Morning Blushes

chapter twenty-nine

Monday. My whole body was palpitating since last night. I don't want to go to school and yet I'm still on my way. I swear, this black hole in my heart down to my stomach is eating me alive each day. Forcing myself to get up from bed is getting harder each day. But hoping I'm gonna see Navi today made it a little more sensible. He's all I've been thinking since the night we had dinner.

Pagdating ko sa school, everything seems normal. Some people are looking at me. I lowered my head on my way to our classroom like usual. I realized it's because of my hair. I didn't know that would catch so much attention.

An a capella of good mornings happened. Napaangat ako ng tingin. They're from Lily, Jace, and Calvin.

"Good morning," bati ko pabalik.

Pag-upo na pag-upo ko, humarap na sa'kin si Lily. I'm not even getting my Kindle yet.

"Brokenhearted ka? What's with the haircut?"

I shrugged. "Just something new."

"Yeah, something new. Blooming ka ngayon." I looked at her. Her eyes are like diamonds.

"Thanks,"  I just answered to get her mouth shut already. I almost forgot that's impossible.

"May boyfriend ka na 'no?"

I shook my head and smiled a little. "What's wrong with getting a haircut?"

I covered my ears as soon as Lily sang A Better Haircut from Amelie. Napalingon naman sina Calvin and Jace. Some from the play turned their head to us. They smiled and followed Lily.

"Oh, I missed this," Jace grinned widely. Sumabay din siya.

They're in the middle of the improvised jam (which is really cringy) when the door gently opened and Navi entered the room carrying his skateboard. Magulo na naman ang buhok niya, as usual, like he was just woken up by an explosion.

Everyone's looking at Navi so nung napalingon siya, his forehead creased in confusion. 

"Hey, stop it," tawag ko Lily but she didn't seem to hear it.

I don't know why they participated in Lily's craziness. They're all singing A Better Haircut to Navi. That song was performed when Amelie's co-workers warned Nino what to know before dating Amelie. I am so glad he doesn't know what it is all about. And when Calvin sang Nino's part, he's giving me glances which made me laugh so hard.

"That was fun." Lily laughed mischievously after the song.

"Ginagawa n'yo?" It's Navi's time to react.

They just laughed at him and continued to live their lives like A Better Haircut didn't happen at all. When our gazes met, he smiled at me. I am so glad that our teacher came so I won't be able to react to that. I just smiled a little and looked away immediately.

"Oh my god, it's really true?" Lily whispered to me.

"What is?" 

"You're dating Navi?"

My eyes widened. "Gosh, Lily keep quiet. That's not true. Who said that?"

"Wait, mamaya. This is so intriguing."

The discussion resumed but half of it is our upcoming event and Christmas. Kanina pa ako napapalingon kay Navi. He seems off, dark eyes and clenched jaw. I'm trying to catch his gaze but he's not turning his head in my direction. Or maybe I'm just overthinking everything. I just don't want him to avoid me sooner. We just made up a day before yesterday. I can't wait for the two subjects to pass. 

Pagdating ng break time namin, I searched for Navi. He's standing by the door with his eyes glued to his phone. 

"Tara na, Avy," sabi ni Calvin, siya na lang ang naiwan while Jace and Lily are arguing on their way out.