The Focusing Effect

Chapter 2

It should be Charles and not this annoying guy!

"Badtrip ka no?" Sabi ni Geremie.

"Gumaganti ka ba saken because of the rooftop incident?" Diretso kong tanong sa kanya. Well if it's about it, then I must say na ang babaw nya naman!

"No. Gusto ko lang na makasabay ka umuwi. There's nothing wrong with that right Ash?" He said while wearing a smirk.

"Stop calling me Ash. We're not close. Panira ka ng moment"

"So are you one of his fans? You like Charles too?" Ang laking manhid nga naman ng taong to para hindi makahalata.

Hindi na lang ako umimik at mas binilisan ang lakad ko. Sayang talaga ang moment. It was the first time he call me by my name. At sana din ay ito ang unang chance na makakasabay ko syang umuwi. But because of this guy, he ruined everything.

Hindi kami nag-usap all throughout the walk. Naghiwalay lang kami because we have to go separate stations. He didn't even bother to say goodbye to me. Well, why would he? And why would I expect him to bid goodbye? I'm getting weird.

Well at least nag-sorry man lang sana sya sa naudlot naming moment ng crush ko. Tsk another first time sana ulit kung nagkataon. I wonder what is he up to? The guy named Geremie?

Nakarating ako ng bahay and there I saw Kuya Ark at the kitchen. Nangangamoy na naman sa buong bahay ang niluluto nyang Paella. That's his specialty. I guess mapapasarap na naman ang kain ko mamaya.

Mom and Dad are still in their works so Kuya Ark is in charge of cooking. Well he's always th one doing it. HRM ang course ni Kuya because obviously he loves cooking.

"Babygirl! Come, have a taste of my Paella" excited na tawag sa akin ni Kuya ng makita nya ako.

"Kuya please stop calling me that way. Hindi na ako bata no!" He knows how to piss me off. Alam nya na maaasar ako kapag tinawag akong babygirl. Even Mom and Dad loves to call me like that. Kaya ayaw kong magdala ng mga friends or classmates dito sa bahay. Ayaw kong makita nila kung paano ako itratong parang baby. Nakakahiya kaya yun.

Hindi na ako nag-abalang tikman ang luto ni Kuya dahil for sure it will taste like one of those dishes in a five star restaurants. Tinawanan na lang nya ako. Maybe naisip nya na naasar talaga ako sa itinawag nya sa akin.

Maya maya lang din ay dumating na ang parents ko. After nilang magbihis ay kumain na din kami ng dinner. We talked about lots of stuffs like school and work like eating. Hobby na namin ito or more like a kind of bonding na rin. Si Kuya Ark na ang nagligpit ng kinainan and we let our parents to take their rest.

Pumunta na ako sa kwarto ko para manood ng KDrama. Pwede akong magpuyat ngayon kasi wala namang pasok bukas. But before attempting to open one episode, naisip kong buksan i-check muna ang social media world ko. Mabilis kong tinype ang first name nya to check kung may bago syang status or displayed photo.

Charles Kean Alejandro

Tumambad sa akin ang bagong status nya 20 minutes ago.

"Another wasted chance. I'm hoping for another 'next time'"

That's what his status says. Is he referring to our 'naudlot na pag-uwi ng sabay'? Hindi ko maiwasang kiligin kung sakaling iyon nga ang tinutukoy nya. Nagreact ako ng heart instead of like sa status nya. Nag-log out na ako at humiga sa kama while looking at the ceiling. I can't help not to think of Charles. Ano pa bang bago? Eh gabi gabi ko na itong ginagawa. Kahit nga nagkaklase kami ay sya pa rin ang iniisip ko.

Hindi ko din mapigilang mapangiti dahil sa nangyari kanina dahil sa wakas ay napansin na rin nya ako. All this time I've been hiding among a bunch of his fangirls, watching from a distance and secretly looking at him when I had the chance. It's been 4 years and I'm still into him.