Flames

Chapter 2

19-01-14

Estelle

"Eli! Halika rito.." Hagikhik ni Liscia. Napailing na lamang ako. Sigurado akong nakakita lamang siya ng gwapong lalake.

Nilapitan ko siya at bahagyang sumilip mula sa pader na pinagtataguan namin. Andito kami sa likurang parte ng isang classroom dahil may gustong masilayan ang matalik kong kaibigan.

Ang pagkakaalam ko, isang senior ang natitipuhan niya. But I'm not interested at all. Lalake lang 'yon.

"Nagsasayang lang kayo ng oras niyo rito.." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa gulat ng may magsalita mula sa likuran. Why can't people appear normally!

Nang harapin namin ang nagsalita eh napabuntong hininga na lamang ako.

"Roch, ginulat mo 'ko!" Sigaw ko sa kapatid ko at sinamaan siya ng tingin. I hate it when someone appears out of nowhere. I hate being startled.

Ngiting aso naman si Liscia habang tinitignan ang kapatid ko. "Walang sayang. Worth it kayang masilayan si Claude!"

Napairap na lang ako.

Nanatiling nakakunot ang noo ni Roch kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Why are you here?" Dapat nasa tambayan siya ng tropa ngayon dahil uwian na. O kaya naman eh nasa Mcdo para kumain at tumambay dahil wala namang gagawin sa bahay.

"I was waiting for you." Kumurba ang aking labi at siniko siya para tuksohin.

"Papalibre ka o may kailangan kang tulong?" Nagsimula na kaming maglakad at hindi ko rin siya tinigilan sa pangungulit.

Inirapan niya lamang ako at hindi nagsalita kaya humaglpak ako sa tawa. "Mas magaling ka pa umirap kesa sa'kin!"

"Kung ano ano talaga ginagawa mo sa pagkain. Weirdo." Ani Andrei nang lagyan ko ng ketchup ang fries at isawsaw sa sundae. Weirdo my ass.

Inulit ko pa 'yon at kinain sa harap niya para lamang inisin siya. A food is a food. Food is life.

Kompleto na sana ang tropa ngunit wala si Raiden. Probably hanging out with his band mates.

"Where's Raiden?" Tanong ko. I just want to know. He's usually with us. It's weird when he's not here.

Nag-umpisa naman silang manukso dahil sa tanong ko. Mga kaibigan nga naman oh! Magaling sa kantyawan pero pag nagkatotoo at nagkandaloko-loko, magsisisihan.

"Aysus, kunware ka pa! Crush mo rin naman 'yon si Raile." Sambit ni Drea at tinawanan ako.

Wala akong ibang magawa kundi umiling.

I admit it, Raiden is fine. No, he is more than fine. With his intelligence, his good looks, his toned body, his voice, his everything, he's so much more than fine. He attracts me, but I'm just not really into the idea of crushing on someone. I don't think it's worth it especially when it's just a simple admiration. It's not something you can be proud of.

Sa mga magkakaibigan, ako lang ang walang karanasan sa mga relasyon. It's not that nobody dares to date me, it's not that I don't pique people's interest, it's just I have a lot more things to worry about than love.

People would say I just really have high standards and that makes me so hard to reach, but that's not it. They created the standards for theirselves. Their minds are clouded with the thought that they should be the ideals, so they find it so hard to be at the same line in life.

And that is what's wrong with everyone's mind, they are too busy trying to be faultless and are so focused on finding the impeccable ones. But the truth is, that's not love, because love is pure and genuine.