A Burnt Flower's Ashes

Chapter Three

"Hello, Uriel~ Your hair is suspiciously greasy. Naligo ka ba?"

Para akong adik pagpasok ko sa silid-aklatan dahil bahagya pang tumirik ang mga mata ko nang langhapin ko ang amoy ng mga lumang libro. My classmate, Uriel, was seated on my usual spot. It was the farthest part of the library where students rarely stay.

He was reading a book, or perhaps he's just faking it. The book was upside down, after all.

He glared at me. "Say that again, freak!"

"Your hair is suspiciously greasy. Naligo ka ba?" I repeated.

Mas lalo niya akong tinignan nang masama. Bakit na naman?

"You're pissing me off, you dork." Uriel said through gritted teeth, extra careful not to raise his voice since this is the library. "Get lost!"

Instead of leaving, I placed my stuff on the table. May nakaupo na sa harapan ni Uriel kaya tumabi na lamang ako sa kanya.

His body tensed as I took a seat beside him, rendering me curious.

"Do you have a crush on me, Uriel?"

His cheeks flushed. "W-What makes you think like that? Don't get ahead of yourself, Suna! Just because everyone finds you pretty doesn't mean that I like you! Why would I have a crush on you, of all people? You're such a dork, and you have no fashion sense! Ang liit at ang payat mo pa! Sobrang putla mo pa, kaya para kang nasa bingit ng kamatayan araw-araw!" Uriel breathlessly exclaimed.

Napangiwi ako. "Nagbibiro lang ako. Grabe ka naman."

His mouth froze, as if Uriel realized that he went overboard with his words. Out of frustration, he shoved his hand into his hair.

Pinabayaan ko na lang siya at nag-aral na lang ako. Matalas talaga ang dila ni Uriel kaya sanay na ako sa tuwing nilalait niya ako.

Out of the blue, he suddenly cleared his throat. "Oh,"

I blinked twice when he placed something in my book.

"Sorry," he said, barely above a whisper. "Maganda ka."

It was my favorite melon bread.

I giggled. "You really have a crush on me, Uriel."

"Shut up, freak."

I spent the entire hour studying in my spot, featuring Uriel who slept soundly beside me. 'Di ko alam kung bakit dito niya napiling matulog kahit na nandito ako. He's supposed to be allergic to me.

Come to think of it, he's always in this spot whenever I go here.

"Uriel," I poked his cheek. "It's time for our class."

Naalimpungatan na si Uriel mula sa pagtulog. He didn't bother sparing some effort to fix himself. Basta na lang siyang tumayo at umalis upang pumunta sa klase. Ni hindi man lang ako hinintay.

I was planning to chase after my seatmate, but I unexpectedly bumped into Sir Hana. May bitbit siyang mga papel at mukhang papunta na siya sa klase namin dahil siya na ang susunod naming guro.

"Good afternoon, Sir Hana." I politely greeted him.

"Hello, Suna. Why are you still here? My class starts at eleven."

Sabay na kaming naglakad patungo sa klase. Panay naman ang bati ng mga estudyanteng nakakasalubong namin kay Sir Hana.

My eyes landed on the thick papers he was holding.

"Sir, may quiz po ba?" I nervously queried.

He chuckled. "Meron, Suna. Nag-aral ka ba?"

Napasapo ako sa aking noo. Meron talaga?