A Beautiful DISASTER (Published by POP FICTION)

6. Talk

ZAIDE TRAVIS

I noticed that Chloe was always with that new guy. At close
sila. Pati mga friends niya, giliw na giliw sa mokong na 'yon.

I hated seeing her smile every time she was with him. As
much as I wanted to get her attention, I couldn't because he
was always around.

I decided to go to my hidden place away from the non-stop
noise everywhere in school.

When I got there, I frowned.
Someone was sitting on the swing and reading a book.

"What are you doing here?"

"Reading a book as you can see." She lifted her gaze si Chloe.

Ngumiti siya at itinaas pa ang librong hawak niya.

"Who said you could come here?"

"This place is still part of the school, right? So I guess I
also have the right to this place. Besides, you who showed
me this place."
Bumalik na siya sa binabasa niya.

"Whatever!" I plugged in my earphones and sat down on
the grass, leaning my back against a tree.

I could see her enjoying her book, giggling once in a while.

She's kind of cute... Wait, what?!

"No way!" I said aloud.
Lumingon siya sa 'kin, frowning.

"Never mind," I said.

Tumayo ito mula sa pagkakaupo sa swing. Lumapit siya sa
'kin at umupo sa tabi ko, pulling out one of my earphones.

She was so close I could smell her strawberry perfume.

"Tell me, Z, why do you hate me so much?" she said.

I was speechless for a while.
I knew I wanted to see her furious and mad because
she was always so peaceful and happy. She was loved and
admired by most of the students. But I never believed
anyone could be that perfect.

"I'm not mad at you," I said.

"As far as I remember, I've never done anything to you
para magalit ka sa akin."

Well, it pisses me off how you're flirting with that new guy.
"I said, I'm not mad at you."

"So if you don't hate me, pwede pala tayong maging friends?"

"Friends?"

She extended her hand to me. I was hesitant at first, but part of me liked the idea of me and her being friends.

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya only to be amazed by how soft her hands were. She was smiling at me, the way she did when she was with that new guy.

The bell rang for the next class. Tumayo na siya to fix her uniform. She was about to go pero lumingon siya sa akin.

"Don't you have class?"
Wala na sana akong balak pumasok.

"Tara na nga," sabi
ko na lang.

Ngumiti siya.

Nang makalayo na sa hidden place ko, este, namin,
nilingon niya ako.

"Dito na ako, Z. Sa kabilang building ka pa ba?"

"Nope, I have a class sa second floor. Sige, I'll go ahead."

Hindi pa ako nakakalayo when I heard some yelling.

"Tatanga-tanga ka kasi!"
Hinanap ko kung saan galing ang sigaw, only to see Chloe on the floor with her books. And that bitch Nicole was the one yelling at her with her bitchy friends.