Chasing Elle

Nate

Janna: hey, what's this rumor going around campus na nahuli daw kayo ni King na naghahalikan kahapon sa corridor?

Kathy: Whaaaatttt?!!!! Kaya ba bigla kang umalis kahapon sa library? Kasi naglalampungan na kayo ni King?

Janna: So....ano kayo? I saw Celine and King together kaya kahapon.

Kathy: OMG!!!! So ano ka, Elle? Sideline girl?! Friend with benefit?! Ang bilis ng development ng relationship niyo hah.

Me: MANAHIMIK KAYO!!!

I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I logged out from my facebook messenger and stared absent-mindedly at the blank Microsoft Word document in front of me. Kailangan ko nang tapusin ang book review naming tungkol sa librong The Scarlet Letter na due na this Monday pero ni-isang salita wala pa akong ma.type. Walang laman ang utak ko kundi sandamakmak na inis kay King at sandamukal na hiya kay Nate nang dahil sa nangyari kahapon. Kung hindi ba naman kasi antipatiko tong si King eh hindi sana ako subject ng chismis sa school ngayon. Akalain mo ba naman na umabot na ang chismis sa puntong hindi na tama ang nababalitaan ko. Yun na nga daw; nahuli daw kami ni Mam Revilla na naghahalikan sa corridor at ako na nga daw ang bagong conquest ni King. Gossip really flies fast at Waldorf; nang matapos ang klase naming at patungo na ako sa swimming club, pinagtitinginan na ako ng masama ng mga babaeng nagkakandarapa kay King. I even got more friend requests on my Facebook account from girls that looked familiar but were not really my friends; let alone acquaintances. I ignored the requests since I don't make friends with random people.

Yun namang sa murderous glares, inirapan ko lamang sila at taas-noong naglakad. I don't need to explain myself to anyone lalong-lalo na sa mga taong ang dali-dali maniwala sa chismis. Will I allow myself to be called King's new "conquest"? Hell no. Pero I know how the system works and keeping mum is the best way to deal with gossip because when they no longer find any reason to talk about something so stupid, the issue will eventually die down. Hopefully.

Although I do need to talk to King about his behaviour na siyang nagsimula ng chismis na kinasasangkutan ko ngayon.

That or maybe I'll just avoid the guy at all cost; he's dangerous for my sanity.

Tumunog ang cellphone ko na nasa tabi ng aking laptop at binasa ko ang message.

Nate: How's The Scarlet Letter review going on?

Napangiti ako at mabilis na tinipa ang reply...

Me: Hate it....How is a high school student supposed to react on a book that's so...deep? And Nathaniel Hawthorne is such a complicated writer.

Nate: hahaha... I can relate...medyo deep and dark nga 'yan. And yeah, Hawthorne is one complex writer.

Me: Are high school students even allowed to read such book?

Nate: The story is a bit confusing pero it has its charms. Hahaha You'll survive The Scarlet Letter. ^_^

Me: Waaaahhhhhh!!!! I need help!!!

Nate: The book is slightly emotionally scarring as well. Haha. Want me to help out? ^_^

Halos mahulog ako sa kinuupuan ko nang makita ko ang reply ni Nate. He would help me out? Wait....how?

"Uhhhh....." I hummed nervously as I thought of what to reply pero bago pa ako maka-type ay may dumating ulit na message.

Nate: We could meet up tomorrow so I could give you my notes from last year....I still have and they're kind of rotting kasi di ko na ginagamit...if you want them I'll give them you and help you out with that review.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!" malakas 'kong tili habang nagtatatalon na parang baliw sa loob ng aking kwarto. OMG!!!! We're meeting up on a weekend?! Napahiga ako sa kama, kinuha ang unan at hinampas-hampas ito sa sobrang kilig. Kung naririnig lang ako ng mga kapitbahay namin iisipin nila na I have lost my wits pero wala talaga akong pakialam at nagpatuloy lang sa pagtili. Pati stuffed toy ko na Pooh ang kinagat-kagat ko na.