Trouble Chasing Rebel

Chapter 12: Selection

I'm just staring at my phone, scrolling the screen, finding the right application to play with. Pakiramdam ko pinaglalaruan lang yung feelings ko.

"Good morning," he greeted me but I didn't look at him nor speak.

Sino ba kasi nagsimula noong tawagan na kapatid? I didn't see this thing coming. Having feelings for him more than a brother or a friend stabbed me hard right into my chest.

This is all my fault, nagkagusto ako sa manhid kong kaibigan. I wished someone would catch me while I'm busy catching feelings for someone. I hope he understands.

I heaved a sighed, turning off my phone. I badly wanted to text my friends, I know they were busy with their academic works. Ako lang naman 'tong hindi busy sa gawain, masyado akong chillax sa pag-aaral.

Cramming is my favorite word in my vocabulary this year. As well, procrastination. Best combo.

"Hoy," he poked my cheeks, I looked away.

When I looked at the sliding mirror, a familiar guy walked in with a ball in his hand. Doing some tricks like spinning the basketball in his index finger while talking with his friends.

Eiji looked inside my classroom. My eyes widened and my lips parted when our eyes met then he winked. Looks like my jaw suddenly dropped. Nakasunod pa rin ang tingin ko sa kaniya hanggang sa mawala siya na parang bula sa paningin ko. Tulala ako sa pintuan ng room namin.

"Crush mo 'yon," Khalil stated a falsehood.

Napalingon tuloy ako sa kaniya nang wala sa oras. And I can't help myself but to chuckled on his statement. "Pwede na 'no? Ligawan ko kaya?"

Khalil lips parted in shock. In just a blink, his shock turns into a malicious smirked. "Paglalaruan lang niya feelings mo."

Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya para i-mock ang sinabi niya, behind his back. Coming from you, ha?

Itinulak ko nalang ang mukha niya para mabaling ang nakakalokong tanaw niya sa 'kin. Mahirap magmahal ng manhid talaga. Masaktan ka naman... Nagkukunwari na nga akong may crush sa iba.

Nakita ko siyang may binubuklat sa bag niya. Hindi naman ako chismosa pero pinipigilan ko yung sarili ko na tingnan kung ano man yung ginagawa niya sa bag niya.

"Oh," lapag niya ng isang box ng Macadamia at Snickers sa table ko — pinatong niya sa bag ko.

"Sa'kin?" Paninigurado ko.

"Ay, hindi. Sa'kin talaga 'yan, binigay ko lang sa 'yo. Baka gumanda mood mo, mukha ka kasing ewan ngayong umaga. Gutom lang 'yan." Hindi ko alam kung nang-aasar ba siya o ano.

"Thanks kahit hindi bukal sa puso mo," waving the box in the air before putting it inside my bag.

The whole first class in the morning ended, and my mind was preoccupied with his presence kaya hindi ko magawang mag-concentrate ng maayos. How can he ignores my stare for whole fucking 2 hours?

Mathematics is really a pain in the ass.

"May practice ka ba ngayon?"

I shrugged my shoulder, pressing my lips together. "Dunno. Walang text si Captain," sagot ko habang nakatingin sa screen ng cellphone ko.

"Tara kain tayo," yaya niya pa sa'kin.

Umaliwalas ang mukha ko sa narinig ko. "Bakit libre mo?"

Umiling lang siya. "Libre mo."

"Hindi ko alam na may mas kukuripot pa pala sa 'kin," bulong ko sa sarili ko at tumayo na ako sa upuan ko.

"Naririnig kita," bwelta pa niya. "Nag-iipon lang ako."