Sheena's POV
We're in front of the school gate dahil ang magaling na Nicolette Vergara ay nagpahintay na naman sa amin. Just like last year, late na naman siya sa first day of school.
"Monday na Monday 'yong mukha mo parang biyernes Santo na." Maloi complained at me, mainit ngayon kaya siguro mainit din ulo nila. Mikha's wearing sunglasses pa kaya most of the students are looking at our direction.
"Calm down, Maloi. Pa-massage ka muna kay Mikha." I teased. Mukha kasi siyang 'yong mga nasa tabi ng stalls sa mall na nag-ooffer ng massage. Mikha just looked at me, Maloi kept telling us about her crush kahit na hindi namin siya pinapansin ni Mikha.
Finally, after an hour, Colet arrived wearing her varsity jacket. Pasikat talaga 'to kahit kailan!
"Can you at least try to pretend that you're excited? It's out first day of school, Colet!" Maloi scolded her. Bitbit pa nila ni Mikha ang mga gym bag nila, siguro ay may practice na sila sa theatre ngayon.
Colet just shrugged her shoulders at nauna na maglakad. Freshmen and even seniors are staring at us so I was smiling the whole time. Minsan kinikindatan ko pa 'yong mga nakatitig sa akin.
"Why are they staring? Did you got into a fight again, Sheena?" Colet asked me.
I shook my head, "Dude? I'm a changed woman of God." I answered while showing her my rosary. Nagsign of the cross pa ako to make it more convincing. I heard Maloi and Mikha laughed at me while Colet was just unbelievingly looking at me.
When we reached our classroom, I started the conversation. "Dude, have you noticed the newbies and transferees? Most of them are good looking."
"Some of them are from other schools. I've heard this transferee from our sibling school. Her name is Stacey, a total kikay." Maloi answered, at kitang kita ko kung how her eyes suddenly turned into dreamy one.
I suddenly thought of Gwen. Saang school kaya siya? At sino 'yong mukhang paa kahapon na hinatid siya? Nakakayamot naman! I didn't reply when she messaged me kasi sobrang bigat sa pakiramdam at sobrang sikip sa dibdib. Is that what people called jealousy? Ang hirap pala sa pakiramdam.
So instead of overthinking about it, I scrolled through my phone the whole night and opened my Spotify before drifting off to sleep.
Mabilis rin natapos ang first day of class. Our teachers introduced their selves lang and gave us pieces of advice if we want to pass their subjects. I'll ask my friends about it nalang kasi nakatulog ako. Para kasi akong hinihele ng teachers namin because of their boring voices.
Mikha and Maloi went to the theatre room for their practice. Magsasabay na sana kami ni Colet na umuwi dahil nagquit na siya sa volleyball but when we're about to walk to the gate, we saw Coach Jaz waiting for her.
I nodded at nauna nang maglakad.
Should I message Gwen? Ano namang sasabihin ko?
"Sorry, I didn't reply because I was jealous."
"Sorry, ang pangit kasi nong kasama mo yesterday."
"How are you? Miss mo na ba ako?"
"I knew it, ikaw 'yon! Why didn't you message me last night?" And now, I look crazy hearing Gwen's voice on my mind.
I shook my head. "Sus! Ikaw na naman naiisip ko. Lagi nalang. Nagseselos nga kasi ako!" I replied, akala mo naman talaga maririnig niya. "Ikaw lang nakapagpa salita sa akin sa sarili ko. What are you doing to me, Gwen?" I asked.
I was startled at halos humiwalay ang kaluluwa ko when someone held my back and made me turn around. Gwen, she's here.
"Patay na patay ka ba sa akin?" she asked, still laughing.
"Yes." I honestly answered, looking away. Nakakahiya!
MOMMY, YOU SHOULD SEE THIS! HINDI NA TATANDANG DALAWA ANG BUNSO NIYO.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Bawal ba ako mag-enroll sa school mo?" she asked back at natawa kasi nakatulala pa rin ako sa kanya. I can't believe that she's here.
"No naman, I was surprised to see you here. Do you have friends na?" I asked. Naglalakad na kami papunta sa gate ngayon.
"I don't have one pa, Jhoanna approached me earlier pero ang awkward kasi, hindi ko alam paano ako makikipag-usap." she said, her attention is on her shoes habang sinasabayan niya ang mga hakbang ko.
"It's fine, makakahanap ka rin." I assured her and she just nodded. "Picture tayo!" I added at kinuha ko ang phone ko na nasa bulsa ko lang.
"No!" she immediately replied.
I pouted like a child. "Pang-icon ko lang sa instagram."
"I'll take a picture of you nalang." she said at kinuha ang phone na hawak ko. Hindi na ako nakapalag dahil pagka-open niya, she saw a stolen shot of her as my lockscreen.
Gweneth cleared her throat and opened my camera. She waited of me to strike a pose so I genuinely smiled at her. While she's taking my picture, she slowly smiled and I felt something tugged my heard. Instead of looking at the camera, sa kanya na ako mismo nakatingin.
"Look at the camera, dumbass!" she said, medyo namumula na siya for an unknown reason.
I smirked when she handed my phone back. Ang cute niya! But before I could totally forget, I took a deep breath at umayos ng tayo.
"Gwen?" I called for her attention. She looked at me with a confused look. "Can you check your messenger? I've sent you something."
She opened her phone at ako, halos hindi na makatingin sa kanya sa sobrang kaba. When she finally saw it, tiningnan niya lang ako na parang nagtatanong. Ihinarap niya pa sa akin ang phone niya, revealing the Spotify playlist that I made for her.
"Uh, since you love reading, I just thought that maybe you could at least listen to the songs on the playlist? Ano kasi ... naaalala kita sa mga kantang 'yan. Baka gusto mo lang pakinggan." I shyly said.
"Baka lang naman, hindi naman kita pinipilit." I added, she's not talking kasi and she doesn't have any reactions too. Baka nababaduyan na siya sa akin ngayon.
"Shee ..." she started, looking at me intently. I feel more anxious now, I am not expecting something from her naman pero ewan ko ba, she can easily affect my mood without her trying.
Gweneth wasn't able to finish her statement because just like yesterday, may sumulpot na namang pangit.
"Gwen? Let's go?" he asked while staring at me na parang hinahamon ako ng sapakan.
"Can't you see? I am still talking to her." I sharply said.
He smirked and my hands automatically formed a fist when he put his hands around Gwen. The thought that his hands are around Gwen made my blood boil.
"Tama nga si Alas, you scream danger." he shook his head.
"What the fuck are you talking about? I was just talking to Gwen and I'm courting her. Anong sinasabi mo!?" I lowly said.
"Oh, you're courting her? Back off, Catacutan. I'm courting her too." Ugly Valfer said.
Tiningnan ko si Gwen pero nakayuko lang siya. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Was it normal to have two suitors at the same time? Before I could react, naglalakad na pala sila palabas ng gate. Natanaw ko pang sumakay si Gwen sa sasakyan ng lalaki at tuluyang naglaho sa paningin ko. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that while I was pouring my heart out to her, she was entertaining another.
"Wooah! Akala ko umuwi ka na. Coach Jaz was asking if I'm sure about quitting the team." Colet said while catching her breath. Humawak pa siya sa balikat ko dahil to steadied herself.
I wasn't reacting. Nanatili akong tahimik at maya maya, kusa na ring naglakad papalayo ang mga paa ko. Ni hindi ko nagawang magpaalam at tingnan si Colet.
Kahit hindi ko sabihin, alam kong nasasaktan ako.
The air was crisp this evening, carrying with it the sweet scent of jasmine as I sit here in my balcony. There was a certain allure to the city at night, an enchantment that seemed to wrap around every corner but amidst the beauty of the night, my thoughts were consumed by one thing: her.
She was like a flickering flame in the darkness, casting shadows that danced around my heart. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew there was something special about her. Her smile, like the sun breaking through storm clouds, had a way of warming even the coldest of souls. But as much as I cherished her company, there was a nagging doubt that lingered at the back of my mind. A suspicion that whispered in the silence of the night, telling me that I wasn't the only one vying for her affections. Bakit kasi in every love story, may asungot o pangit lagi.
"Shee, tita said andito ka raw sa room mo -- oh fuck, paiyak ka ba?" I was shock when Maloi entered my room without knocking.
I smiled at her, "Hindi ah!" I denied.
"Tell me, what happened? Sino umaway sa bebe namin?" she jokingly said as she approached me.
I heaved a sigh. "Ano ... May ibang nanliligaw kay Gwen." I confessed.
"Are you okay?" Maloi hugged me habang nagpakawala ako ng magkakasunod na buntong hininga.
"Can you message Mikhs? Tell her meeting tayo kila Colet. Bihis lang ako." I told Maloi and quickly went to the bathroom to change clothes.
------
Vergara's living room is dimly lit, rock music playing in the background. We're waiting for Mikha before I could finally instruct them my plan. Bakit ako magpapatalo sa Valfer na 'yon? Ang layo kaya niya sa akin!
Colet and Maloi were looking at me nervously habang ako, nakangisi lang sa kanila. After a few minutes, Mikha arrived, striving over to the table with a smirk. She's so charismatic pero ang yabang niya talaga tingnan minsan.
"Hey there, buddies! Sorry I'm late. Traffic was a nightmare." Mikha started at naupo sa tabi ko. Magkakaharap kaming apat tapos naglabas si Colet ng alak kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung saan ito papunta.
"No worries, Mikhs. Thanks for coming." I told her, maintaining my serious face.
"So, what's so urgent that you had to drag me out here on a weeknight? May pasok pa tayo bukas ha!" Maloi shook her head.
I lean on the table in front of us. Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa. "It's about Gwen."
Colet raised an eyebrow. "Gwen? Your crush from the hospital?"
I nodded. "Yeah, her. Look, guys, I need your help. I've noticed this guy, Valfer, getting a bit too close to her lately. Nililigawan niya rin daw si Gwen. I think he's trying to steal her away from me.
"Valfer, huh? I've heard of him. Smooth talker, always knows how to charm the ladies." Mikha commented, parang pinaparinggan pa ako na buti pa yung isa ay marunong manligaw samantalang ako, walang kaalam-alam.
"Whatever! I need to scare him off before he ruins everything. I was hoping you could help me come up with a plan." I told them.
Colet and Mikha grinned while Maloi looked away. Pero wala naman na siyang magagawa dahil kasali rin siya sa gulong ito. "Oh, I've got just the thing. We'll make sure Valfer knows he's messing with the wrong gang." Colet said.
No one messes with the four of us.
I suppose love is a battlefield, and I was just another casualty in its relentless war. So I'll continue to court her, to shower her with affection and devotion, even as I know that she may never be mine alone. For sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, even if it means breaking itself in the process. But I won't let that happen. I'll fight my way towards her heart if I need to.
"So, what's the name of this operation?" Mikha said, acting like a secret agent or something.
Tiningnan ko silang tatlo and I smirked. "Operation: Scare Valfer Away."