalay siya rito upang tigilan na ang pag-e-emo nila at tsaka tinungga ang inumin na nakalapag sa lamesa.

"Sinisipon ako, Tatsuhisa-sensei~ TLC please!"