SNIPPET OF A FAIRYTALE

Ready or not?

"Geeez. No big deal Nate. Aaminin mo lang naman." They resumed walking.

"I have nothing to admit Pat. I don't wanna sound scumbag but really, that guy? You must be kidding me." Nathan

Alam ni Pibi na hindi madaldal na tao si Nathan, at pag lumampas na ng 2 sentences ang sagot nito ibig sabihin guilty.

"Whatever you say sir." Pibi chuckled.

"Don't you ever think na intimidated ako sa kanya or what, kase hindi pa pinapanganak ang taong mang-iintimidate sakin." Nathan

Pinipigilan na talaga ni Pibi na matawa kase halata naman na affected si Nathan.

"So let's say na ganun nga, pwede akong makipag-usap kay Jom?" Pibi

Nagulat naman si Nathan sa sinabi ni Pibi.

"And why would you talk to him?" Nathan

"I don't know. Maybe about some stuffs. You know me, classroom president." Pibi shrugged

And Nathan, being the great Nathan himself, knows the game that Pibi's trying to play here.

"Well then, it would be fine if, and only if, you'll allow me to tell our friends that we're---" Nathan

"OH SHUT UP! Sige na! I won't talk to him!" Pibi threw him a sharp look and cross her arms.

Nasa canteen na sila at nakita ng dalawa ang barkada sa isang table na mukang may pinag-aawayan.

"Hey people! What gives?" Pibi

"Where have you been? Fired up na naman si Andeng." Zoey whispered at her.

"COME ON GUYS! HOW COULD YOU DECLINE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE NEEDY??" Andrea

"Andeng, kelan ka pa naging ambassador ng helping hands?" pang-aasar ni Chino na kumakain ng chao pan.

"Anung meron ba?" umupo si Pibi sa tabi ni Zoey, tahimik lang naman na umupo si Nathan sa tabi nya.

"Kase tong si Andrea, pinipilit tayo na sumama dun sa community immersion nung kaibigan nya on Saturday." paliwanag ni Arci habang umiinom ng sampaloc juice.

"Ewww Ramona. Why do you keep on drinking that?" Roxanne

"Why? What's wrong with this? At least natural flavor to no." Arci raised her glass of sampaloc juice.

"Kayo lang yata ni Miss Minchin ang nasasarapan dyan eh. Sikreto ba yan ng mga math geek?" sabay sabay nilang tiningnan ang matandang math teacher sa may cashier. Tiger look pa rin kaya pati mga batang nagbabayad natataranta.

"Okay! Back to the topic! Sige na guys! Sumama na kayo... Piboy!" Andrea

"Um. On Saturday? Baka kase duty ako sa shop eh." palusot ni Pibi.

Tumayo si Andrea sa harap nila habang nakataas pa ang isang kilay. Isa isa silang tiningnan.

"Uh-oh... Hindi ko na gusto ang sunod na mangyayari..." Zoey

"You want me guys to remind how you would've never survived the past if not for me. Fine. Ikaw Zo at Sean. Ilang essay na ang ginawa ko para sa inyo?" Andrea

Nagkatinginan naman yung dalawa.

"Maybe 6?" Sean

"From grade school? probably 30?" Zoey

"See? You wouldn't survive without me. And you, Arci, naalala mo nung binigay ko sayo ang arts material ko para di ka mapalabas ng classroom?" Andrea

"Deng, that was way back grade 6---" Arci

"But still I saved your ass that time. Roxanne. Still fresh in your mind how I sacrificed my own booth (music) for your get-back-Sean plan a month ago?" Andrea