Where the Road Leads

1

"One more year and we're done with Junior High!" Masaya kong sambit habang naglalakad papunta sa classroom namin.

"Ang dami mong energy ah. Sana lahat." Natatawang sambit ni Kalia.

I smiled widely at her. "Smile ka rin!"

She mockingly smiled at me and I chuckled.

Oh, Kalia. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko makakaraos sa Junior High if wala siya.

"Crush mo oh." Ngumuso siya sa isang direksyon kaya naman sinundan ko ito ng tingin.

Nanlaki ang aking mata nang makita kung sino ang kaniyang tinutukoy. Agad ko namang hinapak sa braso si Kalia at hinila siya ng mas mabilis papunta sa classroom namin.

Nakatingin lamang ako sa sahig habang hinihila siya.

"Ah!" I shrieked in shock.

My heart was racing so fast when I saw a familiar pair of shoes right in front of me.

Fuck! Unang araw ng klase tapos may kahihiyan ako agad na ginawa! Tanga, Nikka. Tanga!

"Uhm.." I saw a hand in front of me.

Sinundan ko ito ng tingin at nakita ang napaka-perpektong mukha na nakita ko sa buong buhay ko.

He was dashingly smiling at me. "Are you..ok?"

I cleared my throat at kinuha ang kaniyang kamay. He helped me stood up.

"Ah..oo! Okay lang ako." I awkwardly said at umiwas ng tingin sakaniya.

"Yung kamay mo, parang ayaw pa bumitaw." Natatawa niyang sabi.

Agad ko naman binawi ang aking kamay nang hindi pa rin tumitingin sakaniya. I just couldn't look at him.

The bell rang. Thank God! Akala ko hindi na ako makakaalis sa sitwasyon na ito.

I glanced at Kalia who was trying to suppress a smile, I held her wrist and made a run for it.

"Sorry!" I shouted. I didn't even dare to look back para tingnan ang kaniyang reaction.

I was already sweaty and panting when we got inside of our classroom. I looked around and saw confused looks from my classmate.

"May nangyari ba sa inyo?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Bea.

"Etong si..Nikka kasi.." Hingal na sabi ni Kalia.

She took a deep breath. "Nakita crush niya." Pagpapatuloy niya.

Bea hysterically laughed and I looked at her and pouted.

"What's so funny?" I said and I sat beside Bea.

Buti nalang ay nireserve niya ang magkabilaang upuan para sa amin, kung hindi magkakalayo talaga kami ng mga upuan.

"Magta-tatlong taon ka na ganiyan kay Ivan, Nikka." Natatawa pa rin niyang sambit which made my forehead creased.

So what if I do have a crush on him for 3 years now? At least loyal!

"Alangan ako mag first move diba?" I sarcastically said. I crossed my arms and slumped myself on the chair.

"It won't hurt to try." Sabi ni Kalia and shrugged playful.

"True, true." Pagsasayang-ayon ni Bea at tumango-tango pa.

"No way." I said groaning.

"If I get rejected, edi masasaktan lang ako. Ayaw ko nun! Ayos na ako sa pasulyap sulyap lang."

"Pag ikaw naunahan, walang iyakan ah." Mapang-asar na sabi ni Bea.

Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil pumasok na ang aming adviser at nagsimula na ang una naming araw bilang 3rd year students.