The Gap Between Us (SSG SERIES #1)

Chapter 6: Wrong Impressions

Come to think of it. I've always thought that Coen is a brutal and heartless guy, but I was wrong. He's just naturally quiet, and intimidating. He can be friendly, and keep his authority as well.

And as for Via, nagkamali din ako. Akala ko siya 'yung tipong tahimik, graceful, and fierce. But she's actually intimidating. By that moment she talked to me, I already knew she hates me. She looks down on me, just because she's way higher in terms of positions.

"Talaga? That vice president said that?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Coleen. It's been a couple of days since the incident happened. No one dared to talk about it, leaving me in confusion. Akala ko ay gagawing big deal ito ng iba, pero mukhang wala ng nakakaalala.

"Oo. It almost seemed like, she loathed me for causing trouble." sabi ko at umiling. Why did she acted like that anyway? It's not like I'll take away Coen from her. I could never, ever do that.

"Ah, that day. Coen talked to me, along with that girl. She keeps on saying that the thing wasn't a big deal but.."

Coleen kept on talking while I pretended to be listening. Alam ko. Narinig ko ang buong pag uusap. It's hard to pretend that I'm interested while I already know.

Habang kinukwento sa akin ni Coleen ang mga nangyari noong araw na 'yon, lumipad naman ang utak ko sa pinto ng class room. There, I saw Eliezer, along with Natalia. Ngayon ko lang napansin na bagay silang dalawa. Eliezer is tall, and pale. Habang morena at medyo maliit naman si Natalia.

Just by observing, I could tell. There's something off between these two.

"Are you even listening?"

Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Coleen na nakataas na ang kilay at tumingin sa direksyon kung saan ako nakatingin.

"Si Eliezer pala 'yon. I've always spotted them together." kuwento nito. This time, nakinig ako sa kwento niya. Hindi pwedeng si Eliezer lang ang may pang asar sa akin. Humanda siya sa oras na malaman ko ang totoo sa kanila ni Natalia.

"Look at them. It's definitely an unrequited love." Coleen laughed.

Nag paalam na si Natalia dahil oras na ng klase. Ginulo ni Eliezer ang buhok nito, dahilan ng pag ka-irita ni Natalia at hinampas niya ito sa braso. Tumawa si Eliezer at tumakbo pabalik sa kanyang pwesto. Nang mapansin niyang pinagmamasdan namin siya ay napawi ang ngiti niya at napalunok.

"We'll talk.. later."

Hindi pa nagsisimulang mag kwento si Eliezer ay natatawa na ako dahil sa pagkabalisa niya. He probably thinks we see them as a couple. He wants to deny it, but it's hard for him.

"Hindi kami ni Natalia. Okay?" paninimula nito.

Mabagal akong tumango at tumingin kay Coleen na ngayon ay nakangisi. We know, but there's something you don't wanna admit, right? Eliezer?

"Then what's with the doki-doki atmosphere kanina?" natatawang tanong ni Coleen sakaniya.

Napahawak sa batok si Eliezer, struggling to find the right words.

"I don't even know why I'm being cornered by you two right now. Ineexplain ko lang kasi ayokong makasira ng reputasyon ng iba." seryoso nitong pag eexplain. He's making sure that his voice isn't loud enough for anybody to hear except us, three.

"You like her?" tanong ko.

Ah. Another wrong impression. There's a lot of secrets in this world, and I'm glad to discover this one. Glad to know the true faces of the student council and know them better.

"H-hindi ko obligasyon sagutin 'yan. Excuse me, mag lu-lunch—"

"Eliezer! Wala ka na bang ibibilis pa?!"

Napapikit ng mariin si Eliezer dahil sa wrong timing na pag tawag sakaniya ni Natalia. Coleen laughed and I tried not to. Eliezer really tried to hide it, but their unrequited love is written all over their faces.

"Sinusundo ka na ng doki-doki mo." pang aasar sakaniya ni Coleen. I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore because of the word 'doki-doki'. We're watching too much anime.

Umalis si Eliezer ng hindi nag papaalam. Sinundan namin siya ng tingin hanggang sa hilahin niya palayo ng classroom si Natalia. That was the last time I saw Eliezer for the day. I heard the council held a meeting.

It's noon and I haven't saw Eliezer yet, also Coen. Which is normal. I don't see him everyday. Hindi kagaya ni Natalia at Eliezer na pagala-gala sa campus, si Via at Coen ay hindi ko madalas makita dahil iba ang building ng seniors sa amin.

"Class rep. Bring these down to my office." utos ng isa naming prof. Naisip kong chanca na ito at baka makita ko siya pagkadaan ko sa office nila.

Kinuha ko ang mga worksheets, kahit  madami ay hindi ko naramdaman ang bigat nito dahil nangingibabaw ang ibang pakiramdam. Excitement, and nervousness. I don't know. Everytime na may chance akong makita siya, ganito ang nararamdaman ko.

As usual, sinadya kong bagalan ang lakad ko para masilip kung ano ang nagaganap sa loob. Hindi ko napansin na lumuluwag ang pagkahawak ko sa mga worksheets at bumagsak ito sa sahig at lumikha ng ingay. Nataranta ako at mabilis na dinampot ang mga ito.

Naestatwa naman ako nang maramdamang bumukas ang pinto ng office ng student council. I hope it's Eliezer. I hope it's Natalia. Not Via. Not Coen. Though I wanna see him, but please no.

"Ugh. It's you again." matamlay ngunit bakas ang pagkairita sa boses na iyon. Si Via. How unlucky of me.

"Are you doing this on purpose? We're on the middle of a meeting—"

"Via. Sino bang kaaway mo dyan?"

Nang nadampot ko na ang lahat ng worksheets ay tumayo ako ng maayos. Hinarap ko ang vice president na ngayon nasa tabi na si Coen. For a second, he looked surprised to see me here, but his expression returned.

I faced her. And with all my courage at guts, I told her-

"No. I'm not doing this on purpose, I'm just naturally weak and clumsy. Sorry sa istorbo." I said and bowed, like a polite and a good student I am. She seemed annoyed, but that expression seems like a victory to me.

"Ano bang nangyari?" Coen asked. Pero hindi na ako ang sumagot at dumiretso sa office ng prof.

If you hate me, bring it. I hate it when someone says wrong accusations. I was wrong for calling you a queen in the first place, Via.

It looks like I've got a big time rival.

---

author's note:

k guys lemme explain the word 'doki-doki' lang. some of you might already know, if you read mangas and stuff. pero doki doki is like ano, a flowery atmosphere? di ko rin maexplain maigi ¯\_༼ ಥ ‿ ಥ ༽_/¯ like, that moment when the characters go "kYah kYaH~~ oNiI chAn yAmeT—" ok iba na yon