If I'm Not In Love

3

"I told you!" tatawa tawang sabi ni Troy pagkatapos kong ikwento sa kanya yung nangyari kahapon. "Sanay na siya kaya hindi ka niya naalala. Wala ka talagang alam samin Lala," sabi pa nito habang umiiling.

I folded my arms across my chest with a determine look, "I have alot of backup plans stored," I said confidently.

Hinila ni Troy nang mahina ang buhok ko saka ngumisi, "Do whatever you want. Pero hinay-hinay lang." sabi nito.

I smiled at him then I clang my arms on his as we walked through the hallway heading to our classroom.

*

"Please wag mong ipapahiya ang sarili mo sa harap ng maraming tao," worried na sabi ni Melissa habang kumakain kami sa cafeteria.

Ngumiti lang ako pero hindi ko inaalis ang tingin ko kay Ethon na tahimik lang na kumakain kasama ang mga kaibigan niya, I guessed.

"Stop her, Troy," patuloy pa nito.

"Just let her, malaki na si Lala, she knows what she's doing"

"Kinukunsinti mo pa talaga? Pero mapapahiya siya. I know Ethon," umiling si Melissa. "You may find him gentleman, but his words are like a sharp sword, Lei"

I looked at Melissa and tilted my head. "Eh di.. maganda! I've never heard his voice pa e," I said then smiled widely.

Melissa gasped then shook her head in disbelief. "Bahala ka, just do not forget that I warned you," sabi nito.

I nodded and shifted back my gaze to Ethon who is now looking at our direction. And that's the que I've been waiting for. "This is it," I muttered then quickly bolted up from my seat.

"Need backup?" tanong ni Troy habang nakatingala sakin.

I shook my head, "Nah. Kaya ko na to," I grinned then started walking confidently towards Ethon's table.

His brows furrowed as he watched me approaching. Hindi nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. Tumitibok nang mabilis ang puso ko at mas bumibilis pa ito habang papalapit ako nang papalapit sa kanya. Mas lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya nung huminto ako sa mismong harapan niya. Humigpit ang kapit ko sa tray na hawak ko. "Can I seat beside you?" I inquired as sweet as possible. 

He looked away at nagpatuloy sa pagkain na parang walang narinig.

"Hey, can I--"

"Hi Miss! Anong mapaglilingkod namin sayo?" tanong ng isa sa mga nakaupo sa table nila.

Umiling ako, "Si Ethon ang kailangan ko" I said then turned to Ethon again, "Can I seat beside you?" ulit ko but again, para siyang bingi na walang naririnig.

"Miss, nagmamagandang loob lang, kung ako sayo, maghahanap na lang ako ng bakanteng upuan, it's for your own good. I'm saving you from his rudeness," sabi naman ng isang lalaki.

I looked at him and smiled, para pa ngang nagulat siya sa pagngiti ko dahil lumaki ng kaunti yung mga mata niya. "Pero i'm not you and I don't follow orders that is against my will," I said softly while still smiling sweetly at him.

I heard loud gasps and groans of disapproval and frustrations, but I ignored it all. Tinutok ko ulit ang paningin ko kay Ethon. "Can I--" Hindi ko na natapos yung sasabihin ko nang ibaba niya yung spoon and fork na hawak niya.

Mas lumaki yung ngiti ko nang umiling siya. But it slowly faded when he stood up and left without saying anything. I feel dejected. I thought I will finally be able to hear his voice. I'm disappointed!

"Wala siyang sinabi?" narinig kong sinabi nung isang lalaki.

Yung isa naman tumayo at sumunod kay Ethon. Should I follow them? But then, I said no to myself. It's not yet the right time to be that clingy, wala pa ako sa step na yun. Nasa step two palang ako and I don't want to jump over. I hate shortcuts. Mas gusto kong gawin ang isang bagay in a very hard way dahil mas masarap ang victory after that.

I sighed and walked back on our table. Troy grinned and Melissa looked worried. I shook my head and sat beside Melissa. "Ang damot niya," I pouted.

"Huh?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Melissa.

"Hindi siya nagsalita. I'm expecting to hear his voice, but he just walked out on me. Unfair!" Reklamo ko.

Umiling si Troy "Ang babaw mo"
I scowled at him but he just ruffled my hair. "Need advice?" tanong nito.

I abruptly shook my head, "I can do it" I answered.

"Okay" he shrugged.

"Bakit kaya? This is the first time he walked out. Everytime someone would approached him, they ended up running away while crying" Melissa stated thoughtfully.

Biglang nabuhayan ang loob ko sa narinig at napangiti ako. "Guess i'm different then."

Umiling si Troy, "Paasahin mo pa ang sarili mo," he teased as he leaned forward and rested his chin on his palm.

I did not bother utter a word but just beamed at him instead. Melissa on the other hand, was still in her deep thoughts.

Step two wasn't a fail afterall. At least, he did something that he didn't usually do to others, that's a good sign. Well, kahit naman failed, marami pa rin akong nakaimbak na back up plans. I'm not the type of person who easily give up. Naniniwala kasi ako sa kasabihan na nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa. I always strive hard to get what I want while keeping my faith to God and praying for strength and strong will and guidance as I do my best to make things possible in my own way. Go lang dapat ng go.

"Do you want me to introduce you to him again?" tanong bigla ni Melissa.

I immediately shook my head in disagreement. "You know I don't ask for help unless I'm helpless," tanggi ko. "I want to do this on my own," I added.

"Okay," she nodded in understandin.

Troy stood up kaya napatingala ako sa kanya at napakunot ang noo. Halfday lang kami every Tuesday so, I think may lakad siya, "Date?" I queried.

He grinned then pulled my hair lightly, "Taiana," he answered curtly which I clearly understood.

Nagpaalam na si Troy at naiwan kami ni Melissa sa cafeteria. She's still preoccupied kaya tahimik lang kami sa table namin. Until someone stopped right in front of our table at napangiti na lang ako when I saw who it was.

"Ethon?" nagtatakang tanong ni Melissa.

Tahimik lang akong nakaupo habang tinitigan siya. He glanced at me for a second then looked back at Melissa with his neutral expression. He sighed then grabbed Melissa's book and walked out of the cafeteria. Melissa looked shocked at agad na nagpaalam sakin para habulin si Ethon.

I watched them silently hanggang sa hindi ko na sila makita.

I smiled inwardly. This may sound weird but the more he shows something to Melissa, the more I want to pursue him.

Napailing na lang ako at tumayo na. Paalis na sana ko pero napahinto ang paningin ko sa table. I frowned and tilted my head as I picked the blue sticky note. My lips curved into a lopsided smile when I read what's written on a piece of paper.

'Whatever you are up to. Stop it.'

Isiniksik ko sa filler ko yung note at hindi na talaga nawala yung ngiti ko. I wasn't sure if it's from him pero there's one thing that I'm pretty sure of. I wont stop. Not when I'm just starting the chase. I'm up to get my prince charming.