Author's Note: Hi! This story may contain spoilers from the first story of the City Series, but it is not necessary that you read it. I hope you guys enjoy this one, too. I've been thinking of its plot for a really long time now. Stay safe!
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#MMIM
"Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!" We sang along with Ate Raine.
My eyebrows arched at my seatmate who untied the shoelace of Odette, the other girl near us.
"Why are you doing that?" I asked him. "That's not nice."
He placed his pointy finger at his mouth and told me to shush. I opened my mouth and untied his shoelace, too.
He gave me a nasty look and took the scissors on the table. I was shocked na lang to find him cutting my hair!
I ran to Claude who was standing quietly beside Ate Raine. "My hair!"
"Vale, why did you do that?" Ate Raine asked Vale. "That's not a nice thing to do."
Si Vale naman tumatawa lang! What if it were his hair? I'm going to pray tonight that he goes bald!
"Vale, mag-sorry ka kay Natalia," another ate told him.
He scratched his head and walked towards me with his eyebrows scrunched together.
"Sorry."
I threw him a nasty look and rolled my eyes.
"Uy, congratulations!" sabi ni Margaux sa akin. "Top 1 ka nanaman!"
Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Baliw, hindi ah."
"Pa-humble." Gulo ni Claude sa buhok ko.
Margaux and I were in the same year level, but Claude, Franco, Hanzo, and Lance were a year older than us. It sucks knowing they're graduating next year.
"Mas pa-humble ka!" Tulak ko kay Claude. "Ikaw nga 'tong top 1 daw tapos pinag-aagawan pa ng universities sa Manila! Grade 11 ka pa lang sa lagay na 'yan, ah."
This time, it was his turn to laugh. Not too far away, we could already see Franco and Hanzo on their way towards us.
This was one of the highlights of our week. At least thrice a week, we all meet together at the nearest fast food branches to eat lunch together. Sina Claude, Franco, Hanzo, at Lance kasi ay senior high na kaya hindi na namin sila nakakasama masyado, but I appreciate the fact that they always make an effort to meet Margaux and I. Forever squad, eh.
"Hi." Ngiti ni Franco kay Margaux sabay upo sa tabi niya.
I rolled my eyes at them and chuckled. Franco and Margaux have been a thing for about a year now. A thing lang kasi wala naman silang label! MU lang daw, gano'n.
"Nasaan si Lance?" tanong ko.
Nagkibit balikat si Hanzo at kumuha sa fries ko. Sinamaan ko kaagad siya ng tingin.
"Hala, dugkaker!" Sipa ko sa kanya sabay tawa.
"Buraot!" Hanzo laughed. "Lilibre mo pa ako ng chicken joy, eh!"
"Ako ngay?" tanong ni Claude sa akin.
"Asa ka pa," I told him and stuck my tongue out, kahit na gusto ko talaga siyang ilibre!
Siyempre, kailagan, hindi halatang gusto ko siya. Sayang naman yung friendship! Feeling ko nga, ever since Sunday School when we were kids, I already had a tiny crush on him. All throughout elementary, he's been my ultimate crush na talaga!
"I'll order na for you guys," sabi ko sa kanila.
"Spicy chicken sa akin!" sabi ni Hanzo.
I nodded and looked at Franco for his order.
"Same," sabi ni Franco. "2 piece, please!"
"Samahan na kita," sabi ni Claude sa akin.
I didn't bother refusing. We both walked towards the line in front of the cashier. I crossed my arms while I stared at the menu. Nakapamulsa lang si Claude habang nakatitig rin siya sa menu. I could already see some girls around us that were staring at him.
I wasn't surprised. Gano'n talaga yung mga babae pag-dating sa kaniya, kahit nung Junior High pa siya. There were even times na maririnig na lang namin galing sa malayo na tinatawag siyang gwapo. Mahaba masyado buhok ng Claude na 'yan.
I quickly glanced at him before returning my gaze on the counter. He didn't even care about the girls looking at him!
Sabagay, sanay na rin naman siya.
"It's our midterms tomorrow," sabi niya sa akin. "Your house ulit?"
"Doon ka mag-aaral?"
He nodded. "You always make me chocolate fudge cookies. I can't study without them now."
"Eh hindi naman ako mag-aaral. Sa inyo ka na lang mag-aral."
He pouted and bumped me with his elbow. "Sige na, Nat."
Tumawa ako at umiling. Kahit naman humindi ako, he's still coming over.
"I'll just go to the bathroom. Here's my bayad." Claude gave me a 500 peso bill and went to the bathroom.
Parang saktong sakto pagka-alis ni Claude ay tinawag na nung cashier yung next na mag-oorder, which is me. Lumapit ako sa counter at binuksan na yung bunganga ko para mag-order nang may sumingit bigla sa pila.
"Ate, ketchup please," the guy said.
Kunot noo ko siyang tinignan.
"Excuse me, there's a line," sabi ko sa kanya.
"I was just getting some ketchup." He scoffed and shook his head.
Umirap ako sa kawalan at humalukipkip. Binigyan na siya ng ketchup kaya wala na akong sinabi. I focused once again on the cashier and stated our orders. Habang hinihintay ko yung pagkain, bumalik na rin kaagad si Claude doon para tulungan ako sa trays.
"Ako na sa drinks," sabi ni Claude.
Umiling ako. "Me na. The food's heavier ata."
"You sure?" Claude laughed.
Tumango ako at nagdire-diretso pabalik ng table namin, pero bago pa ako makabalik doon ay naramdaman ko kaagad yung malamig na coke sa uniform ko. Panic immediately ran over my body.
"Watch it naman!" I exclaimed.
"Sorry." The guy shrugged.
"Sorry?! Sorry?!" I grabbed his arm. "You aren't even sincere!"
Lumingon siya sa akin at nagulat ako nung nakita ko ulit yung mga ng bwisit na 'yon!
"Nat, you oka-"
Pagkalingon sa akin ni Claude at agad niyang pinulot yung nahulog na mga baso at tray. I was drenched in soda! Babalik pa ako sa school!
Pagkatapos namin ayusin ni Claude yung mga baso, sinubukan kong hanapin yung lalaking singit sa pila, pero hindi ko na mahanap! I couldn't help but groan in frustration. Hindi ko alam kung ano gagawin ko sa uniform ko.
"Grabe, paano ka n'yan? Layo pa ng bahay niyo," sabi ni Margaux sa akin. "Absent nalang tayo, oh."
"Demonyo," sabi naman ni Lance. "Aabsent na rin ako sa next subject ko."
"G!" dagdag naman ni Hanzo.
"Hoy." Franco chuckled. "Umayos nga kayo."
"At least your skirt's not wet," sabi naman ni Claude habang binibigay sa akin ang balat ng chicken joy niya. "You can use my hoodie."
Umiling kaagad ako. "No na."
"Sige na," he insisted. "Alangan naman na you'll go to class wearing that."
"Hindi na 'yan babalik sa'yo," sabi ni Margaux kay Claude.
Inirapan ko silang dalawa at humalukipkip.
"Aabsent na lang ako," sabi ko. "Bwisit na lalaki naman kasi 'yon! Singit na nga, bastos pa!"
I couldn't shake off my annoyed feeling that day. That guy got on my nerves twice! Kung hindi lang talaga ako Kristiyano, inaway ko na 'yon!
But it turned out okay, since Claude made that day a hundred times better. He's always been like that naman. Ever since we were kids, he would always be there. Siguro that's one of the perks of having a childhood friend.
I mean, it's not hard to fall for him naman talaga! We've lived beside each other practically our whole lives. I genuinely believed that he was that boy next door that Taylor Swift wrote songs about.
I guess I just never thought he'd fall for another girl... and one day leave without saying goodbye.
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