Arrogance versus Sarcasm

Chapter 3

Cariffia Filker

I'm glad that classes were already done. Being in the same classroom with that jerk used up all my energy. Aly and I were hanging out at a nearby mall and she was teaching me Tagalog.

"Tingin is look. What do you want me to translate again?" she asked.

I smiled, "Anong ti...tinitingin tingin mo diyan..." All of my words were slurred and slowly pronounced.

"Oh that! It means, 'What are you looking at?' If you're angry, 'What the hell are you looking at?!' Paniguradong si Arroahn ang nagsabi niyan."

I arched one eyebrow and questioned, "Pani...gu...?"

"Panigurado is surely. Surely, it was Arroahn who said that. Pilosopo siya eh, sarcastic in English." I'm thankful for Alyssa here or else I wouldn't have learned that jerk's incentives.

"What is tanga?"

Then Aly's eyes widened and she accidentally spit her drink. Eww. "That's a swear word, Fia. It means fool, stupid, idiot, imbecile, and the list goes on." Oh.

Aly then checked the time in her watch and called the driver to come and get us. "Was Arroahn like that before?" What? I couldn't help by ask.

She produced a toothy smile, "Back in third grade, he wasn't. He was sweet and gentle. But many girls were trying to advance on him so in fifth grade, he started being like that. But don't worry, I'll help you get along. Arrow's my friend."

"Salamat." With that, Aly high-fived me.

#

Alyssa and I were at home now and she continued to teach me Tagalog. I'm glad she has my back.

But in the middle of the lesson, her phone kept ringing. "I gotta take this, Fia. Excuse me." She left me and went outside to answer the call. I went nearer to her.

"...ganun. Ha? Bakit ba Ty?" then her voice lowered until I could hear it again, "...kay Arrow. Wag muna ngayon please. I'm busy. Ikaw na bahala muna kay Arrow. Seryoso ako, Ty. Bahala ka, hindi kita papakilala sa pinsan ko. Ok, ok! Bye!" When she shut the call, I abruptly went back to my seat.

From what I can understand, Aly doesn't want to be bothered today and she's serious. But why would she mention Arroahn?

She went back inside, "Let's continue, Fia."

"Okay."

After a little while, we headed straight towards the dining table. Mom and dad were already seated. "Honey, how's school?"

"Good, good. Maraming guys ang nakipag-usap sa akin." Mom coughed and dad stared at me. Then she grinned, "Honey! You know Tagalog! That's good! That's good! I'm so proud of you. But still, guys really? Wala bang girls?"

I shook my head, "Nah. I reckon they must've not like me."

This caused my mom to gasp though, "How could they not? My baby girl is gorgeous and darling, you're quarter Filipino. Siguro they will understand you naman."

I leaned closer to Aly and whispered, "What's naman?"

She replied, "When siguro and naman is combined, it's maybe. But if the answer is Hindi naman, it's not really. It's like Filipino slang here." Oh. So Filipinos have slang. That's nice.

Aunt Medina came around a little while and then sat opposite of me. "Sana okay lang yung first day mo, Riffi. Medyo snobbish kasi yung mga schoolmates ni Yssa." Yssa, huh? Just like what Arroahn called her. Hmph.

"Tita, right? Uhmm, it was okay. The girls didn't even talk to me naman but the boys did." She was dressed in plaid shorts and a green tee.

Then all of a sudden, the people around me laughed, including Aly, I mean Yssa. "What's so funny?" I asked them. Aunt Medina was the one who answered, "Malakas kasi yung charisma ng family natin pag dating sa boys. I can't say the same about the girls hahaha kasi selosa sila. Chos! Hahaha!" Okay, what?

Aly noticed my impulsive confusion and told me, "We attract boys. Just like that. Strong charisma and whatever. And don't you ever use the word chos, it's a street slang that is highly unattractive." But her mom used it so what does that mean?

#

Tuesday :)

School day, yippee! Anyways, we're in school and we're seated already. When Aly and I were in the car ride, she taught me few Tagalog words. There's 3 things I noticed inside the classroom:

1. Arroahn is already here this early.

2. My girl classmates are gossiping around a corner. (Aly's not there; she's with the guys)

3. Arroahn is alone like me and is always glancing at Alyssa. Not that I'm jealous.

"Why are you staring at my cousin? Stalker?" I questioned him while facing him.

His green eyes narrowed then he faced me with a scorning look, "Hindi ako nakatitig nuh. Natingin lang. Bakit? Masama ba? Reyna ka ba ng school na to para question mo lahat ng galaw ko? Girlfriend ba kita? Ano ha?"

I blushed not because I was embarrassed to be questioned like that but because I was furious, "Hindi! I'm just concerned with my cousin. If she's gonna have a stalker, mas magandang si Vick na lang rather than some pitiful petite boy like you."

"Hoy! Hindi ako maliit. FYI, sa Pilipinas, matangkad ako. 5'7" ako at ikaw ay 5'6" Ikaw ang abnormal at dambuhala." What the hell is dambuhala?

But before I could talk back, the teacher came in and everyone suddenly went back to their seats and no one made a noise. Well, except Arroahn here.

"May teacher lang, tahimik agad. Bait ahh. Fakers." What a show-off. But the only one who heard him was me and he should be thankful I'm not a snitch.