I eventually relaxed. It was easy after continuously telling myself that I shouldn't be guilty about what happened. Tinawag ko lang naman ang pangalan niya at hindi sinasadya na magulat siya. It wasn't my fault that he fell on the pool.
Naging effective ito lalo na nang magsimula na ang lesson sa bawat subject ay nabaling na sa iba ang atensyon ko. It's been a habit to take down notes during discussion, so I was solely focused on the discussion.
Hindi naman naging mahirap na katabi si Atticus. Tahimik lang ito. Hindi ko sigurado kung nakikinig din pero abala nga ako sa pagsusulat kaya hindi ko na rin napansin.
At the end of the subject, we were asked to submit the 1/4 index card. I brought out a pack of it. Bumili ako nang marami dahil alam kong required ang ganito.
"Hyon, pahingi naman!" sabi ni Trevor na nakaupo sa harapan ko.
Tumango ako at nagbigay ng isa para sa kanya. May apat pang nanghingi. Gavin, Vincent, Emman, and even Dashiel made an effort to come to my seat just to ask for paper. I'm not even surprised. Nanghihingi ang mga ito sa akin palagi. Minsan ay nanghihiram ng ballpen at kung ano pa. Ayos lang naman sa akin. I'm not selfish when it comes to giving what I have.
Habang nagsusulat ay napasulyap ako sa lalaking nakaupo sa tabi ko. Hindi siya nagsusulat at wala pang papel na nakalagay sa armchair niya.
I bit my lip and thought for a second if I'm gonna offer him my index card or not. Wala naman masama. Kung ibang tao ay ganoon din ang gagawin ko. I practiced my line first before finally speaking out.
"Gusto mo ba ng index card?" I smoothly said. I didn't stammer for the first time!
"Oh? Buti may natira pa?" he sarcastically said and chuckled as if something was funny.
Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. I don't get it. I just bought my things for school. Bagong bukas kaya syempre ay marami pang natira.
"Ang dami kasing lalaki na nanghingi," he supplied. May kakaiba sa tono niya. It sounded sarcastic, like he was still trying to point something out.
"Bago kasi 'to kaya marami pa naman," sagot ko.
"Hm," it sounded like he was mocking me.
"Gusto mo ba?" Inabot ko sa kanya ang isang piraso.
Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay kong nakalahad. He pursed his lips a little before accepting it from me.
"Thanks," he murmured and busied himself with writing down on the index card.
"You're welcome," I happily replied and minded my own business.
Pinapasa muna ang mga papel sa harap bago nag-dismiss ng klase para sa recess. Inayos ko ang mga gamit sa bag at kinuha ang wallet. Parang gusto ko ng smoothie at quesadilla ngayon. Just think about it makes my mouth water.
"Let's go, Hyon," I heard Dashiel's voice before I saw him.
He looked very grumpy now. Siguro ay gutom na. Sanay na ako. He turns into a monster when he's hungry. Only food can appease him. Suplado na pero mas suplado pa kapag gutom.
Agad akong tumayo. I don't wanna piss him off. Nakakatakot pa naman si Dashiel kapag galit.
Umikot pa ako para hindi dumaan sa harapan ni Atticus. I stopped when I remembered that he's new here and he probably doesn't have any friends to hang out with.
"Atticus," tawag ko. Nilingon naman ako agad nito. Hindi nagsalita pero kunot ang noo. "Gusto mong sumabay sa amin mag-recess?"
"Hyon!" tawag ni Dashiel kaya napalingon ako at nakita na nasa labas na siya.
Atticus scoffed. It brought my eyes back to him. He looked smug as he looked away and replied, "No. "
Napasimangot ako. I was just trying to be nice, May problema ba siya sa akin? "O-Okay..."
Tinawag ulit ako ni Dashiel kaya nagmamadali na akong naglakad para sumunod sa kanya sa labas.
Hindi ko nakita si Atticus sa canteen. Hindi ba siya kumain? Pero kung sa bagay, may ibang canteens sa campus. He probably went there to eat. Sa canteen kung saan wala ako.
Galit pa rin kaya siya sa akin dahil sa nangyari kahapon? Nag-sorry naman na ako at hindi ko naman ipinagkalat ang nangyari.
I just don't understand why he's rude to me when I've been nothing but nice to him. Maybe he's just really like that?
We returned to the classroom with ten minutes to spare before the next class. Nakaupo na si Atticus sa kanyang upuan. I was amazed to see him chatting with the other guys but I was even more amazed when I witnessed him boyishly smile at something that Charlie said.
I hid my astonishment and innocently walked towards my seat. Napatingin silang lahat sa akin sa pagdating ko.
"Uy, nand'yan ka na pala, Hyon." Nagmamadaling tumayo si Kris mula sa upuan ko at lumipat sa ibang bakanteng upuan na malapit. Ngumiti lang ako rito.
"Hi, Hyon," Charlie greeted.
"Hello," I softly greeted back as I sat. I carefully opened my bag to put back my wallet.
"You know, Atticus, sobrang swerte mo kasi seatmate mo si Hyon. Sobrang bait niya tsaka down to earth," Vincent said.
"Oo, kaya nga gusto mo 'di ba?" tukso ni Charlie.
"Gagong 'to. Secret lang 'yon," namumulang sabi ni Vincent at matapos ay ilang na ngumiti sa akin. "Sorry, Hyon."
I laughed a little and shook my head. "It's okay."
"Okay lang na magkagusto si Vincent sa'yo?" Kris asked. The guys except for Atticus cheered.
I shrugged. "He's entitled to what he feels."
"E, paano kung manligaw siya sa'yo?" Charlie maliciously asked.
"Sorry. Hindi ako nagpapaligaw. I'm too young for a relationship," deretsong sagot ko sa kanila.
"Awww," they chanted in unison. Si Kris ay nakuha pang tapikin si Vincent sa likod na parang cino-comfort ito.
That's the time when Atticus chuckled. "Bumalik na lang kayo sa upuan niyo."
Hindi na sila nakaapila dahil dumating na ang sumunod na subject teacher. They returned to their own seats.
"For today, we'll be playing by pair. Yung seatmate niyo na lang ang partner niyo para mapadali ang mga buhay natin," sabi ni Mr. Romero, our Physics teacher. Napatingin ako kay Atticus dahil doon. He didn't seem affected that we'll be partners in this activity.
"Bring out 1/4 sheet of paper and write your names on top," Mr. Romero added.
I unzipped my bag and brought out my pad of 1/4 sheet of paper. I bought this size aside from the intermediate one just to save time and effort. Madalas kasi itong requirement sa class.
"Do you have a bookstore inside your bag?" my seatmate asked in an amused tone.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Huh?"
"You have everything," he pointed out.
"Oh." I blushed profusely. "S-Sorry. I like being prepared. Ayaw ko kasing nanghihingi."
"Mas gusto mo ang nagbibigay?" he asked with a raised brow.
I shrugged. "It's a nice thing to do."
He didn't say anything. He just nodded as if he's in deep thought. I wonder what he's thinking?
Magsasalita pa sana ako pero biglang may lumapit sa amin. It was Emman. Mukhang alam ko na kung bakit siya nandito.
"Hyon, pwedeng penge?" he sweetly asked.
"O-" agad akong naputol sa sasabihin.
"Hindi pwede. Sa akin 'yan," singit ni Atticus.
"Ay." Napangiwi si Emman at ako naman ay napakunot ang noo habang nakatingin kay Atticus.
"Sa iba ka na lang manghingi," dagdag pa nito.
"Sige, salamat na lang," yamot na sagot ni Emman at matapos ay umalis din.
I frowned at Atticus. "Why did you do that?"
"Mauubusan ka agad kung ipapamigay mo nang ipapamigay," supladong sagot nito.
"Okay lang naman maubos. Pwede naman akong bumili ng bago," malumanay na sagot ko rito.
"What if it's something you can't easily replace though?" he argued.
I pouted at his argument. Ang lalim ulit. Pero may point naman siya. It's a waste of resources on my part and it's not even my own money. It's my parent's.
"Okay. Hindi na ako masyadong mamimigay ng papel. Minsan na lang."
Atticus smiled a little, pero nawala rin agad. He nodded. "Good."
I smiled at him and resumed with writing down our names on top of the paper.
The game was a pop quiz. Hindi counted ang scores sa grade but the highest scores will have a free pass on the first quiz for this grading.
Atticus was a good partner. Matalino siya at alam ang karamihan ng mga sagot. I also contributed some answers.
We were one of the four pairs that got perfect scores. The girls were even so amazed when our names, well, Atticus' name—was called.
The hours passed by quickly. Matapos ang pangalawang subject ay lunch break na. Umalis ang teacher at nagsisialisan naman na ang karamihan.
May baon ako para ngayong araw but Dashiel doesn't have one, so we'll eat at the canteen.
"Nagbabaon ka?" biglang tanong ni Atticus na ikinagulat ko.
I didn't expect that he'll talk to me. Pagkatapos kasi ng laro kanina sa Physics ay hindi niya na ako pinansin.
"Sometimes. Ikaw?" tanong ko.
"No. Dito ka kumakain kapag may baon ka?"
"Uhm... Depende kung may baon si Dashiel."
Kumunot ang noo niya. His jaw clenched a bit. "Dashiel?"
"My cousin," I supplied.
"Yes?" As if he was summoned, Dashiel joined us. He gave me a mocking look. I slightly made a face at him.
"Dashiel, si Atticus. Atticus, this is Dashiel Fabella."
They just nodded at each other in acknowledgment.
"Wanna eat lunch with us?" Dashiel asked.
Atticus glanced at me first before nodding at Dashiel. "Sure."
They talked as we made our way to the canteen. Tahimik lang ako habang nakikinig sa kanila. Tinanong ni Dashiel kung saang school ito nanggaling at kung saan sa Makati nakatira.
I was very interested to know this one. Magkapatid sila ni Ali kaya natural na isa lang ang bahay nila. Unless Ali moved out to live independently?
"Colegio de San Agustin. Our house is in Dasma," sagot nito.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. That's near our home! That means Ali's been near me this whole time and I didn't know? And I've been there twice!
Tito Levi, one of my Dad's friends lives in that village!
"Really? That's just fifteen minutes away from Hyon's house," sabi ni Dashiel at sumulyap naman silang dalawa sa akin.
"You two can easily hang out if you like," my cousin maliciously added.
"Definitely," Atticus replied and even nodded.
Dashiel slyly smiled and gave me a jeering look. I scowled at him in complete displeasure. Baka kung ano ang isipin ni Atticus sa mga pang-aasar na tingin niya sa akin!
I can't believe he really thinks that I have a crush on Atticus! Just because he caught me staring at Atticus! Ang hindi niya alam, I was thinking about Ali the whole time. Kung sa bagay, hindi niya nga alam na crush ko si Ali noon at... hanggang ngayon.
"Kayo ba..." Atticus stated and directed his steady eyes on me. "Saan nakatira?"
Inunahan ako ni Dashiel sa pagsagot. I let them. Mas mabuti pang manahimik. I don't wanna give him an opportunity to tease me. Inunahan ko na sa paglakad lakad para buksan ang pinto.
I picked our usual table. 'Yong nasa gilid lang at hindi masyadong crowded. The two boys followed behind me. Inilapag ko ang baunan sa ibabaw ng table bago umupo.
"May pila pa," Dashiel grunted when he saw the line by the counter. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. "Anong baon mo, Hyon?"
I looked at Atticus but quickly looked away when I saw him staring at me as he sat on the chair right across me.
"Caesar Salad," I replied.
Dashiel twitched his nose in distaste. "You and your salad."
I giggled and brought out the tupperwares. Nakahiwalay sa isang maliit na container ang dressing.
"You're a vegan?" His forehead was slightly creased that he looked genuinely interested.
"Ah. No." I shook my head. "Nag-crave lang ako for salad."
"Mabubusog ka ba d'yan?" he indulgently asked, his attention to me was to the roof that it was making me a little conscious.
"Sakto lang," I shyly replied.
He nodded but pursed his lips a little. "You should eat more."
"Don't make that salad fool you. Matakaw 'yang si Hyon." Dashiel chuckled and stood up to go to the counter. Iniwan kaming dalawa ni Atticus.
"Really?" Nag-angat siya ng kilay sa akin. His eyes never left mine. "Why are you so slim then?"
My face heated a little. "It's genetic."
"I still think you should eat more though," he insisted.
"Hindi ka kakain?" tanong ko dahil mukha siyang walang planong tumayo at sumunod kay Dashiel.
A hint of smile played on his lips. "Kakain." He licked his lips while still intently staring at me. "Bibili lang ako."
Ngumiti ako at tumango. "Okay."
Hindi pa rin siya tumayo at nakatitig pa rin sa akin na parang malalim ang iniisip. I smilingly creased my forehead at him. He just heavily sighed before he left.