Reverso

Chapter 9

First year high school palang ako nang ituro ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko kailangan damdamin lahat ng sinasabi ng ibang tao tungkol sa akin. Pero ngayon, damang-dama ko yung mga patapong tingin sa akin, at yung mga sabi-sabi, may mga good and bad opinions pero lahat naman sila mali. I tried my best to act normal and walk comfortably in the corridors of the campus but, I just really want to go home and rest. I've been silent in most classes too, not wanting to divert attention to me by reciting or else I won't make it through the day. The hours seem long.

As I was approaching the vending machine to get myself some refreshing soda, somebody pulled me out of nowhere.

"Ouch!" daing ko.

"Tumigil ka, wag mo ko artehan." sabi ni Riley, standing arms-crossed in front of me.

"Pwede mo na lang naman akong tawagin, Ril. No need for a stunt." reklamo ko.

"I have no time for your jokes, young lady." She said seriously which made me laugh a little.

"Oh, tingin mo nakakatawa?" tanong nya, nakairap na.

"Nooo, I am sorry." I quickly defended myself. "It's just that you look cute that you're mad at me because of something so little."

"Little?! You were less than a meter away from what Lorenzo punched!" bulalas nya at napabuntong hininga ako, tama sya, I owe her an explanation.

"Well, since wala ka kahapon, nagkayayaan kami ni Adrian na mag-pizza after class. Nakasalubong namin si Lorenzo sa may main gate at nagkapikunan sila ni Adrian, things heated and everything happened quickly after Lorenzo's fist landed on Adrian's face." kwento ko sa kanya.

"Hmm, so you're saying, lahat ng 'to nangyari kasi ganda ka? Hihi" sabi nya ng kinikilig-kilig pa.

"Excuse me?" tinaasan ko sya ng kilay, litong-lito sa biglaang pagbago ng mood nya.

"Well duh! Pinagawayan ka nila at sinuntok pa ni Lorenzo si Adi! You can be the lead female  in a K-Drama everyone wants to be!" she giggled.

"Hindi nakakatawa, Rils." saad ko sa kanya na tinu-twirl pa rin ang buhok ko.

"It isn't! It's looooove!" she said, still giggling. I just shook my head lightly, letting her be happy. At least now, she's not mad at me.

"So, kumusta naman date niyo?" I asked her, shifting the conversation.

"It was fine. And correction, it wasn't a date." She stated.

"Eh ano 'yon?" pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

"It's just a simple hangout." She proudly said. Proud pa sya sa karupukan nya.

"Oh come on, you and Michael? Friends? Please, alam nating lahat saan 'to patungo."

"You also keep on denying things between you and Adrian, so what's the difference?" she asked.

"Well, for one, you're delusional about Adrian and I, and two, you and Michael like each other."

"You're delusional about Adrian and I, nyenye." She mocked me.

I just laughed and checked my phone.

"Oh shoot, I have to go. Will I see you at lunch?"

'"Depends if you're not eating with Adrian."

I gave her a glare then started to walk towards my office.

"Can somebody please fetch some Caramel Macchiato? Thanks." I announced once I entered the office.

"Right on it, ma'am." Melody answered then left.

Erin handed me two folders.

"Here are Mr. Prima's schedules and yours and a combination of your matching vacants with him. This one is the proposal you made for conducting the interview."

"Thanks a lot, Erin. You've been a great help."

She just gave me a reassuring smile and I headed towards my personal office.

"Well, someone's unprofessionally late." He slyly said.

"You're just a minute early." I said, putting my blazer on.

"For someone who's distraught, you can still be amazingly aware of the time." He commented.

"If I can be shaken by the little things, then I wouldn't be standing strongly even after 3 years, wouldn't I?"

He agreed.

"Now, let's get to business." I started. "The acquaintance ball is in 2 weeks. It is the first time that the freshmen and sophomores will join the said event. We, the organization, is tasked to conduct an interview with all the student-leaders of the school."

"And, what exactly is the purpose of doing that?"

"The acquaintance ball is said to be a boost for the whole campus. Having to interview their leaders means that we get to keep an insight to celebrate the differences of people in our campus without making it forced or planned."

"Why did you have to have someone else help you?" he asked, again.

"Because, this is a work of professionalism. I need someone I can trust with handling the information about these leaders, and what makes of their work or what inspires them."

"Now, you're sounding poetic." He joked.

"There's no wrong timing for that." I answered.

"So, when are we going to start?"

"I can't make it tomorrow because of the freshman's seminar. Monday will do."
"You don't do weekends?"

"I do, I just a have a personal matter to attend to."

"Unlikely of you to waste time."

I slammed the folders on my desk and leaned towards him, our faces are just inches apart.

"Look here, Prima. If I was negligent, I wouldn't have been standing here still after many years. May I also remind you that I started as a freshman. Now, you either suck up and respect me, or get the hell out."

He smirked. "I get your point, ma'am."

"Good, I'll see you at Monday then?" I asked, going back to my seat.

"Lunch will do, we can talk about how we're splitting the time. I'll find my connections first."

"Okay, make it happen." I said as I grab my purse and headed to the women's comfort room before attending my 2nd class.

I was powdering my nose up when somebody went out from one of the stalls.

"Well, well, if it isn't little Miss Caldez."

"Good to see you too, Rose."

"You really have the guts. Leaving a man for someone who'll just leave you again? How pathetic."

"I don't owe you an explanation."

"Right, you don't. I am also not interested to hear your desperate whines." She said.

I just gave her a smirk then I continued to fix my mascara.

"Don't feel so confident, Theresa, he's still mine and he'll leave you again to come back to me."

She left and what she said stung my heart a little.