Adult Teenager's Matters (YOUNG ADULT SERIES #1)

Chapter 4

"We'll check your paper. Get one and pass."

Tumango kami at pinasa yung test paper. I didn't not choose kung sino yung checheckan because I we're running out time. Na-late kasi si ma'am ng 40 minutes so akala namin hindi na siya papasok.

"Kung sa 'kin nakuha mo, you know what to do, love," Raign said as she fly a kiss on me. I just smirk at her and nodded slightly.

Tinignan ko yung test paper na nakuha ko at halos mapa-facepalm ako. It was Jeremiah! Tinignan ko yung mga answers niya at alam ko lahat yun ay tama. What the hell?! This guy— did he chea— no! Stop accusing people, Maiana!

Napailing nalang at tumingin sa likod ko. Jeremiah was leaning on the chair. Tinignan niya ako pabalik kaya nagtitigan kami.

"What?"

I scoffed. "Why so grumpy, dude?" I ask.

He shrugged and look away. I just look at him in judgment at binalik ang tingin ko sa harap. Nagsimula na kami magchecking at wow. He freaking ace it!

"Return the test paper to the owner."

"Jer—"I passed. Babalik ko na sana sa kaniya yung paper niya pero agad siyang tumayo at pumunta kay Gwin. Napahiya ako sa part na 'yon, ha. When Gwin caught me observing them, she smirked and weirdly pointed Jeremiah by her eyes. I narrowed my eyes at her so she laugh and mouthed that she was just joking.

I waited until he returned to his seat. Tinignan niya ako ulit nung lumingon ako sa kaniya. I placed his paper on his desk.

"Congrats," I said.

"Basic," he said. I rolled my eyes. "You're being sarcastic, can't I do the same?"

I scoffed and lean in on his desk. "I was being nice, Jeremiah," I said. "Why would I be sar—"

"I saw your test paper."

"So?"

"Congrats," he said.

"Basic," I mocked his voice. A grin showed up on his face, sign of amusement expression.

"See? You're being sarcastic, Maiana Gabrielle Hermé."

***

"We're going to have grouping but don't worry, by two lang naman 'to  so yung seatmate niyo nalang maging partner niyo para mabilis," sabi ni Ma'am Hilda.

I raised my right hand and she look at me. "Absent po yung seatmate ko. Is that mean I'm individual?" I asked.

"Hmm," napaisip siya. "New guy, what's your name again?"

Napalingon ako kay Jeremiah at napatayo rin ito nung nakatingin sa kaniya si Ma'am.

"It's Jeremiah. Jeremiah Wayne Esparez, Ma'am," he answered at napatango si Ma'am Hilda.

"Absent ba yung seatmate mo, Mr.  Esparez?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Good. You may sit now, Mr. Esparez," sabi ni Ma'am sa kaniya kaya napaupo siya. Napalingon ulit ako sa harap nung ako naman ang tinawag. "You are not consider as individual, Miss Hermé. You're pair with, Mister Esparez. You may start the activity now, don't waste any time."

Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa narinig ko. This guy? Wow naman destiny! Napakabait mo naman sa 'kin. I mean me and Jeremiah are goods naman but it's just that I started to get annoyed at him. He's so perfect! I just can't! Soon enough he'll be the one who'll be recognized as the best high achiever, it's just annoying.

Niligpit ko ang mga gamit ko para makaupo sa tabi ni Jeremiah ngunit napatigil ako nung umupo si Jeremiah sa 'kin tabi.

"What are we gonna do?" He ask while looking straight to my eyes. His butterscotch eyes was sparkling on my point of view, not able to focus what he's saying cause me to stutter.

"I-i... W-what... What are the given activity?" I asked back while still looking on his beautiful eyes. How can someone like him has that beautiful eyes! It's so unfair that I only has black eyes with tanned skin. Gosh, I wanna be white badly just like him.

I don't know. People said that tan suits me but I never appreciate my skin tone because of society. I believe that having white skin is the one who's always been appreciate because for me, any fashion suits them that you couldn't receive judgment or being called 'jejemon'. While me? I choose my fashion carefully. It's getting annoying.

"Can you stop sighing? You're giving a bad atmosphere right now," a voice that brings me back to the reality. I sighed again and look at him. His lazy eyes meet mine. Gosh, its really beautiful view. If his eyes is a scenery, God! Ill never took off my eyes on him. Its freaking gorgeous.

He cleared his throat and look away. "Stop staring, Gabrielle."

"How can I stop staring? Should I take off my eyes?"

"Yeah, sure," he replied which cause me to roll my eyes. "Are you done, Princess? Can we start?"

"Loving? Yeah sure, why not?"

An amusement smile appeared on his face. My mood lightened when I saw how beautiful it was. Fine, yeah. I found him attractive but yeah, not exactly my type. He's bit off so yeah.

I took a deep breath and cross my arms after my chest and put on a sly smile. "Speechless, Yahwi?"

He smirked. "You're not my type."

"Same," I replied, honestly.

He place his tongue on his cheeks and shook his head. We start doing the activity and it was both easy to us because I understand what to do and same goes with him.

This was the only group activity that makes me feel easy. Ito kasi yung mahirap pag groupings. Swerte nalang kung papalain ka sa member na marunong mag cooperate but if mamalasin ka naman, gosh, you'll lost your nerves that cause you lot of pimps due to stress.

"Finish?" Tanong bigla ni Ma'am Hilda na nasa likod lang pala namin.

"Almost palang po," I said.

"Okay, students! We're lacking of time so I guess uh that will be your assignment nalang, rereport niyo yan bukas. No exception, no work, no score. Clear?"

"Yes."

Lumabas na si Ma'am Hilda pagkatapos. Tumingin ako kay Jeremiah nung bigla siyang tumayo.

"Aren't we going to finish this?"

"Later. I'm just going to buy a snacks," he said. Tumango ako at hinihintay siya umalis pero hindi parin siya gumagalaw. I raise a brow. "May ipapabili ka?"

Umiling ako. "Meron na ako sa bag, thanks," sagot ko kahit hindi naman totoo. Tumango lang siya at lumabas ng classroom. I caught my classmates staring on me (intensely) but they avoid gaze immediately and start whispering like their afraid that someone will hear them.

Wow, another issue.

I stretch my arms and rested my head freely as I close my eyes for 10 seconds. Kulang naman ako sa tulog. I wanna freaking rest for hell's sake.

I was holding the bridge of my nose when I heard someone put something on my desk. Napamulat ako ng mata at nakita ko na dumaan si Jeremiah.

Binalik ko ang atensyon ko sa desk at isang pack ng cookies at isang iced coffee ang nakalagay dun. Napakunot ang noo ko nung may nakita pa akong sticky notes pa dun.

'Having busy day isn't excuse to starve yourself. Being full will make your day less stressful.'