Spencer and the Ice Queen

CHAPTER 8: STAY FOR THE NIGHT

JUNE 26 2014
Thursday

"Zane! Zane wait up!" Spencer tried to catch up with Zane as soon as they were out of class. It was three minutes past 6 PM and she was heading to the parking lot with Julianna beside her. Binilisan niya ang paglalakad at kunwari ay hindi niya narinig si Spencer. Utang na loob, may migraine ako ngayon. Please naman. Tantanan mo na ako.

Kausapin ko kaya si Dad na payagan ang mga pets dito sa school? Para masama ko kahit saan si MinHo, ang alaga kong pitbull. For sure, wala ng lalapit sa'kin nyan!

Spencer cleared his throat and was about to speak up again when Julianna interrupted.

"Sis, restroom muna pala ako. Ihing-ihi na ako eh. Kita na lang tayo sa bahay niyo mamaya for Chem review ha! Laters!" She said so fast it was almost incoherent.

Walang kwentang bestfriend. Hindi maaasahan. Ang lame pa ng excuse niya. Zane glared at Julianna's retreating back. She turned to her car and almost forgot the annoying presence beside her.

"Zane."

She let out a heavy breath and clenched her fists. Lord, huwag niyo po akong hayaang pumatay ng tao.

Spencer stared as Zane's back stiffened when he called her name again. How to ask her? Ano bang meron sa babaeng ito at nahihirapan ako ng ganito? Para pagtatanong lang naman kung puwede akong date niya. I've asked at least twice a dozen girls in the past for different occasions, and I've never been rejected. Ba't ngayon parang umuurong ang dila ko? Hell.

She turned to him and gave him a frosty stare. Nakakatakot. Sayang ang ganda mo nyan, Zane. Ngiti naman, kahit isa lang.

"I just wanted to ask if... maybe... uhmmm... you... I... we... uh..."

"I think you need a verb or something to go with those pronouns."

Tae. Iniinsulto pa yata ang natutunan ko sa English class. Huwag na lang kaya? Mag walk out na lang kaya ako? Naman, bakit ako naduduwag!

"Will you be my date to the Homecoming Ball?" he finally asked after several attempts of opening and closing his mouth, as if he was a cow with some eating disorder.

"I'm not going. So, no."'

"Okay, great! That's great! I'll pick you up at--- Wait. What?" He couldn't believe his ears. The Great Spencer Yap was being rejected? In the middle of a trunk-and-leaves-and-roots-infested school parking lot? Spencer thought there were better places for first-time rejections. Like on the phone, or through text or email, or whatever. But to his face? To his handsome and charming face? You've got to be kidding me. Mali yata ang dinig ko, pangungumbinsi niya sa kanyang sarili.

"I'm sure you heard me." Zane muttered dismissively, already getting into her car.

Yan ang napapala mo sa pakikinig kay Jason. Pahamak talaga ang Belmonteng 'yun.

He watched her get into her car before he walked away with shoulders slumped dejectedly. So this is how rejection feels.

Ba't ganun?

It's not like I even like her.

Then he remembered na pangalawang beses na pala niyang ma-reject ng Ice Queen. The first time he just felt embarrassed, kasi sa harapan ng maraming tao nangyari at pinagkatuwaan siya. This time, no one was around to witness his humiliation but he felt ten times worse. Why do I feel . . . bad?

Zane glanced at his lone figure in her rear-view mirror.
Was I harsh?

Teka, ba't ako biglang concerned? Buti nga 'yan para tigilan na niya ako. Masyado na siyang nag-eenjoy sa pang-aalaska at pang-aasar sa akin.