The 10 Things I Love About Her (A JALEC Fanfic)

Chapter 5: Her Smile

One day, our Biology calss was cancelled because all Biology teachers had an emergency meeting. I was at the school canteen, together with Ryan, Kit and Tom.

“Pare, tagal mo nang di sumasama sa lakad ng tropa ah. What’s happening to you. Man?” Sabi ni Kit.

“Oo nga pare. Iba na yata ang trip mo ngayon.”

“Teka, mga, ‘pre! You know naman, Alec is busy with inspecting Jyra May from head to foot..” Nang-aasar na sabi ni Tom sa akin, sabay tapik pa sa balikat ko.

“Tumigil nga kayo! Busy lang ako sa school projects!” Defensive kong sabi.

“Uuuyyy… Kelan ka pa naging concerned sa projects, pare? Ah alam ko na, sineseryoso mo na pag-aaral mo para sa future nyo ni Jyra?” Patuloy na pang-iinis ni Kit.

“Oo nga! Ano ba nangyayari sayo? Sa dinami-dami ng babaeng naghahabol sayo, bakit si Jyra ang type mo ngayon? Dati naman, dedma ka lang!” Dugtong naman ni Ryan.

“Shut up!” Maikli ko lang na sagot. I know kasi pag nagsalita pa ako, lalo lang silang di titigil sa pang-aasar sa akin.

I was looking blankly on the school field, when I saw Jai walking towards the canteen together with some of her classmates. As she came nearer and nearer, I felt like everything around me went on slow motion. I didn’t seem to notice other people and other things around. All I can see is Jai. She was still talking with friends and she looked in my direction. She smiled to me dearly and waved her hand. Pero I wasn’t able to respond to her gesture immediately. I was still in the state of daydreaming for seconds. Then someone pushed me on my shoulder.

“Hoy Pare! Tulo na laway mo!” Panggugulat ni Kit.

“Ano ba! May iniisip lang ako!” Pagalit kong sagot.

“Sus, denial king. Eh halos malaglag na nga yang panga mo kakatitig kay Jyra eh! Di mo na nga napansing pumasok na ang langaw sa bunganga mo at lumabas sa butas ng ilong mo. Hahaha.” Pang-aasar pa rin ni Ryan.

“Ewan ko sa inyo. Diyan na nga kayo!” I stood up and left.

“Lec! Are you coming with us later?” Pahabol ni Tom.

I pretended not to hear them. I don’t know why I get so affected when they tease me with Jai. Dati naman pag inaasar nila ako sa ibang girls, wala naman akong pakialam at minsan, nakikisabay pa sa asaran. But with Jai, it’s different. I guess they’re right, I like her.

As I was walking around the campus, I saw an area at the back of the school buidling where there are no students there. It has a small bench under a tall tree. I felt relaxed by the fresh air and the quietness of the place. I sat by the bench, turned on my iPod and put the headset on my ears. I placed my head over the bench’s backrest and closed my eyes. I was singing the song that I’m listening quietly when suddenly, someone tapped me on my shoulder.

“Sorry to bother you. Is it okay if I share this seat with you?”

I kinda lost of words when I finally opened my eyes and saw who’s talking.

“J-Jai? What are you doing here?” Sabi ko.

“This is usually my.. sort of a hide-out. Kapag gusto ko mapag-isa, mag-isip.. Pero di na yata mangyayari yun kasi someone already found out about this place.” She looked at me straight on my eyes.

I was lost in words again as I looked at her eyes, too. I felt everything stopped around me. All I cared about was Jai and myself. Then I noticed her smile.. She has a good set of teeth, her lips are so red..

Then I asked her.. “Do you have lipstick on?” I got so curious.

“Hahaha. Now it’s my lips you have noticed. No, I don’t wear lipstick.” Natatawang sagot ni Jai. Kita ko sa mukha niya ang gulat sa tanong ko pero napalitan din agad ito ng ngiti.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Alam mo, kung di kita ganun kakilala, iisipin kong bakla ka.” Lumakas lalo ang tawa niya. Pero hindi man lang ako nakaramdam ng inis sa sinabi niya. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. And I’m starting to smile, too. Then I realized, I want to see her smile more. Nakakahawa ang mga ngiti niya.

“Eh paano kung bakla nga ako?” Pabiro ko ding tanong.

She paused. Parang nag-iisip ng isasagot. “Hmm.. Eh di…”

“Eh di madidisappoint ka kasi sayang ang kagwapuhan ko?” Pagbibiro ko, pero naghihintay din ako sa reaction niya. Am I looking for a clue? I don’t know.

“Ang kapal mo!” Sabi niya sabay hampas sa braso ko at napatawa din siya ng malakas. I can’t help but look at her face, she’s so pretty, and she’s prettier when she smiles or laughs.

“I like your lips, honey..” I made myself sound like a gay and acted like gay.

She laughed again. Halos maluha na siya kakatawa. And I liked that.

“Bagay nga! Now I think you’re really gay!” Tawa ulit siya.

“Ah ganun? Halikan kita diyan eh!” Pabiro ko ding sabi. Then I laughed too.

“Subukan mo lang! Sabog yang nguso mo! Di ako easy-to-get, noh!” Sabi niya, pero parang kinabahan din siya sa sinabi ko. But of course I won’t to that to her. I respect Jai so much.

Silence came.. Walang nagsalita… And it became awkward. So I thought of something para lang may mapag-usapan.

“Do you have a pet, Jai?”

“No I don’t. But I want to have one.” She replied.

“Okay. Hey, can I take your picture? Isa lang, please?” Nilakasan ko na ang loob ko.

“Huh? Bakit naman?”

“Para panakot lang sa daga naming sa bahay!”

“Haha. Ikaw talaga. Sige, pero isa lang ha!” Pumayag siya, yes!

“Sure! Thank you!” Then I took a picture of her with my iPad.

“Patingin nga!” She grabbed my forearm towards her so that she can see her picture in my iPad. I let her see it.

Then I looked at her. She was smiling as she was looking at her picture. She was saying something but I was lost in my thoughts as I was trying to keep every bit of her smile in my mind. Our heads were about an inch apart. She was still holding my forearm, and her other hands is resting on my shoulder. Kung titignan kami sa malayo, para kaming couples. Hindi naman kami ganito dati, but now, hindi na kami nahihiya sa isa’t isa. And I’m happy with it.

I was still looking at her when she suddenly looked at me, too. Nahuli niya akong nakatitig sa kanya. And it’s too late para bawiin pa ang pagkakatingin ko sa kanya. Natahimik na naman kaming dalawa as we pretended as if we didn’t care what just happened. She looked away. We were silent for few seconds.

“Gusto mo ba makita ibang pictures sa iPad ko?” Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

“Sure!” Sagot naman niya.

Then I started to open the pictures on my iPad, and I was telling her the story behind each picture. I started opening up about my family, friends and other things that I love.

Habang kami ay nagkukuwantuhan, panakaw akong tumitingin sa kanya. Kahit anong pigil kong huwag tumingin sa kanya, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. Her smile is so captivating. I just wanted to see her smile more often.

That’s the time I told myself, I will make her smile everyday. That’s a promise.

(Vote and comment, guys! Thanks!)