Chemistry

My high school life was pretty boring during the first year. Every day was just like the other day. I dreaded the thought that I'd have to endure that kind of high school life for the next three years but everything changed nung naging kaklase ko ang lalaking 'yon.

Matangkad. Gwapo. Makulit.

Those were the things I first noticed about Pierre Menes. All I knew was that we're in the same class, he's a sports enthusiast and that I wasn't interested to know more about him.

Oh! I forgot, nagkaroon nga pala siya ng girlfriend sa isang exclusive school. Paano ko nalaman? Nakita kasi sila ng class adviser namin na magkasama at ginawang blind item kaya ayun, buong klase nakaalam.

One seat apart lang kami ni Pierre sa Biology and I had never talked to him before. That's because I'm an introvert. I'm the girl who rarely talks and I have a poor social life.

My life started to become a mess that very day when he first spoke to me.

"Allen, pahingi ng number mo."

I was taken aback by the oddness of his question. Uneasiness took over me that moment. It was the first time a guy asked for my digits!

Ano kayang nakain niya at nagka-interes siyang kunin 'yong number ko? Iyon ang unang pumasok sa isip ko. Binigay ko naman agad sa kanya 'yong contact number ko since classmates naman kami. Pagkatapos nun, everything was still the same. Hindi pa rin kami nagkikibuan. Nadadaanan lang ako ng group message niya and vice versa.

Nanligaw siya sa isang sophomore nung third year kami. The girl is pretty, 'yon lang ang alam ko. Well, I was too busy with my own life to even care about them.

* * *

I can still remember  that incident at the gym one year ago.

I was very tired that day kaya lutang ang isip ko nang may biglang sumigaw mula sa likod ko and then that's when I saw a ball flying to my direction. Napapikit na lang ako at hinintay ang pagtama ng bola sa'kin but everything went so fast.

"Hey! Watch out!" May narinig akong sumigaw pagkatapos ay naramdaman ko na lang na may yumakap sa'kin.

Pinalipas ko ang five seconds bago ko idinilat ang mga mata ko. It was him. Pierre Menes was hugging me. I saw the ball resting on the floor a few meters from where we stood. Hinayaan niyang matamaan siya ng bola. Ginawa niyang shield ang sarili niya just to protect me.

Doon ko naramdaman 'yong abnormal na tibok ng puso ko.

Humiwalay na kami sa isa't-isa at napayuko na lang ako, "I'm sorry."

"Hindi ba pwedeng thank you na lang?"

"Eh kasi.. tinamaan ka ng bola. Ayos ka lang ba?" I was worried about him. For the first time ever, I cared for him.

"Hmm. Kung worried ka talaga, bumawi ka na lang."

"How?" Tanong ko habang nakataas ang isang kilay.

"Gusto kong bumili ng bagong body spray..."

"Hoy! Hindi ako rich kid noh! Bahala ka, basta ako nag-sorry na," tumalikod na ako pero hinawakan niya agad ako sa balikat.

Bigla siyang tumawa ng malakas, "I just need company, okay? Hindi ko naman sinabing ikaw ang gagastos."

At dahil ayaw kong magkaroon ng utang na loob kahit kanino, pumayag na rin ako. Tutal, sasamahan ko lang naman daw siya.

Hindi niya ako tinantanan at pilit akong kinulit na pumili ng body spray para sa kanya pagkarating namin sa mall. Aba, anong malay ko dun?! I don't even have any idea when it comes to guys! I have no idea which kind of things they prefer! Pero wala naman akong choice. Pinili ko na lang 'yong body spray na gusto ko para sa dream guy ko. Mukha namang satisfied siya sa choice ko.