"Ate! Kuya Hadeon said hurry up or we'll be late for school!" sigaw ni Hyon mula sa labas habang kinakatok ang pinto.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" I shouted and returned my attention to the mirror.
I brushed my straight hair with my fingers and leaned closer to check my face for anything. All good. Ngumiti ako at naglakad palapit sa kama para kunin ang shoulder bag.
Today's the first day of class. I'm thrilled. I'm excited to see my friends. Our family went to France the whole summer, kaya hindi ako nakasama sa outing at mga hang outs nila. It feels like forever!
I'm excited to see Silas, too! We haven't talked for nearly three months. Wala siyang Facebook account o kahit anong social media account, that's why I couldn't contact him.
My siblings were already waiting in the car when I went down. Nagreklamo sila sa akin na ang tagal ko nang pumasok ako sa sasakyan at inirapan ko na lang silang lahat.
Hindi ko pa alam ang section at room ko. It's only been three days since we came back from France and we were all too tired to drop by at the scool that's why. Kaya nang makarating sa school ay ang board kung saan nakalagay ang mga class list ang una naming pinuntahan nam magkakapatid.
It's really sad that Kuya Xavi and Ate Lavie aren't with us anymore, since they're already in college─but at least Hyon and Dash are with us from now on. First year na sila ngayong taon.
It wasn't hard to spot my name from the four sections of third years. Halos mga kaklase ko rin last year ang kaklase ko ngayong third year. That includes Vance. May ilang pangalan na hindi ko kilala sa class list namin, transferee siguro ang iba? But then, I don't really know everyone in our batch. I failed to see Gallego, Silas Raphael C. in our section. Which means hindi kami magkaklase.
That's not even a surprise. He ended second year as the top in our class. Nang makita ko ang pangalan niya sa top section ay hindi na ako nagulat. He deserved it. Just like how I deserve not being in the top section. Nakuntento na kasi ako sa pagiging average student ko. Basta walang bagsak, okay na.
My twin also landed a spot in the star section. Well, that's because he's a genius compared to me who's only comprehensive and witty. Kaya kahit tulad ko na walang effort sa pag-aaral ay mas marami pa rin siyang alam.
That's only fair because he's the ugly twin. Tama lang na distribution ng biyaya. Sa kanya ang brains, akin ang beauty.
"Hades." I turned to my twin who's still looking at their class list.
"Hmmm?" he asked, not even bothering to avert his eyes from the board.
"Take care of Silas, please?" I sweetly requested.
Napatingin sa akin si Hadeon nang marinig ang sinabi ko. Umangat ang isang kilay niya.
"Silas, the friend you were talking about last year?"
"Yeah. He's in the same class as you." I nodded. I grabbed his arm and hugged it. "Ikaw na bahala sa kanya, okay?"
"What is he? A kid?" he grimaced.
"Hadeon." I grumbled and pouted.
"Alright." he heavily sighed. I cheered and released his arm from my embrace.
"Thanks, twin!" I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed a solid kiss on his cheek.
"Whatever." he chuckled.
We went to our own rooms to leave our bags for this morning's opening ceremony. The students were already forming lines at the quadrangle in front of the stage.
Hinanap ko ang pila para sa section namin. Nagtilian ang mga kaibigan ko nang makita ako. They welcomed me with a hug. Nang matapos ang kamustahan ay lumayo ako sa kanila at naghanap sa ibang pila ng ka-batch namin para hanapin siya.
An arm suddenly wrapped around my shoulder. My body jumped and my head snapped towards the person who dared to touch me.
"Vance." sabi ko nang makita nang mabuti ang mukha niya.
"Hey, babe. Miss me?" nakangising bati nito sa akin.
Kahit na gago 'to ay kahit papaano nakaka-miss din ang kakulitan at pagiging malandi niya. I lazily smirked and wrapped an arm on his lower back. That seemed to shock him.
"Of course... not." kinurot ko siya ng madiin sa tagiliran at napaatras naman siya sa akin palayo. Tumawa ako at ngumiwi ito sa akin.
"Third year na tayo pero sinasaktan mo pa rin ako."
"Vance, sa kapal ng mukha mong yan, di ka na tinatablan ng sakit." I rolled my eyes at him. He chuckled and I grinned, shaking my head.
The electric bells from the different buildings rang at the same time. That means the opening ceremony will be starting in just a few minutes.
Pinaayos na ang mga pila at ilang minuto pa ay tumahimik na ang lahat. I looked for the line of the top section. Madali kong nakita iyon dahil nasa likod nakapila ang kambal ko. I quickly searched for Silas' but he's nowhere to be found.
Natapos ang opening ceremony nang hindi ko man lang siya nakita. He's still studying here, right? I'm sure he won't be in the final class list if he's not enrolled.
Every students went back to their respected rooms. Nang umakyat kami ay wala pa ang adviser namin. Sa pagkakaalam ko, si Ms. Wensislao ang adviser namin. She was our math teacher last year.
I saw with my friends. Nagpapa-kwento sila sa akin sa naging bakasyon namin sa France. I'm even surprised that they're not sick of asking me stories about my trips to France dahil annual na ang pagbisita namin doon. Since my grandparents from my father's side are there.
"Oh my God." isang impit na boses ang tumawag ng atensyon ko─ng buong klase, mula sa door way. It was a girl who's with another two girls.
They were hyperventilating and looked like they were going to pass out if they don't stop.
"Ang hot na niya!" nanginig ang boses nung isa nang magsalita. Umangat ang dalawang kilay ko at napatawa. Iniling niya ang ulo at nagpaypay gamit ang kamay. "Hustisya! Ang hot na ni Silas!"
Napawi ang tuwa sa mukha ko nang marinig ang pangalan na nabanggit niya. Tumayo ako at naglakad palapit sa mga babae.
"Silas?" I asked her with wide eyes.
"Oo! Close kayo diba, L? Lakad mo naman kami!" tawa nito.
"Where is he?" I asked, ignoring other unimportant words to me.
"May kasama siyang teacher galing ng principal's office! Paniguradong papunta na sila ngayon sa room ng section one." paliwanag ng isa.
I didn't bother thanking them for the information. Mabilis na naglakad ako patungo sa door way. Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko ay natanaw ko agad si Ms. Wensislao.
"Oh, Ms. Serrano, saan ang punta natin?" nakangiting salubong nito sa akin. "Pumasok na sa loob. Mag-aattendance na ako."
I didn't want to, but I don't have the choice but to follow her order. Bigong bumalik ako sa loob ng room at naglakad pabalik sa pwesto ko.
I endured the next two hours. Tiniis ko na h'wag munang lumabas. Pinilit kong makinig kay Ms. Wensislao sa pagdiscuss ng student's handbook, kahit na taon-taon ay palaging ganoon ang ginagawa tuwing first day.
Nang i-dismiss na kami para sa recess ay agad akong lumabas ng classroom. My friends tried to call my attention and ask where I was going, but I pretended not to hear them.
I went straight to the top section's classroom. Sumilip ako sa sliding window at nakita na halos wala na ang mga tao doon. Even my twin is nowhere to be seen.
I frowned. Where is he? Sa canteen? If my twin did what I told him, paniguradong isinama niya si Silas doon. He always drops by at the canteen with his friends during recess.
Pagkarating ko sa canteen ay nahanap agad ng mga mata ko si Hadeon. He's with his guys friends. They're standing in front of the fruit shake kiosk. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mukha ng mga kaibigan niya. Silas is nowhere to be seen.
Sumimangot ako at malaki ang mga hakbang na lumapit sa aking kambal. Marahan na hinampas ko ang likod niya. Napatingin siya sa akin, may gulat ang mukha. Pati ang mga kaibigan niya ay napatingin sa akin.
"Hey, L." malokong bati ng mga ito sa akin.
"Grabe, ang laki mo na. Nung huli tayong nagkita ang liit-liit mo pa." pang-asar na sabi ni Orion. Nang-aasar dahil kahapon lang kami huling nagkita. Pumunta ang mga kaibigan ni Hadeon sa bahay para maglaro ng PS3.
"Epal naman ng tinapay na 'to." ismid ko rito at umirap. Humalakhak ito at pati ang ibang barkada nila ay tumawa rin.
I looked at them one by one with disgust. I scoffed. "Ugly fuckers."
Tumawa lang sila. Ngumisi ako sa kanila at umiling. Ibinalik ko ang atensyon sa aking kambal.
"Where's Silas?" I asked him.
Hadeon sipped on his shake before bringing the cup near my mouth. I know it's Avocado. For some reason, namana namin kay Mommy ang pagkahilig sa Avocado shake.
I wrapped my mouth around the straw and drank while waiting for Hadeon's answer.
"I don't know." he shrugged. "Inaya ko siyang sumama sa akin pero may kailangan daw siyang gawin."
I released the straw and dubiously looked at him. "Inaya mo ba talaga?"
"You can ask them. Inaya rin nila yon." tumango si Hadeon sa mga kaibigan kaya napatingin ako sa mga ito.
"He declined, L." pag-epal na naman ni Orion.
"Bakit ako maniniwala sa belt na yan?" ngumiwi ako kay Orion.
"Pre, pwede ko bang iuwi samin yang si Laurene?"
"Why?" Hadeon chuckled.
"Ihahagis ko sa pool namin, madumi na e." tawa nito.
"Gago!" batok ko sa kanya at nagtawanan sila.
Umiling ako at umalis na lang doon. Wala akong mapapala sa kanila.
I checked the library first, since that's the closest to the canteen. He wasn't there. Nagtatago na naman kaya ito? Where could he possibly hide...
"Gym!" I said out loud. Napatingin ang ilan sa akin. Mukhang nagulat sa biglang pagsigaw ko. Kininditan ko lang sila bago nagmamadaling pumunta sa gym.
My heart was racing for unknown reason when I reached the building. Bawat hakbang ay sumasabay sa paghampas sa dibdib ko.
I was biting hard on my lip while my fists were clenched. I don't think I was breathing as I climbed the stairs.
My steps went slow. I was anxious. I halted at the last step. I nibbled on my lower lip. I took a few breaths to calm myself.
Nang makalma ang sarili ay itinuloy ko na ang pag-akyat. Sa bungad pa lang ng gym ay nakita ko na agad si Silas.
Nakasandal siya sa railing. Ang mga mata niya ay nasa sahig at parang may malalim na iniisip. Hindi niya napansin ang pagdating ko.
I took that opportunity to look at him. He looked different. Gone was his crew cut. His hair was now thick and textured, the spikes on top were mussed up perfectly. He looked even more handsome with his new hairstyle.
Nothing changed in his face. It was still the same light brown eyes, thick eyebrows, flaring eyelashes, prominent cheek bone, sharp jaw, and pink lips.
Bumaba ang mga mata ko sa kanyang katawan. His lean body was gone and replaced with a slightly bigger and muscular body. Subtle cuts can be seen in his arms.
His uniform wasn't the same loose uniform he used to wear. It was the right size, like it was made specially for him. His body structure looked better with his perfectly fit white polo. His pants weren't big on him, tooo. Halos naka-baston na nga iyon.
They were right. Ang hot na ni Silas!
I licked my lips and inhaled sharply. I've always thought he was good looking. Despite his clothes and awkwardness, I knew how dashing he was. Pero ngayon na nakaayos na siya... He got me breathless!
Being surrounded with my ridiculously good looking brothers (thanks to our parents' genes), it takes a lot to impress me physically.
Pero kung itatabi ngayon ang mga kapatid ko kay Silas at itatanong sa akin kung sino ang pinakagwapo... Handa akong maging traydor, kahit sa kambal ko.
"Silas." I finally found my voice.
His head snapped towards my direction like he was already expecting someone to call him. Our gazes locked and I sharply breathed in. It's like a great force slammed against me when his soft and warm eyes met mine.
He stared at me for a few seconds. His eyes shamelessly scanned me from head to toe. For some reason, it made my face and body warm to be looked at him this way.
"Laurene." he said with the same benign and soothing voice.
Unti-unting gumuhit ang malaking ngiti sa mga labi ko. Halos mapunit ang mukha ko. Umiling ako at tumawa. I don't know what came over me. I just found myself running towards his direction.
I didn't care when my body crashed against him. I lifted my arms and wrapped it around his back. I buried my face on his chest and hugged him as tight as I can. He still smells the same, masculine and addicting.
My eyes shut firmly. I tightened my arms around him. The embrace filled the spaces in my chest. I don't know what it was. Just that my chest felt full and heavy in a good way.
I opened my eyes and leaned my face away from his chest to see him properly. He's watching me with his tender gaze.
"I missed you, Silas." I said, unwaveringly staring straight at him.
His face brightened. His already light brown eyes gleamed. He gently cupped my face. His thumb softly brushed my cheek. A smile slowly curved on his pink lips. He didn't say anything.
I grinned at him. "Did you miss me, too?"
Silas deliciously chuckled. He brought down his hand to my waist. I fastened my arms around his back and pulled him closer to me.
"Well?" I raised a brow at him.
He nodded. He stared at me for a short while and an easy smile drew on his lips. "I did."