HER ESCORT

ONE

UNANG PAGKIKITA

ASHER'S POV

"I'm bored" sabi ko kay Klein, ang kaisa-isa kong kaibigan dito. "Di mo na kailangang ipaalam kasi obvious naman" sagot niya habang naka-focus pa rin sa pinapanood naming.

Ako si Van Asher Montereal. Loner? Boring? Nerd? Utak lang ang meron? That' s how people describe me. Kasalanan ko naman kung bakit ako naging ganito. Hindi naman ako ganito dati eh.

"Huy! Tulala ka nanaman? I mean, di na ako nagulat pero you need to pay attention dito" Oo nga pala. Nandito kami ngayon sa Chemistry Laboratory kasi nagdidiscuss dito yung prof namin. "Alis na ko. Alam ko na 'to eh" sabi ko at saka umalis. Sinubukan niya akong pigilan at rinig ko rin ang pagpigil sa'kin ng prof ko pero di ako sumunod.

Lumabas ako para magpahangin. Maybe I should skip this class kasi wala naman akong natututunang bago.

Dumiretso ako sa cafeteria ng school namin at kumain when a girl suddenly sat in front of me. Bago ba siya dito? How did she dare to sit with me?

"HI! Can I sit here?" she asked. I noticed how people look at her whether they're a guy or a girl. Is she famous? Di ko na lang siya pinansin at sinubukan kong tumayo pero hinawakan niya yung kamay ko para pigilan ako. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin. "Hey! Why so rude? Di mo ba ako kilala?" tanong niya. Umupo uli ako at tinignan siya.

"Am I supposed to know you?" sabi ko sa kanya, coldly. People including her gasped. I don't get it. Sino ba 'tong babaeng 'to?

She laughed in shock and she seemed annoyed. I guess.

"Really? Ikaw ang kauna-unahang lalaking sinabihan ako ng ganyan" sagot niya. Tinaas ko lang ang dalawa kong kilay, waiting for her to say something again and she did.

"I am Reverie Cate Jimenez. I transferred here after I won as one of the candidates who'll compete for Bb. Pilipinas. Duh? I'm basically one of this school's pride" sabi niya confidently. I'm impressed by how she answered. She seemed well-spoken enough to be a beauty queen. "Uhm.. okay? So do I need to know you?" sagot ko, nonchalantly. I don't really know why she approached me, specifically just to tell that.

"Oh my gosh..." she said then she stood up, sighing in frustration. Some guys walked behind her while trying to serve her like a 'queen' kuno. I shook my head and walked away. Umupo ako sa bench ng grounds namin, at kinabit ko yung earphones ko and I opened my textbook to study in advance. This had been my routine every time na I feel bored sa class.

"Hoy Asher! Ilang beses na kong nagpabalik-balik dito, wala ka naman. Sa'n ka ba nagpunta?!" klein said while catching his breath. He probably went to places I could be at. "Do you know some Reverie girl?" klein's jaw dropped when I mentioned that name. He probably knows her. "Jimenez? Oo naman! Pa'no mo yun nakilala?" klein sat next to me, obviously interested on that girl. I sighed. "She sat on my table while I was eating in the café. She asked me if I know her and I said 'do I need to know you'? Then she seemed shocked then walked away" I said. Klein face palmed and was obviously frustrated.

"I can't believe you said that to a girl who was being chased by numerous guys" sabi ni klein. I am puzzled. Mukha lang siyang normal para sa'kin though. "And... to think na siya yung nag-approach sa'yo, makes me jealous. Sana all! Sana all.." dagdag ni klein. Di ko na lang sinagot kasi wala din naman akong pake kung inapproach ako ng babaeng habulin because I don't find her special. I just admired her confident speaking abilities.

"Wait lang.. don't try to change the topic. Iniwan mo uli ako sa lab bwisit ka. Treat me as usual" sabi niya sa'kin at kinindatan ako. I sighed in defeat while he rejoiced in victory. We went to the nearest coffee shop.