The Art and Science of Love (Of Love #1)

Chapter Three

I was blaming myself, yet again, for always hitting the snooze button everytime na nag-aalarm ang phone ko. Ten minutes of heaven turned to a missed class tsaka late attendance dun sa next. Good thing wala pa naman akong absent sa second class pero sa tingin ko yung prof ko sa first class, malapit na akong balatan ng buhay dahil lagi na lang akong late tapos nagabsent pa ako ngayon. I lack charm at appeasing teachers pa man din. Ewan ko kung saang part sila naiinis sa akin or if may kamukha ba akong mortal enemies nila. It was damned unfair.

"Kunot pa rin yang noo mo, babe. Problem?" tanong ni Jessica as she sat beside me.

Napatitig ako sa kanya atsaka napangiwi, biglang nagiguilty knowing na baka mawala si Jasper sa kanya, kahit hindi naman sila, pagdating ni Jazz. At ako ang nagpush sa dalawa.

"Okay ka lang?" she asked me, perplexed.

I must had been really bad at hiding how I feel. Because I can't hide it at all.

"Lilipas rin," sabi ko na lang sa kanya bago bumalik yung tingin sa libro.

Then thinking na I owed her details about Jazzy's arrival but not wanting to tell her, lumingon ako pabalik sa kanya then tapped her shoulders. She just looked at me with a silly smile on her face as if amusing yung ginawa ko.

I'm sorry, Jess.

"Goodmorning, Em."

Jasper sounded okay but being his bestfriend, I sensed something was wrong.

"Goodmorning?" I replied then noticed na throughout the class hanggang dismissal, nagiiwasan sila ni Jessica.

Oh. He already chose Jazz and told her.

- - - - - - - - - -x

Naglalakad ako from Cabalen to twin building nang makasalubong ko si Avo. Hindi naman ako mabibigla dapat since sa twin building din naman nagkaklase yung mga pharmacy students kung hindi lang siya tumitig ng diretso sa'kin na para bang nageexpect siyang maghello ako sa kanya.

After niyang sabihing 'di naman talaga niya ako gustong kausapin? After niyang magbitaw ng cryptic message sakin?

No, I don't think so.

Linagpasan ko siya kahit tingin ko gusto niya akong kausapin. I don't know if there was anything important he had to say anyway.

- - - - - - - - - -x

Pauwi na akong nang magcall sa'kin si Jasmine. Katabi ko pa si Jasper at halatang-halata yung pagiging alert niya nung batiin ko siya.

("Jazzy!")

He inched closer to me to hear better. Cutie naman.

("Emiliya! Ano yung bago mong address? Oh my gosh, I'm so excited!")