The professor allowed him to enter since this is a first day. He chose to sit at the back and wipe his sweat, umiwas ako ng tingin when I realized that I'm staring too much.
Nakinig na lang kami sa mga dini disscuss ng nasa harapan, like the mandatory of the school, the rules and regulations, and the task we should follow.
Sa wakas ay lunch na, kaya pumunta kami sa canteen para bumili. Madaming estudyante na nag uusap at nagku kwentuhan. We choose the table in the corner. "Pila na tayo." Kazumi said kaya tumayo kami para pumila. Actually, di pwedeng isa lang ang bibili dahil tray ang dadalhin. We can't choose the food we wanted, but it's fine naman.
"Ah! It's Udon!" maligayang sabi ni Kazumi habang papunta kami sa table. "and this is rice ball right?" I pointed the food na kasama ng udon. She nodded thrice.
I thanked my maid in my mind because she teach me how to use chopsticks cause if not, I will look numb here.
"Anong club kayo sasali?" I asked, pambasag sa tahimik naming pagkain. Kazumi pouted and crosses her arms. "I would like to join archery club, how about you?" tinuloy ko na lang pagkain ko. Wala kasi akong maisip eh. But the interesting idea popped on me.
"I think... Photography club," I think I can excel with that since I do love taking photos. Kazumi clasped her hands. "Yes! Maganda din yan!" she exclaimed and looked at Kairo. "How about you Kairobot?" she asked and I chuckled. "Soccer club." she pouted and nodded twice while her tumb was in her chin.
Bumalik kami sa klase after that. They said that tommorow, the discussions will start. Hours passed and the bell rang as a sign that it's time to go home.
Inayos ko ang bag ko, naglalabasan na ang mga kaklase namin but Kazumi is still ponytailing her hair. She's pouting kaya tinulungan ko na sya. I think having a younger sister is interesting.
Sinukbit nya na rin ang bag nya. "Ale? Nawawala si Kairo..." bulong nito sa sarili. Luminga din ako at wala na nga ang lalaki. Hinarap ako ni Kazumi. "Crest-chan, wait me in the front gate, I'll just look for Kairobot." tumango ako at tumakbo na sya agad.
Inilabas ko ang binabasa kong novel, it has a good story and I can't stop myself from reading it. Limited edition lang ang novel na toh kaya iniingatan ko talaga.
Naglakad ako sa gilid ng field, may mga naglalaro kasi at baka matamaan pa ko. Sa paanan ko ay malapit ang two inches wide canal kung saan may umaagos na tubig. There's also a small rocks na nasasama sa pag anod.
I just continue to walk while reading, and the story flow is getting better. I'm already at the plot twist where the man knew all along that the kid is his daughter. He pretended not to know it because...
Ililipat ko na sana ang libro to read another page and find out the reason why when... "Miss! Tabi!" something hit on my head. It has an impact kaya nadapa ako at napaupo. A soccer ball bounced beside me and I see a man's feet rushing towards me.
"Are you alright?" I looked up to him with mad expression but it's the man who get my hat. He helped me to stand up but I found my book in the canal!
Agad kong hinaklit ang kamay ko mula sa kanya. "You! It's your fault!" I lashed at mukhang nagulat sya. "Sorry okay, I didn't mean too..." wala na kong pakialam sa sasabihin nya. I saw the pages of my book getting wet. Kinuha nya ito at inilapag.
"Pwede pa patuyuin toh..." patuyuin?! Is he joking?! Napasabunot na lang ako sa buhok dahil sa inis. I can't help it because I'm so careful about my books. I didn't even let those to be exposed in sunlight and now...
"You really think I can still read the words if it's so wet like that?!" angal ko. Sumulyap siya sakin. "The water is clean, kaya hindi matatakpan yung mga letters pag natuyo, and the paper they used here wasn't ordinary kaya pwede pa." pakikipagtalo nya.
Nakaka irita talaga!
"Bakit kasi sisipa ka na nga lang, papunta pa sa pader?! Mukha ba kong net?!" I exclaimed. He licked his lips and it reddened, I pulled myself together and avoid to be distracted.
"I'll just buy you another o--" I cutted him. "Limited edition yan." kung hindi, edi sana di pa ko nakipagtalo at bumili na lang ng bago.
"Then I'll pay--" I cutted him again.
"I don't need it." I don't need it. Gusto ko mabasa ang susunod na mangyayari!
He stood up and looked at me for I don't know how many seconds. He sighed and closed his eyes tightly na parang dagdag ako sa problema niya. He put his hands in his pocket before speaking. "Then give me a week, I can find you one, anything... for you."
*****
Maganda naman ang style ng uniform namin. It's a black skirt with folds and sa magkabila nito ay black lace na isusuot naman sa balikat, like a jumper style and we have a white blouse for top.
"Let's go?" tanong ko sa dalawang makulit na nagpapaluan ng bag. Akala ata nila walang nanonood sa kanila.
My phone rang and it's Denschel again. Kailan naman kaya ako titigilan ng isang to? "Oh?" I asked pagka tap sa green button. Di ko sya matiis eh.
"Hey! How are you?" he asked. Medyo maingay sa background ng linya niya. "I'll go to school today, mamaya na lang." sabi ko pero pinigilan nya ko. "You tried this kwek kwek before? It's delicious." sabi nya kaya mukhang kumakain sya.
"I didn't. Mom doesn't allowed me to buy those foods before remember?" I answered. I don't know but Dad said that her ex got her by treating her that food so she's bitter. I heard Denschel asking for sawsawan, narinig ko rin ang kausap niya na nakakailang ulit na siya.
"Then, Chel. Mamaya na lang." I said and hang up. Mas e-enjoyin niya naman siguro ang pagkain than talking to me.
We arrived at the school and as a routine, kinuha ko lang ang mga gamit na kakailanganin namin. I wore my slippers again at pumunta sa clssroom.
Our first lesson is about language, English and grammar. Well, it's already easy for me since I'm from english country. The sensei didn't waste any seconds and she focused in teaching. Magaling sya magturo.
Second is a japanese lesson, they teached the basic way of writing and a short history back in Edo period. The lesson mentioned the tanka and haiku. I admired japanese for being poetic, their poems always hit the hearts of the people, sensei said that we'll write tanka or haiku next time.
Sumunod ang iba't ibang lessons and I enjoyed it. Studying here was the best decision I ever made. Sa next lesson naman ay kailangan naming magpunta sa gym, physical exercises na ang gagawin namin.
We changed our clothes, it's a white tshirt and red cycling shorts. The instructor is kinda strict or maybe it's just his looks...
What we did are just physical exercises, like squat and boxing. so tiring. Sweats formed down on my face, we should take a bath first bago mag lunch.
1:00 pm when we finished, I pulled Kazumi with me since I'm really hungry, pumila agad kami para makakain na. Buti at air conditioned ang school.
We get our trays and we sat on the table near the vending machine. Bumili ako ng cola at juice para samin. I don't know where's Kairo, inilapag ko ang canned drinks sa table namin ng lumilinga pa rin.
"Ne, Kazumi, where's Kairo?" I asked and she roamed her eyes too. She blow her cheeks at unti-unting nagsalubong ang kilay. "Aish!" she said irritatedly.
"Kazumi!" nakita ko si Kairo, Kazumi irritatedly looked at him. "Did you see my handkerchief?" tanong ni Kairo. "Hindi," sagot ng babae. Humagikhik si Kairo at nagulat ako ng balasubas nyang pinunas sa uniform ni Kazumi ang kamay niyang may pawis.
"Kairoooooooooo!!!!" she screamed pero nag peace sign lang ito at nakangiti pa. "By the way, I have someone with me, soccer memb, sinama ko na dito." Kairo said and pushed someone from his back. My brows immediately raised upon recognizing this man.
"Hello! What's your name?" Kazumi asked and the man looked at me before he.looked away. "Kash... Laxus." he said. They made him sat beside me. Beside me!
"Tss," singhal ko at umirap. I can't still forget what he did to my book, it's his fault kaya di ko na nabasa ang kasunod!
Kazumi looked at me. "Greet him, Crest-chan. He's a new friend." I glimpse on Laxus, he seems uncomfortable sitting beside me. Then, I am too!
"Hello Laxus-kun," I smiled fakely and rolled my eyes. Mas gusto ko ituon attention ko sa pagkain than this man beside me. They started to tell stories pero na bad mood na ko ng dumating ang lalaki.
"Crest-chan, he doesn't know how to use chopsticks. Turuan mo naman..." she pouted and my mind became mess. Bakit ko naman sya tuturuan? If he really want to eat ramen, then gulp it immediately!
"No, it's fine." aniya kaya nakahinga ko ng maluwag. I just continue to eat but minutes later, I noticed that he can't eat properly, laging nahuhulog ang noodles sa chopsticks o kaya naman ay dumudulas ito sa kamay nya.
I sighed. You have no choice Crest.
"This is how you will hold the chopstick properly," I said and showed him my hands. He immitated it and try to get some noodles but the position of his fingers keep changing.
"Tsk!" I hissed at lumapit sa kanya. I held his hands and guided it. The moment I touched him, I felt a sudden electricity. I don't know but I'm intimidated at his presence kahit siya ang may kasalanan sakin.
Finally, he can eat the noodles, kaya bumitaw agad ako. And my heart started to beat normally. We continued eating ramen without talking.
"Kash-kun, saan ka?" Kazumi asked when the class ended and we're walking here at the field. May kinuha kasi sila sa room ng soccer club kaya sumama na kami. Natanaw ko ang lugar kung saan ako natamaan ng bola kahapon and where my book got wet. My head started to get hot again.
Pasaring kong tiningnan si Laxus, I don't know why I called him Laxus, maybe it's pleasant on ears? I caught him glancing on me too and his eyes avoided my gaze.
"I'm living in 4th district." sagot nito kay Kazumi. "Really? walking distance lang pala, you'll see our condo building along the way." it's Kairo.
"Then!" we stopped walking when Kazumi stopped too. We looked at her. Her index finger was raised like an idea came up. Ngayon ko lang din napansin na sunset na, I looked at the sky and it's so beautiful but also bidding goodbye.
"Let's bring Kash-kun on our next getaway! In Osaka!" she exclaimed excitedl while my inner side disagreed.
"No way!" I disagreed making them looked at me, curiously. If that's the case, ayaw ko na lang sumama, but then, I don't want them to ask me further.
"Anong no way? Don't you want to tag him? Is there a problem?" Kazumi asked but I shook my head. If that will happen, then let it be.
"I-It's settled then!" kinakabahan na sabi ko. They didn't say anything at naka uwi kami ng matiwasay.
"Hello Dad!" ani ko pagbukas pa lang ng laptop. I missed my parents so much. It's almost three weeks when I live here. I saw mom behind my dad. As usual, nasa library sila.
"How are you mom?" she smiled at me and said that she's fine. "How about my beautiful daughter?" she's always soft like that. I want to hug her. "I'm okay here Mom, don't worry, please take care on yourselves instead."
"I already insert an amount on your debit, wag ka magpagutom ahh?" si Dad making me scrubbed my forehead. "Dad, I'm fine. Marami pang tira sa card ko, parang di nga nauubusan eh." I said para di na muna siya maglagay next time. My Mom massaged dad's shoulder. "It's okay Crest, atleast you have income." she added. Di talaga ko mananalo sa kanila.
"Whatever Mom!" anas ko na lang at iniba na ang topic. That was a good night since I talked to my parents. They are busy too so I don't have the chance to talk to them everytime.
The week went smooth, di ganon ka haggard ang schooling, actually I can say that we have a room for chilling. And tommorow, we decided to go in Osaka for two days.
"Then let's meet tommorow, at 8:00 am..." I said and they agreed. Pauwi na kami from classes."Kash-kun, come with us okay?" Kazumi said bago banggain ang balikat ni Kairo at tumawa. "I'm not sure, and actually I don't have enough income to go," naka yukong sabi ni Laxus. And my heart skipped a beat at this sight of him.
Kazumi and Kairo stopped in banging their shoulders to each other. Kazumi pouted at nagpamaywang. "Hihi ayos lang yan, kami na bahala!" inakbayan siya ni Kairo bigla making them almost tumbled on the ground. "Oo nga Kash-kun! We'll be sad if you didn't. Right?" Kazumi looked at me kaya umiwas ako ng tingin.
Sad, sad she say! Baka nga ilibre ko pa sila kung di siya sasama eh.
"But..." may sasabihin pa sana si Laxus but he just sighed heavily. I crossed my arms and looked at the side where the river can be seen. It reflects the light of the setting sun.
"Sumama ka na." I caught him glanced at me but I didn't met his gaze. I don't know what's gotten on me but maybe... I just stop my thought.
"See? We got your back Kash-kun!" masiglang sabi ni Kazumi. I just shrugged my shoulder. "We'll just rent a cab," oras lang naman at makakarating na kami ron.
"Excited na ko!" Kazumi exclaimed and smiled sweetly. Well I'm excited also...