CHAPTER 3
JOYCE POV
Thank God it’s Friday! Ang dami ko kailangan gawin ngayong weekend. I’ll be starting work part-time dun sa coffeeshop sa The Fort. Every Friday after class then the whole day Saturday ang sched ko dun. Tapos nagpromise ako kay papa na dadalawin ko siya on Sunday. Haay, so little time so much to do.
Physics, last subject of the day. Ang aga ko dumating sa room. Wala pang tao. I noticed yung desk ni Kris. Bigla ko siya naisip. Mukhang nagwork naman yung force field ko. Wala na ulit kami encounter after that first day. Varsity player din kasi siya so hindi din regular ang pag-attend niya ng classes. Pero I heard matalino siya kaya ang ganda ng class standing niya. Wow, Mr. Perfect talaga! Pero bakit wala siyang girlfriend? Ang swerte naman ng magiging girlfriend niya. If only...
Kris: Hi Joyce! Parang ang lalim ng iniisip natin ah.
He sat down beside me.
Joyce: Ha? Hindi. I was just...wala. Ang sarap lang nang nakatulala.
Kris: Sayang! Akala ko pa naman ako na ang iniisip mo.
Joyce: Ha? Hindi no!
Shoot! I’m definitely blushing! Feeling ko ang pula pula na ng mukha ko!
Kris: Haha ! Sira, joke lang yun. Parang ang serious mo kasi eh. Alam mo pag nakikita kita sa class or sa hallway or sa field, parang ang serious mo. Parang ang dami mo palagi iniisip. Do you ever smile? I haven’t seen you smile yet. I’m sure mas maganda ka pag naka-smille ka.
Joyce: I haven’t had any reason to smile lately.
Kris: Bakit naman? May problema ka ba? I’m a pretty good listener.
Joyce: I don’t want to trouble you with my problems. Kaya ko na ito. But thanks for asking anyway.
KRIS POV
Finally naabutan ko din si Joyce na mag-isa sa room. This is my chance to talk to her. I haven’t seen her since Monday kasi I was busy with varsity and other school stuff. Tapos siya naman, parang umiiwas din sa akin. I can’t stop thinking about her kasi I really want to get to know her. This is my chance. Kris, don’t blow it. Too late, umpisa pa lang, supalpal na ko!
When I asked her about her problem, bigla na lang parang nagkaroon ng wall between us. I really can’t read her. Mas lalo akong naiintriga sa kanya.
Kris: Joyce, ok lang if ayaw mo i-share sa ngayon. Uhm, may gagawin ka ba this weekend? May varsity tryouts kasi eh. We can go to the mall after for coffee or snacks. Andun naman si Lexi. Apat tayo nila Rick. Wala lang. Hang-out lang. Tapos ipapasyal ka na rin namin para you’ll know your way around the neighbourhood.
Kinakabahan ako sa magiging reply niya. Lord please, sana pumayag siya.
Joyce: This weekend? I already made plans for this weekend. Sorry ha? Goodluck sa tryouts.
And just like that, EPIC FAIL na naman ako.
JOYCE POV
He asked me to hang out with him. Purely friendship lang naman siguro yun diba kaya hindi naman siya maaapektuhan if tumanggi ako? Surely he’s not interested in me. I’m a nobody. Im sure hindi ako ang type niya na maging girlfriend. Besides, he can’t get interested in me. Ang dami kong emotional baggage. I can’t get attached to anyone right now. Somehow I felt bad. Honestly, gusto ko din makasama siya outside school. Kaya lang ang daming reasons not to.
Lexi: Uy Joyce, Kris. Ang aga niyo ha. Ano Joyce, sama ka sa Saturday? Sige na. Ang boring manood ng tryouts eh.
Joyce: Hindi kaya boring yun. I love basketball! Big fan ako ng basketball!
Kris: Talaga? I’m so happy to hear that.
Lexi: So game na sa Saturday?
Joyce: Sorry Lexi ha? May plans na kasi ako sa weekend eh. Next time na lang.
Lexi: Sayang naman. Excited pa naman si Kris
Napatingin ako sa kanya. I really feel bad pero hindi ko naman masabi yung mga reasons ko.
Kris: No it’s ok. I understand. May next time pa naman eh.
After that, he smiled and left. Pero I felt na disappointed din siya.
KRIS POV
Lumagpas ang weekend nang hindi ko namamalayan. Excited na kasi ako magstart ang week. Gusto ko na ulit makita si Joyce. Just as I thought, I saw her ulit sa field. I made up my mind na lapitan siya.
Kris: Hi Joyce! Do you mind if I join you here? Ang ingay sa cafeteria eh.
Joyce: Kris, ikaw pala. Sure ka you want to sit by me dito?
Kris: Oo naman. How was your weekend?
Joyce: Ok lang. Ikaw?
Kris: Ok lang din. Mas masaya sana kung andun ka. Joyce, I really want to get to know you. Sana naman bigyan mo ko ng chance. I’m really hoping that we can be friends or more than friends even.
Joyce: Friends naman tayo diba? Si Lexi, si ...
Kris: I like you Joyce. Please give me a chance to get to know you more.
There! Nasabi ko na rin sa wakas.
JOYCE POV
I couldn’t breathe. He was looking at me intensely. I couldn’t even remember where we were or kung may ibang tao sa paligid. It was as if we were the only people in this place. I found it hard to look away sa mga mata niya. Pero I have to find the strength now while I can.
Joyce: I’m sorry Kris. I have to go.
Tumayo ako at lumakad palayo sa kanya. Ang gulo-gulo ng buhay ko. Mapapahiya lang siya sa mga kaibigan niya at sa pamilya niya kapag naging kami at malaman nila ang mga sikreto ko. Hindi ko napansin na hinabol niya pala ako.
Kris: Joyce sandali! Sorry. Alam ko masyado akong mabilis. Sorry. Pero I’m willing to wait. To start as friends muna. Please? Please Joyce?
Joyce: Are you sure? I can’t promise you anything more than friendship.
Kris: I’m willing to wait. Please. Just give me a chance.
Huminga ako ng malalim. I made a decision. I looked him in the eye and smiled
