After my birthday, hindi pa rin kami nabigyan ng pagkakataon magkausap ni Jay. I don't know if he exerts effort to have a talk with me like what he said on that text message of his on my birthday. Hindi rin naman ako nag effort na hanapin siya. Siguro sinasanay ko na rin ang sarili ko na wala siya. Yung ikaw at ako naging ako na lang. Nakakapanibago pero kailangan tanggapin.
So I decided to get myself busy with school. Aside from my studies, nagsimula na rin akong sumali sa mga clubs sa school. Jane insisted that I join in the Book Lovers Club with her. It was awkward at first lalo na nung magpakilala ako in front of all the members. I was nervous the whole time. Buti na lang andun si Jane to encourage me and I can see naman that the members are happy to accept me. It warms my heart to know people that share the same passion with me when it comes to books. Dati ako lang yung nakaka appreciate ng mga binabasa ko. Nakikinig din naman si Jay sa akin dati when I talk about books, pero not like with my club members. Iba yung feeling. Nakakataba ng puso.
Foundation day ng school namin. Everybody's busy with everything. Clubs were asked to build their own booths on the school grounds. Kanya kanyang strategies to attract students and visitors. Kami sa Book Lovers Club, we made a booth that sells variety of preloved books. We also offer coffee and frappes. At para mas maengganyo yung mga tao, we also do poetry reading. To make it more memorable, students can read their own poetry compositions. Saya di ba?
Jane and I were on duty that morning in our booth. Wala pang masyadong tao because it is still early. We were chatting about a new released book when we heard a commotion. Nabigla na lang ako nang may humawak sa braso ko at biglang may naglagay ng posas sa mga kamay ko. Napatingin ako sa mga "dumakip" sa akin.
Miss Dei Mendoza? We are here to arrest you. You have the right to remain silent. Blah blah blah. Natatawang sabi ni Yuan, Vice President ng student council.
Oh my god! Wedding booth yung sa Student Council di ba? Hiyaw ng isipan ko. I helplessly looked at Jane pero natatawa na lang din siya. Binigyan ko siya ng nagtatanong na tingin pero kibit balikat lang ang naging sagot niya.
Yuan, sino ba may pakana nito? Can I make bail? Ayoko talaga nito eh! I tried to reason out to him but to no avail. Non bailable offense daw kasi yung ginawa ko. Tawang tawa pa talaga siya. Ang sarap tirisin ng intsik na to!
Wala na nga akong nagawa at I just let Yuan drag me sa wedding booth nila. I just keep my head down kasi pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao. I really feel so embarrassed. Pakiramdam ko pulang-pula na yung mukha ko sa hiya.
Pagdating namin sa booth, marami nang tao. May "ikinakasal" pa nga that moment. I tried to look around kung sino yung magiging groom ko. Feeling ko mas lalong pumula yung mukha sa salitang "groom." I fidgeted while waiting. Mas lalo yatang lumakas ang kaba ko nang marinig ko yung papalapit na ingay. And my heart stopped when I saw who's approaching us.
It was Jay with his teammates. At nakaposas din siya. I just stood there mutely staring at him.
He was struggling to get away from his friends but they just laughed at him. He was just three feet away from me when he finally saw me. Bigla rin siyang natigilan and just stared at me.
Parang gusto kong maiyak. Now that I see him, ramdam ko na yung pagkakamiss ko sa kanya. Ang tagal na naming di nag-uusap. Miss na miss ko na talaga ang tukmol na to.
I bravely looked him in the eyes. There were bewilderment there, asking what am I doing here. Wait, there's more to it. Was that longing I see in his eyes? It was just a split second and it was gone when one of his friends spoke up.
Nandito ka rin, Dei? Ibig sabihin ikaw ang bride nitong si Tisoy? Uuuyy... Sam said then started laughing again. Nakisali na rin ibang kasama nila.
Bigla akong napatingin kay Jay, trying to read his face. He's still staring at me with those deep set eyes. May dumi ba ako sa mukha? Bakit ganito makatingin ang lalaking ito?
That's when I realized that I am wearing a skirt today. Napagkatuwaan kasi siya ni Jane kanina. Dahil sila raw yung magbabantay sa booth ngayon, they need to be presentable. I tried to reason out with her but to no avail. Di ko naman masabi sa kanya yung reason bakit ako na trauma mag skirt kasi nakakahiya. So yun, tiis ganda. Pero now that Jay is looking at her, parang bumalik yung hiya ko.
Naghiwalay lang yung tingin namin sa isa't isa nung may dumating. I recognized Suzette from gymnastics team and Ian from Book Lovers Club. They were both handcuffed too. Tumaas yung kilay ko nung makita ko si Suzette na tumingin kay Jay and smiled flirtatiously at him. Ian just smiled shyly at me. I smiled back at him. Parang alam ko na yung nangyayari.
Jane told me the other day that Ian was crushing on me. I don't want to believe her because wallflower Dei, remember? Tsaka bago pa lang ako sa Club. Once ko pa nga lang yata nakita si Ian. Pero Jane continued saying na matagal na raw akong napapansin ni Ian sa school. Nahihiya lang daw lumapit kasi palagi kong kasama si Jay.
So that means si Suzette and Jay ang "ikakasal"?! I eyed the pair suspiciously nung humarap na sila sa makeshift altar ng booth. Everything was a blur to me. I noticed that Suzette was really enjoying herself. May pahawak-hawak pa sa braso ni Jay ang bruha! Nakakainis! Ang sarap ingudngud sa lupa yung pagmumukha!
When Yuan declared them as man and wife and proceeded to the "You may now kiss the bride part," napatingin ako kay Jay. Nagulat pa nga ako nung tumingin din siya sa akin. I was confused for a while because he was looking at me apologetically. Then he kissed Suzu on the cheek. Naku! Gustong-gusto naman ng Suzu na to! Nakapout pa yung lips. Sarap tampalin!
And it was Ian and I's turn. Nakisakay na lang ako sa trip ng mga nasa booth. Natatawa pa nga ako kasi ang pula ng mukha ni Ian. Feeling ko nga sasabog na siya any minute. I just smiled at him para naman di na siya mahiya. I know this is just for fun. Nakalma naman siya saglit hanggang dun sa kiss part. Nasamid pa nga at naubo. Tawang-tawa ako while patting his back. It was awkward but at the same time it makes the whole ordeal bearable. When he finally calmed down, he looked me in the eyes asking for my permission for the kiss. He is a gentleman, I'll give him that. I smiled at him and nod. He kissed me on the cheek.
And as I look around, I saw Jay looking at me. He has a grim expression on his face. I looked away and started walking back to our booth.
** Hi guys! Again, thank you po sa mga nagbabasa nito. Sobrang happy ko po. Sorry na late yung update. The struggle is real, mga bes! Hahah. Feel free pong magcomment sa story or just say hi. I wanna know you all para mas masaya. 😊
Unbetae'd so all mistakes are mine. I write as I go kaya yun. Hahah. Thanks again for reading.
BINABASA MO ANG
Splash Love
FanfictionDei and Jay have been best friends all their life. But Dei have fallen in love with him. He's the Campus Heartthrob. She's a wallflower. Will they be perfect for each other as lovers?
