Magnamour University [Magnanimously Completed]

Chapter 22: Misandrist

BELLE'S POV

Our professor called a student from the rear end of the room to answer his question. I turned my head that way and that's when I caught V staring at me as usual. I rolled my eyes at him and faced front again. Hindi lang si V ang estudyanteng nagpahayag na may gusto siya sa 'kin sa university na 'to. Napakarami. As in maraming, maraming, marami. Bukod pa diyan ang mga admirer ko outside the campus at sa online world, even abroad. 'Di mo sila masisisi, pang-international kasi ang beauty ko, e!

They have done a lot of things just to be noticed by me. From the sweetest to the weirdest. Pero, lahat 'yon ay walang kwenta para sa 'kin. I'm a self-proclaimed misandrist! Also known as man-hater. Wanna know why? Of course, I know you want to hear the story. There's definitely a history for everything why it became such. So, listen!

I was first year in high school and I looked very different compared to what I am right now. Makapal ang aking buhaghag at kulot-kulot na brown na buhok. It looks like an untrimmed bush. My pair of hazel brown eyes were covered by thick glasses. I have freckles all over my face and body though my complexion is not that fair. Kung hindi dahil sa kaunting hint of Caucasian features sa 'kin ay iisipin kong hindi talaga ako anak ng aking mga magulang. 'Cause you see, both my parents, who migrated here in the Philippines from France when I was still unborn, were very beautiful while I look like a caterpillar in our family. At kung hindi dahil sa mga magulang ko at status namin sa buhay ay malamang isa na 'ko sa mga naging biktima ng bullying noon due to my appearance.

During my second year in high school, we had a transfer student in our class named Neil. When he introduced himself to us, napag-alaman kong galing siyang France- my parents' country. He's also fluent in Tagalog because his Mom is a Filipina and they speak his mother's native language at home.

I was attracted to Neil the first time I laid my eyes on him. I mean, who wouldn't? Halos lahat yata ng mga kaklase kong babae sa room na 'yon ay nagka-crush sa kaniya kaagad. Naging Mr Popular bigla siya sa buong school in his first three days there. Nagkaroon kaagad siya ng fans club which they call Neilsters na binubuo ng mga miyembrong pinaghahandaan siya ng trail of roses mula sa pagbaba niya ng service hanggang sa first class nito sa umaga, pinagtsi-cheer sa tuwing maglalaro siya ng basketball, kinukuhaan siya ng mga stolen shots kahit saang bahagi ng eskwelahan at kung anu-ano pa. Gusto ko ring mapansin niya. But, I'm not that desperate, you know!

Hanggang sa isang araw, nagkaroon kami ng science fair project para sa school namin. Neil and I were chosen to represent our section. Yay! Biglang naging favorite subject ko ang Science noon kahit hindi. We did everything together. Research, documentation, testing at kung anu-ano pa sa school library, sa bahay nila o 'di kaya'y sa bahay namin. Naging okay naman ang lahat dahil cooperative naman si Neil. Parang ayoko pa ngang matapos ang project namin na 'yon, e.

Due to our efforts with a mixture of love from me to him, we bagged first place in the contest. Nagkasama pa kami ng matagal dahil lumaban pa kami sa maraming schools kung saan nananalo kami palagi. Mas lalo kaming nagkakilala noon. Mas lalo kaming naging close. And later on, we became best friends.

Sa sobrang pagiging close namin ay nahahawakan ko ang kamay niya. Napakalambot. Naakbayan ko siya. I can feel his muscles. At naihihilig ko ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. He always smells fresh. Parang laging bagong ligo. Sa tuwing ginagawa ko 'yon o 'di kaya'y magkasama kami ay nararamdaman ko ang mga mapanghusgang titig ng mga babae sa 'ming paligid. I'm just thinking that they envy me because I'm Neil's best friend and not them. I'm the only girl that can get close to him like this.

Dumagdag pa sa 'king kasiyahan nang ako ang yayain niyang maging date sa aming Junior's Prom. Nagpakaganda ako para sa kaniya nang gabing 'yon. Nagpatulong ako kay Mom. Pina-facial niya 'ko, pina-spa niya ang lahat ng bahagi ng katawan na maaaring i-i-spa at pina-salon. Binilhan niya rin ako ng contact lenses, isang napakagandang cerulean-colored dress, pair of shoes and accessories na susuotin ko the whole night. I was marvellous that night and so was he. Kung gwapo na siya sa paningin ko noon ay mas gumwapo pa siya ngayon. His short brown hair was kempt sideways, his eyes were as blue as the ocean that I'm afraid would drown me if I continue looking at them and he was tall, magnificently tall. He's wearing a signatured black suit and a red tie. He looks like a prince and I'm his princess. Everything seems to slow down every time the music starts to play and he asks me to dance with him. The whole night was memorable and I wish it wouldn't end. But everything has to, eventually.