Definitely Out of his League | published under Ukiyoto Publishing

2nd League: The Gardener

2nd League: The Gardener

KASAMA NI Iris ang mga kaibigan niya upang mag-shopping. It was a sunny Saturday morning and they were all wearing aviators. Para silang mga hollywood actress na napadpad ng Pilipinas upang mag-mall. Iris was feeling super that moment. Ilang araw din siyang bothered sa naging usapan nila ni Travis.

Alex and Yuri decided to go inside Primadona to check fancy stilettos. Elerie and Iris remained sitting inside a korean restaurant. They thought what they had was already enough.

Elerie was a little preoccupied by her phone. Kaya naman nakatitig lang sa kaniya si Iris at hindi niya napapansin ito.

"Elerie..." Iris called.

"Yes, Iris?" she asked, still looking at her phone.

She wanted to ask something but her mouth couldn't spill the words. She didn't want her to think that she was interested or whatever. Maybe she was a little... curious?

Nang hindi na niya masundan ang sasabihin ay nag-angat na ng tingin sa kaniya si Elerie. The lady was looking so fresh and innocent. Iris couldn't deny the fact that Elerie was the kindest of them four.

"Iris?" her friend asked, looking puzzled.

"Uhh... you've mentioned that you have a janitor friend, 'di ba?" tanong ni Iris.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Elerie at napuno ng pag-aalala. Iniisip niya na baka nahuli siya ni Iris na nakikipag-usap kay Travis after they warned her to never interact with him. In fact, Iris did see everything.

"Hala! Sorry, did you see me talking to him sa Quadrangle? I'm sorry. I just couldn't help it," naiiyak na sabi ni Elerie.

"Quit the drama, Elerie. Yes, I saw you talking to him. Not even once," ani Iris. After what happened between Travis and her, she started stalking her friend kapag aalis ito nang mag-isa. "I just wanna ask. Why do you like talking to him?" she asked.

Huminga nang malalim si Elerie. "If you'll just get to know him, I'm sure gugustuhin mo siyang maging friend. He's a good guy. I know you don't want me to get any nearer to him but he's also my friend, Iris. Please, understand," Elerie begged.

Ang tanong ni Iris sa kaniyang isipan, "ganoon ba talaga kabuti ang taong iyon?" Maybe he was just taking advantage of Elerie. Baka inuuto niya lang ito para magpabili or magpalibre ng kung ano-ano. Kilala pa naman niya ang kaibigan niya. Likas na may pagkauto-uto talaga si Elerie. She was so gullible.

"Just... Just don't get caught, okay? Lalo na kanina Yuri at Alex. I don't really care if you wanna hang out with that commoner. Just be extra careful," she told Elerie.

"Thank you so much, Iris. Sobrang na-appreciate ko ang pag-aalala mo sa 'kin. Gusto mo ba ipakilala kita sa kaniya?"

"No way I'd ever talk to that Travis guy," iritadong sabi ni Iris.

"Okay," nakangiti namang tugon ni Elerie. "Hold on, paano mo nalamang Travis ang name niya?" Elerie asked, puzzled.

"Uhh... ano kasi..." Pinagpawisan nang malamig si Iris. Anong ipapalusot niya? "Ano... uhh..."

"Sabi ko na nga ba may mental telepathy ka, Iris! Bakit mo ba kasi sini-secret sa amin? Superpowers don't make you look like a freak. Ang cool kaya!" masiglang pahayag ni Elerie.

Iris couldn't believe her ears. Ngayon lang may magandang naidulot ang kagunggungan ni Elerie. She didn't even have to think of anything to say to cover up her traitor tongue.

"Uhh... anyway, ano bang course niya?" natanong ni Iris sa kaibigan.

"Ni Travis? Architecture. But like what I said, it is pretty tough for him since he's taking special classes at night then trabaho sa umaga. He doesn't even want to accept my daddy's help sa pag-aaral niya," Elerie explained.