My Brother's Best Friend (Completed)

Chapter 1 - Partner

I'm always the person who hates waking up early for school but today is first day so yeah. Oh, just how fast time flies. Dati I was one of the freshmen at para pa akong naliligaw na bata nun. And now, I'm graduating! 

Bumaba ako at naabutan ko si Kuya na kumakain na ng breakfast habang hawak ang cellphone.

"Good morning kuya." Bati ko and made my way toward the counter.

"Good morning to you too. Alam mo ba kung anong oras na? Bilisan mo na at may lakad pa ako." Masungit niyang sabi.

"Ang aga ko kaya ngayon! Aga aga sungit sungit." Bulong ko. Sinamaan lang niya ako ng tingin at sinabing bilisan ko.

Kuya Arvic is my one and only brother. When you think that it's fun to have a brother, I suggest you to think twice.

Sumimangot ako sa kanya, "Bakit ka ba nagmamadali? Chill kuya, it's still early."

He just shrugged. "Just eat faster. Stop talking." Tinignan niya ang relo niya habang nilalagyan ako ng breakfast.

"Saan ka ba kasi pupunta? I don't want to be the first one to arrive in class! I bet Camille and Ian are still sleeping!" 

"Mag commute ka nalang kaya? Ang dami mong reklamo, e. Who told you not to learn how to drive? Kasalanan mo naman. Okay, 5 more minutes."

Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam kung matutunawan ako sa bilis kong kumain. I look at the man driving beside me. He has this serious face. Kung sabagay, he always maintained that face kaya marami ang nagkakagusto sa kanya because he is handsome and mysterious daw! Sus, sinasadya lang niya 'yun para maraming babae ang mahulog sa kanya. Well, all of his friends are like that. Lahat sila palaging seryoso ang itsura. Well, that's what people think. 

Ako, I think otherwise. Inside their serious look hide the playful and wild teenager boys. I still remember when I first met them, para silang fraternity boys sa school dahil sa aura nila but kuya assured me they are not. Hindi rin ako close sa kaibigan niya kahit na palagi ko sila nakikita dahil iniiwasan ko sila pag may pagkakataon. Everytime I will cross path with one of them ay magkukunyari akong hindi ko sila nakita o kaya may kausap ako. Good thing that they all graduated. Finally wala na akong tataguan sa campus!

"Baba na. We're here. Text me when you need me to fetch you."

Tumango lang ako at bumaba na. Kinuha ko sa bag ang registration form ko at pumunta sa first class. Inayos ko ang strap ng bag ko bago pumasok ng room. Halos wala pang tao! Sino ba naman ang papasok ng maaga diba to think that it's first day of school but I was surprised when I saw a familiar face in the back of the room. Or I guess not all graduated. 

I narrowed my eyes and stared at the guy sitting at the far back again. Vince Velasco. What is he doing here? And of all people why him! Why are we classmates? Tinignan ko ulit ang form ko and indeed we are going to be classmates. I almost jumped when he stared back at me and I quickly avoided the look but before that I gave him a small smile but he didn't. Ano pa nga ba ang ieexpect ko sa kanya diba.

Huminga ako ng malalim pag upo ko. First day pa lang and I already know I'm doomed. Vince, that frat guy (or so I think) is my classmate! Ni walang gustong tumabi sa kanya sa likod. Tumabi kaya ako sa kanya? No! No way, hindi lang ako makakaconcentrate. I don't know why but that guy always make my heart race. Mapatingin o boses niya ay nagpapabilis ng takbo ng puso ko. 

Sa lahat ng kaibigan ni Kuya ay sa kanya ako pinakailap. Ganito rin yata ang nararamdaman ng ibang babae kay Kuya. May aura kasi siya na parang hindi mo siya pwedeng lapitan o kausapin kung ayaw mong masungitan.

Pasimple ko siyang sinilip sa pwesto niya at napasinghap ako nang makita kong nakatingin siya sa akin. Tumaas ang gilid ng labi niya nang nakita ang reaksyon ko. What the hell! I actually got a reaction from him and I don't know if that's good or bad.

Teka, kalma lang heart. Ngumisi lang siya. Maybe he is just amused or maybe because I'm his friend's sister. Sooner or later magkakasakit ako sa puso nang dahil sa kanya.

Sa tagal ko siyang kilala ganito pa rin ang epekto niya sa akin. God! Oo na siguro nga crush ko nga siya. The first time I met him crush ko na agad siya but I never told Kuya about it dahil magagalit 'yun sakin. I thought I was gonna get over it after they graduated and yes I did, for a while because now here he is again making me fall for him with just him seating there. Hindi ko alam na hindi siya grumaduate. I thought he did because Kuya didn't mention it to me.

Oh what the hell. I need to stop thinking about him right now. Now!

Tinignan ko ang oras sa cellphone ko and it's about time for Ian and Camille to arrive. Masaya silang naguusap dalawa at lalapitan ko na sana sila nang biglang dumating na rin ang Prof namin kaya nagmadali ang lahat sa pag upo. I sat at the farther front para siguradong malayo sa kanya. Ngumiti lang sila sa akin. Siguro hindi pa nila napapansin si Vince dahil hindi nila ako ngingitian kung oo.

It's Prof Salazar. And when it's her malamang alphabetical ang seating arrangement. Wait a minute, what's his surname again?

Nagpapass ng registration form ang prof at nagiisip pa rin ako kung anong surname ni Vince. And she started calling our names starting from A. "Amor, Haidee. Ang, Calvin. Bellario, Samuel. Castillo, Ian."

"Miranda, Jared. Montemayor, Camille. Pascual, Ina.." And the list goes on habang inaantay kong matawag si Vince. Hindi ako kinakabahan dahil ako ang huling matatawag and I don't think that his surname will be next to mine. But when he was called I froze.

"Velasco, Vince. And lastly Zamora, Trisha." She called.

Holy shit! Magkatabi kami. Velasco! How can I forget about that.

Agad akong hinarap ni Ian at nakita kong nanlaki ang mata niya. I know, Ian.

Halos manlambot ang tuhod ko nang panoorin niya akong umupo sa tabi niya. Hindi ko siya binalingan ng tingin kahit isang beses habang nagkaklase kami because I was busy taking down notes. Thanks Prof for lecturing in the first day of class that I get to have a reason to avoid Velasco's gaze.

"Okay, before I dismiss you, I want you to find a partner and he/she will be your partner for the whole semester so choose wisely." Was the last words of Ma'am Salazar before she left. Hinanap agad ng mata ko si Camille at Ian pero nakita kong nagbubulungan na silang dalawa and I know they will be partners.

Naramdaman ko agad ang tingin ni Velasco sa tabi ko kaya agad kong kinalabit ang kaharap ko. So much for having only one seatmate. 

"Kyra partner tayo?" I asked nicely but to my dismay, "Uh sorry partner na kami ni Jet."

I smiled at Kyra. Of course they will be partners. Ano ba naman ang nasa utak ko. Mag bestfriend ang dalawang 'yon! Alam kong nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin. Nanatili ang tingin niya sa akin kaya sinubukan kong tanungin ang katabi ni Kyra pero may partner na rin daw siya. 

Lord, wag naman sana--

"I'll be your partner." Kinalabit niya ako at narinig ko ang malalim at klaro niyang boses. Shit shit!

Ako, napapikit nalang. Jusko naman! Can I decline? No, I cannot dahil rinig na rinig naman niya ang pagtanggi sa akin ng mga tinanungan ko. And that leave me no choice dahil siya lang ang nagiisang katabi ko.

So I said, "Sure." 

And I know I was going to regret it the moment it left my mouth.