13

Secret Admirer

There was a knock on the classroom's door during Maine's biology class. It was the annual Flowers for a Cause fundraising week at their school, where the student council and its delegates sells flowers for P50 to raise money for the yearbook to offset the printing costs. Everyone cheers as Ramon, the student council vice president, walks in, carrying a hefty basket of white, pink and red carnations. White carnation means friendship / appreciation; pink means respect/honor and red, of course means like / love. Even their teacher Ms. Advincula stops and smiles upon seeing the cheerful flowers.

Maine was surprised when Ramon called her name, and handed her not  just one , but 6 carnation stems. She turned crimson as her classmates teased her for getting the most flowers.

As Ramon leaves, Maine checks the tag of each stem. She got 3 white carnations from Kuya Richard  and 3 red carnations from a "secret admirer".

Maine could not help but blush at the thought. #Paano nagka-secret admirer? She shakes off the thought to focus on Ms. Advincula's lessons.

When school ended, Maine meets Richard at the library to do their homework. He frowns as he sees her bouquet as Maine settles in across him.

"Kuya Richard, thank you sa carnation mo. Ang sweet mo ha." Maine winks at Richard.

"Kanino galing yang mga red carnation na yan?"  Richard asked Maine, still frowning.

"I am not sure eh, basta inabot sa akin. Me secret admirer daw ako, Kuya." Maine smiles dreamily. "At bakit ka nakasimangot?"

Richard stares at her. "Bata ka pa, bawal pa mag boyfriend. Sabi ni Tita, wag ka daw papaligaw."

"Eh secret admirer lang naman, ligaw na ba yan?"

"Maine, wag ka nga. Mamaya me hihingi na ng number mo at makikipag-kwentuhan kunwari. Hay naku. Wag kang magpapaniwala dyan."

"Grabe ka naman, di ba pwedeng enjoy ko muna tong moment. Baka di na 'to maulit. Ni hindi ko nga kilala kung sino."

"Basta bata ka pa, sumbong kita ke Tita at Tito nyan eh."

"Sobra naman makabasag ng moment! Hay mag homework na nga tayo."

Still irked, Richard goes on doing his thing as he sulks ; while Maine keeps on whistling and smiling.
/

The following day during lunch break at the cafeteria, Maine was startled as Ramon approaches her table. This elicits more hoots and cheers from her friends.

"Ang haba ng hair mo, Maine. Ikaw na", Ramon says as he hands Maine the bunch of carnations. It's a dozen red carnations.

The tag reads:

Bawal ang secret admirers.

-Kuya Richard

Maine laughs and feels so much kilig deep down;  as Mika and Joanna check out her flowers. "Talaga bang mag-kuya lang kayo ha, Maine ?" Joanna inquires.

"Aba ewan ko senyo, basta ako me isang dosenang bulaklak."

At the end of the table, one of her classmates, Jake, thinks to himself : "Wala, binakuran na ni Richard si Maine. Dun na lang ako ke Yvette kaya, baka mas me pag-asa pa."

Richard, who is a few tables away, smiles at this incident. His phone beeps, and he reads a text from Maine.

"Yes po, no secret admirers na. Manood pa tayo mamaya ng Stranger Things sa bahay."

Richard smirks and rubs his hands together; happy that he got that situation controlled.

***

Note:

Happy 4th Monthsary, Team Butchikik!!! And to our beloved  #ADNFest2016 Orgcomm - kayo na!!  🙌🏽

Sabaw pero kinailangan ko isulat yan. 😊

Pic credit to papixure_ne 's IG. Yan ang naiimagine kong face nila kasi.

As always, not proof read. Mistakes are my own! 😅