School Year

Chapter 3

Ok. I can do this!

According to my very own source, Dianne, Scarlet is an early bird. So 7:00 palang nandidito na ako sa school. 7:45 ay dapat wala ng gagala-gala at 8:00 start of class.

Ang tambayan daw niya ay malapit sa Restricted area. Isang malawak na lote na minsan na naming magamit kung may program. Pero during regular days off-limits naman yun.

Pero paano kung sabunutan niya akong bigla. O kaya may makita akong di dapat makita. Like in many novels. But none the less kakayanin ko ito.

Just be natural.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago mag proceed sa aking pupuntahan.

I reached my destination. Nakita ko siyang nakaupo sa ilalim ng puno, nagpagpapahangin. Hayss. buti wala siyang kasama. Baka ma misunderstood nila yung actions ko at sabay-sabay ako sunggaban.

"Uhm..." I coughed to get her attention.

"You again? You really wanna die, huh?" sinalubong ako ng mabangis niyang aura.

"N-no it's not like that." I started.

"Now you're acting a goodie-goodie?" She roars.

"I want to say sorry for my misbehavior yesterday. I'm not apologizing because I'm afraid of you. But because I realized I passed the line and did not respect you as a person. But I also wanted you to apologize. Because we both were in fault." dire-diretso kong wika.

Napanganga siya. Pero...

"If I wouldn't?"

Okay, so she has a high pride? I think it's just natural for the known Queen.

"I wouldn't say a word. It's your decision. Basta ako humingi na ng tawad. I felt guilty about the scene we made yesterday. But if you wouldn't accept my apology, I'll set up you a meet up with Nich-Nicholas,"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Sorry Nich if I resort in this method.

I whispered to her.

"I'll tell you his house."

Wala kasing nakaka-alam sa bahay ni Nich. Pag may celebration at ano pang event ay madaalas nagaganap yun sa tamabayan nilang bar.

"Eh? How and why should I believe you? You are nothing more than a stranger to Nich. " she rolled her eyes.

So she's calling her Nich. Ha. Funny. I think that nickname is swallow for many people calling him like that.

Pero expected lang yung sinabi niya. 

"If you want to know where is his house let's meet at the park in Elastré village, Saturday morning. 6:00 am. He is going to jog at that time. Malapit din dun yung bahay niya." I said.

"Wait. How do you know?"

I shrugged my shoulders. 

"Oh, if you want to know his address eagerly, be my guest. I'll tell you later at lunch, at the cafeteria." I said. 

"Huh? Are you insane?! Why would I meet you up in front of many people? I don't want to have rumors na natakot ako sayo at ginawa kitang kaibigan and drag my name to mud! And why can't you just tell me right now? And I can find by myself his house with the help of the address that you will give me." Sunod-sunod niyang tahol.

Yeah. She has a point. At mamaya maraming kaibiagan niya ang aaway sa akin. Pero 7:25 na. Nakalimutan ko na may assignment akong di natapos. I mean nakatulugan ko kagabi kaya di ko masasabi sa kaniya ngayon. Nagmamadali na akong papuntang library. At nagdadalawang isip pa rin ako kung sasabihin ko ngayon sa kaniya yung address mamaya kung anong gawin niya dun. And I can't just tell her that, can I?

Hmm...? Ano kayang gagawin ko.

" Yeah,  I can get what you are saying.  And now you said it, I have an idea. Can you still act like a bitch to me at the cafeteria?" tanong ko. Napataas yung isa niyang kilay niya. "Huh?" 

"What I mean is acting..." I said at mabilisang in-explain yung idea ko. Tumango siya at pumayag.

"Who do you think you are talking to? I'm the Madonna of Theater Club." proud niyangsabi at nag-flipped ng hair.  As expected sa tinatawag na Most-ewan. Ang daming talent. Ay oo nga pala magka-club kami sa theater club. I never paid attention and they never paid attention to me. Ang pinaka star kasi lagi dun ay sina Scarlet at Nich.

"At kaya pala masamang ideya na pumunta na mag-isa sa bahay ni Nich, baka akalain ka niya stalker. You wouldn't like that, right? Di suspicious kung ako ang nagdala sa iyo doon because I'm from his neighborhood." and that is my palusot. 

Satuday is great! Tomorrow is Saturday so tomorrow si great!  Dahil na sa business trip nanaman ang parents ni Nich at kasama si Daddy. But I'm worried Nich will be angry to me. Oh, nevermind. It's an indirect payback. hihi.

~

At the school cafeteria.

Dahil big time ang pangalan ni Scarlet mabilis kumalat ang nangyari kahapon. Kaya mas lalong dumami ang mga tao na kala mo nag-aabang na mapanood ang isang blockbuster na movie.

Well, natural lang iyon.

Hindi pumasok si Dianne ngayon may competition na pinuntahan siya kaya excuse din siya sa klase.

Di ko na muna ngayon sasabihin sa kanya yung address ni Nich dahil mamaya sa sobrang excited niya makalat niya sa sosyal media.

Nagtipon nanaman ang mga babae sa table ni Nich. Katulad ng plano dumaan sila sa table ko.

"Scarlet Garcia."

Mabilis namang nakuha ng boses ko ang atensyon nila. I saw Nich also turned his direction on mine.

"Oh, Ms. Bitch. Do you wanna fight again?" she sounded like a Queen. Kahit na natalo siya kahapon she always has a high confindence. She put her arms on her hips na parang pose ni Mommy dati tuwing papagalitan niya ako.

"Sorry," I lowered my voice.

"What?! I can't hear it. Everybody did you heard what did she said?"

May ilang sumagot, may ilang tumawa.

"Scarlet, I'm very very sorry. I passed the line. Sorry for the scene I make yesterday. Please, everyone, hear me out. Please forget about yesterday and today. Please don't remember my face that is full of shame right now, " I slightly vow my head to Scarlet. Hays medyo na exaggerate ang pag-sorry ko.

"Again please, forgive me Ms. Garcia."

"You little puppy, how pity..."

She throws a crumpled paper on me.

"Go away, bring the trash with you!"

I quickly get my crumpled paper.  I grab my bag at umalis na ako. Narinig kong tumawa yung mga kabarkada niya. Nung sumilip ako nakita ko Nich, walang reaksyon.

Some of my me felt sad with his reaction. It's just either he knows that is only an act or
sadyang wala na talaga siya pakialam sa akin.
~

Tinapon ko ang sarili ko sa kama. Iniisip ko kung anong gagawin ko bukas. Paano ko haharapin si Nich. Paano ko haharapin ang mga katulong nila na kilalang-kilala ako. Ngayong Friday na pala ang simula ng bussiness trip nila dad kaya diretso ako dito sa kwarto ko. Nakakawalang gana kumain pag ako lang ang mag-isa sa malaking lamesa.

Haysss... I guess I leave it to God.

Biglang pumasok sa isip ko yung mukha ni Nich kanina sa cafeteria. Nakakalungkot. Speaking of yung nangyari kanina alam kong parang tanga ako na ipahya yung sarili ko. Pero ginawa namin yun dahil alam kong pag-iinitan ako ng maraming tao lao na yung mga sunod-sunuran niyang mga kaibigan. 

Oo nga pala yung crumpled paper di ko pa nabubuksan. Kinuha ko yung bag ko at kinuha yung paper.

As I uncrumple the paper and read the message a smile formed on my lips.

It says, "I'm sorry too. "

Lesson 4: Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.