How To Write A Love Story

Chapter 6 Cutting Classes

Pagdating ko sa classroom…

“Where have you been Ms…?” He’s scanning his class list.

“Velasco po. I’m sorry Sir. I had a problem with my locker po kasi.”

“I see. It’s okay. Please take your seat.” Paupo na sana ako sa bakanteng upuan nang biglang…

 

“Oh wait!”

“Po?”

“You haven’t introduced yourself. Everybody had their turn. Ikaw naman.”

“Ah. Opo.” What the ----!? Ano ba naman yan!? Kailangan ba talaga yun!?

…

“My name is Yvana Jade Velasco. I prefer to be called Van. And by Van, I mean, yes, yung sasakyan na parang square na may apat na gulong. Okay? And uhmmm… That’s it!”

“Age? Hobbies? Interests? Family?”

“Ah…. 17. Sleeping. Sleeping. Good.” He smiled. Parang pinipigilan nga niyang tumawa eh. Who wouldn’t? Inappropriate kaya yun. Especially kung teacher ka. By the way, he’s our history teacher. Parang cool. Emphasizing PARANG. Bata pa. Mukhang kaka-graduate palang. But I think he’s fine. Carry lang.

 

“Okay. You may take your seat.”

“Thank you.”

And I sat. I can feel someone looking intently at me. Kaya nilingon ko siya…

Yung seatmate ko rin kanina sa Physics. Ano ba yan? Siya na naman seatmate ko? Tsk. Malas. May pagka-weirdo pa naman tong taong to.

“Kelan kaya tayo maghihiwalay?”

 

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. Ang weird talaga niya. Mga pinagsasabi nito…

“Lagi nalang kasing ikaw yung seatmate ko eh. Nakakasawa.”

 

At siya pa ang may ganang magsawa. Ayos ah! Ayos talaga.

“Whoa! Chill! Wag mo akong taasan ng kilay. Nasabi ko lang naman.”

And so I smiled sarcastically sabay irap. Ang kapal niya eh. Weirdo na nga siya. Ang kapal pa! Nakakainis. Irita.

“Taray mo naman.”

Sumulyap lang ako from my peripheral vision. Okay. It’s confirmed. He is strange, weird and egotistical. Taas-kilay na nga lang.

“Huy. Kausapin mo naman ako.”

“Ano ba kailangan mo?”

“Wala. Gusto ko lang ng kausap. Wala akong makausap eh.”