Sahee's POV
NASA cafeteria kaming lahat. Madaldal pa rin ang mga kasama ko matapos naming nagbakbakan sa homeroom kanina. Nilibre ko sila ng food kaya bati na kaming lahat. As easy as that.
"Hello, ladies and virgin!"
"DENVER!!!"
He grinned at us appearing his perfect aligned teeth. His blue bangs waved as a crystalline ocean as he modeled towards us. Everyone captured by his outstanding presence to drool over him.
"Join ka rito daddy ko!" Epal ni Lando.
Denver looked at Yshie yet he got snobbed in advance at her. Yshie had no interest to interact with him.
"Nasaan sila Gel at Zuleen?" Tanong ni Bhea.
"They were busy campaigning. I had to admit they don't have a free time for jamming with us today." Explain ni Denver.
"Nakaka-sad naman." Ani ni Yshie na akala mo concern.
"Miss ko na kaya sila, dzai."
"Plastic mo naman, bes."
Hindi ako napansin ni Denver dahil maligalig siyang nakiupo sa tabi ni Yshie. I don't know why he usually ghosted me while Yshie is around. Masaya siyang nakiki-bonding sa kaibigan ko na para bang wala ako sa paligid niya.
"Yshie, why are you eating less food?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Denver habang pinapanood niya si Yshie kumain. Kaunti lang ang meal niya.
"Pake mo."
Denver smiled playfully while Yshie was seem trying to play hard-to-get.
"You must be my derivative...because your curve is way more...perfect." He clicked his tongue.
Yshie paused her meal and raised a brow at him confusely.
Natawa na lang si Denver.
"It's funny to know that I can derive the equation of your beauty but my calculator won't keep up over your attractiveness. It always give me an error."
"Error mo mukha mo." Bara ni Yshie. Inilapag niya ang kaniyang utensils dahil nawalan na ito ng gana sa mga pinagsasabi nito.
Kinuha iyon ni Denver at atubiling subuan ang kaniyang nililigawan. Maraming naiingit na mga kababaihan dito at nanonood.
"Beh, don't tell me siya 'yung girlfriend ni Denver! Ang ganda niya! Parang wala akong laban!" Sabi ng babae sa likod namin.
"Nahh, parang hindi sila mag-on. Hindi naman sila sweet eh. Pakipot lang si girl. Atsaka bitter pa. Akala mo kung sinong maganda."
"Tingin ko nga rin, beh. Ang kapal talaga nung babae na humarot kay Denver ko. Hindi ba niya alam na asawa ko yan at nakikikabit pa siya?!"
Nayayamot ako sa mga salitaan ng mga tao rito habang pinapanood ko ang dalawa.
Denver smiled and held a spoonful of food.
"I'll be the one who will serve you, my beautiful princess." Denver teased her. Nilapit niya ang kutsara kay Yshie subalit sinunggaban ito ni Lando sa paglamon. Nailunok niya pati kutsara kaya halos bumara iyon sa kaniyang lalamunan. Deserve.
"Yshie?" Tawag-pansin ni Denver sa kaibigan ko dahil hindi pa rin siya kinikibo. "Look, I'm sorry if I was obsessed to tease you. I find you even more amusing as you frown. It makes me go crazy enough to forget my unsolvable tasks in Pre-cal." He chuckled handsomely.
Inirapan naman siya ni Yshie at halos nasa bunbunan na ang kaniyang kilay sa katarayan nito. Nadismaya ang kuya niyo dahil walang talab ang mga effort niya para magpapansin sa gurang na ito.
He coughed to ease the tension.
"You know what...I am trying my best to find the solution for us to be in good terms. I know how to solve integration and differentiation at my own limits. But you're my toughest subject that I can't keep up to solve." Seryosong sabi niya.
He leaned closer to Yshie.
"You're my equation, Yshie. You're the problem of my dying heart that I solve every day and night."
Nagsalita si Yshie buhat sa kaniyang pagkatahimik.
"Maybe I wasn't your problem in the first place. Maybe you are." Ani niya at tumingin kay Denver nang matalim.
"What are you trying to say?"
"You're making me irita talaga." She rolled her eyes and she turned her body to face him.
"Can't you just make balik to your home and tell to your mama that you got dump by a girl? I don't see we're mutual. You're just making aksaya to your time to bother my beauty in this early morning. Look around, there's a lot of free kinks in the campus for you to flirt on and dump at the same time so don't only count on me, you dickhead!"
Denver was startled by the rage of Yshie. Nagulat din ako sa tinuran ng kaibigan ko.
"Ah, Y-Yshie, I'm not lost in countings! I am doing my best to find the best formula to get your value. I did not feel any regret to waste a thousand scratch paper to solve for you. You're my dearest problem that my heart dedicated just to get your sweetest answer." He desperately voiced out.
Sumikip ang dibdib ko na tila may gustong kumawala. I can't express what I feel habang pinagmamasdan ko silang dalawa. Nakakaramdam ako ng matinding inggit sa kaibigan ko. Ito ang nararamdaman ko kapag nakikita ko si Yshie sa tuwing nasa first place siya sa honorals habang second place lang ako. Parang kinuha niya ang titulo ko. Humigpit ang aking kamay sa kutsara at nilamon ang palabok sa harapan ko. 'Di ko alintana na nakain ko na pala ang buong styro.
"Grabe ka, Sahee! Halos lamunin mo 'yung lamesa. Gagi ka!" Sita ni Bhea kaya napatingin silang lahat sa akin.
"P-Porkchop! You're here?!" He abruptly asked and stood up to see me.
"Hindi. Hindi ako 'to. Taba ko lang 'to." I said sarcastically. Nilubayan ko na sila. I already finished my meal. So ngayon niya lang ako napansin? Bahala siya.
Sinundan ako ni Denver. Why is he following me?! Umalis na nga ako para hindi siya abalain sa ka-date niya pero siya pa 'yung lumalapit sa akin. Pansin kong ang laki ng hakbang niya kumpara sa aking hakbang kaya binilisan ko pa.
"Wait, where are you going?!" He asked.
"CR!"
"Sasama si Kuya Denver mo."
"I'm not a kid who need to fix my diaper!"
"May mangunguhang-bata diyan. Sige ka. They'll kidnapped you." He warned me to mock me.
At tinakot pa talaga ako ng mokong iyon.
"You can't scare me. Malaki na ako kaya huwag mo na akong samahan!"
"Porkchop, stop right there! Baka madapa ka pa and you might get injured again!"
"Lubayan mo na nga ako! Ang kulit!"
"Galit na si Kuya mo!"
Binelatan ko siya para inisin pa siya. Kuya raw? Pwe! Manaka siya.
"Mapapalo kita if I caught you."
I patted my butt cheek to tease him.
Natawa ako dahil lalo lang siyang nainis. Lalo siyang gumwapo kapag salubong ang makapal niyang kilay.
"You little stubborn piglet! Come back right here this instance! Now!"
Natakot ako bigla sa kaniya kaya napatakbo ako nang matindi. First time ko lang siyang makitang nagalit, nakakatakot pala.
Bakit ba strikto ang trato niya sa akin?! As a matter of fact, 'di ko naman talaga siya nakakatandang kuya para kagalitan niya ako nang ganito! Pero bakit parang naging tatay kuno ko na siya ngayon?!
Daddy?! Ugh, disgusting!
Maraming babae ang sumalubong kay Denver para magpapicture at umalembong sa kaniya. Pinalibutan siya ng mga ito kaya hindi na niya ako nahabol.
I sighed in relief.
__(=_=)__
SA PAGLALAKAD ko papunta sa CR, may nakita akong paparating na grupo. The red flags.
The STEMs.
All of them considered as private. They were the spoiled rich, white tone-skinned, and bitchy elites of the alphas in the high-class society. Kita mo sa suot at angas nila ang kanilang high status na ibinibida nila. They owned the walkway as they seem inherit the place while everyone move aside including me.
Kapag STEM ka, mataas ang tingin ng mga tao sa iyo. You're not an average student because they will label you as genius. Matatalino lamang nakakaapak sa strand na iyon. Once you're STEM, you got an honor and recognition in advance. That leads to a point where STEM students discriminate all existing strand. STEM is the only high educational strand among the senior high curriculums.
They were pushing us on the way by their demanding presence for them to excuse. Dahil sa laki ng dala kong taba, hirap akong magbigay daan sa mga STEM na akala mo mga hari at reyna kung solohin ang daan. May nabunggo tuloy akong tao.
My butt met the floor. I closed my eyes in pain and I gaze upon the figure that I bump with and it was the STEM girl. Si Zuleen. The crazy slash brainy girl I've met before. Siya 'yung sobrang matalino na estudyante pero nabaliw raw sabi ni Denver. Kasama niya rin pala si Gelai sa tabi nito.
Napatingin silang dalawa sa akin.
Akala ko magagalit si Zuleen sa akin dahil nabunggo ko siya at masama pa ang tingin niya sa mga HUMSS. Unexpectedly, she immediately lift me up from the ground. Alam kong mabigat ako kaya hindi na ako nagpabigat pa sa kaniya. Maingat niya akong itinayo at pinagpagan ang skirt ko.
"T-Thank you." Sabi ko.
Zuleen smiled at me. I didn't expect her to help me, hence, I hesitantly smiled back at her. I find her weird. Hindi siya ganito kabait sa amin noon. Maybe, she was in a state of a mental disorder because Denver said she's a living psycho who roams around and scares everyone in the campus. Baka nga naalog lang ang ulo niya kanina kaya nakalimutan niya na siguro kung sino ako.
"Sahee, are you okay?"
She looked at me worriedly. Na-confuse ako roon. She knows me and now she's showing me kindness and care. Baka bati na kami. O baka naman naka-drugs si ate at nawala na sa tamang katinuan. Naka-good item ba siya?
I nodded and tried to act as we were in good in terms.
"I'm sorry. I was a bit distracted by the crowds. I hope you are in good shape. Does your legs can still walk? How about your skirts? Was it all dirty?"
I read her sheep face expression. Nag-aalala talaga siya sa akin at tila isa siyang anghel sa harapan ko na tinitingnan ang kalagayan ko.
"O-Okay lang ako. No need to worry. As long as we were both good, I'm good."
"Are you sure? Just name it and I'll help you out." Inayos niya ang hair strands ko at inayos ang damit ko.
I felt her sincerity towards her action. Kaya medyo nagkaroon ako ng kaginhawaan sa tensyon naming dalawa.
"Thank you hehe." I awkwardly laugh. "Pero...Ate Zuleen, sorry sa nagawa namin sa inyo ah. Sana wala na tayong hidwaan o away. I hope we can be friends gayundin sa mga kaibigan ko. About naman kay Khrina, huwag ka nang makipagbati sa kaniya. Bad talaga y'on."
She humbly chuckled.
"I'm so sorry din sa inyo. I still have that trauma inside my head due to the incident I have gotten. That's why, it's difficult part of me to interact to others especially with strangers. I have many dealings in life as I start to feel doubt towards every people around me. I wish you could understand my condition, Sahee."
"Naiintindihan ko po 'yun. Basta, I hope next time, sama ka sa amin mag-recess hehe. Namimiss ka na raw nila dun eh at hinahanap, pati na rin si Ate Gelai."
Nakita kong tahimik lang si Gelai sa tabi at pinapakiramdaman si Zuleen. Hindi maipinta ang kaniyang reaksyon dahil sa kaniyang kaibigan.
"Sure, why not?! Masaya ako na makasama kayo ulit. Sorry kung mapangit ang approach ko sa inyo dati. Babawi talaga ako sa inyo. Sana hindi kayo magtampo sa akin, huh?" Zuleen pouted.
My one eye twitched when she tries to be cute. I found that cringe. Pa-cute si ate.
"H-Hindi no! Ano ka ba! Friends naman ang tingin namin sa inyo eh. 'Di ba, Ate Gelai?" Tanong ko sa kasama niya para maghingi ng source of support.
"A-Ah, oo naman. Para naman kaming others kung ganon hahaha." Ramdam ko ang sincere laugh ni Gelai, nakulangan lang yata ng bigay. Ngumiti siyang mapakla at tumingin ng kakaiba kay Zuleen.
"Ganon ba? Sa susunod ililibre namin ulit kayo. Call us if you need us."
Mayroon siyang ibinigay sa akin na slogan slip. Nakapangalan ito sa kaniya. Sa pagkakaalam ko, lalaban siya bilang isang Student President Council kaya nangangampanya siya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa nakitang nakasipit na ayuda mula sa loob. Inayos ko sarili ko at ngumiti sa kaniya para 'di niya mahalata.
"T-Thank you, Ate Zuleen! Ang bait mo talaga!"
Zuleen smiled and she bid me a farewell. Umalis na silang dalawa.
Ngiting-ngiti ako na pinagmamasdan ang slogan niya at tiningnan ang halaga na nakasuksok sa loob. 2k. Napatakip ako ng bibig at binulsa iyon. Halos isang school year tuition ko na iyon para ipambayad sa school. What a jackpot prize!
May humablot sa balikat ko.
"KYAAAAAHHH!"
Napasigaw ako.
"P-Porkchop ko!"
"D-Denver?!"
I looked at him as he hurriedly hugged me.
"Don't let yourself go away from me, Porkchop. You didn't know how much you worried me. Are you okay?" He held my fat shoulders and look at me straight in the eye. Sobrang guwapo niya sa malapitan.
I frowned.
Heto na naman siya. Giving me the brother's care and affection. Hanggang kapatid lang talaga ang turing niya sa akin. I will never expect from this guy. Tinalo ako ni Yshie by winning Denver's feelings by her charisma. Ano naman maipupuntos ko kung taba lang ang mayroon ako?
"Kuya."
"What is it, Baby? Naiihi ka na ba? Samahan na kita. I'm afraid you can't reach the toilet seat."
Hinampas ko chest niya dahil namumuro na siya sa'kin.
"That's not funny!"
He giggled and laughed.
"Okay. Okay. Fine. But still I am accompanying you anyway. You're too precious for you to be out here alone. It's dangerous, you might end up being trampled by students."
I don't know if he's concerned to me or just making fun of me.
"Ewan ko sa'yo! Nakakaasar ka na talaga." I scolded him.
He kissed my forehead. Nagulat ako sa tinuran niya. He gave me a concern look.
"Don't be mad at your Kuya. That's how brother do to their own little sister. They take care of her... protect her...love her..."
My mentality paused for a second.
"And tease her! Yieeh!" He pinched my cute cheeks. At tinusok-tusok ang taba ko.
"Ano ba!"
Akala ko magseseryoso na siya eh, hindi pala.
"You're too much adorable to me. That's why I am highly wanted to adopt you as my sister...or become my very own baby." He played his eyebrows to me and smirked.
"U-Umayos ka nga para kang sira." Tinago ko ang kilig ko with my hair pero napansin niya pa iyon. Kainis.
"Yieeh, gusto mo ba gawin kitang baby ko? Your cuteness tempting me to squeeze you right now." He hugged me warmly and kiss my head. Ramdam ko ang katawan niya na dumidikit sa akin at tila sumusuot ang pabango niya sa uniform ko.
May nakakita sa amin.
"May girlfriend na si Denver?!"
"Kill me now, mga beh!"
"OA mo, beh. Magkakagusto ba dyan si Denver? Eh, ang taba-taba niya!"
"Oo nga noh. False alarm."
"Parang Grade 3 pa nga lang 'yung batang babae tapos pinag-iisipan niyo na nang masama."
"Ay, sorry naman, beh! Tao lang!"
"Baka nga pinsan niya 'ata yan o kamag-anak lang eh." Second emotion ng isa at nag-agree naman ang mga 'yun.
Lumapit ako sa kanila.
"May problema ba kayo sa akin ha?!" Bulalas ko sa kanila.
"Wala, beh, hehe. Napadaan lang kami!" Kumaripas na agad sila ng takbo.
Binalingan ko si Denver.
"Bakit mo ba kasi ako bi-ne-baby?! Ayan, napagkamalan na tayong magkapatid!"
"So what? Are you're hating me now because we're bonding like siblings? Ayaw mo ba nun na kuya mo ako? That's cool, you know?"
"Ayaw ko."
"Okay." He went closer to me.
"Be my baby then...and I'll be your daddy."
Muntik nang kumawala ang puso ko sa aking dibdib. Halos rumupok ako sa winika niya pero hindi magpapatalo ang aking belly para tablan sa kaniyang mga flowery words.
"Ayaw ko rin! Manigas ka!"
"W-Why?! Ayaw mo na ba sa akin? Don't you even love me? Di mo na ba love si Kuya Denver mo?"
"Ehh?!"
Minsan nakakagago na talaga ang lalaking ito. Hindi ko siya maatim na kausapin nang matino dahil kakaiba ang pakikitungo niya sa akin. He's treating me as his younger sister as if we're grown up together. Tapos ngayon gagawin niya akong anak niya.
"Answer me. I'm dead serious on you, Sahee." He insisted.
"Hindi kita lab. I hate you!" Sabi ko para tantanan niya na ako.
"How could you say that so easily to your Kuya?! I think it's unfair that I love you when I first saw you but you didn't feel the same way as I do. I only want is to be a good brother to take care of you and be my own sister. You're the only one sister I needed to have." He pleaded.
Masyado akong nainis sa sinabi niya. Minahal niya lang ako dahil he only see me as his sister and not by any chances to have feelings for me.
I felt my heart broke para mag-expect pa sa kaniya.
Binalingan ko siya.
"I already said that I hate you and I mean it! So be gone! And I don't want to see you calling me as your sister! Ayaw kitang maging kuya dahil masyado kang abusado. You only think about yourself and not the feelings of others. Kaya hindi ka nagkaroon ng kapatid dahil hindi ka marunong maging kuya! Hindi ka siguro marunong magmahal ng sariling pamilya mo dahil nangungulila ka. And I think that will be enough reason why no one's going to love you!"
Napahinto na lang ang bibig ko sa pagratrat nang makita kong lumandas ang luha niya. Hindi siya nakagalaw sa kaniyang posisyon habang nakatingin sa akin. Dinamdam niya ang winika ko. His eyes felt empty. W-What have I done? Napabayaan ko ang aking bibig na maglabas ng masasamang salita at hindi ko matandaan kung ano-ano ang naisambitla ko sa kaniya. Does my mouth stabbed his heart into pieces?
"D-Denver?"