G a v r i e l

2

Chapter Two

Another day, another drama.

Pagbukas ko ng locker ay agad na bumungad sa akin ang dalawang red envelope na galing nanaman kay Monique.

Hindi talaga siya nagsasawa. Pero ako, sawang-sawa na. Pinunit ko iyon at tinapon sa basurahan. Wala akong gana na magsalita kaya nilagpasan ko na lang siya at pumasok na sa classroom.

"Why do you look so grumpy in the morning?" tanong ni Gav when I sat beside him. "Hey.. Look at me.."

Humarap ako sakanya at agad na pinagsisihan yun nang bigla na lang niyang kurutin ang magkabilang pisngi ko.

"Gav!" saway ko at agad naman niyang pinakawalan ang mga pisngi ko.

"Sorry na.. Smile ka na kasi.." he said.

Most of our classmates ay nakatingin na sa amin. Tss, mga chismoso't chismosa.

Sinamaan ko lang sila ng tingin.

Nang dumating ang teacher ay nagsipag-ayos na kaming lahat. Gav is so focused on the discussion habang ako naman ay inaantok na. I am really not a fan of any subjects lalo na kung hindi ko vibes ang nagtuturo.

"Gav.." I whispered. Hindi siya lumingon at tuloy lang sa pagt-take ng notes. "I love you.." I whispered again.

Hindi parin siya lumilingon but I know he heard me. He was smiling. Sobrang cute talaga ng dimple niya kaya hindi ko napigilang tusukin yun.

He caught my hand and intertwined it with his before giving it a kiss. Hindi na siya nagsulat pero nakikinig parin siya.

Grabe, nakakaguilty at nakakakilig.

Isinadal ko ang pisngi ko sa ibabaw ng mga libro and closed my eyes.

"Baby, don't sleep.." he whispered and squeezed my hand lightly.

Napansin yata ng teacher na hindi ako nakikinig kaya naman tinawag niya ako at pinatayo.

"Miss Arcueno, since our topic for today is all about Literature, can you tell us what is Literature in your own words?"

Pasimple kong tinanggal ang pagkakahawak ko kay Gav at tumayo. Lahat ng mga classmates namin ay nakatingin sa akin, ang iba mukhang seryoso yung iba naman parang natatawa kasi nahuli ako.

Ang sasarap nilang sakalin.

"Literature is defined as an exemptional wor--"

"I said in your own words." the teacher cut me off.

Sandali! Hindi ka marunong maghintay?! I really want to throw a chair at her right now.

"Ven.. Calm down.." bulong ni Gav and held my hand. PDA kung PDA.

I took a deep breath before speaking, "As I was saying, literature is not just an exemptional work of art written by people in history and great authors today." simula ko. "Literature is a whole new world inside a small box; it makes you live a life you never knew you wanted. It is a whole different world for people who wants to escape and it is also a blank canvass people use to express." sagot ko and umupo na agad.

The teacher couldn't say anything kaya pinagpatuloy na lang niya ang pagdidiscuss.

When the class ended ay agad kaming nagpunta sa cafeteria. Hindi ko napansin na si Monique pala yung nasa unahan ko at hindi ko rin talaga sinasadyang maitulak siya.

"Sorry." I flatly said.

Gav noticed it was her kaya naman nagpresinta siyang siya na ang pipila.