Once Upon a Dream

3:

Arin's PoV

"Everyone, please great Mrs. Nazil." Said a teacher nang makapasok sa room. My gaze immediately shifted towards Dalton, Nazil kasi ang kaniyang ipelyido.

"Good morning Mrs. Nazil." Everyone greeted. Sabay-sabay kaming nagsiupo. Mrs. Nazil took her glasses off at nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin saamin. As if she was searching for something, perhaps someone.

"Answer me students. Who is Arin Esquivel??" She asked ng hindi ata makita ang hinahanap n'ya. I gulped. Bakit n'ya alam ang pangalan ko?

My classmates all looked at me. I gulped. Oh-oh!

"A-Ako po?" Hindi ko pa siguradong sagot at tumayo 'saka tumungo. Nasanay kasi ako noong elem na tuwing babati ay dapat tutungo.

"Uh-huh." Sambit niya at agad na lumapit sa akin na agad niyang nagawa pagkat nasa unahan lang naman ang upuan ko. "Broad shoulders, flat, slim waist, big butt, long legs. Fifty-six over one-hundred but with a tinge of magic, you'll do fine. Come with me." Hindi agad ako nakareact sa sinabi niya.

All I remember was me being pulled away from my chair, napatigil kami sa paglakad ng may humigit sa kabilang kamay ko. We were at the long silent hallway, halos lahat kasi ay may klase.

Napalingon ako sa taong ngayon ay nakahawak sa isa kong braso. "What do you think you're doing Alt?"

"What do you think you're doing mother?" Alt asked with a calm but annoyed voice. His grip on me was tight yet soft, na kahit alam mong hinihigpitan n'ya ay sinisigurado n'yang hindi ka masasaktan.

Ugh Alt! Napaka-pafall mo!!!

"She's the girl isn't she?? Let me doll her up for the party this coming Saturday." Alt's forehead creased.

"The girl?"

"Yes. She's gone to our house last week correct? At ni minsan ay hindi ka pa nagpapapasok ng babae sa kwarto mo. Lucy has been with you but only outside your room—so she's probably quite special, isn't she?" Naramdaman ko agad ang pagaapoy ng aking pisngi. Ako? Special?

"H-Hindi po! May sakit lang po s'ya n-n—"

"Don't butt in. My senses can't lie to me." Pinal na kaniyang sabi.

"Let me handle my girl mother. I don't need your help." Dalton reprimanded. Inis na binitawan ng babae ang aking braso at hinigpitan ang hawak sa kaniyang bag.

"You won't even let me touch her?! How dare you?"

"No mother. How dare you? I am here only for your expense right? Kaya wala kang pakialam sa mga gagawin ko." Balik na sagot ni Dalton. Now I don't know what to do. Masyadong mabilis ang mga nangyayari at wala akong maintindihan ni isa so... Ugh! Natutuod nanaman ako kainis. "You have full rights over me, but not her."

I stared at Alt's mother. Waiting for what she'll do or say next. Naglaban ng tingin ang magina, until Ms. Nazil gave in first. "Fine. Ngunit h'wag mo akong sisisihin pag ganiyan padin ang itsura n'ya sa araw ng party. You know your cousins Dalton—and you've been warned." With that, Mrs. Nazil turned her back upon us.

Kinuha ko naman na ang aking braso sa kamay ni Alt. "Sorry, mali pa ata ang iniisip n'ya." I sincerely said. Klaseng may nagawa nanaman akong mali. I should've just given the paper bag at umalis noon.

Ba't ba ang tanga ko at ngayon ko lang 'yun narealize?

"It's fine. It's my fault. Hindi ba't sinabi ko sayong h'wag kang magsorry nang magsorry?" I just silently nodded at him. "Ako ang dapat magpasensya because she even called you flat. Hindi ka ba galit?" Balik sa mataray niyang boses. I suddenly got concerned with the size of my boobs.

"Eh? Totoo naman?" Natatawa kong sabi ng tingnan ko ang top view ng damit ko mula sa kinalalagyan ng aking ulo. "Aw! Ang sakit!" I retorted when he flicked his fingers on my forehead. Damn!

"Dumb." Sabi niya at bumalik na sa classroom. Napanguso naman ako ng nakatalikod na ito. Ano nanaman ang ginawa kong mali? Hayuf!

Alam kong matalino s'ya—top 1 namin lagi e, alam ko din namang hindi ganoon kataas ang aking scores, pero kahit na! That does not gave him the right to insult me!

I followed Alt to the classroom habang umiisip ng ways para maipakulam s'ya, bago niya buksan ang pintuan, he looked back at me with such tantalizing eyes. Ba't mas nakaka-conscious pa iyon kesa sa size ng boobs ko? Waaah!

"A-Ano?" Hindi ko nq mapigilang tanong. Alt looked at me from top to bottom.

"Wear your favorite dress tomorrow. I'll fetch you by eight am." Utos niya at walang sabi-sabing pumasok sa may room.

Nanlaki naman ang aking mga mata.

Date ba 'yun? Did my crush just asked me for a date??