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?
For a change, I look forward to going to school even if most of my course subjects weren't those I was really interested in. This year, I get to be part of the school paper. This year, I get to prove myself. This is what I had felt ever since I got accepted at The Oracle.
But now, flashback of Saturday's rendezvous with the editorial team suddenly reminded me of how a certain Bryan made me feel (awkward to say the least). I was being tagged now as the "girl na hindi tatantanan ni Bryan".
I have no interest in any kind of relationship with this guy. I just need to keep respecting him since he is my direct superior, being News Editor and all.
Be professional, Paige. Don't let this get to you.
"Good morning!" I slapped on a happy grin and greeted everyone upon entering The Oracle office.
"Hi Paige!" Ate Jasmine chimed in.
I was on my way for a "beso" with Ate Jasmine when Bryan cut in my path...
"Hi Paige, musta?"
There's the abnoxious pearly white teeth flashing once again.
"Hi, ok naman." I managed to say.
"Ano class sched mo?"
My goodness, what does this guy plan on doing? Know all my whereabouts every day? Stalker much?!
"Um, baket po?" trying to keep the calm in my voice.
"Ah well, the editorial team needs to know everyone's schedule. Para masched ng maayos ang mga meetings and kung saan ka pwede hagilapin for article follow ups and assignments." Bryan explained.
"Oh ok, I'll hand it over later today, then." Ano ka ba naman kasi Paige, assuming?! Super facepalm.
"You can write it down now kung wala ka pa klase." He insisted and handed me a pen and paper.
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"Ok po." I obliged and as I scribbled my class sched for the day, his eyes seemed pierced on me. I swear I could feel the stare, making me feel more uneasy.
"Here you go."
He took a glance at the paper and said, "So, may free time ka pala mamya 11:30. Let's meet back here then at that time and talk."
What?! For what?! OMG, am I in trouble?
"Baket po?" I fumbled with the words. Clearly I don't know how to keep my cool.
"We'll talk about your first writing assignment." Bryan flashed his pearly whites once again. Confidently cocky, I must say.
"OH!" was all I could blurt out as I'm sure my cheeks turned slight red once again. Kakahiya ka, Paige! Ang paranoid mo lan, sobra!
"Ok, gotta go!" As I scrambled my way out the office.
"See you later." I heard Bryan as I ran out of the room.
I ran until I reached the 2nd floor where my classmates were waiting outside the room for our professor. Panting, I said, "Late na ba ako?!" Just to at least justify why I was running like a headless chicken.
"Di pa girl! Wala pa susi ng room eh." Geraldine, my best friend was all ready for class, her long thick, black hair hanging past her shoulders, combing it as she goofed around with our other friends Reggie, Reynan, Princess and Cheska.
Geraldine was always a little too childish for her age. Masyado daw maharot, according to my dad. Magaslaw for a college student. But heck, at least she was herself.
Reggie is a plump good-looking guy which I bet would have the other boys a run for their money if only he wasn't that fat. But he is the sweetest guy friend I know, lagi ako inaalalayan but never too boastful about him coming from a rich family. Bryan needs to take notes from this guy.
Reynan is a thin, chill lan kind of guy. Always smiling, good vibes kumbaga. But more of a wallpaper in our group, you know, a little bit of a loner.
"How was your weekend, girl?" Princess, my dancer friend asked casually although she already got an idea since I told her about it over the phone over Sunday.
"Which part? Haha! Some good, some weird. All in all, pwede na." I recovered my breath and was finally able to answer in a full sentence.
"Eh ano tong balita ko na meron pumoporma daw syo?! Grabe ka, Paige ah. 1 month pa lan tayo dito sa campus, meron ka na admirer?! Ako dapat yun eh!" Ever so subtle Cynthia strikes again. Loud-mouth for sure but always frank and will tell you what you don't want to hear. But it's true though. She is the chinita, fair-skinned one in our group. You know, the one who fits the stereotypical girl that guys like simply because maputi sya pero lacking in brain cells? Every squad has one, I'm sure. But her being a loud-mouth is kind of a turnoff plus the fact that she doesn't really study much.
"Ano ka ba Cheska! Di nman, ewan ko. Medyo creepy eh. Saklap pa, boss ko pala siya sa Oracle. So technically no choice ako."
"Baket, ano ba ginawa niya? Kinakausap ka lan naman ata eh." Geraldine chimed in.
"Di eh. Clingy. Kaw ba naman pasandalin sa balikat khet hindi nman kayo?! Ano tawag dun?!" I looked at all five of them.
"Whoa! Feelingero! Hahahah!" –Cheska blurted out.
"Ganun na nga. Tumpak! Mr. Feelingero of BSEd Major in Bio Chem" and we all laughed out loud.
"Deds mo na lan, Paige. I'm sure he'll forget about you tomorrow." Sabay irap. Wow, Geraldine, hater much? Sometimes, I wonder if she really is my best friend.
"Let's go guys!" We were so caught up in our little fiasco that we didn't notice the professor standing by the door tapping his foot obnoxiously.
"Yes, sir!" Sabay march in kameng anim.
11:30am
Oh gosh, here we go. My stomach was going in circles again as I walked out of the classroom and headed back to The Oracle office. I know Bryan must be waiting for me there. I wonder what the rest of the staff would think once they see me talking to him. Sana wala nang kantyawan.
Knock. Knock.
"Pasok! It's unlocked!" I heard Ate Jasmine holler from the inside.
I turned the knob and as I opened the door, there he was. Mr. Feelingero with his pearly white teeth and halos wala na mata, chinito na nga, sobra pa makasmile.
"Hi, Paige. Shall we?" He pulled out the chair at the board meeting table for me to sit.
As I sat down, Ate Jasmine picked up her things and said, "Ok guys, do good. I gotta go to class."
And just like that she was gone. Just like that, I was here all by myself with Bryan positioning his chair right beside me even if the entire long table was free.
I swallowed nervously, unsure of what was going to happen next.
