Unexpected Feelings

Kabanata 1

Eight days had already past since that day. Yung araw na kompleto kaming pamilya, Dad's at work in Manila while Mom and I are left here in the Province. Today is January 9 and as usual, may pasok na naman. Pagod na pagod akong mag-aral. I'm currently a grade 9 student studying in one of the famous schools here in Quezon. I'm also a consistent honor student, pero syempre tulad nga ng sabi ko tamad na ako. Hindi naman dahil alam ko na yung pag-aaralan pero dahil bukod sa nakakatamad na, ang pangit pa ng araw ko tuwing nakikita ko yung dati kong nagugustohan. Although we only see each other during break time.

Ewan koba, pero tuwing nakikita ko sya kumukulo dugo ko. After that day, yung araw na pinahiya nya yung kapatid nyang kaklase ko my perspective about suddenly changed, na para bang hindi siya yung taong naririning kong siya. Yung babaeng nagustohan ko for almost 3 years. Yung babaeng sabi nilang "anghel" na hulog ng langit. The fact that I know is that she's a bully and a  total freak. I feel sorry for Seth for having her as his older sister. How can he find solace within their home, all while a devilish presence in the form of his sister's attitude resides

"Mr. Ramos," our adviser called out, her voice slightly exasperated. "Yes, ma'am?" I responded, quickly raising my hand in acknowledgment. As I looked at her, our eyes met, and I sensed her stern gaze fixed on me as if I had committed a grave offense. "I've been calling you," she continued, her frustration evident. "I called you thrice already. Now, tell me, Mr. Ramos, are you even listening to my discussion?"

Feeling a mix of embarrassment and regret, I straightened up in my seat, trying to gather my thoughts. "I'm sorry, ma'am," I said earnestly, my cheeks turning slightly red. "I must admit, I got a bit distracted for a moment." But the truth is, I wasn't really listening to her boring discussion. I mean, this is Math. I hate Math, period.

Her expression softened slightly, but she was still unyielding. "No excuses, Mr. Ramos," she replied firmly. I thought, I'll be safe since i already admit my wrong doing. "You need to pay attention in class if you want to excel." I looked down and closed my fist feeling guilty. "As an honor student, you should be embarrassed," her last statement made me realize that it was already below the belt. My heart sank as her words hit me. I knew she was disappointed in my lack of attention, but being publicly shamed for my academic standing hurt even more. 

"Mr. Ramos, can you even tell which triangle similarity theorem can be used to tell whether the two triangles are similar?!" she exclaimed in a challenging tone. I nodded, feeling a bit uneasy, as I realized I didn't know the answer to the question she was asking. Panic set in, and I desperately tried to recall the topic she had just discussed. Unfortunately, my mind drew a blank.

"Ma'am S-" I didn't get the chance to finish my answer when a guy in the backseat cut me off, saying, "SSS similarity theorem po."

"Well done, Mr. Delos Santos, but next time don't butt in someone's business," Ma'am Aquino said firmly, reprimanding the student who had interrupted. "But ma'am, yun po yung isasagot ko. Naunahan lang hehe". I lied, i thought it was SAS since yun lang yung naka open sa book na nasa unahan ko. Thank you, Seth! You're my savior! 

...

Math period ended pretty well kahit wala naman akong naintinidhan. Basahin ko nalang ulit mamaya sa bahay. And now, it's ESP period and tulad ng iba naka ub-ob lang din ako habang nakikinig kahit mamaya ay makakatulog lang din ako. ESP naman yan, no need to listen, common sense nalang. Ma'am Cabile didn't mind us as she continue her lesson. And the class ended without me even realizing it. 

...

A break for fifteen minutes is not enough for us na ang layo nung canteen na binibilhan. The main canteen is just a minute walk far from our room. Pero hindi kami dun nabili, don't get me wrong pero ang dami kasi nung tao dun ayaw ko makipagsiksikan and the foods in the canteen we're heading to is better than the main canteen's food. I'm walking together with David and Sam which is my best buddies. "Bakit hindi ka nakikinig kanina sa discussion sa mag-kasunod na subject, Nash?" Sam asked me. Bakit nga ba? Dahil bored ako? Dahil antok? Dahil tamad lang? "Ahh, inaantok kasi ako, buti nalang andoon si Seth to save my ass, kayo ba? When will you guys ever save me?" wala akong masagot sa kanila maliban dito. "Come on Nash, we all know naman na sa ating tatlo, ikaw yung pinaka matalino kung hindi mo yun alam, pano pa kaya kami?" David said. Then, the three of us just laugh.

While waiting for David and Sam beside the entrance door, Seth walk in and was heading to buy something. Lumapit ako dito at inakbayan ito, "Uy pre, ano gusto mo?" I asked. He replied somethig but i wasn't able to hear it properly since ang ingay  dito. "Ha?" I asked again. He didn't reply, ano ba naman ito, hindi naman ito ganto katahimik sa room namin ah when his with his friends. "My treat" sabi ko pa. "Ah hindi na pre, pero salamat" sagot naman nito. Damn, thank God nag salita narin ang loko. "Ah no, I insist pre, pasasalamat ko narin about earlier" then I smiled at him. He also smiled and said "Ah talaga ba? Nako, baka nga naiinis ka sakin dahil inagawan kita eh alam mo naman yung sagot". I laugh at him and he just gave me a clueless look. "Ah yun ba? Actually hindi ko talaga alam yun eh. You saved my ass back there, pre. Thank you." I said as I look at his sparkling eyes. How can this guy be so cute? And there, i look at him again and he slightly blushed? Wait, did this dude just blush? Damn, he's cute. How can her sister treat someone like him like a trash?

"Sige na nga pre, kahit yung palamig at bikang na saging nalang. Salamat ha". As expected, whenever i came across with him at this canteen he always buys that. At tulad nga ng sinabi nya, binili ko para sa kanya yun. And now, I totally forgot that i'm with David and Sam. I look at the entire canteen but i couldn't find them. Where did the two of them go? How dare them leave me without letting me know? "May bibilhin ka pa ba? Sabay na tayo?" tanong ni Seth na nasa likod ko. Buti nalang nandito si Seth..

And with that, the two of us started walking towards our building which is Math Department. Ang awkward lang kasi hindi naman kasi talaga kami close nitong si Seth, actually kahit second quarter na ngayon palang kami nag kaka-usap ng matagal given that ngayon lang din ako nag kameron ng lakas ng loob kausapin sya since nahihiya ako dito dahil  kapatid nga nya si Claire na dati kong gusto... And speaking of her, I've come to realize that we haven't crossed paths. This must be a miracle. It simply must be. 

...