An Alluring Fire (High School Teen Series #2)

5

Hindi ko mapigilang tumitig sa kabuuang pisikal ng babae. Hindi ko maitanggi na may kagandahang din siyang natatangi. Ang maputla niyang balat ay sumasalamin sa kanyang mala-anghel na mukha.

Kung ipagtatapat kami, matangkad siya nang kaunti kaysa sa'kin. Ang mahaba at makintab niyang buhok na palaging nakalugay ay nakaaakit sa mga mata. H'wag mo ring kalimutan ang maganda niyang ugali at personalidad na meron siya.

Baka 'yon ang nakita ni Leo sa kanya. Kung tutuusin malayong malayo ako kay Khate. Hindi naman sa dina-down ko 'yong sarili ko dahil alam ko namang may sariling ganda rin ako.

Nandito kami ngayon sa gymnasium mag-eensayo ng cheerdance. Isa kasi ako sa flyers at bata pa lang ako gustong gusto ko nang sumali. Kaya no'ng mag-grade eleven ako kinuha ko na ang oportunidad.

"Okay before we start, let's warm-up first," sambit ng aming coach.

Agad naman naming sinunod. Sampunf minuto lang ang itinagal namin sa pag-wa-warm-up tapos nag-stretching na agad.

"Ang ganda niya talaga, ano?" hindi makapaniwalang sambit ng kasamahan ko na bagong recruit pa lang.

"Oo nga eh... role model ko nga si Ate Khate!" tumili ng mahina ang kaibigan niya na halatang tinititigan si Khate.

"What's the commotion, ladies?" Agad pumagitna ang coach namin at ginawaran sila nang nakataas niyang kilay.

"W-Wala... po coach," tugon nila at bumalik sa sa pag-ste-stretch.

Pagkatapos ng stretching ay agad naming sinimulan ang ensayo namin para sa bagong stunts na ipapagawa ng coach namin. Malapit na rin kasi ang sports fest.

"Hey! Berlinary, right?" Napakurap ako nang tinawag ako ng pamilyar na boses.

Napako ang tingin ko sa mukha niya at ilang segundong hindi nakapagsalita.

"Y-Yes... w-what I can do for you?" I asked, stuttering.

"Puwede bang palit kayo ng posisyon ni Kyle? I noticed that you stand out the most when doing the stunt and the coach already knew it," she said and gave me a pleasant smile.

"Sure! If that's okay to Kyle also."

"I already told her and she agreed."

I just nodded slightly. After that short conversation I already changed my position and we start our practice. Actually, it was our first conversation, I'm not used to talking casually to others.

I don't have many friends here on our campus. It's not because I'm not friendly but people have their own tastes and standards. And for me, only Vanessa fits my standards and she was been my friend since we were little.

We took an hour for practice and our coach added some new stunts and it was risky but we managed to do it well. After the practice, I was exhausted and thirsty at the same time.

I immediately ran to the bleachers to get my bag to drink water. In my peripheral view, I saw someone who was drinking her bottle of water too and it was Khate. I suddenly recalled what Leo said yesterday. 

I think this will be the start of the operation.  I need to think of a way to be close to her even it means to befriend her. How should I do it? I'm a little bit shy when interacting with someone I'm not close to.

"Khate!" tawag ko nang hindi mapigilang mamula. "C-Can I have my lunch with you?" natamemeng tanong ko sabay hawak nang mahigpit sa cycling na suot ko.

"Sure! I'm so glad you asked. Actually, I want to be close to you also since bihira lang tayo mag-usap," maligaya niyang tugon at lumapit sa'kin nang husto.