Friends With Benefits

C3

Chapter 3

Sabay silang tumayo lahat nang tumunog ang bell. Habang nag-aayos siya ng mga gamit niya ay lumapit si Katarina sa kanya.

"Nicole, hindi muna ako sasabay sayo mag-lunch ha. Sorry talaga. Inaya ko kasi si Josh na kumain tapos pumayag siy­a. Gusto ko sanang kaming dalawa lang. Pleas-" Nicole cut her words.

"Yeah, it's fine with me. Enjoy your lunch." She said and fake a smile before leaving Katarina.

Bakit pa ba ito nagpapaalam sa kanya? Tutal nakuha naman nito ang atensiyon ni Josh, she might as well grab the oppurtunity para makuha ito. Hindi na ito kailangang magpaalam sa kanya. Paano nalang kung pagbawalan niya ito diba? Edi baka ma-delay pa ang love story nila. Umismid siya.

Paglabas niya ng room ay nakasalubong niya si Josh sa hallway. She mentally rolled her eyes. Yeah you're here not because of me, but because of that girl.

He smiled while approaching her. "Hey, sabay na tayong mag-lunch?"

She shooked her head. "I have some important things to do. Just enjoy your lunch with Katarina." She said bago niya ito nilagpasan. Nakita niya pa ang pagsalubong ng kilay nito.

Masanay ka na Josh. Sinasanay ko na din ang sarili ko na hindi dumepende sayo, saad niya sa sarili

Dumiretso nalang siya sa library at doon na naisipang tumambay. She took her usual spot before looking a book to read. She was busy scanning the pages when someone handed her a book in front of her face. Her brows furrowed.

"Try to read this miss. You will not regret it."

She raised her left eyebrow at him before reading the title. "To kill a mocking bird?"

The guy nodded and chuckled, "Do you know Harper Lee? She's the one who wrote this." Napanganga si Nicole bago hinablot ang librong hawak nito.

"She's one of my favorite american author. Oh shit, alam mo bang dalawa pa lang na publish na books niya pero nabigyan agad siya ng award na Presidential Medal of Freedom? I've read her other story Go Set A Watch Man and Death. She's really good. Alam kong may napublish siyang isa pang book pero nakalimutan kong basahin. And you gave me this. Thank you." Malaking ngiting sabi niya habang nakatingin sa hawak na libro. She heard him chukled kaya napatingin siya dito.

He was staring at her. "You're cute." Saad nito habang titig na titig sa kanya. Namula ang pisngi ni Nicole at umiwas ng tingin dito. Namulsa ito at ngumiti sa kanya.

"I gotta go, Nicole." He said before turning his back at her while waving his hand.

"H-hey!" Bago niya pa ito mapigilan ay lumiko na ito sa ibang daan.

She didn't even know how he knows her name yet. What's his name and why he handed her this book! I mean, she think it's not a coincidence right? Ang dami-daming libro dito tapos kay Harper Lee na libro ang binigay sa kanya? Or baka coincedence lang din na paboritong author nito si Harper Lee? Or baka nag-aasume lang siya? She groaned. She think she's just overthinking.

Bumalik siya sa spot niya at doon binasa ang librong binigay ng estranghero. She was enjoying reading when someone sits in front of her. She sighed deeply. Pabango palang, kilala na niya kung sino.

"You need something?" Labas sa ilong na usal niya dito nang hindi ito tinitignan. Ramdam niya ang malalim na titig sa kanya ni Josh. She felt a little uncomfortable so she cleared her throat and looked at him. "If you don't have anything to say, you may leave." Dagdag niya.