Ace The Wager (TO BE PUBLISHED)

Chapter 10

ANG TANGA KO, 'NO? FOR A SECOND, I saw Haji in a different light. Not the student who uses professors or that frat boy who smokes cigarettes as his daily meal. For a moment, I saw him as a person.

No, scratch that. I freaking saw him as someone I could... you know... spend valuable time with.

I hated him. I hated everything he did. But after a night of staring at the ceiling, I realized that Haji... he's easy to like. Easy to be misunderstood, but easier to figure out.

Alam ko naman na sobrang tanga ko sa parte na 'yon. I could literally be crushing over anyone except for him. Akala ko dati si Charles ang gusto ko pero hindi naman ako ganoon kaapektado noong umuwi siya sa probinsya.

Pero si Haji... God, even the mere thought of him disappearing into thin air already affects me so much. I think I like him, but I also think I only care about him because I don't know any better. Haji treated me right even though I didn't think he'd be capable of that.

I found our banters something I anticipated. Whenever I see him on campus, I have this urge to approach him and just... talk. I didn't care if he talked about the weather or the news, I just liked seeing him with emotions.

And I hated it so much because I know there was no turning back. He has a crush on one of his friends. Maybe that friend is the girl from last night, right?

Pero anong magagawa natin? Ang lakas niyang manghila. How did he even manage to remove that tainted reputation I have of him in just a span of an hour? Just because he started being kind to me doesn't mean that I should be ogling over him. He just did the bare minimum. Ang babaw ko naman kung magkaka-crush ako sa kaniya dahil lang doon.

I started walking faster than my short legs could handle.

"Hey."

Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang mga libro ko at mas binilisan pa ang paglakad, if that's even possible. I pretended I didn't hear him even though he was dangerously close to me. After last night, I thought it was best if I didn't see him for some time.

"Siobe!"

I internally groaned. Ba't hindi na lang niya ako tantanin? Nasa kabilang parte ng university ang Engineering department! Paano siya napadpad dito?

"Siobhan, I know you can hear me."

I internally face-slapped myself. Napatingin sa'kin ang ibang students sa hallway when Hajiro fucking Romero called my name.

Dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa kaniya, narrowing my eyes at him. "What?!" I hissed under my breath.

There. Oh, andyan na naman 'yang lintek na mukha na 'yan! Kailan ba siya magiging pangit?! Every angle seems to be at his favor! Nakakainis!

He was wearing his usual smirk again. Unti-unti siyang humakbang papalapit sa'kin kaya naman palayo nang palayo rin ako sa kaniya.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Why did you act like you didn't hear me?"

Oh, maybe because I didn't want to be associated with you anymore.

"Huh? Hindi kaya kita narinig. Tinawag mo pala ako? Sure ka?" Nagmaang-maangan ako. He didn't buy it, though.

Pinagsingkitan niya 'ko ng mga mata. "Iniiwasan mo ako?"

I scoffed loudly. "No."

He quirked a brow before smirking. "Are you sure?"

I rolled my eyes. "Ang kulit." Tinalikuran ko na siya at nagpatuloy nang maglakad. He immediately walked along with me kaya napapatingin sa 'min ang ibang babae dito.