ALEXIS and the Bet

Chapter Twelve: Reality Check

When we reached our room, I was about to go inside when Benjamin called my name. "See you later after class?"

Did I hear that right? And by the shocked look on my classmates' faces, they heard it too. "Sige, later." He gave me another smile before he left with Dave. I saw Dave patting Benjamin's back. He was probably congratulating his friend for his best actor performance. Those two jerks...

Benjamin, who loved to scowl, just smiled at me ten times all through out recess. Yes, I counted. Ten smiles. He was that desperate to win.

"End of the world na ba? Kasi parang naghahalucinate na si Benjamin. Ang pangit napagkakamalan niyang maganda," I heard a girl said followed by several snickers. I turned to the direction of the giggles and gave them a smile. Yes, let it be known that the guy you were crushing on is courting me -even though the truth was he is doing it for a bet. But they didn't need to know that. Their jealous faces were reward enough for the bullying they always did to me and to my friends.

***

We were seated on our usual spot for lunch in the cafeteria. Madie, Robyn and Joey were giving me the look, while Alicia was unaware of everything as she sank her teeth on her glazed doughnut.

I stared back at the three. "Ano?"

Robyn narrowed her gaze. "May narinig kaming balita na may isang babaeng kinilig kanina habang niregaluhan ng pagkain ng isang Benjamin Lucero."

I gave Madie a glare. She shrugged. "Hindi ako kinilig," I answered. "Hindi lang kasi ako sanay na may nanliligaw sa akin. Kahit sino na man siguro kikiligin kung ganoon ka-cute yung gustong manilgaw sa kanya."

Joey sighed. "Alex, hindi siya totoong nanliligaw sa 'yo. Nakalimutan mo na ba ang bet nila?"

I shook my head. Of course I haven't forgotten about that. It was already painfully carved in my heart.

"Kaya 'wag kang mahuhulog sa patibong niya. Siya dapat ang mahulog sa 'yo," Robyn reminded me.

"Alam ko na!" Madie exclaimed. "Puntahan natin sila. Alam kong nasa school paper office sila ngayon. Mag-spy tayo."

Robyn and Joey were thrilled. Alicia was still eating another doughnut. I looked helpless. And so they dragged me and Alicia with them.

"Hindi pa ako tapos sa doughnut ko!" Alicia protested.

We arrived outside the building where the office was located. Only this time, we crouched down below the open window, hidden behind a large bush of santan. The voices of Benjamin, Dave and Marco with the new addition of Nathan could be heard from the inside.

"Grabe 'tol, kung nakita niyo yung mukha ni Benj, grabe, matatawa kayo!" Dave said while laughing his heart out.

"Bakit, ano ba ginawa niya?" Marco asked.

"Panay pa-cute. Kakasuka nga, eh!" Dave answered.

I heard Benjamin grumbled. "Shut up, Dave."

"Type mo na ata si nerd, eh," Dave teased.

I waited for his answer. I was crushed. "No way!" Benjamin answered. "Hindi ganoon mga type ko."

The other guys kept on laughing to something Marco said that I couldn't understand. Then I heard Dave said, "Pero 'di nga Benj, galing mo pala mag-pacute sa mga babae. Pati ako nagiging bading na sa charms mo!" Another round of laughter passed. Really, I could not understand jokes made by boys.

"Papatunayan ko sa 'yo Dave. Mananalo ako sa bet na 'to," Benjamin declared. "Kaya Nate, kelangan ko tulong mo."

"'Tol, labas ako diyan... Kaibigan 'yun ng best friend ko..." Nathan answered. I saw Joey smiling proudly.

"Sa 'yo na ang air Jordan retro 6 ko. Bagong dating, never been used," Benjamin said.

"Hindi ko gaanong gusto ang disenyo nun pero since mapilit ka talaga, game!" Nathan, the traitor, answered. Joey frowned, looking very disapointed with her best friend. "Ano bang tulong kelangan mo?"

"I want to know the things that she likes. Things that can help me win her."

Win her? So I was now a game to him? I gave the girls the signal for us to leave. Still crouched low, we took tiny steps silently as possible until we left the area. When we were far from the building, I said, "Okay. Effective na ang reality check niyo para sa akin. Hindi na ako magpapa-apekto sa pagpapa-cute niya sa akin.

Robyn gave me a sad smile. "Masaklap man ang katotohanan, pero ang mga tulad ni Benjamin Lucero ay hindi bagay sa mga kagaya natin."

I looked down on the dirt, trying to fight the tears that were threatening to spill from my eyes. "Ano na gagawin natin?"

Madie gave us all a weird grin. "Operation Extreme Make-Over! At papatulong tayo sa ate ko. Ano, game na?"

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