American Boy ✔️

Chapter One

We're also used to this, people comparing us. People tend to compare me and Genevieve a lot. But she's still my friend kaya masaya ako na magkaibigan pa rin kami.

"Pake mo? You're just jealous na close kami ni Rina, and because hinding hindi ka niya magiging boyfriend! Ha!" Genevieve laughed before she grabs a book to threaten our boy classmate.

Jesus... Genevieve!

"Genevieve Diamante!" saway nang teacher namin. Genevieve then just sat down with a pout on her face. I smiled at tinitigan siya, hinawakan ko ang kamay niya nang mahigpit. "Thank you..." bulong ko sa kanya. Narinig niya ako then she smiled too.

Me and Genevieve met when were in first grade. Our friendship just naturally happened. She was childish and cute! Lagi siyang nakikipaglaban sa mga lalaki naming kaklase and of course hindi na kinakalaban nang mga babae naming mga kaklase because she's Genevieve. And also because she's a Diamante.

Diamante's influence is really big. She never really cared 'kung anong sinasabi nang iba tao sa kanya. It's our sixth year of friendship, I feel proud. Lagi niya 'kong dinedefend sa lahat nang bagay. She cares about me and I care about her too. She always gets in trouble kaya lagi akong kinakabahan at natatakot for Genevieve but it just happens, because it's her.

That's what makes me happy and proud is that Genevieve is able to be herself. Wala siyang pake.

And yet, I'm jealous of her.

I'm always hiding who I am and what I feel.

"Anong gusto mong kainin?" tanong ni Genevieve sa'kin with a smirk. I know what that smirk is. I'm so excited. I don't know why but we have this friendship thing. I guess kakain nanaman kami malapit sa likod nang library.

It's our secret friendship spot!

It sounds childish pero we're eleven years old? We're kids! We can do what we want right now! Yun ang sabi ni Genevieve. It's so funny.

"Ramen? Meron ka ba?" I asked her. She nodded. Ramen is my favorite, pwede ko lang siyang kainin kapag kasama ko si Genevieve because if I'm with my mother, hindi ako makakain sa harap niya.

My mom is too strict when it comes to these kinds of things. I also really liked what Genevieve bought when she went for a trip to Hawaii.

I think it was takis? I'm just happy na she shares these kinds of foods with me.

Food really makes me happy.

"Really? Grabe ka Rina, 'yan ba ang tingin mo sa sarili mong kaibigan? Since grade one!" sabi niya sabay may pa-dramatic effect pa siyang nalalaman. I tried to not laugh dahil baka mahuli kami nang teacher naming, malapit naman na ang lunch at ayaw kong mabigyan nang extra work si Genevieve kapag nag-ingay kami.

Ngumiti ulet ako, "Spicy flavor?" huli kong tanong at mas lalong lumaki ang ngiti niya sabay tango niya.

I love spicy food. It just happened that gusto ko talaga 'yong spicy flavor.

Ang akala nang pamilya ko is that I'm a vegetarian... but I actually eat meat sometimes because I crave for it pero ang paborito ko talaga is spicy ramen! 'Yong mga nabibili sa mga tindahan minsan.

Naghawakan kami nang kamay ni Genevieve habang naghihintay kami for like one more minute para makakain na kami. Other classmates in the room are looking at me. Medyo sanay naman na ako sa mga titig nila, it's so much worse during PE.