What? Yun na yun? Gladly?
Pinaupo na siya ni Ma'am at dun pa talaga siya umupo sa likod ko. Ba't ba kasi palagi absent si Raign, hindi na tuloy siya yung seatmate ko sa likod. I keep my focus on sa lesson after that.
Pagkatapos ng class ay nag stay pa ako ng isang oras kasi may ginagawa pa ako. When I finished what I'm doing ay iniligpit ko na yung mga gamit ko but then suddenly stop when I saw Jeremiah sleeping peacefully on his desk. Napalingon ako sa classroom at wala ng tao.
I was just standing there for 5 seconds, hesitant to go near him. But in the end lumapit pa rin ako sa kaniya. He was sleeping peacefully yet he was not snoring, maybe he's not someone who snores.
I gently move him cause him to open his eyes. Medyo nagulat siya nung nakita niya ako kaya napaupo siya ng maayos at umiwas saglit bago tumayo.
"U-uh. It's already past 5 and it's nearly 6," I said.
Tinignan niya ako at tumango. Kinuha niya yung bag niya at lumabas ng classroom. I was just speechless. Wow ha! Ako na nga yung bumait na ginising siya tapos aalis lang siya nang ganun? How gentleman.
I was shaking my head at kinuha yung bag ko. I was about to close the classroom door when I saw him leaning on the railings as if he were waiting for someone. But when he saw me umalis na siya kaagad. Weird ko siyang tinignan at lumabas na rin sa school
"Ang pogi niya as in!"
Tahimik lang nakikinig kay Raign, my classmate na palaging absent. She was talking about that Jeremiah guy. Ilang days na rin lumipas since nag-transfer siya dito at hindi rin nagtagal halos kalahati ng population ng school ay may crush na sa kaniya. I just don't get it you know? Yes, he's good looking so ano next? As if a good-looking guy would fix your problems in life diba? It will save your grade ba? Oh my gosh.
"I know right? Rinig ko valedictorian 'yon nung elem, sissy!" Gwin replied. "Bagay kayong dalawa, Gab."
Napatingin ako sa kaniya at nag-shrug.
"Ayie, pakipot. Aminin mo na kasi na pati ikaw na gagwapuhan din dun," sabi ni Raign.
"Wala naman akong sinabing na pangit siya, 'di ba?" Sagot ko at tumawa si Gwin.
"Bakit ba ang sama ng loob mo dun kay, Jeremiah? Ha? Dahil ba mas mataas na ratings na natanggap niya sa reporting over you?" Tanong ni Gwin kaya inirapan ko siya. Oh yeah, about dun. I was just surprised na mas mataas pa yung ratings nakuha niya.
Pagkatapos namin mag lunch ay bumalik na kaagad kami sa classroom. Nakita ko si Jeremiah na tahimik lang natutulog sa desk niya ulit.
"Oo na 'te. Wala nang aagaw sa crush mo," bulong sa 'kin ni Gwin at umupo sa unahan. Inirapan ko lang siya kaya napangisi siya. Hindi ko naman crush si Jeremiah, e.
Dumating na si Sir Rue kaya bumalik na yung ibang kaklase namin sa kanilang upuan. Umayos din ako ng upo.
"Group into 2," sabi ni Sir habang nakatingin sa libro niya. Tumingin siya sa 'kin at may tinuro sa likod ko. "Miss Hermé and Esparez will be the leader of each group. Choose your group member now and go to the gym area afterward."
I stood up and nodded. Tumingin ako sa likod ko para tignan si Jeremiah at tinignan niya din ako pabalik na parang kakagising niya lang. He also stood up and look away for a second to wakened himself up.
"Raig—"
"Hoy! Akin si Raign!" Agad na bawi ko. He just look at me and look at Raign. Nag peace sign si Raign sa 'kin at tumakbo sa group ni Jeremiah. Gosh, this jerk!
"Calm down, sissy. You have me," Gwin grinned as she put her arm around my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. "Should I be glad?" I asked, sarcastically. She just chuckled as I ask my groupmates to follow me to the gym area. Pagkarating namin dun ay naghahanda na yung team nila Jeremiah. I search the whole gym area if nasaan siya at nakita ko siya sa gilid na kausap si Sir Rue.
"Ang puso ni Gab ay tumitibok tibok—"
"Shut up, Gwin."
"Weh?"
Tinignan ko lang siya nang masama at pumunta sa locker room para magbihis din ng P.E. uniform. Pumasok din si Gwin at sinabing tinatawag ako ni Sir. Binilisan ko ang pagbihis at hinanap si Sir.
"We're going to play volleyball. This will be a big part of your performance task and it will be a big help to your grades. But the percentage you'll get still depends on the performance you give in this game, you two understand me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Please instruct your team members because we'll be starting soon."
Tumango ako at sabay kami umalis ni Jeremiah para tawagin ang kaniya kaniyang membro namin. He was just so quiet. It was a bit awkward kaya nagsalita ako.
"Are you into sports?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Bakit hindi mo alam?" I asked.
Huminto siya sa kakalad at tinignan ako ng weird. "Seriously?" He asked me.
"What? It is a crime to ask why don't you know?"
"Yes, it is. Now stop asking," aalis na sana siya kaso hinarangan ko siya. "Seriously, Gabrielle. Why are you so stubborn?"
"I'm not stubborn! I was just being nice, Jeremiah!"
His lips parted but still walk away. Tinignan ko lang siya na tinawag ang mga group members niya. I just sigh and shook my head. Gosh, this guy is so difficult to be with! I know it's not necessary to be close with him kasi first of all, he pissed me off, and second of all, he's starting to steal what I have! Thirdly, I'll be dead with my parents if wala akong gagawin so I should do something selfish to save myself! My best was always not enough it should be the best of all but I can't... My best was just my maximum yet... I still can't do a better job. Maybe I should work harder... Or smarter.
The game starts and just after a minute the game, one of my team members received an eight fingers sign which mean a delay in service. Nagpatuloy ang game at pumunta sa 'kin yung bola pero na save ko naman kaagad kahit nakadapa na ako sa floor. I saw Jeremiah's amusement on his face as he saw how competitive I am. He catch the ball and the ball came back to me kahit kakatayo ko palang. I save the ball again and I saw him grinning again.
Sa unang unang game nakuha namin yung points ngunit may isang violation. Nag break time muna kami kasi first game palang pero parang last game na yung labanan. They're so tough! How did they become so good at volleyball? Especially Jeremiah! How dare he lied to me that he's not interested in volleyball when he's so good?! But of course, that won't stop me. I won't let him win this game.
Natapos yung break at naglaro na kami ulit. I positioned myself because it was my turn to serve the ball. Jeremiah immediately passes the ball back to us which I got alerted so I watch the ball and never let it out of my sight. I pass the ball to them and again! Jeremiah pass it again! This guy talaga!
"Hoy ano ba 'yan, gusto rin namin ng moment! Ipasa niyo naman yung bola sa 'min oh!"
"Hala gago ka, Yahwi! Ba't mo pinaandar yung competitive side ni Gab!"
"Yahwi stop ka na d'yan! Mamahalin nalang kita, mwah!"
"Sino mananalo bibigyan ko ng house and lot sa panaginip!"
Hindi ko pinansin ang mga sinabi ng mga team members at nag focus nalang sa game. After I jumped to pass the ball back, the next thing I knew I was on the floor, holding my ankle. Tumakbo kaagad si Jeremiah sa 'kin at tinignan yung paa ko.
"Look what have you done!" I blame it on him. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.
"You did that to yourself. Stop being hard on yourself. Look what happened to you," sagot niya.
Inirapan ko siya. "I was not! I was just—"
"Yeah, whatever. I'll bring you to the clinic first, I think you sprained your ankle," sabi niya. Inalalayan niya ako tumayo. "Sir, I think Gab sprained her ankle. I'll bring her to the clinic."
Tumango si sir at tinignan ako. "Are you okay, Hermé?"
"Yeah," I force a smile.
Inalalayan ako ni Jeremiah papuntang clinic. He was so close that I could smell his manly scent. Does he put on perfume before going to school? Ang bango!
"Dahan dahan naman!" I complained when he started to walk faster.
"I am," he replied.
"Magrereklamo ba ako kung dumadahan ka nga?"
"You're so noisy. Can't you just shut up for once?"
"Make me."
Napatingin siya sa 'kin kaya napatawa ako.
"You read too many romance novels, honey. That's not what I meant," tawa kong sabi. "Why? You thought I'll let you kiss me?"
Tinignan niya ako ng weird. "Are you high? Should I bring you to the rehab instead of the clinic?"
"Oh, sure!" I answered, sarcastically.
"I'm worried that I'm with a high person," he said.
"Wow, should I thank you?"
"Stop being sarcastic."
I heard myself chuckle as we entered the clinic. Inalalayan kaagad ako ng nurse paupo sa hospital bed. Tinignan ng nurse yung paa ko at sinabing na sprained nga yung ankle ko. She said that I have to rest for the following weeks. I swear to myself, there's an upcoming quiz next week, I can't miss those!
"Ang tigas talaga ng ulo mo," Jeremiah scolded me when he saw me trying to get up.
"Like steel or like woods?" I asked.
He rolled his eyes and handed me a drink. Kinuha ko 'yon ngunit hindi ko ininom.
"Do you know the RICE method?" He suddenly asked.
"I'm not stupid for not knowing what's those."
"If you weren't stupid enough to know those bakit hindi mo alam ang salitang rest?"
"Mind-blowing 'di ba?"
"Stop being sarcastic with me, Gabrielle," he said. "Parang kanina lang nasa 'I was just being nice ' ka ngayon nasa 'Hey, I'm being sarcastic."
I laugh at how he talks like that. He sounded annoyed yet he remained his cool. See? He also has that duality! All people in the world have that! Why does he act like it's his first time seeing someone having a duality?
Maybe he wasn't difficult to be with. Baka talagang ayaw niya lang ng taong may umaabala sa kaniya. Dahil mabuti akong tao aabalahin ko parin siya. In order to get what you want, you have to deal with anybody.