The Trouble with the Rule

Chapter 3: The New Girl

"Magkaklase na tayo," lumayo ako sa kanya saka ipinukpok sa ulo niya ang throw pillow. He's weird. I know we're classmates. I've been seeing his face for hours already. He's stating the obvious. Duh. "Aray. Para saan 'yun?"

"That might help and bring you back to your senses! I know we're classmates! Nagpapatawa ka ba?! Akala ko naman kung anong ibubulong mo!"

"Woah. Chill. Meron ka ba at ganyan ka?"

"No. I'm pissed, okay." I checked if Mom or Dad is nearby. The coast is clear kaya medyo lumapit ako kay Nate at bumulong, "We're classmates. – "

Bago ko pa maituloy ang karugtong ng sasabihin ko ay nag-interrupt na siya, "Oo nga. Kanina pa natin inuulit-ulit 'yan."

"Shut up, I'm still talking. As I was saying before you rudely interrupted me, we're classmates. Because of that, the rule will be fucked up before we know it. I'm going to spend the whole school year with the entire group's leader. Sige, minus ka na dun since bestfriend kita. But thinking that I belong to the same class with Warren, Hailey and Hunter pisses me off, okay? And to top it all, alam mo ba, Mom wants me to study with Hailey. Hailey. My God. Si Hailey? I'd rather die."

Wait, I think too much 'yung huling statement ko. I don't want to die. I'd rather.. throw a Prada na lang. Much better.

"OA mo naman. Kaya nga ako nagpunta dito dahil diyan e. May naisip ako."

Uh-oh. Mukhang ngayon pa lang aayaw na ako sa naiisip niya. Kung mayroon lang "Worst Idea" award, malamang ko ba napunta na sa kanya 'yun.

I remember when we were still kids; niyaya niya ako sa laundry room tapos sabi niya maglaro kami ng bubbles. Akala ko naman noon 'yung bubbles lang na pinapalobo talaga. Pero ang ginawa niya, binuhos niya 'yung box ng soap sa washing machine saka 'yun pinaikot. Ang daming bubbles nun umabot hanggang bewang namin kasi maliit lang naman ang laundry room and we're maliit din. When Mom found as there, I was scolded because of the mess he made. Hindi ko tuloy nabili 'yung doll na gusto ko. Fault niya pero akin ang punishment.

When we were in elem naman, we went to the library to help Hailey look for a certain book. She found it at the top of the shelf. Maliit pa kami nun kaya we can't reach it. So Nate suggested something. Batuhin daw naman 'yung books gamit 'yung shoes namin para malaglag 'yun sa kabilang side since open naman 'yung kabilang side. We, being gullible, followed. Instead na isang libro lang ang mahulog, the whole line of books fell. Napalabas kami sa library and we were banned there for 3 days. It's okay for me of course, but not for Hailey. She cried. For three days.

Noong summer naman bago kami pumasok ng highschool, we were so bored, so Nate asked us to go with him somewhere. Masaya raw dun kaya sumama naman kami. Mga naka-bike lang kami and we ended up at No Name. Tita Cass saw us there, kaya pinauwi niya kami at sinumbong sa parents namin. As a punishment, I was five days grounded. Bawal lumabas ng bahay and pinalitan din nila ang password ng wifi kaya wala akong access sa internet. May liga pa naman si Warren noon pero grounded din siya kaya hindi siya nakasali.

Ever since then, never na ako nag-agree sa suggestions ni Nate. He's the worst.

"Don't even start. My God, Nate. Ang pangit ng ideas mo. Lagi na lang akong napapahamak niyan."

"Grabe 'to! Hindi mo pa nga napapakinggan."

"I don't even have to hear it to know that it will bring no good."

Hinawakan niya 'yung chest and nagpretend na nasasaktan, "Bakit ka ganyan? Nakakasakit ka."

I rolled my eyes at him and sighs, "Fine. Sabihin mo na tapos manahimik ka na. Wala ako sa mood."