It All Started With: We're Just Friends

One

Part 2:

What the heck! He's the guy earlier! "Deanna." someone whispers in my ear. When I look back, I can see Julia's pang-aasar face. I eyed her and she laughs. "Okay guys. Please help Ricci para he can atleast cope up with our past lessons. And Ricci, yung napag-usapan about sa hahabulin mong subjects ha. And for you, Miss Wong. Seatmates kasi so, your duty is to please guide him. I trust you Miss Deanna. Thank you in advance. Oh, and I'm leaving early today so just please read and analyze the next lesson then make a reflection and reaction paper about it okay? Then one by one mag rereport about your individual ideas about what you've read. So be prepared. And the submission will be on Friday. So you have 2 more days." Okay?! Why me?

I went to my locker to get my contact lenses, and rushed to the girls comfort room to wear it. "Hey. You okay? Why do you look so pissed when Ricci sat beside you?" Julia asked. "He tripped me earlier dude. Who the hell is he to do that to me." I answer really annoyed while remembering his face when I almost kiss the floor. "Oh. Sorry about that. But c'mon he's your seatmate might as well forget about it during classes? Need niya ng help from us to cope up dude." Julia said. "Then you help him!" I yelled at her. Julia looks like she's hurt kasi sinigawan ko siya. "Sorry, he's just so annoying lang kasi." I hugged her tightly. And she said okay naman.

When we went back to the room, I can see Ricci already getting along with our blockmates. That's nice to see naman but then when he looked at me, I rolled my eyes at him.

"Hey Deanna." Ricci calls me. I look at him with poker face. "About earlier, I'm so sorry about that. I just find you so cute kaya parang natuwa akong asarin ka." Cute?! Do I look like I'm petite? I'm 5'7 kaya!

"Wow." Na lang nasabi ko.

So I transferred to another seat beside Julia. "Hi Ricci. I'm Deanna's best friend, Julia. Mind if you join us during lunch break? We accept newbies." Julia laughs, yung tawa ba ng maaarte. "Oh, I'd loved too but if Deanna's annoyed sakin well I guess I should join the basketball team na lang muna." Ricci answered. "C'mon Deanna! Wag ka na ma-annoy. Malay mo..." before she could finish her sentence because alam ko kung ano sasabihin niya. And I can see Ricci's grinning. "Alright! Hindi lang ako umusap sakin na didipende." I said. Ricci smiles at me and Julia grabs Ricci's arm then sinundan ko na lang sila.

At the cafeteria, I can see Ate Bea with Jules lining up. They waved at me as they saw me following the two 'lovebirds'. "Deanna! Line up here!" Jules demanded. I picked up a tray for my food. "I heard blockmates kayo nung new guy ah. Well, kasama niyo na nga eh. Lakas!" Ponggay cut in the line. I nodded. She shaked me like she's kinikilig and all. "Yeah. And he's Ricci. Ricci Rivero."

"Wow! Ricci from Lasalle? Siya yung new guy?" Ate Bea asked. I just nodded. "Hm. Ricci and Deanna. Ano kaya mangyayari?" Then the two started teasing me na because of Ponggay. My phone buzzes, and saw Julia's name on my phone saying, "Get me Cheese Fries ha!" I searched for her and I saw her waving at me like crazy.

I bought one rice meal and an extra rice with it with the Cheese Fries for Julia then I saw a Gatorade. I don't know what comes to my mind to pick it up and bought it.

Pumunta ko sa table where Julia and Ricci were sitting, they were all talking and smiling like there's already something na. HMMM.

"Here's the Cheese fries, and here's a Gatorade na rin." I gave the two products to them and they both smiled and thanked me.

After lunch we had 2 hours of vacant so Julia requested to stay and chill for a while at the football field. "So ito pala yung feeling ng ambiance from the ADMU's field." Ricci says. "What? You don't have football field in Greenhills?" I asked with a tune of teasing. "Duh. Of course we have. Syempre, I'm very new to this feeling pa, like the ambiance, and the scenery." He said while staring at the view. "So, what do you feel now that you're already here in Ateneo?" Julia asks. "Wow. May pa interview si ate." I teased her. They both laugh and Ricci clears his throat. "Well, I really am excited at first." he said but I cut him off. "Excited because? May girls ka nang makikita?" I said all smiles cause I'm just kidding. But he looks serious so nanahimik nalang ako and Julia pinches me at my side. "But, the hardest part for me of transferring to another university is the adjustment. Syempre, I'm used to talk to guys for so many years na, different people na kasi makakasalamuha ko. But I'm very grateful naman that you guys accompany me."

"Ikaw ba Deanna? What did you feel coming here in Manila from Cebu?" Ricci asked. "Wait, how did you know I'm from Cebu?" I asked. "Julia told me. Earlier kasi we saw you making fun with the other players and I asked her about you lang." I nodded. "Ah. Well, same as yours siguro. I don't know how to adjust pa especially I'm from province kasi. Then, nung training na Ate Jia taught me to avoid being socially awkward. Pangit kasi yung ganon sa game." Ricci laughs at what I said. "Why are you laughing?" Julia asks. "Sorry, naalala ko lang kasi first encounter namin ni Deanna. She's shouting at me tapos galit na galit sakin. Eh awkward ka naman pala with people." he says while grinning. "At first nga eh. That's why I'm super close kay Ate Jia kasi she's the reason kung bakit nag kakaroon na ko ng maraming friends. And to improve in playing na rin."

"Do you wanna cut?" Julia says enticing me and Ricci to cut classes after a minute of silence. "Hey! Don't blame me if you failed again in Philo ha." I said then stood up while removing the bits of leaves on my legs. I'm wearing denim shorts kasi. Umalis na ko cause I remember na may papers pa kong need i-submit.

I was able to submit my papers on time naman, then I'll be leaving the room na when someone grabbed my elbow. "Deanna. Where are you going after class?" I turned my back to face Ricci. "Dorm. 'Cause there's a celebration lang with my teammates. Why?" I asked.

"Ah. Invite lang sana kita, gala lang around Katipunan." he said. "Wow. First day gala agad? Bawal ako." I teased. "Wow. Good girl? Strict parents?" he then teases me. Natawa na lang ako tsaka umalis na ng room.