Too Classic for Him

III. Follow Me

Follow me

Everything is all right

I'll be the one to tuck you in at night

And if you want to leave, I can guarantee

You won't find nobody else like me

"First impression?" Nakatingin ito sa akin at nagiisip ng malalim. "Calm and collected." Ngumiti ito at sumubo ng niluto niyang ulam. "First time yun nung nakita ko kayo ni Kuya Luke sa reunion... four years ago?"

"Wrong."

I looked up and looked him in the eyes. "We met six years ago."

Nakita kong natigil ito sa pagsubo.

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Six years ago...

"Sige na."

"Andrea." Nakatitig ako ng masama dito.

And she just laughed at me. "Hey, we're already here."

At age 23 I was too thin and my posture was bad. But I used to wear dark eyeliners and mascara and light pink lipstick. I like wearing make-up. I'm not pretty but I can at least be pretty for myself. Yup... ganon akong klase ng babae. The kind who doesn't wake up beautiful. Or sleeps in still beautiful. I'm the average face.

Pero pag-naayusan, gumaganda.

Umiling ako ng ilang beses. Pilit kong tinatanggal yung mga kamay niya sa balikat ko. For a small girl, she's stronger. "We're going back in Uni in three days. So... what's bad about blind dating?"

Tinitigan ko lang siya. At bago pa ako nakapagsalita ay nahila niya na ako.

"Andrea!!"

Someone waved at her. And she waved back. Kinaladkad niya ako na parang papel.

"I bought you a dress." She hissed at me. Tinitigan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. "Why didn't you wear it?"

Napapikit ako. I'm doomed. Totally doomed. Naka-jeans lang ako at tees. At sobrang taas ng pagkakatali ng pony tail.

"Let's start?"

Tumango si Andrea. She's my one and only friend/ enemy in Middle School. Pareho kaming dalawang pinoy sa klase. I'm already living at my Aunt's at the age of 10. They transferred to the US when Ate Sanya got married. So, I have no choice but to go with them at age 15.

I only think of Sanya as my only female bestfriend. But then came Andrea... And we didn't really hit it off as friends in the beginning. We were total opposites. She was so competitive at school. Beautiful and competitive. Ako yung typical na leading lady sa isang story na may maganda at bitchesang kaibigan sa school. Andrea is a social butterfly. She's so pretty and curvaceous with smooth flawless olive skin. Her face looks more of a Latina than a Filipino.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naging kaibigan ko siya. She hated me so much at first. And I really never cared. I wasn't even aware that there was a competition. I was always effortlessly at the top of my class. And she always got the second place.

So, one day, she just walked to me and said, "I'm tired of competing with you. It only upsets me that you're not even affected. So, I'm just gonna make this clear, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. So, I'm keeping you."

Weird na nakatitig lang ako sa kanya. She seems like too much of a drama queen to me. I just shrugged my shoulders.

And she stuck by me since that day.