"Arañas."
The guy behind Asher took a step forward.
"Kay Reinziel ka?" he asked.
"Hazel Sierra, senate pres nila ngayong year." Asher told his friend
"First time na hindi grade 12 ang senate pres." Jasper laughed, "Even Claude lost to her."
Nakakunot noo lang ang kasama ni Asher sa'kin na naging dahilan ng pagkaramdam ko ng ilang. It's my first time seeing this guy, pero mukha talaga siyang familiar. I can't point who does he look like. Basta may kamukha talaga siya.
"Ate,"
Natuon ang atensyon naming tatlo sa nagsalita galing likod ko.
It's Tyler.
Tyler frowned when he noticed something. Agad ko siyang hinila palayo kina Asher. He doesn't looked pleased.
"Ginugulo ka?" Tyler asked.
"Sino? Sina Asher? Hindi ah."
"Si Jasper."
"Hindi rin. Kinakausap lang niya ako kanina."
Tumango-tango lang siya sa'kin saka nagpatuloy ng lakad, I walked beside him. Bakit ba niya tinatanong kung ginugulo ako? I heard that question for the second times now. Kanina si Asher, ngayon si Tyler. Ano bang meron kay Jasper? He looks nice....
But on the second thought, I remember Nevielle telling me this: Don't let his looks deceive you.
"What's with Jasper? Nanggugulo ba siya?" I asked in confusion.
Tyler shrugged. "I don't know."
"Eh ba't mo tinatanong kung ginugulo ako?"
"Wala lang." he shook his head, "Malapit na ang birthday mo, ate." he changed the topic
That's when I realized, it's already July! Malapit na malapit na talaga akong mag seventeen!
We had a flag ceremony that morning. At totoo nga ang usap-usapan na papapuntahin sa harap ang mga nanalo sa election.
"First vote, our new Senate President..." the principal announced.
Kinakabahan talaga ako, daig pa ang Miss Universe ang thrill.
Without mentioning my name, almost everyone diverted their look at me. Some were already screaming my name too, na pakiramdam ko ay sina Nien at mga kaibigan niya iyon.
"Haisley Sierra."
Nakayuko akong naglakad papuntang harap. The other officers we're already there too, ang mga senates lang ang hindi pa natatawag.
"Second vote..."
As I was heading there, tinawag na rin nila ang second vote. Malapit na akong makalapit sa mga kasama nang biglang banggitin ang pangalan ng second vote.
"Claudius Villanueva."
Maraming nagsigawan. It's really Claude! Maraming fans iyon e.
"Uyy!" agad akong nahawakan ng babaeng nasa harapan ko dahil muntikan na akong madulas.
Second vote si Claude? That was close! pero bakit ... hindi siya ang naging first vote? He has a lot of fans and he is a Villanueva!
"Sorry." I apologized bago tumayo sa tabi nito.
Claude walked towards our direction. I saw him smile before lowering his head at tumabi sa'kin.
"You didn't vote for me." he whispered.
Dumaan rin saamin si Nevielle upang tumabi kay Claude. He gave me a suspicious look when he passedby kaya nilingon ko ito pero nakayuko na. Pakunwari pa.
"Straight vote ako." I answered in a low voice
"Obvious. Nagulat ka nga kanina nang tawagin ako e." natatawa niyang sabi, "You almost tripped."
I sighed. "You didn't tell me."
"I thought you knew." he shrugged.
"How would I know?"
"I don't know." I felt him shrug, "I just thought you knew."
"Hindi ko naman kasi inaalam eh. You stopped communicating with me."
Agad itong napaangat ng tingin. He was shocked.
I smirked before looking at the front.
They announced that we're going to have an induction party next week, including the club officers. They're all excited lalo na ang mga grade 12.
"Anong gagawin jan?" I asked one of my seniors who won as the secretary.
Daniesha is her name if I'm not mistaken.
"Kakain, games, speech..." tumingin siya sa taas at nagisip pa siya ng sasabihin ngunit muli siyang bumaling saakin at ngumiti, "kakain ulit."
Weekend came fast and it's time we decorate the senior high building for the upcoming induction party.
Nakalabas na ako ng bahay nang mapansing andon ang lalaking kasama ni Asher.
I ignored him and continued walking my way to school. Malapit na ako dumating sa school at tatawid na sana but I could still feel his presence behind me kaya nilingon ko siya.
I lifted a brow at him.
His lips slowly rose up flashing a perfect smile. It's when I noticed he's wearing braces pero hindi ito awkward tingnan sakanya. He looks good in it.
"Heading to school?" he smiled a little as he asked me that made me confused. He doesn't look friendly when we met.
I nodded.
"I am heading there too. Pinapabigay nga pala ni Reinz." sabi niya at itinaas niya ang isang malaking black paper bag.
I raised a brow in question that made him chuckled. This is weird.
"Gusto ipabigay ni Reinziel sayo. Mga kakailanganin niyo daw ngayon."
Reinziel? Why would someone else give it to me?
Inilahad ko ang kamay ko nang hindi pa niya saakin binibigay ang paper bag na iyon. He said Reinziel would like to give it to me pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin niya ibinibigay.
"Papunta rin ako," he looked at the school gate, "I can bring it for you."
I sighed as I force myself to not roll my eyes. He is a senior and a stranger. I should at least be polite to him even when he's seriously acting weird.
"Asan pala siya?" I asked politely.
Maybe he's Reinziel's boyfriend? Mukhang gulat rin noon nang mabanggit ko ang apelyido ni Reinziel e. Arañas.
"She couldn't make it. She's not feeling well. Ikaw daw muna ang pagkakatiwalaan niya jan."
I tilted my head as I raise a brow at him.
Tama ba ang narinig ko? Ako ang pagkakatiwalaan dito ni Reinziel?
Bahagya akong natawa. "Are you sure? I am just the senate president, we have a vice president incase you forgot."
"Sure." he frowned, "You're the senate pres. You have more responsibilities than you know."
I was taken aback sa naging tuno nito. Inabot niya saakin ang paper bag na mas ikinagulat ko. Akala ko ba dadalhin niya? Bakit parang galit pa siya?
I just shrugged and turned my back on him. At tama nga ang sabi niya na wala si Reinziel.
As soon as I got inside the campus, Jasper welcomed me.
Gulat siyang nakatingin sa likod ko kaya napasunod rin ako ng tingin.
It's Reinziel's boyfriend. Hindi ko napansing nakasunod pala siya, ngunit sa ibang direksyon rin ang punta niya.
"Ba't kasama mo 'yon?" nagtatakang tanong ni Jasper.
"I'm not with him. Ibinigay lang niya 'to." I raised the paper bag the guy gave me.
Unlike our last encounter, he doesn't seem to be in the mood today.
"We have a problem. Wala si Reinz ngayon." nagaalala niyang sabi.
"I know. His boyfriend gave me this because she won't be around today. May sakit daw."
Jasper looked shocked at what I said. Hindi yata siguro alam na may boyfriend si Reinziel.
"Ha? Sinong boyfriend ni Reinz?"
"Yung lalaki kanina." I claimed.
Jasper burst out laughing at my statement.
"Si Aziel?"
"Sinong Aziel?"
Natatawang umiling si Jasper.
"Pasok na. Tayo munang mag lead ngayon."
Inagaw niya ang paper bag saakin at naunang naglakad.
We started decorating the stage first dahil iyon ang importante. We used the senior high building for the walls that divides the classroom can be removed when needed.
Tumulong ako sa naglilinis dahil puro grade 12 ang nagdedecorate. I'm not close to them at wala pa akong kakilala.
"Asan sina Nien?" kunot-noo kong tanong kay Yves nang mapansin na wala ang mga pinsan ko
"Nasa gym ata sila." sabay turo niya sa kung saan
Gym? Busy ang students' council dito at may gana pa silang mag basketball?
Lumabas ako ng building at tumungo sa gym. Hindi namin iyon kakayanin ng kami-kami lang. Kahit kaya pa namin iyon ay dapat andon sina Nev dahil kilala silang parte ng council.
I immediately spotted Nien at one of the bleachers. Nang papalapit na, napakunot ang noo ko nang mapagtantong kasama nila si Tyler at hindi naman sila naglalaro.
"Uy anong inuupo niyo jan?!" iritado kong tanong
"Nagpapahinga lang." Si Nev
"Nagpapahinga, my a*s. Pumasok ka nga doon! Puro babae ang andon e."
"Parang wala ka namang tiwala sa mga babae," tawa ni Nien
"Ang aarte!" reklamo ko.
"Ikaw rin kaya, ate." natatawang sabi ni Tyler na nagpatawa kina Ivan.
"Hoi ikaw ha, nagtataka na ako kung magkapatid ba talaga tayo."
Nagtawanan lang sila pero kalaunan at sumunod din sila sa'kin sa loob. And I was right! Wala talagang matatapos kung puro babae lang ang andito na puro arte rin ang alam. Reinziel's not around dahil masama raw ang pakiramdam nito, kaya si Jasper ang naglelead kahit na ako ang sinabihan ni Reinziel na mukhang hindi naman pinapakinggan ng karamihan katulad ni Nevielle dahil mukhang may kung anong hindi pinagkakasunduan.
"Akin na yan,"
I extended my arms para kunin ang isang crepe paper sa isang babae na mukhang junior. Ang aarte! Pati paglagay sa ceiling ay hindi magawa dahil nahihiya.
"I told you, you should lead. Ikaw ang inaasahan ni Reinziel dito."
"Jasper's leading."
"Reinz said Hazel, not Jasper."
I ignored Reinziel's boyfriend. Kinuha ko ang upuan para apakan. I climbed the three chairs and tried to reach the ceiling ngunit hindi ko abot! I heard Sullivan laughed behind me.
I glared at him.
"Dagdagan mo nga ng tatlong upuan!" utos ko.
Kumuha si Ivan nang tatlong upuan habang nakaapak pa rin ako sa upuan. I climbed down before motioning Ivan na ipatong ang kanyang kinuhang upuan sa tinatayuan ko kanina.
Nang maipatong ito, kumuha ako ng isa pang upuan upang apakan bago akyatin ang anim na upuan. Sullivan held my hand as a support.
"Bumaba kana jan."
Pareho kami ni Ivan na napatingin sa nagsalita.
Reinziel's boyfriend again. Diba kaibigan siya ni Asher? That means he's in college. Why is he here?
"It's okay, kaya ko." I said before motioning Ivan to lift me.
"Gawaing lalaki yan."
"Wala naman sa gender 'to ah. I can do this." I said with finality.
I was about to step on the other chair when Sullivan hugged my waist to bring me down.
"Ano ba?!" inis kong sabi habang tinitingnan siya sa likod dahil nakahigit pa rin ang mga braso sa'kin.
He motioned the guy in front of me to take my place.
Loko rin 'to! I just realized that he could've take my place instead! Lalaki rin naman siya ah. Sooooo ungentleman.
Binitawan rin ako ni Ivan. He signaled me to leave the guy over there and I did. I stalked Ivan as he head towards Nevielle's direction who seemed to be busy doing something.
"Let her stay here." ani Ivan.
Nevielle only gave him a nod.
"Ayan, ikaw muna jan." Nevielle gave me a box of thumb tacks he was holding earlier, "Abot mo lang kay Cass."
Cass?
"Hi, Haze!" the girl standing at the chair greeted me.
"Cassiopeia?" I confirmed at ngumiti lang ito.
Cassiopeia Castañeda. She's our cousin too! Second cousin. I was shocked to see her here. Since I haven't seen any Castañeda during my stay here at school.
"Parte ka ng student's council?"
If she's part of the student council then I should've noticed her. Imposible namang hindi ko siya mapansin, she's really capable of catching one's attention but I haven't seen her in our line up neither the other side.
"Nope. Club president, math club." She smiled at me.
She reached out her palm, motioning me to give her a thumb tack and I did.
"I can see that Arañas guy is very fond of you huh." aniya
"Who's Arañas guy?"
"Si Aziel."
"Sinong Aziel?" I frowned.
Nabanggit rin kanina ni Jasper 'yon e. He didn't told me who Aziel is.
"Oh my gosh." gulat nitong sabi, "Hindi mo kilala ang kapatid ni Reinziel?"
"Ha? May kapatid si Reinziel?"
Cassiopeia laughed. "Kausap mo nga kanina e."
Aziel?
I looked at the place where I was earlier.
That guy's Aziel? And he's what? Kapatid ni Reinziel?
I started at him for a moment and that's when I realized why he looked familiar.
Of course he's not Reinziel's boyfriend! Magkamukha sila! How come I didn't notice?
Siya lang ang gumagawa 'nung dapat kong gagawin kanina that made the girl nearby approached him.
I frowned. It's Yessenia.
Yessenia's part of the council too. Pasok sa senate.
"Former senate president." Cassiopeia uttered.
Mukhang kanina pa niya ako tinitingnan habang nakatingin kina Yessenia.
"Some said he should be given the leadership awardee, he's like our president last year. He's a very good leader. Kind and responsible. " she added, "Crush ko nga yan dati e."
Gulat akong tumingin sakanya. She laughed at my reaction.
"He doesn't look someone you would like."
"Bakit hindi? Who would you think I would like? Si Claude?" natatawa niyang sabi habang nilalagyan ng thumb tacks ang itaas.
"No!" I defended. "Just someone at your age..."
She looked at me as she raised her eyebrow in suspicion.
"Pero pwede rin si Claude." I added when I realized that they're batchmates.
Bumaba siya sa upuang inaapakan niya kanina. She must be done already.
"He's not my type." diretsahan niyang sabi.
Claude is not her type? What's not in him to make her say that? Claude's responsible too. He's kind, intelligent and good looking! Anong wala?
"And even if he's my type, you know we can never be together." She shrugged.
That makes sense.
Agad akong napatingin sa mga lalaking nagsitakbuhan sa labas, including Nevielle and Nien.
"Anong nangyayari?" I asked.
Umiling lang si Cassiopeia. "Hayaan mo na."
Cassiopeia went to the other girls who are decorating the stage, ignoring whatever's going on with the boys.
Iginala ko ang pangin ko sa loob ng building at wala ng masyadong lalaking andoon. But Sullivan was still there, watching me.
Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata nang mahuling nakatingin. He looks like he's watching whoever comes into my way. Nagmumukha siyang bodyguard ko.
I was about to go to Sullivan when Claude who just came in, called me.
"Hazel."
I looked at my back only to find him looking at someone at my back too. Sinundan ko iyon ng tingin at napansing kay Ivan nakatingin.
What's going on with Sullivan? He looked uptight earlier with Aziel too.
"Oh?" I answered.
He pointed at the not so chandelier crepe paper which Aziel hasn't finished because he rushed outside the building too. It was the one I was going to work with earlier but Ivan stopped me.
"Let's finish that." He gave me a small smile.
Tumingin muna ako kay Ivan na ngunit umalis na siya doon at palabas.
"Sure."
08/15/20 22:16