Taming The Beautiful One (TTBO #1)

Chapter 11

BELLA

When they took the photo of me that went crazy on Facebook, I freaked out a little nun. Kahit na malakas pa ang self-control ko noon and did my best fighting against my panic attacks, I still felt a little nervy last time. Hindi ko lang talaga pinahalata sa kanila.

Isang buwan na ang nakakalipas at marami-rami rin ang nangyari.

Nasabi ko na ba sa inyo na there's this mysterious person na naninigarilyo at tinatapon ito sa basurahan namin? Of course I won't be bothered kung hindi lang talaga niya inaaraw-araw.

Because of that, I felt uneasy. Everyday.

Lagi akong wala sa mood makipag-usap, I even don't want to hang out with the girls anymore. Napansin nilang I'm distant so they confronted me.

"I just, I'm... not in the mood." I told them. Ito lagi ang sinasabi ko kapag nagyayaya sila.

"Sure ka bang okay ka lang? Baka may problema ka? You can talk to us Bella. We're friends, right?" wika ni Steph. I looked at them at tipid na ngumiti.

I'm not sure Steph.

I'm not sure if I'm okay

and I'm not sure if we're friends already.

How do you distinguish friends from acquaintances?

I hang out with them, friends na ba tawag dun?

There's this bench near the fountain at dito ko naisipang mag-aral. Kakatapos ko lang kumain at may isang oras pa ako bago ang quiz namin sa Financial Accounting I.

Wala kaming pasok sa Biology kaya napaaga ang kain ko ng lunch. I decided to eat all by myself and this time hindi na doon sa Chinese restaurant where Damian works.

I don't want to see him. Kapag nakikita ko kasi siya ay kumukulo ang dugo ko.

"Why are you alone?"

Napalingon ako sa lalaking tumabi sa akin. As I scanned his face, ngayon ko lang namalayan na may dimples pala siya. You can see it kahit 'di siya ngumiti.

"Not anymore." I answered. Napangiti naman siya 'dun. Dahil siguro I dodged his question.

His brown eyes. I still find it beautiful. The same pair of eyes I used to look at everyday.  The eyes that I admire a lot.

"Bakit ang ganda ng mga mata mo?"

We both were taken aback with what I said.

Baliw ka na ba Belle? Why would you say that out loud?

While I'm mentally cursing to myself, Sebastian, on the other hand, is just staring at me with a small smile plastered on his face.

Nakakahiya!

When I calmed myself and stared at him too, bigla niyang inilapit ang mukha niya sa akin.

"Bakit ang ganda mo?"

Fuck.

Shit.

Gusto kong magsabi ng mga masasamang... words.

But I can't.

I'm too... confused.

Sabi nila, when you're in danger, your reaction is either to fight or flight pero it's not just when you're in danger.

Also when you're afraid, ashamed, embarrassed and... flustered.

So I decided to pack my things and leave him there.

Hindi ko siya nilingon. Bahala siya! Walanghiya! Ba't ba gumaganun na siya?

Is he playing with me? Toying on me? Argh, whatever.