The Boy in My Daydream

Chapter 03: Tag

Alas Otso ng umaga ako nagising at nag-kape lang ako. I rarely eat my breakfast or cook something for both of us. Umupo na lang ako sa workspace ko at binuklat ulit ang mga libro at sinulat sa index card ang mga mahahalagang keywords at nag-highlight. I also printed the files na sinend sa amin na ngayon ko lang nakita dahil nakatulog ako kagabi. May quiz na naman daw kami so magre-review na naman ako about sa huling inaral ko kagabi. It's all about community health for Medtech lesson. Akala ko madali lang ang subject na ito, pero more on recit at quiz at focused kami sa community health at kung paano namin ma-assist ang mga tao based sa environment nila at sa clinical setting.

My mind was oggling on how wordy the file was in explaining every bits of the importance of community health. Importante naman kasi ito kasi kailangan ng mga tao maging malusog at malayo sa paligid kung saan ay pwede sila makakuha ng infection, which will affect people's lives due to the negligence of health officials and lack of public health organizations. I kinda thought of that while reading my textbooks.

I rested my arms against the table and bowed my head to sleep. I had digested everything and my mind is full that I need to take a break. A thirty-minute break is enough for me, atleast para mamaya ay may energy na ako. Mahimbing na sana ang tulog ko pero bigla na namang may nag-notif sa phone ko, dahilan para masira ang mahimbing kong tulog. Inangat ko ang aking ulo at sinunggab ang telepono na nakapatong sa table ko. I sighed in disappointment and frustration when I saw who texted me, it's the unknown number - which is the pink hood guy.

0945********: Accept my friend request.

A notification rang again. Mas lalo akong napa-bangon mula sa pagkaka-yuko. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang kanyang pangalan na nag-pop up sa notification ko sa lockscreen ng phone ko. I unlocked my phone and started to open my FB, and browsed on my friends request list. I clicked on his profile and saw his name. He got a nice name and his profile picture is quite nice too. Nakangiti siya at lumabas sa pisngi niya ang malalim na dimple at naka-close up siya sa camera. Suot niya ang pink polo shirt at naka-bucket cap siya. Ma-araw ang paligid sa background niya. I began to scroll on his feed, it's full of photography pictures with amazing sceneries. Umabot sa 500 ang kanyang facebook friends at kasama na sa mutual friends niya si Samantha. Unknowingly, I found myself stalking him. Pinindot ko agad ang back button pabalik sa friends request list.

There, I found his name on top of the list.

Austin Balmaceda sent you a friend request.

Confirm [Decline]

I clicked decline after investigating his profile. It still makes me uncomfortable. Nananig pa rin yung takot ko sa kanya kahit gaano siya kabait sa ibang tao o 'di kaya'y kilala siya ng mga tao na nasa paligid niya. He doesn't even care on how he approaches the people near him. Basta sa akin, para siyang ibang tao kumpara sa ibang pictures na kasama niya ang ibang mga tao. He's a creep, for me.

"Austin Balmaceda," I whispered his name, while staring at my phone. Out of spacing myself in oblivion, my heart jumped because of the buzzing notification I received.

I unlocked my phone at nakita kong siya ulit ang nag-friend request sa akin. Seconds passed, he spammed me a lot of text messages. I clicked my tongue and sighed because of how annoying he was.

0945********: I'm not going to stop if you accept my request. Stalk me if you want...

0945******** : I'm not a stalker hehe. Nakita ko lang talaga ID mo sa post nung Troy na yun at naka-tag ka sa picture na yun. Chat mo yung Troy na kaibigan mo, bago mo 'ko murahin ha. Peace!

What the hell?

My throat became dry after reading his recent texts messages. I almost crushed my phone and fumed mad over his recent text. How dare these two boys ruin my morning? Si Austin na pinipilit akong i-accept ang friend request niya at si Troy na nag-post ng picture at naka-tag pa ako kaya nalaman ni Austin ang pangalan ko. I grunted out of frustration. This can't be happening.