Bittersweet Hearts

8~ on wednesdays, we hold hands

Wednesday na and there was something different in the air. Maybe it was today's weather, or maybe it was because kasabay kong pumasok si Julien fake boyfriend Araneta. He said susunduin nalang daw niya ako. In the car he explained na he talked to his dad and offered na isabay na ako papasok at pauwi para daw hindi na hassle kay Mama to go out of her way before going to work or after work. Of course, our parents were both delighted. Sabi daw ni Tito Javi he should've thought of it sooner. Pogi points daw sana.

So here we are sabay kami pumasok as soon as Manong dropped us off. Naglalakad palang kami ng side to side, nakikita ko nang may mga nagbubulungan. Syempre itong katabi ko wapakels. Julien walang pake Araneta.

"Would holding hands be too much?" He thought aloud.

"Ha?" I asked, obviously stunned. Holding Hands While Walking agad?? He didn't wait for my answer and grabbed my hand. They fit perfectly together. Medyo kinilig ako na HHWW kami. Pero naalala ko din si Stephen. Ugh.

"You okay? Is this okay?" He asked suddenly. Di ko alam kung nag iba ba mukha ko kaya siya naconscious.

"Yeah." I said, squeezing his hand softly.

"Good." He squeezed mine back for reassurance.

"What will our friends say, though?" Bigla kong tanong. Todo deny pa naman ako kina Cassidy.

"Well, Yohan and the guys think we're together anyway. I didn't deny it nung first day. You can tell Cassidy and the others na we agreed not to reveal it at first. Pero umepal yung mga MG kaya here we are." He said nonchalantly. As if he had already thought of everything. Maybe he did.

"Okay." I gulped as we walked up the stairs to our floor.

x

There was an explosion of reactions pagpasok namin. It was five minutes before the bell kaya halos complete attendance na kami. Cassidy was wide eyed but beaming. The boys were making loud noises–akala mo New Year's Eve. Nasulyapan ko si Kath (MG) na nagtetext furiously, mukhang mapupudpod na keypads niya kakachismis. The other girls were either happily saying wow or "I knew it!" or they were eyeing us jealously. No in betweens, I swear.

"Good morning, Temperance."

Sabi ni Miss De Jesus pagpasok niya. Biglang nagsettle down ang lahat.

"What's the commotion all about?" She asked. More with curiosity than anger.

"None, ma'am." Sagot ng buong klase like we rehearsed it.

"Hmm." She said loudly and raised her brow.

She made us read advanced lessons again tapos si Julien panay ang tanong sa akin. Syempre lumalapit siya ng konti to ask something quietly. Ang galing talaga magpanggap nito. Bilang nasa first row kami, kita ng buong klase. Well thought out plan talaga.

x

Our next classes were a breeze. Straight to the lesson lang since nagsastart palang kami. Nothing unusual. Then recess came. This is it, mga sis.

"Tara?" Cassidy asked me. But she eyed me then she beckoned at Julien.

"Why? Tara. Let's wait for Aera and Hannah." I told her. But then I remembered kami nga pala ni Julien (kunwari). "Hey, una na kami sa cafeteria." I tapped him.

"Yup. See you there." He replied endearingly. And so fast. I almost cringed kasi hindi ako sanay.

"Aww, lalanggamin na kayo." Cassidy teased.

"But you owe us an explanation." She added paglabas namin ng room.

"Later nalang para isang kwentuhan nalang." Sabi ko. Dahil malamang sa malamang itatanong din nung dalawa. Speaking of the angels, sakto lumabas na din sila ng room.