Alexithymia

*Friends with Benifits*

Welvic's POV

The next few days Monique never talked back to me- she never call, never text, nor talk.

I often met her at lunch sa school pero di niya ako pinapansin. I sometimes see her staring at me, but when I stare back she loose her contact.

Tapos na yung second sem namin at nakuha na namin yung grado namin, the usual- bagsak ako sa math (kay Mr. Fernandez) at puro pasa na lahat. That day nung nagaway kami was supposed to be the day na magtututor siya saakin, but she never came, in the end nabagsak na naman ako sa subject ni Mr. Fernandez. Di bale na may final sem pa naman.

Few weeks later at di parin niya ako pinapansin, ano nga ba yung nangyari saaming dalawa. I just told her what I feel for her no big deal.

One time, when I was about to enter my class, nagkabunggo kaming dalawa sa may pintuan. I dropped her things, so I helped her in picking it up. When she looked at me, she was shocked. Dali-dali niyang kinuha yung mga gamit niya sa kamay ko at nagmadaling umalis.

"Monique!" tawag ko sa kanya habang papaalis siya. Pero hindi siya nakinig at tuloy parin yung paglalakad niya.

I tried contacting her through her phone, tinawagan ko siya pero as if ay ayaw niyang sumagot.

Pinutahan ko siya sa bahay niya, I knocked, lumabas yung papa niya and we talked.

"Sir? Saan po si Monique?" tanong ko.

"Ah, Welvic... Na-natutulog siya," sabi niya.

"Sir alam ko pong di siya natutulog, at alam ko rin pong iniiwasan niya ako," sabi ko. "Pero pakisabi nalang po na namimiss ko na po siya."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at umalis na sa bahay nila.

Also recently, I found out that she unfriend me on facebook, but I hacked my way through and made myself as her friend. I jammed her inbox and tried to send her couple of messages.

But the next day she never responded.

Sunday morning was our practice for that theatrical play, so we rounded up infront of Mrs. Cantares.

"Bad morning!" galit na sabi ni Mrs. Cantares.

"Bat bad po yung morning mo?" tanong nung classmate ko.

Tumitingin ako at hinahanap si Monique, pero wala pa siya. Siguro nalate lang siya o kaya natraffic lang sa klase ni Mr. Fernandez.

"Well I have some bad news though, pinasa ko yung script na Romeo and Juliet sa 'Theatrical Competition' and I was sad to say na vinoid nila yung play kasi may mas nauna na daw kesa saatin," sabi niya habang sinipa niya yung upuan niya.

Nagulat kaming lahat, galit na galit siguro siya dahil sa pagkavoid ng play namin.

"However, I never gave up. So instead our play will be 'Cinderella'. Same thing prince charming will be Welvic Sehan and Ms. Cinderella is-"

Napatingin kaming lahat sa pintuan dahil bigla itong bumukas. Mas nagulat ako sa nakita ko.

"Is you Ms. Rea Monique Dujali!" sigaw ni Ma'am pointing at her.

Nagulat ako ng makita ang dating Monique, her face was just different, yung tipong nerd na siya- she removed her face make-up, pinastraight yung buhok niya, at hindi na siya nagsusuot ng dress, instead yung denim pants niya at simpleng blouse.

Tumingin siya saakin and I smiled at her. But then, she loked away.

"Ms. Dujali! I don't accept late comers inside my class," sigaw ni Ma'am. "But dahil, big part ka sa play, you're exempted! You may proceed to your chair!"