Once upon a Time

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE: Define Love

Yana

"There's a special magic in your eyes. Lalalalala! Betcha by golly wow! You're the one the I have been waiting for forever!" Jane sang as she appeared at my side. I rolled my eyes at her.

Umupo sya sa tabi ko at inilgay ang mga dala nyang gamit sa table. We are currently sitting at one of the kubos inside the campus.

"So what's behind those heart shaped eyes?" she asks habang nakapangalumbabang nakatingin sa akin with amusement in her eyes.

I touched my eyes thinking that maybe they are really heart shaped. I let out a sigh of relief to find out that they are perfectly fine. Jane laughs at me.

"Ganyan ba talaga kapag inlababo?" Jane teases me.

"I am not!" I sound defensive even to my own ears.

"Hindi mo ako maloloko Yana dahil ganyan din ang mga mata ko dati noong inlove na inlove pa ako kay Andrew."

"Whatever! But still hindi ako in love with anyone."

Crush lang naman ito so it couldn't be love. Atsaka malay ko ba sa love love na yun! I have never been in love before so I don't know if what I feel right now is love after all.

"Paano ba ma.....in love Jane?" nahihiya kong tanong kay Jane.

"You are such a baby Yana." Jane said laughing making me more embarrassed.

Well I know that my parents love one another but I never asked them why or how it feels. Kasi dati wala naman akong interes sa four letter word na yun.

Paano nga ba nagsisimula ang pagmamahal?

"Love means a lot of things from one person to another pero isa lang ang sigurado ako. When you learn to accept the person together with all his imperfections that's love."

Napaisip ako sandali. It is still unclear to me. Di ko pa rin maintindihan. Maybe Jane notices my confusion so she chuckled.

"Alam mo Yana don't think too hard on it kusa mo na lang yang mararamdaman. Malay mo in love ka na pala sa isang tao sa tabi tabi dyan pero di mo lang alam." Jane said sabay nguso sa harapan namin.

Si Ramiel pala ang tinutukoy nya. Kasalukuyan pala syang naglalakad sa harapan namin kausap ang isang babae. They were both laughing and I suddenly feel irritated.

How could he smile like that to another girl?!

Natural Yana alangan naman lagi syang nakasimangot diba?

But look at that flirt!!! Panay hampas pa sa braso nya! Ugh! So irritating!

Eh ano naman sayo?

Shems!!!! Oh my lahat ng gulay sa Bahay Kubo! Now she's resting her head on Ramiel's shoulder?!!!! This is unacceptable!!!!

"And that is what you call jealousy my friend." Jane said making me look at her.

"Jealous? Who? Me? Hindi ah!"

No way! I can't be jealous because of some flirty girl na nakasampay sa balikat ni Ram?!

There's definitely no way that I am jealous of that girl!!!

Ramiel

A lot of students are already inside the canteen. My eyes were looking for Yana but I can't see her. Ang kapal ng tao sa loob!

I was at the food counter when one my classmates Queenie appears beside me.

"Hi Ram. May kasama ka na bang kumain?" she asks.

"Ahmmm wala." I replied.

I was supposed to say Yes but I can't find Yana anywhere ang sabi ko pa naman sa kanya kanina sa kotse sabay kaming kakain pero pagdating Ko ng room nila nakalabas na daw sya. Maybe hindi na sya sasabay.

"Can I join you?" she asks with a smile.

"Sure."

After ordering our food we sat on a table for two then we started eating. Kakasubo ko pa lang ng tatlo when I saw Yana passed us by. Matalim ang tingin nya at first to Queenie then to me. I smiled but she just turned her head and ignored me.

What's up with that?! Bakit mainit yata ang ulo nya? May naging problema kaya sya?

My eyes followed her as she goes to the food counter and after paying she started walking back towards my direction. I want to ask her to eat with me and Queenie.

"Yana." I said but she continued walking and completely ignored me.

My eyes followed as she stops on the next table full of boys.

"Hi! Can I seat with you guys?" she said with a sweet smile.

"Sure. Sure." sabay sabay na sagot nung mga lalaki tapos pinaupo sya sa may gitna nila.

"Yana pwede bang mag-apply bilang guard?" I heard one of the boys said.

"Saan?" Yana asks.

"Guard ng puso mo." The guy replied followed by hiyawan at kantyawan.

"Yana, bangin ka ba?" banat naman nung isa.

"Bakit?" Yana asks.

"Nahuhulog na kasi ako sayo! Boom!"

They all started laughing and so as Yana.

Ihulog ko kaya sila ngayon isa isa sa bangin ng makita na nila si San Pedro?!!! Kainis! What's up with Yana?! Bakit sya tumabi sa mga mokong na yun?!!!

"Ram? Are you okay?" Queenie's voice interrupted my train of thoughts.

"Your spoon is bended already." she said looking at the spoon that I am holding. I let go of the spoon then I stand up.

"Sorry Queenie aalis na ako. Nakakasuka kasi ang atmosphere dito." I said grimly then I walk away.

Later that day...

I am already sitting at the back of the limo. Suddenly the door opened and Yana sits on the other end. She didn't even spare a look to me. Nakatingin lang sya sa labas ng bintana.

"I never thought na ganung klaseng babae ka pala." I said to her making her look at me.

"What do you mean?"

"You flirted with those stupid corny guys at the canteen." I said with a hiss. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Yana.

"Excuse me Señorito! If may flirt man kanina hindi ako yun kundi yung kasama mo!" she blurted out.

"Who? Queenie? She's not a flirt."

"Sige ipagtanggol mo pa yang si Queen of the damned mo!" she shouted.

Wtf!!! Why is she acting this way?!!!

"The one who acted like a flirt is you and not her!"

"Bakit? Pinaghahampas ko ba yung mga braso nung mga lalaki? Did I freaking lay my head on their shoulders?!!! Ha? Ha? Ha?" Yana shouted angrily kitang kita Ko na yung ng lited sa leeg nya.

"Ang labo mo!" I said. I don't get her at all. She is absolutely blurting out nonsense.

"Mas mabuti ng malabo kesa maging stupid na kagaya mo!!!"

"What did you just call me? Stupid?" I snapped. She's getting on my nerve right now.

"Yes! S-T-U-P-I-D! Bahala ka na sa buhay mo! Magsama kayong dalawa ng Queenie mo!!!" Yana shouted then she went out of the car and slammed the door.

Anong problema ng isang yun?! She's acting like a jealous wife?!!! Bwiset!!! Ang gulo talaga ng utak ng isang yun!!!!

"L.....Q?" Francois asks with a smirk on his face.

"Umuwi na tayo Francois."