Life went on. Days passed. A few more guys started talking to me. Some would just say hi and others would really go out of their way to strike a conversation with me but not all of them were given the time of the day. Hindi naman sa nagmamaganda ako but I promised Grant that I would not be friendly to all of them kaya tinutupad ko lang. But there was one thing bothering me – si Cody.
Ever since that day at the benches, he never approached me again. I didn’t see him around anymore, except when I would pass by the jocks’ tambayan. But even then, he wouldn’t look at me. All of Grant’s friends would greet or talk to me but not him. He busies himself with something whenever I’m there. Feeling ko tuloy I’ve been played. Pinaasa lang n’ya ako. At bwisit lang kasi inaaamin ko talagang umasa ako. At ang mas nakakaloka pa ay binigyan ko talaga ng ultimatum ang sarili ko sa pag-asa sa kanya. Sabi ko kung hindi pa rin s’ya magparamdam in one week ay tatanggapin ko na na niloko lang ako.
********
One morning I was called to go to the Principal’s Office. Of course nagulat ako. While I was walking towards the office ay nag-isip talaga akong maigi kung may nagawa ba akong offense. I knocked on the door when I got there. Somebody opened the door and I walked in. I was instructed by the secretary to go inside the mini conference room. I slowly opened the door and peeked in. Some other third and fourth year students were already there. Nakita ko si Grant na nakatayo sa wall facing the door kaya naglakad ako papunta sa kanya.
“Anong meron Poopie? May offense ba tayo?” I whispered to him.
“Wala. This is for the Turnover Ceremonies.”
Napangiti ako at nakahinga ng maluwag nang nalaman ko ‘yun. “Hay salamat. Akala ko magkakalamat ang squeaky clean school record ko eh.”
Right about that time, the door opened and in came Cody. Nagkatingin kami ng sandali pero nag-iwas din s’ya agad.
“O, ayan pala si lover boy mo eh,” mahinang sabi ni Grant sa akin.
“Tse! Tigilan mo nga ako.”
“Nagconfess na ba sa ‘yo? Nagsimula na bang manligaw?”
“Poopie, pwede ba? Tigilan na kasi.”
“Oooh… I smell something. LQ kaagad?”
