Impervious Treasure (Azcona Cousins #2)

02

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Chapter 02

I was all ears during my morning classes. Our schedule only runs within morning until in the middle of afternoon. Hindi katulad sa schedule ng junior high na whole day. It's draining but compared to our workloads, mas kawawa naman kami. Kaliwa't kanan lagi ang mga performance tasks malas pa kung hindi pa maganda magbigay ng grade ang teacher. In our case, our subject teachers this second semester are terrors. Walang pinapalampas na estudyante, they fairly treat us— with honors or not.

Our section is packed of competitive students in full honesty... kasama ako roon pero hindi naman ako nagwawala kapag may mas angat sa'kin. I can do better next time. It's a matter of self-improvement not a grade competition.

"Olive..." I tiredly called her name. Ramsis is already outside our room. Nakita ko siyang nakahilig sa pader. His uniform was still perfectly buttoned up halata ring inayos ang magulong buhok. 

"What? Ayoko ngang sumama sa inyo. What am I? Your thirdwheel?"

"No one's gonna thirdwheel."

"Gaga! Grade 9 pa lang tayo kilala ko na 'yang si Ramsis at kita mo naman sa trato niya sa'yo, 'di ba?" she said while rolling her eyes.

"That's why you need to come with us," mahinang diin ko. Our classmates went out of the room kaunti na lang kaming narito sa loob. Ang iba kasi ay may packed lunch at gusto na lang kumain sa loob ng room kahit ilang beses nang pinagbabawal.

"Crush lang naman 'yan, Clair. H'wag kang OA... he's still a kid. Puppy love kumbaga! And besides, you already promised to him so don't be a pooper."

"I don't want to entertain it even if it's just puppy love. C'mon," I held her wrist but she thrashed her hand away from me. Mabilis siyang nakawala sa hawak ko at tumakbo palabas ng room.

 "Olive!" pagalit kong sigaw.

"No, Clair Emrie... enjoy your lunch!" nanlaki ang mata ko nang hinila niya papasok si Ramsis dito sa room. "Oh, 'yan na si Clair, Ram. Healthy food pakainin mo ha? She hates oily food—"

Ramsis cut Olive's reminder and his dimples came out when he smiled.

"I know."

"E 'di maganda! Sige, bye!"

Tumango si Ramsis at kumaway pabalik kay Olive. Nilingon niya agad ako at ginawaran ng nakasisilaw niyang ngiti. He always beams widely when he's with me parang wala siyang pakialam kung may nakakakita sa kanyang ngumingiti na parang tanga. 'Pag nakikita ko naman siya sa building nila ay 'di siya ganito ngumiti. I see him scowling or making faces. Siya ang pang-asar sa section nila sa pagkakaalam ko.

Umarko ang kilay ko nang hindi pa siya gumagalaw sa kinatatayuan. I looked at him, confused.

"What now?"

"U-Uhm... can we lunch out?"

Nagusot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. Lumikot ang kanyang mata at 'di mapakali.

"Like Ate Olive said, you hate oily food... kaya uh... sa labas tayo kumain?" patanong niyang alok.

Dumaloy ang inis sa dugo ko. I don't like it when he's this aggressive and dominating. Mas matanda ako sa kanya pero ako pa 'yung matinding naapektuhan sa halip na ako dapat ang masusunod sa'min. I also don't like the idea that something's up with him. Hindi naman ako tanga. At bakit kapag kay Olive madaling sabihin at dugtungan ng salitang 'Ate'? 

God. This kid!

Alam kong planado na 'to sa isip niya. He's confident even though his words weren't rehearsed well. Ginawa pa talagang excuse ang sinabi ni Olive.