Paolo has been Dei's best friend since time immemorial. The first time he saw her was during grade school. She was crying that time, though it was hilarious when they reminisce that.
It was fine morning, a program was currently ongoing at their school. Out of nowhere he saw his guy crush. Yes, he knew back then that he is a bisexual and since his parents are open-minded, they don't mind them at all. Sabagay may lahi talaga silang bisexuals. Good thing though, his agreed but he was asked not to do cross dressing. They want him to still be decent regardless of his sexual preferences and as respect to his parents. He agreed since its not his cup of tea as well during that time. Going back, he is so excited and decided to follow him, kaya lang biglang nawala ito kaya humanap siya ng daan para mahabol ito. Sa dami ng estuyadyante that time, he decided to cross over the second floor of one of their school building. After he went down the building, he found himself alone from the crowd. With his excitement, he exited at the back of the building. He was then decided to turn his back when he heard a sob.
He was shocked of what he heard and remembered the ghost stories being discussed by some of his classmates during free time. Tumalikod na siya ng biglang maramdaman na may bumato sa kanya. Napalingon siya sa gulat.
"Bata!" Sabi ng munting tinig ng batang babae. "Ayyy! Anong -- ??" Nahihintakutang sabi ni Paolo ng bigla itong napatingin sa itaas ng puno! "Patulong naman sa pagbaba oh!" Sabi ng batang babae na naka-dress ng puti at mahaba ang buhok, bagaman paos na dahil mukhang umiiyak ito.
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Natatakot man pero ng mapagmasdan nito ang mata ng batang babae, nanaig ang awa at curiosity kung bakit ito umiiyak. "Paano ka ba nakaakyat diyan? Bakit Hindi ka makababa?" Paolo said. "Hindi ko din alam e!" The little girl said. "Ano??? Naku, baka nanuno ka?" Paolo said. "Ano yung nanuno?" Sabi ng batang babae. "Ibig sabihin may umaya sa iyo na kakaibang nilalang, tapos natuwa sa iyo kaya inakyat ka diyan para Hindi ka na makababa, ganun!" Paolo said. "Hindi kaya! Umakyat ako dito mag-isa!" The little girl said. "E bakit di ka na makababa ngayon? Don't tell me, ikaw yung espiritu?" Nahihintakutang sabi ni Paolo. "Hooyyy! Ano akala mo sa akin, multo? Maligno? Sa cute Kong to???" The little girl said. "Saan banda???" Paolo said. "Grabe ka sa akin... Sabagay parents ko nga Hindi ako pinapansin kaya malamang ako lang naniniwalang maganda ako!" The little girl said, sad. "Uyyy, wag mo akong artehan, halika na, baba ka na!" Paolo said, being sensitive to others, he felt that something was off from this little girl. The girl followed him while he is guiding where to step her feet and after a moment, she landed her feet in the ground safely.
"What happened? Why are you crying?" Paolo asked immediately. "Random things, random reasons" the little girl said. "Ganun? Ano baliw lang ang peg?" Paolo asked her. Natawa naman ang batang babae sa sinabi niya. "Anong pangalan mo, dwarf?" Asked Paolo. "Dwarf ka diyan, Tinkerbell ako uyyyy!" Sabi ng batang babae na nangingiti na. Paolo can't help but smile, there is something on this girl na mapapangiti ka na lang. "I am Nicomaine Dei Capili Mendoza, sixth grader..!" Maine said. "What??? We are of the same batch? E bakit ang liit mo? Bakit parang ang bata mo pa? Bakit ngayon lang kits nakita???" Paolo asked, flabbergasted. Ang bata pa nito, malamang maganda siya ng dalawang taon dito... "Wow! Ang privilege mo ha? Rapid fire ang questioning natin ha?" Nicomaine said. "E kasi... Ay, wait ikaw si Nicomaine C. Mendoza? Yung protégé??" Paolo said. "Protégé talaga? Pwede bang yung nerd na hilig mag-aral lang?" Nicomaine said. "Bakit iba ang mukha mo? Parang may kulang?" Paolo asked. "Ito ba?" Nicomaine took off her eyeglasses at her pocket and wear it. "Ikaw nga!!! E bakit andito ka di ba may recital ka pa?" Paolo asked. "Yap, kaya nga papunta na ako dun e... Puwede asked ng favor, pwede mo ba i-video yung performance ko? Baka maisipan nilang panoorin performance ko kahit sa video lang...!" Nicomaine said. After saying that, they become good friends, very good friends. Of all people in the world, she is the only one who can read Paolo like the palm of her hand.
Richard, listened to him as Paolo reminisce. He felt like crazy, imagining the little girl in the tree. He found it cute. He was wondering as to whom she referred in watching her video.
"Alam mo, Maine is the total opposite of what you are seeing on her right now. She is not that boring, little nerd as you all know. But only few people are privilege to see that side of her." Paolo said.
Richard was about to asked him a question when...
"Bes?? Ano nangyari??" Maine spoke while closing the car door. "Nasira, ano pa ba?" Paolo said. "A, akala ko nag de-date lang kayo e!" Maine teased Paolo. "Hindi kami talo ni Richard, straight siya, bes!" Paolo retaliated. "Anyways, I have called the gang but it will take them half an hour, so they told me to check the car...!" Maine said. "Is it okay if I check on the car?" Maine asked Richard. Richard nods. Maine then opened the car hood and check the wirings. She found out that the problem was overheating, due to coolant failure. "When was the last time you have this car checked?" Maine asked Richard. "Few months ago...!" Richard said casually although he can't take his eyes off Maine. "Oh, okay... I see...!" Maine said. She took her phone out and call someone. They heard her discussed something about coolant problem before she turn off the phone. "Is it okay if you will ride with me na lang? Kasi your car needs to be thoroughly checked and a replacement of some parts will be inevitable to have it going again?" Maine said. "Bes, paano yung car ni Richard?" Paolo asked, kasi parang tulala pa rin si Richard. "The gang will pick it up few minutes from now!" Maine said. Paolo and Richard nodded. They have decided to wait before they go.
After a few minutes of waiting, the gang arrived...
"Joe, hey!" Maine greeted them with a high five. "Hello, pretty! How's my pretty girl?" Joe said. "Shut it. I am not your pretty girl... Anyways, this is the car, are you going to hook it up with your ride?" Maine asked, voice sounding sweet, which annoyed Richard. "Yap, pretty girl... We will take care of this, no problem!" Joe said. "Good, so can we go now? I have business tomorrow...!" Maine asked them. "Okay, Paolo baby, we'll go na... Take care of my pretty girl ha?" Joe said. "No worries...! Bye for now!" Paolo said, smiling to Joe, and leave a frown on Richard.
"You two, let's go!" Maine said and went to her brother's car without looking back...
