At all Cost

Chapter 09

As the ring bell blared around the school everyone stood up leaving the room. Other students bid their goodbye while the other just passed by. I was busy sorting my things when I felt someone's presence infront the table. Students are nowhere in sight probably at the canteen to grab their lunch, well, except Jairo who was smiling from ear to ear.

Nilapag nito ang karton ng gatas sa mesa. Tumikhim at hinila ang upuan malapit sa pwesto niya at umupo. He rested his hands on the table intertwining his fingers.

I cocked a brow.

"Gatas para sa guro naming malakas." humagikhik ito sa sariling kalokohan. Napailing nalang ako.

"Hindi ko nagustuhan ang ginawa mo kanina." turan ko sa mababang tono at kalmadong boses.

"Peace offering iyan ma'am."

"When will you stop bugging her?" he gradually scratched the back of his neck. I took a deep sighed preventing not to reprimand him. These past few days I have been trying not to get mad over a small thing. Pakiramdam ko mas lalo lang nadadagdagan ang problema ko sa tuwing sumisigaw o nagagalit ako.

I don't know what does it feels to have peace anymore. Damn! when will that happen?

"Ang hirap naman ma'am pag hindi ako mag-papapansin sa crush ko."

"Pwede naman kausapin mo lang, hindi ko sinabing guluhin mo."

"Ma'am ang guluhin lang siya ang alam kong paraan para mapansin niya ako."

Gusto kong mapangiwi sa mga lumalabas sa bibig niya. He seems eager to continue what he was doing, persistent enough to get what he really wanted. Ang desperasyon sa mga mata nito ay nagbigay sa'kin ng kilabot. Geez, is he really serious about this? Fuck, why do I found this one funny?!

"Nakakadiri ka sa totoo lang, nak."

"Ma'am?!" gulantang na anas nito, natawa ako ng bahagya sa itsura nitong hindi maipinta. Nakanguso na ito at nakakunot ang noo.

"Kidding."

"So Uncle Venzon was gross too?"

"Anong kinalaman ng tito mo dito?"

Sa pagkakataong ito ay ako naman ang nakakunot ang noo at siya naman ang nakangiti ng nakakaloko. He brushes his hair with the use of his fingers.

"He keeps on bugging you, right?"

"And?"

"That means he's gross too! " he said in a matter-of-fact rolling his eyes. My forehead creased trying to get his point. But it took me a while, yet, still can't get what he's pointing at. This kid! He's trying to mess with me!

"And?"

"C'mon ma'am don't you get it! He keeps on bugging you because he likes you!"

"Eh?" I blinked thrice.

Iritado na itong napasabunot sa buhok niya tila nauubusan ng pasensya sa kakapaliwanag.

"Ma'am ang manhid mo sa totoo lang."

"He likes to tease me that's all."

"Ma'am minsan ba naisipan mong maging romantiko kahit kunti lang?"

"Ang ipinupunto mo ay gusto ako ng tito mo? "

"Bingo!" napapalatak ito. He snapped his finger. Napakamot ako sa batok ko pilit na pinoproseso ang sinabi nito. Si sir Venzon gusto ako? O baka gustong sirain ang buong taon ko! Imposible!

Natawa ako ng malakas at umaalingawngaw ito sa loob ng silid aralan. Napahawak na ako sa aking tyan dahil sa kakatawa. Ibang klase rin ang takbo ng isip ng batang ito! Napakalawak ng imahinasyon niya.