Star-Crossed ~ An ISITL Novel (On-Going)

5: Vee

I always thought that my mind was stronger than my heart.

I've always praised myself for not being as easily riled up as my brother Alfredo, or as straight-laced as Alphonse, or as tongue-tied in front of his crush as Albert, pero iba pala talaga kapag tinamaan ka.

And I got hit hard. Really hard.

I can barely breathe when she enters the room. It feels like my insides turn to knots. The sound of her laughter can be made to music, and her smile made my day complete.

Vianca Janina Pereira. VJ to her girl friends, Vee for short.

Noon hindi ako naniniwala sa mga kuwentong kakornihan na titigil ang oras kapag nakita mo ang crush mo, or mawawala ka sa sarili kapag natitigan ka nila.

Vee was all that for me.

The moment she opened her mouth to answer the questions for our Discrete Math lesson last semester parang bumuka ang langit at nagkantahan ang mga anghel. It was the first time I found a girl who could surely challenge me intellectually.

And challenge me, she did. The class became our battle ground and our teacher and classmates the avid viewers of our twice a week showdowns. Siya lang ang tanging representative ng angkan ni Eba na nakapagparamdam sa akin ng ganito.

For the first time, I was excited to go to school. I wanted to see her. I wanted to exchange ideas with her.

I wanted her: her beautiful mind and her beautiful smile.

For the first time, feeling ko okay lang maging corny at tanga. Nilamon ko ang mga pangangantiyaw ko kay Kuya Albert.

"O Ali bakit sambakol mukha mo baby boy?" Bati sa akin ni Kuya Albert. Umupo siya sa tabi ko habang umiinom ng juice. "Para kang nabasted ah."

Inirapan ko siya, "Kuya, nabasted ka na ba? Bakit kabisado mo hitsura?"

Nasamid si kuya at tumalsik ang iniinom niya sa t-shirt niya. "Buset ka," he reached to hit me but I quickly dodged him.

"Wala pang bumabasted sa'kin, 'lul."

"Kasi wala ka namang nililigawan. Ikaw nililigawan."

"'Kala mo naman ako lang gan'on. Lahat po tayo," he reminded me. "Well, maliban sa'yo. Dine-deathglare mo kasi bago makalapit."

It's true. Habulin ng mga babae lahat ng Zabala. Maski ang half-brothers kong sila Aidan at Adam parating may umaaligid na nagpa-pa-cute. Si Kuya Alphonse mahirap makapasa sa standards niya ang mga girls, si Kuya Albert bulag sa kanyang itinatagong feelings kuno kay Ate Chelsea (na super obvious sa lahat pero dine-deny ni ate), at si Kuya Alejandro mas interesado sa pamumundok at pagkuha ng nature photos. Tanging si Kuya Alfredo ang bukod tanging namumutakti ng girls na dina-date, minsan sabay-sabay pa. I don't understand him. Nakita ko ang epekto ng pagiging unfaithful sa aming mga magulang, so I don't see myself wanting the same thing for myself.

Si Aidan naman, takot sa tunay na girls. Ewan ko ba sa isang 'yon. Parang may trauma na ewan at hindi kayang makipag-usap sa mga babae. Si Adam naman okay lang. Di masyadong seryoso sa mga bagay-bagay kahit sa relationships. Ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa, takot sila sa commitments.

Back to Vee. I really want to court her pero ayokong gumawa ng bagay na corny dahil nakokornihan ako sa lahat ng common ways para manligaw ng babae. I don't see myself as someone who'd send flowers or food. Hindi ko rin gustong manligaw online or through a letter. I mean, I'm a genius for crying out loud. There must be something better para mapansin niya ako.

Shit . I sound like a pathetic wuss.

"Kuya, nasubukan mo na ba manligaw?" Di ko alam kung bakit ko naitanong 'yon kay Kuya. I immediately regretted the words as soon as they came out of my mouth. Oh shit. I saw a sly smile slowly form on Kuya Albert's face.