"Zoe Sabriel! Zeke Jophiel! Skye Amenadiel! Wake up, Ildefonso's!"
Shit. Shit. Shit.
"I am up, Mom!" Kuya Skye shouted in a muffled voice. Liar. He just woke up. And so did I. I quickly got up from my bed like a lightning bolt and went to the bathroom. Patay ayaw ko talagang ma-late for my first day of school. Second year ko pa naman ngayon. Mabilis akong nagbihis at pagkatapos ay bumaba na ako sa dining room para kumain. 6:37 AM. Okay chill, Zoe. 7:30 pa start ng class mo.
Sumunod na bumaba si Kuya Zeke at last na bumaba si Kuya Skye. Where's Lee?
"I'm here," I looked at the living room. "—in case you're wondering." Gosh, he's so punctual talaga. And now baka ma-late siya dahil sa amin. No, my baby boy Lee.
We started eating breakfast. Sarap naman ng pancakes ni Mommy. Mom cleared her throat, "What have you guys been doing last night? Why were you up so late?" I didn't want to answer her question. Kuya Skye can handle it so I kept mum.
"Ohh ma. Last night, we bonded." I raised my eyebrows. "What do you mean?" Mom asked. "You know we played last night. We bonded." Kuya answered in a cheeky manner before eating a spoonful of bacon.
Mama frowned. I'm sorry, ma. It was Skye's idea. He wanted to make a bet kasi. I didn't want to join but it was so tempting. The winner gets to choose something from Balanciaga and the loser will pay for it.
"You guys talaga. You never learn. You know na I don't want you guys to be tardy." Mama scolded us. Hays sana kasi hindi nalang ako sumali. Hindi din naman ako nanalo. Pero buti nalang din hindi ako natalo. Talo si Kuya Skye. At since I kind of borrow both of their clothes din naman, it's a win for me na din.
•••
Gosh ang traffic naman talaga. 7:20 AM na. Last ten minutes nalang mala-late na talaga ako kaya mabilis ako lumabas sa sasakyan at tumakbo sa building ko.
Last step na sa hagdan nung may nakabangga akong lalake. Oh my gosh, no. Mahuhulog na ako kaya I tried to hold the railings pero my hand slipped. "Ahhh! Please!"
"I got you." Binuksan ko ang aking mga mata at nakahinga ako ng malalim.
"Ikaw?!" He smirked at me. Seryoso ba talaga tong nakikita ko? Yung lalakeng nakabangga ko, yung lalakeng nasa convenience store at yung lalakeng nasa bookstore ay nasa harapan ko. "What a small world, right?" Umalis ako sa hawak nung lalake. "Sorry!" At mabilis na kinuha yung libro ko na nahulog sa sahig. Tumakbo na ako at iniwan yung lalake kasi seryoso hindi ko talaga gustong ma-late ngayon.
And I wasn't late, thank God. Pumasok na yung teacher. We greeted each other. "Before I start the class, you have a new block-mate. Please get inside."
I was busy fiddling with my phone. Tinext ko si Lee na sabay kaming malunch. Si Lee kasi hindi kasabay sila Kuya kasi may basketball practice sila while Lee is in the swimming team. Tapos hapon pa ang practice ni Lee kaya sabay kami mag-lunch.
"Hello. My name is Axl Cason Espinosa." Mabilis na umangat ang mga ulo ko nang magsalita yung bagong block-mate namin.
What a small world indeed.
"Please sit behind Ms. Ildefonso, Mr. Espinosa." Sabi nung teacher. Seriously? Akala ko ba sa mga wattpad, AU's at pelikula lang to nangyayari? In real life din talaga?
"Hi Zoe. Akala ko meant to be lang talaga tayo, block-mates din pala." At saka siya bumungisngis.
Siraulo talaga to. "Excuse me? Are you hitting on me?" Mabilis naman siyang tumawa dahilan sa pagtingin sa amin ni Ma'am Brenda. "Something wrong there, Mister Espinosa?"
