Cascading Waters

Chapter X

Viewing it as absurd, hindi ko maiwasang matulala sa sinabi ni Lexa. We've kissed but how he acted afterwards contradicted Lexa's theory. If this happened during those times na close kami, I would have believed her kasi Axel truly was caring back then but right now? I think not.

Naputol lang lahat ng iniisip ko nang dumaan si Axel sa harap ko para maupo sa upuan niya. Napabaling ako dito at busy itong nagbahagi ng pinamili niya. He got hold of one water bottle and a container na may sari-saring prutas sa loob.

Inabot niya ito kay Lexa kaya nagpasalamat si Lexa at nginitian ako. She's observing the two of us na parang nanunuod ng pelikula. I glared at her so she raised her hands in defense and laughed bago ako pinabayaan at tumingin na ngayon sa stage kung saan may nag sasalita.

"Here," sabi ni Axel sabay abot sa akin ng tubig na naka bukas na.

Akala ko ay iyon lang ang binili niya ngunit natakam ako ng bigla niyang nilabas ang strawberry shortcake. He only looked at me, without any emotions kaya inayos ko agad ang expresiyon ko.

"T-thanks!" utal kong sabi.

"No problem" seryoso niyang wika.

He looked at the stage after that and never thrown me a glance even once until the program almost finished.

"Okay! That concludes our first orientation and after this, all of you will proceed to your classes but you can always go home and enjoy the first week if your teachers have no plans to discuss yet! Welcome to the college life, freshmen!" maligayang anunsyo ng emcee.

Narinig naman agad namin ang palakpakan at ingay galing sa banda ng mga first years. Katabi nito ang mga second years na mukhang tuwang tuwa rin. Nagsitayuan na ang mga tao sa banda namin. Since these bleacher are for the higher levels, they look less enthusiastic.

"Saan kayo pagkatapos dito?" biglang tanong ni Axel.

"I don't really know. I'll probably go with Lexa wherever she goes." kibit balikat ko.

"With her.. friends?" tanong niya, sabay tingin sa likuran namin matapos sabihin ang pang huling kataga.

"Yeah, probably."

Napansin ko ang nagdaang inis sa mga mata niya kaya naisip ko ang sabi ni Lexa. Can it be true? na may gusto siya sa akin and is this why naiinis siya?

"Okay. Cool." tugon ni Axel sabay iwas ng tingin at tumayo na rin para lapitan si Hero at Dave. I immediately disregarded my thoughts about him liking me.

Lexa and I spent the day with her friends and I had fun. Right now, nasa sa first classroom kami for the day kahit alam nilang walang prof na darating. Gusto lang nilang mag hanap ng matatambayan at dahil halos lahat kami ay iisang block, they chose classrooms.

Her friends were nice but I noticed how Ethan was extra friendly. I didn't mind though kasi I needed it to not feel like an outcast. They asked me questions about myself so I answered them.

"So, why this course?"

"I want to start my own business 'tsaka ito rin kasi ang related na course from my course sa Switzerland so.." sagot ko sabay kibit-balikat.

"Is it true? Masaya daw ang parties doon sa Switzerland?"

"Well... you can say that. I guess?"

Natawa naman sila sa awkward kong sagot kaya napangisi na rin ako. I'm not a party girl dahil hindi ako masyadong pala kaibigan doon.

"A good girl, I like." sabi naman ni Ethan sabay kindat sa akin.