Romero x Rodriguez #KathNielReads

04

04

CHACHA

I just smirked at Nico and ignored what he said, I think he's just kidding. I don't want to take what he said seriously, because I do not honestly don't know what to say if he is serious.

"Halika na nga bubwit." Inakbayan ko si bubwit at tinignan naman si Nico, "Ikaw.. wag mo 'kong pinagtitripan okay?"

He smiled a little and sighed. "Hay Romero.." sabi niya at napapailing na lang. Tumalikod na kami ni bubwit para mahintay na namin si Mama Ellie na susundo sa amin.

Ever since I was young, I lived with my brother's family. Okay lang naman sa parents namin since they wanted to spend their times now on travelling if they're free. Okay lang din naman kay Papa Trick and Mama Ellie since they treated me as their 'panganay'.

"Tita Cha, liligawan ka ba ni kuya tangkad?" Natawa ako. Kasi nga naman, matangkad si Nico as compared to his friends. Di ko rin alam san niya nakuha yung height niyang yon, dati naman magkakasing height lang sila ng mga guys kaya lang biglang siya na ngayon ang pinakamatangkad sa kanila.

"Hindi bubwit. Nagjoke lang si kuya tangkad."

"Eh di naman siya tumatawa eh!" Reklamo ni bubwit na may kasamang kunot ng noo pa. This kid is surely like my big brother.

"Shhh. Di siya manliligaw. Bawal pa si tita Cha magbf." Sakto namang dumating na si Mama Ellie at sumakay na kami. As usual, dinaldal na naman ng bata ung eksena kanina. I kept on denying pero mama Ellie knows better.

"Dalaga na talaga baby namin." She said and pinched my cheek. Ugh. Yan ba ang dalaga? Kinukurot kurot pa.

At home, kinwento nila uli kay Papa Trick yung nangyari. He isn't mad though, shempre why would he be mad eh senior HS din yung time na naging sila ni mama Ellie non? Their love story started at highschool, by the way. Bestfriends sila but Papa had this hidden desire kay mama. Ayon, napuno na sa dami ng crush ni mama at daming nagkakagusto sa kanya. Saka mama was thinking of going abroad that time. That's why he decided to risk the friendship, because he really wanted more than that.

Ayun, they ended up together, hindi umalis si mama and so the story goes.

"Basta baby, dito 'yun manliligaw okay? Not anywhere else." I just shrugged. I'm not interested anyway, ang alam ko ha.

The next day, pagpasok ko pa lang they were all looking weirdly at me. Uh, okay. May nagawa ba ko or what?

"Hi baby Cha!" Mae, as usual eh jolly. Nilapitan ako't niyugyog. "So totoo ba?"

"Huh?"

"Nanliligaw na si Nico?" My eyes grew big and looked for that guy but he's nowhere to be found.

"Who told you?" I asked.

"OMG OMG OMGEEEE!! Totoo nga?! You didn't say 'no' so totoo!!" She screamed and caught attention. Na saktong pumasok naman ang lalakeng dahilan ba't to nagkakaganito. I shot him a deadly look.

"Hi Romero." He smiled and went to his seat.

"EEEEEEEEEEH!!! Mygad magkakalovelife na bff ko!!" She went out of the room, I'm not sure where she's going.

Pumunta na ko sa seat ko at nanahimik. Most of them are teasing us, pero pareho kaming tahimik. Then I felt him behind me, and said, "Sorry Romero, nasabi ko kay Vic. Baka dinaldal kay Mae."

"Shut up, Rodriguez."

"Sungit. Kaya kita.." He whispered and I wasn't able to hear the last line. Ugh.

"Ano yon, Rodriguez? Ano yung sabi mo?" Bree, who just arrived, asked him. Tinignan ko si Bree na ang laki ng ngiti samantalang pagtingin ko kay Nico eh nagpipigil naman ng ngiti.

"Na ano.. wala." He looked at me and smiled. Pacute, tusukin ko 'yang pisngi mo eh.

The class started, si Mae na uli ang katabi ko at pilit akong pinapakwento kung ano nangyari kahapon. Ano ba 'tong babaitang 'to, parang walang klase. Napagalitan tuloy siya ni Sir.

"Ayan kase, ang kulit." Pang-asar ko.

"You still owe us." I didn't bother to react and just continued listening. Still bored as ever sa class. Sometimes I wonder how I get good grades pero di naman ako interested sa mga inaaral namin. Kumbaga, lagi lang akong nagcocomply for the sake of having grades. Sa math lang ako yata nageenjoy since may challenge kapag nagsasagot ng problems. Am I weird or what?

Then came PE na madalang akong magparticipate especially kapag hardcourt games. Bawal kasi ako mapagod. Sa mga board games lang 'yata ako allowed talaga sumali. The teacher just gives me tasks to compensate sa mga hindi ko masalihan. They know my situation, alam nilang bawal ako magpagod.

"Class, we'll be going sa field today. Group yourselves into two, we'll play soccer. Miss Romero, alam mo na participation mo ha?" I smiled and nodded. Scorer. That's usually my role.

"Ma'am, pwede pong hindi sumali?" Rodriguez butt in.

"Bakit?"

"Um ang loner po kasi ni Cha. Samahan ko na lang siya. Para din po even ung class since sobra ng isa kapag kasali ako."

Palusot. Ayan tuloy pinagaasar kami ng mga kaklase namin.

"Bawal ligawan during class hours, Mister Rodriguez." Pakikisakay ni Ma'am na nagpaingay lalo sa class.

"Ma'am naman eh. 'Di naman po." Nahihiyang sabi ni Nico, napakamot pa sa batok.

"Para-paraan!" Sigaw ng isa naming kaklaseng lalake.

"Shempre, pagibig 'yan eh!"

"Payagan niyo na po ma'am, ngayon pa lang nawala katorpehan ni Nico eh." Pambubuyo pa ng iba naming kaklase. Ano ba! Ugh. Bakit ba kayo nakikisali.

"Sige sige. You be the referee, Nico." Ayun na nga at inaasar asar pa kami lalo. Pinatulan kasi ni ma'am eh. On the way sa field eh sabay kami ni Nico maglakad. I don't know why pero kahit ganitong inaasar asar na siya sa akin, di pa rin ako na-o-awkward.

"Yieeeeh!" As usual na pang-asar ng class. I shot them dead looks pero walang silbi, lalo na sa dalawa kong kaibigan.

Napailing na lang ako, halos pareho kami ng reaction ni Nico.

"Hindi kita tinitrip, Cha. I was serious when I said, I like you. No, not like. More of.. love." I looked at him, wide eyed.

"Seryoso Cha. Realtalk talaga. Ngayon lang ako talaga ako nagkakalakas loob na umamin sa'yo, I know you're not into relationships.. and I'm in no hurry too. I just want to let you know of this growing feeling inside me. Nakakasawa na masabihan ng torpe. Ikaw ba di ka nagsasawang masabihan ng manhid?" He smiled and his famous smirk showed. Ugh bakit ko ba laging napapansin yun?

"Ganon ba talaga ko kamanhid?" I awkwardly asked.

"Not really, love and relationship's not just in your mind." He said then started walking towards the field.

He looked back at me and mouthed, "I love you" before he faced our classmates. Now I'm wondering why there's a sudden different feeling inside me.

Kinabahan ba ko?

O kinilig?

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Belated Happy Valentines!! Hahahajk. Comment kayo please? Or Tweet/follow me at @erinxdizon or use the hashtag #KNRxR and I will follow you. Thanks sa mga nagbabasa pa rin kahit ang boring ng story na 'to huhuhu please bear with me. Thanks xoxox