Have you ever encountered someone you never thought you would fall for? Falling slowly then helplessly for that one person even if you never really liked him and his ways from day 1?
After about an hour of awkward silence and subtle interrogations by Bryan, we finally arrived at the school hosting the youth seminar.
I brushed off all my irritableness and headed out the van. Weird though as I stepped out that I see Bryan waiting at the right side of the van with his hand held out as if I was a fragile princess stepping out of her pumpkin ride.
Um, ok. Weirdo.
Still I took his hand since I was wearing my favourite sandals that had a little bit of heels to them. Beats me as to why I would wear such a thing at a youth conference. Guess I'm a weirdo myself hahaha.
"Thank you ha, but you didn't have to." I told Bryan as I took my hand back.
"Ok lang, para maalalayan kita."
Wow ha. OA much? Bababa lan ng van eh. It's not like I was hiking up a mountain or something.
"Alright guys, the venue is at this university's gym. Let's secure our spot and get ready for the first speaker. Remember, notes! Notes! Notes!" Ate Jasmine looked like her whole body shook while giving us her marching orders. Poor thing. She looks so tired. The Editor-in-Chief really looked like she is all stressed and fed up with the post.
I would never be like that if I was her—living my dream job. I would probably be the happiest person alive.
"Tara, sabay tayo" Bryan placed his hand under my elbow as if I was an elderly person.
I just smiled at him awkwardly and ran up to Kuya David's side as we all made our way into the gymnasium. I didn't want to be rude to Bryan but I wanted to be on my own, for once, on this very rare occasion of me out of the house. Having a strict father really dampened my social life in high school but now that I'm in college, this newfound freedom is really something. Something I wanted to cherish.
The gym doors flung open... What a ghastly sight! My first seminar outside of the school campus had us all crammed into a very sweltering gymnasium without any chairs! You see, I have one of the worst cases of OCDs (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, if you didn't know) EVER. I felt my stomach go in circles just the thought of having to sit on the dirty floor.
"San po ba tayo uupo?" I tried to ask sweetly so they wouldn't notice my cold sweat forming.
"Dito lan, Paige. Guys, try to get some bond paper or anything to sit on." Ate Jasmine informed everyone very casually while scrambling to find some of her own.
I couldn't believe this. What's worse is that I can't let them know na sobra nandidiri ako or else they would think I'm some crazy, arte arte girl. I don't think they would understand my OCD at such a young age.
As I looked around for something to sit on, Bryan appeared out of nowhere and told me to sit on the area that he prepared. I saw this so called "clean area" on the floor where he placed a few sheets of paper. Aarte pa ba ako or pwede na toh?
Since I felt helpless, I said my thanks and plopped down on the "clean area" Bryan had made. Unsurprisingly, he sat right beside me with his knees almost touching me. Shiver me timbers!!! I move slightly to my left to avoid any further contact.
Ah ganon, may kapalit. Hay naku naman. Boys talaga oh. Deadma nlan Paige. Pagbigyan na lang.
As the seminar was about to start, Bryan whispered "Are you okay? Are you comfortable?"
"Yup, thanks." And I rewarded him with a sweet, warm smile. Okay, sguro nman solve na siya dun sa smile ko. LOL
I paid very close attention to the seminar because I knew that this will somehow show how dedicated I am to the paper, plus Ate Jasmine hasn't really given a heads up whose assignment this was. Bulaga siguro so I better be prepared.
Somehow though, the day was getting longer by the minute. I was getting sleepy once a very slow talker guest came up on stage. Gosh, baket nagiging boring? Wala pa nga sa kalahati ng araw eh, antok na ako. I can just imagine the softness of my bed...
"Pwede ka sumandal saken kun inaantok ka eh."
Ayan ka na nman Bryan eh. Just because you have your broad-shoulders doesn't mean you can just invite girls to place their heads on them. Personal space, man, personal space.
"I'm ok, thanks."
"Sure ka? I'm just here naman."
Ano ba eto, hindi ka ba titigil? Pero in all honesty, ansaket na ng likod ko. It's like 3 hours na kme naka-indian-sit dito, walang sandalan plus sobra init dito sa gym.
Pakipot pa pero I found myself leaning my head on his shoulders. Hay, kay ginhawa. Nakapahinga rin khet paano.
I think Bryan's smile was from ear to ear. Masaya na nman ang bata.
Can't wait for some lunch to fuel up... I can hear my stomach growling, ugh dyahe. Hope he didn't just hear that. But heck, so what. Eh gutom na eh!
Finally, lunch came and the seminar emcee called for a recess.
"Tara, let's grab lunch dyan sa katabing McDo" Kuya David lead the pack and as I stood up from my seat, syempre Bryan held out his hand for me to grab. Ok cge na nga, sweet and thoughtful. For now.
The fastfood chain was just about 2 blocks away so we decided to walk under the sun (eeew, I'm not really known for sunbathing or walking, for that matter). Bryan kept taking pictures of the group with an old school film camera. Wasting film, good grief.
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As we moved along, Bryan decided to walk by my side while crossing the street, even looking left and right for me. Dang, this guy sure is clingy.
"Naku Paige, hindi ka na tatantanan niyan ni Bryan". Kiko, one of our creative artists, laughed his head off along with the others.
"Uyyyy!!!!"
Ayan na nga ba sinasabi ko eh. Napansin na ng iba. Umpisa na. Haaays....
I smiled coyly but couldn't help but frown. This wasn't what I wanted my first college paper seminar to turn out to be.
