I'm walking alone in the hallway. I feel so uncomfortable because everyone is staring at me and to my surprise, they're smiling. Ok this is not what I expected – Tsaka paglabas ko sa room after class eh may nag-aabang na mga estudyante sakin para magpa picture. Like what? Hindi naman ako artista ah?
Yeah, I'm Rance's girlfriend. Pretend that is.
Hindi parin ako makapaniwala na nangyayari ang lahat ng to. It feels so surreal. I sighed, hindi ko muna iisipin to. Nakaka stress lang. I'll just have to stick with my motto, go with the flow –
" Toni!"
Napahinto ako and judging from that voice, I can tell it's Conner. My black american guy friend. At isa sa mga heartthrob dito sa campus, I mean yeah he's totally hot but Rance is way hotter.
Nakalimutan ko bang sabihin na may lahing Spanish si Rance? Actually he has. Which explains why he has foreign features, tan skin, and speaks Spanish. Ang hot nga niyang pakinggan eh. Ugh – I so like him.
That's why I'm so lucky cause I got this chance to be with him. He's way out of my league. A man who's hard to reach. Gosh hindi parin ako maka get over. Talaga bang totoo ang lahat ng to? The guy's got millions of fans and has traveled around the world. And I can't believe that he noticed me – And Christ! He even managed to find me and asked for my help!
Sino na ba talaga ako na mabigyan ng ganitong grasya? I'm just a nobody. Walang maipagmalaki.
" Earth to Toni." Natauhan naman ako. Tiningnan ko naman si Conner at nakangiti siya. Lumapit siya bigla tas nakipagbeso sakin.
" What happened to you, girl? You look like someone barfed all over you." Sabi niya sa matigas na Ingles. The man can't understand tagalog by the way.
Natawa naman ako, " What's up?"
" Uh uh – You haven't answered my question, sissy. Heard about the news. Them girls in my class was always talkin bout it."
" Conner, I don't wanna talk about it."
" Right, sorry." He cleared his throat." Was about to eat. Wanna come along?" Yaya niya sakin. On cue, nag ingay naman ang tiyan ko.
" Christ yes! I definitely need to eat." Natawa naman siya kaya napasimangot nalang ako. He likes to tease me about how huge my appettite is. Pero ang pinakagusto ko talaga sa sarili ko is no matter how much I eat, I never get fat.
Thank God for that.
Nandito na kami ngayon sa school cafeteria at napayuko ako nang tinitingnan na naman ako ng mga tao. Napansin agad yun ni Conner kaya siniko niya ako.
" Sit there. I'll get the foods." Turo niya sa isang empty spot malapit samin. Hindi na ako nagsalita at umupo na lamang. Umalis agad siya para mag linya.
" Well well – It's the star's girlfriend. Ang swerte naman niya."
" Is she cheating? Ba't kasama niya si Conner?"
" Ugh this is not happening!"
Rinig ko sa kabilang table. Tiningnan ko naman sila and immediately recognized them. Tsk sila lang naman ang mga babae na kong sino-sino nalang ang nakaka one night stand. They even brag about the guys who they slept with. Mabuti naman at magkaibigan sila. Birds with the same feather flock together ika nga. Kilala rin sila sa pagiging sobrang inggetera.
Napapikit na lamang ako. How am I supposed to enjoy my meal kong ito ang maririnig ko? Ang babaw naman nilang mag-isip. I jumped when my phone rang. Tiningnan ko naman at si Jill lang pala. She left a message.
From: Jill
Where are you?
I replied.
To: Jill
School cafeteria.
I played with my fingers at rinig ko parin ang mga nagchichismis nang makita ko si Conner na papalapit na. I visibly relaxed. Nang makalapit na siya at nilagay ang trays sa mesa, narinig niya pala ang mga pinag-uusapan ng mga babae sa kabilang table. Kumunot naman ang noo niya.
All of the girls stopped talking at napatingin sa kanya.
" Save your petty talks for someone else. Do you really think I'd steal someone's girlfriend? Hell – I can even find one myself if I have to!" Inis niyang sabi. Natahimik naman silang lahat.
" C – Conner, sit down. It's okay." I called out. Napabuntong hininga naman siya at umupo na lamang. We started to eat quietly. None of us bothered to speak.
If wala sanang set up na nangyayari ngayon sa pagitan namin ni Rance, I'd have strangled these bitches. Pero knowing na I have to protect my image para sa kanya, hindi pwedeng basta-basta nalang ako mag eeskandalo dito. Baka sasabihin nilang napaka defensive ko masyado at bagong issue na naman ang lulutang.
" Toni!" Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Conner sa tumawag sakin. And I cocked my head in confusion as I saw Jill smiling at us.
She's walking limply at masyadong glowing? At sabi niya masakit daw ang katawan niya.
Could it be? Oh my God.
Wala pa naman akong experience sa mga ganung bagay eh pero hindi naman ako ignorante.
