Dearest First Love

Chapter 5

5 FIRST LOVE

"Mari, I like you and I know na bata pa tayo pero I can't stop thinking about you. Sobrang idol kita sa volleyball and sa class. Alam kong hard working ka and sobrang cute mo. Kahit na alam kong gusto mo si Troy please give me a chance."

"Si Troy? Paano mo alam?"

"I've been watching at saka halata ka naman eh. Lagi mo siyang tinitingnan."

I blushed. "What?!"

"Yes. And alam ko rin na alam mong wala kang chance kasi si Cher ang gusto niya. I'll prove you I'm worthy too. Please Mari..." I blushed again. Hala ka!

"Whatever..." iyon lang and then everything lightened.

Lagi nang nagpapapansin sa akin si Ken. Hindi niya ako tinitigilan kahit na nga tinutukso na kami sa klase. He gives me water every after practice, kinaibigan niya si kuya to please me and he's very thoughtful. How can I not fall for him? Pag nandiyan siya nakakalimutan ko ang feelings k okay Troy and he makes me feel so much better. He's honest and straightforward at the same time very patient and supportive kaya nga after awhile nakalimutan ko si Troy and naging like ko na rin siya.

Sa prom nung 3rd year kami.

"Mari, will you be my girlfriend." Bulong niya sa akin habang sumasayaw kami.

Tiningnan ko si Kuya while he was dancing with some other girl. Teka si Cher yung kasayaw niya eh. Hala ka. Hinanap ko si Troy and he was also dancing sa ibang babae – smiling. Kuya nodded and showed a thumbs up parang sinasabing Go okay lang.

"Humingi ako ng blessing sa Kuya mo.." bulong ni Ken. I nodded.

"Okay..." sagot ko.

"Okay? What do you mean Okay?" tanong ni Ken grinning.

"Okay..meaning Yes. Ganoon." I smiled habang malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko. It felt like it was the best decision I've made.

"Tumingin siya sa paligid grinning from ear to ear and when he thought that no one's watching he kissed me sa forehead.

"I'm the happiest man ever! Thank you and I love you Mari!" sabi niya smiling.

Natigilan ako – one sa kiss and sa I love you – Isn't it too early for that? Anyways...OH EM!!!! KINIKILIG AKO! KEEEEEEEN!

(RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!)

"Mari! Gising na! May pasok pa tayo! Halika na sabay na tayo sa school. I'm driving." sigaw ni Kuya.

Panaginip! Isang masamang panaginip yet why am I blushing? Hahay! This is not good!

Ken has been appearing sa school and I've been seeing him almost every time. Kahit nga sa klase. Sabi ng teacher namin. He will be substituting a teacher kasi nag leave daw. And since Ken applied for the job plus he graduated sa New York it's a pleasure daw to have him. Yep, advanced si Ken. Kaya daw sila lumipat ng New York kasi nakatanggap siya ng scholarship and he excelled kaya mas napadali ang pag graduate niya. Advanced daw siya lagi – genius nga daw sabi nila.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Good afternoon Class. I'm Ken Carlos your substitute teacher. Please be good to me..."

"What?!" sabi ko...akala ko sa utak ko lang nasigaw, akalain mong nasabi ko pala...

"Bakit Ms. Mendoza? May problema ba?" he said looking straight sa mata ko.

"Nothing sir." sagot ko sa kanya. TUG DUG TUG DUG..heto na naman. I looked down at hindi na ulit ako tumingin sa kanya.

"Ayeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" tukso ng mga kaklase ko.

"Ex mo o. Teacher natin. Wow! Just WOW. 1.0 ka na niyan." tukso ni Troy.

"Pati ikaw? Huwag kang mag-umpisa baka mawalan ka ng kaibigan." sabi ko sa kanya.

"Kinikilig ka naman! Sus!" tukso pa rin niya.

"Shut up! Ex nga di ba? Meaning wala nang halaga!" sabi ko na hindi namamalayan na nasa likod ko na pala si "Sir Ken"

"Hindi mo ako ex Mari kasi hindi naman tayo nagbreak!" bulong niya sa akin. His voice behind my ears brought shivers to my body. TUG DUG TUG DUG TUG DUG. Ano baaaaaaaaa! TIGILAN AKO NG KALANDIAN KO!

(RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!)

"Okay this ends the session. See you tomorrow class." sabi niya sabay tingin sa akin.

Pinaalis ko muna mga kaklase ko before ako tumayo. Pinauna ka na rin si Troy.

"Sir...ah...eh....uhm...." sabi ko stammering.

"Yes Ms. Mendoza? You have a problem?" sagot niya. plain lang parang walang emosyon.

What is this? Pinaglalaruan ba ko nang mokong na ito! AIIIIIIIIIIIIIST! I'm pissed....

"WALA!" tiningnan ko siya ng masama and walked away.

"Mari! WAIT! I need to talk to you!" sigaw niya.

Hindi na ako lumingon.

I wanted to talk to him but every time he opens his mouth nasusuklam ako! Such a proud stupid Idiot!

Mag-isa akong naglakad patungo sa rooftop ng school. Gusto kong magpahangin. Nalilito ako sa nararamdaman ko ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Gusto kong isipin na hindi ito dahil nabuhay ang pinatay ko nang pagmamahal kay Ken. It's not easy to forget about your love if it has been your reason for happiness before and especially because it caused you too much pain. Nasusuklam ako sa kanya. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.