Gleaming Part

....01

Chapter 1

"Ano, Millicent? Hindi mo pa ba lalagyan ng label iyan?" Inaasar na wika ni Grace na ikinatawa ko.

I looked down and held the flowers tighter. I smiled.

"Kinikilig!" She poked my side that made giggle.

"Nakakapanibago lang." I said almost a whisper.

Kumunot ang noo niya, "Ang ano? Na makatanggap ng flowers? Millicent! Linggo-linggo ka nakakatanggap! Anong nakakapanibago don?" I rolled my eyes.

"Can you stop calling me Millicent? It's so baduy! No kasi. Nakakapanibago lang na makatanggap ng flowers sa taong pinapahalagahan ko." I sighed.

I mean, fine, it's Valentine's day. Wala dapat isipin masyado, a gift of admiration maybe? Or being thankful? Kasi magkakaibigan kami. I mean, this is just really weird kasi we talk a lot, in other social medias? Texts? Even in person. But we're just friends maybe? Wala kaming label.

"Ingatan mo ang puso." She pointed at my chest. "Ang puso mo, napaka-lambot."

Sumimangot ako at tumingin sa ibang direksyon. Eh kasi, totoo naman sinasabi niya. My heart's too soft, either I care too much or be hurt too much.

Someone patted my head, "Hey."

Napangiti ako, "Hi." Umupo siya sa tabi ko at nararamdaman ko na iyong nakakalokong tingin ni Grace sa'min.

Tumingin ako kay Grace at pasimpleng kinurot ang tagiliran niya.

"Ouch!" Napatalon si Grace kaya napatingin sakaniya si Eugene.

"What happened to you?" Eugene arched his eyebrow and snickered, like he's seeing something amusing.

Umirap si Grace sakaniya, "Ewan ko sa'yo. Asan na iyong iba?"

Eugene shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, giving chocolate kisses to the girls they find attractive?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Grace halatang nag bago ang timpla, "Kahit iyong boyfriend ko?"

Eugene cleared his throat and looked at Grace in a serious way, "Kung ako sa'yo hanapin mo na si Greg, baka may iba ng girlfriend."

Napatayo kaagad si Grace at mabilis na umalis, natawa kaagad ang nasa tabi ko.

"Eugene." I warned him.

He scoffed and put his normal face, "What? It's not my fault she has trust issues!"

I sighed, "You're making it worse."

He pinched my cheeks and smiled a little, "Alright, I'm sorry! I wouldn't do it again, Cadie. Promise."

I smiled and nodded, "You apologize to her too."

He groaned and rolled his eyes, "Sadista iyon si Grace eh!"

Natawa naman ako at umiling na.

"How's your family?" Nagulat naman ako sa tanong na iyon.

I nervously smiled, "We're okay!" Actually no.

"You sure? You know, you can open up to me." I immediately nodded.

"Sure, the family's fine." Tumango-tango naman siya at napatingin sa likod ko.

Sinundan ko iyong tingin niya at nakitang nandon na sina Greg.

"Bro, anong sinabi mo sa girlfriend ko?" Natatarantang bungad ni Greg sa'min. I looked at his back and I see Grace pouting.

"I just said, you might have a new girlfriend." Nagulat ako nung hinead lock ni Greg si Eugene.

"Bastard, alam mo naman si Grace! Paranoid!" Natawa na lamang si Eugene at hinayaan niya ang kaibigan.

Napailing na lang ako, "Stop na." Napatigil naman kaagad sila dahil sa sinabi ko at umayos ng tayo.

"Sorry." Nag peace si Greg at bumalik na kay Grace. Inakbayan niya 'to at may ibinulong kaya sumaya ulit ang mukha niya.

Napailing na lang ako at napangisi.

"Hello!" Inakbayan ako ni Thomas at finist bump naman sina Greg.

Thomas was about to say something when someone cleared his throat.

"Tanggal." Agad naman tinanggal ni Thomas iyong kamay niya at inangat pa 'to.

"Bro, pinsan ako!" Natatawang wika nito.

Umiling na lang ako at tumingin kay Eugene, "May ubo ka ba? You keep on clearing your throat kanina pa."

Nagulat naman ako nang biglang tumawa si Greg, "Oo, Cadie. May ubo iyan. Ehem."

I looked at them with a confused face pero ang ibinalik sa'kin ay tawa.

"Si Ashley at Cameron na lang hinihintay." Nilapag naman nila ang bag nila sa bench na inuupuan namin ni Eugene at tumayo sa harap namin. I carefully placed my favorite flowers that I've received today on top of my bag and stood up.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Napatayo na rin kaagad si Eugene, sasamahan pa siguro ako nito.

"I wanted to stand up. I need to stretch." I was stretching my legs when I felt someone at my back.

"Ashley!" Napasigaw ako, I knew it was her. 'Yung perfume niya lagi ang lakas ng amoy.

"How the hell?" Tumatawa siya at pumunta sa harap ko. I scrunched my nose that made her laugh even more.

"Hi, Cadie. How was classes?" She said teasingly and looked at beside my bag that has a lot of paperbags.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know, normal school days." Nagulat ako dahil binatukan niya ako.

"Nakarating sa'min na ang dami pumunta sa classroom niyo para magbigay ng Valentine's gift ah?" Tumingin naman siya kay Eugene.

"Hindi ba nakarating sa'yo?" Tinignan siya ni Eugene at umiwas ng tingin, "Nakarating." He simply said and decided to keep quiet.

"Girl." She held my hair, "I think you should cut your hair na. So long na eh." Hinawakan ko kaagad ang buhok ko at tinignan iyon.

"It's not that long and damaged to be in need of a haircut, Ash!" Tumawa siya at inakbayan ako, "Haba kasi ng hair mo, umaabot na ng EDSA."

Nainis naman ako sa sinabi niya kaya ko siya natulak, "Okay, joke lang! Pero hingi ako ng chocolates!" Pumunta na siya sa gamit ko at tinitignan kung ano nasa loob ng mga paperbags.

"What's taking Cameron so long? Diba magkaklase kayo Ashley?" I want to eat already. I've been craving for a burrito.

"He was sent to pass our papers sa faculty." She munched on some KitKat and smiled at me. "Thank you!" Inirapan ko na lang siya at tinignan na lang ang grounds.

I can see a lot of people holding flowers, giving out gifts, and some just greeting each other Happy Valentine's. It's nice to see them like this.

"What are you thinking?" Nagulat ako nang bigla siya bumulong.

I know he's close. I can smell his scent from here. I can't look in his way, I can feel his breath against my ear.

"Uh." I took a step backward and smiled at him.

"I was just thinking how it's nice that people are greeting and giving gifts to people. I don't know, it shows a sign of kindness, gratefulness, and even admiration." Hindi siya sumagot pero rinig ko ang ingay ng mga tao sa grounds.

"Yeah, that's why you deserve what you received today. You are a great person, Cadie." Napatingin ako sakaniya. He was smiling a little and I can't help but to smile too.

"I value you, Eugene. You are a great person yourself too."