Chapter 5

Ruben's Point of View

It's quite unfortunate that i still had to skip some classes when i already promised myself that i'm never going to do that again. I've estimated the time that i need to finish this damn tests, at mukhang tatagal ako ng mga tatlong oras.

Di ako nag-aksaya ng oras at sinagutan ito ng dire-diretcho without any mistakes. Sa library ako nagsasagot para tahimik at walang eepal sa akin.

It took me an hour and a half ng malapit ko nang makalahati ang mga nasasagutan ko, i decided to take a short break. Bumili ako ng soda sa cafeteria. At nang pabalik pa lang ako sa library, unexpectedly nakasalubong ko ang isa sa mga taong ayaw ko makita.

He was with a bunch of guys and it seems that he's the center of attention since they were all fussing on him. Well hindi naman bago ang ganyang klaseng senaryo pagdating sa kanya, he's the son of the school owner after all. He's naturally popular.

Nang magtama ang mga mata namin, his gaze sharpened and a quick menacing grin showed on his face. Umiwas na lang ako ng tingin dahil baka masuntok ko sya sa pagka-irita ko. Just you fucking wait Zachary, you'll see that i'm better than you.

As i got back to the library, dun sana ulit ako uupo sa pwesto ko kaso merong umagaw. Well isn't the great? That was the most comfortable spot i found in this place.

Naki-upo ako sa mesa nung mang-aagaw at ipinagpatuloy ang pagsagot sa tests ko. Bigla naman akong kinausap ng bwisit na mang-aagaw na 'to.

"Excuse me, but you're not supposed to bring foods or drinks in the library." Suway nya. Umiinom kasi ako ng soda na binili ko habang nagsasagot.

I raised an eyebrow and continued to drink from my can. Tsaka ko lang sya sinagot ng maubos ko na ito. "I didn't knew that, thanks for telling me." I controlled my sarcasm for a bit, and unfortunately she got mad.

"I can tell na sinadya mong gawin yon." Well duh, she didn't have to point out the obvious.

Damn, can't she just mind her own business? Tumayo na lang ako at umalis, hindi talaga ako matatapos nito kung kukulitin ako ng kukulitin ng babae na yon. Nosy girls gets on my nerves, they don't know anything but to pry on other peoples businesses.

Then after three hours, i finally got to finish my math remedial tests! Napatingin din ako sa aking relo at saktong malapit ng maglunch. Dumiretcho ako sa klase ko para sabihin kay Jade na tapos na ko.

But as i got to the corridors, the annoying girl from the library called out to me. Di ko inaasahang susundan nya pala ako. "Hoy! Ikaw!" Aniya.

Tsk, problema neto?

"I have a name you know." I told her.

"I don't care, pero pwede bang itapon mo ng maayos sa susunod ang basura mo? You already violated a rule in the library, tas mag-iiwan ka pa ng kalat don." Tas binigay nya sa akin yung lata ng soda ko kanina.

Napangisi lang ako sa kanya. "You could've just threw this away yourself. What a clean freak."

Inirapan nya lang ako. "Tch. Whatever, i hope i never see you again." Sabi nya.

"Same here." Pahabol kong sagot ng umalis na sya.

Jade's Point of View

Nang maglunch na, hahanapin ko sana si Ruben para masamahan ko sya. Dala ko na din ang mga baon namin para makakain na din kami habang nagsasagot sya. Nang makarating ako sa corridors, i saw Ruben from afar.

Tatawagin ko sana sya kaso napansin kong may kausap pala sya. Unti-unti akong lumapit at nakumpirma nga ang nakita ko, sino naman kaya yung babae na 'yon?

Theories began to form in my head. Di kaya girlfriend yun ni Ruben!?

I gasped at the thought. Yung babae ba na yon ang dahilan kung bakit nagcu-cutting classes si Ruben!? After all this time, he was cutting classes just to meet up with her? Then there's no doubt na natulungan na nya si Ruben sa remedial tests.

My cheeks puffed, thinking that it's so unfair. Best friends kami tapos di man lang nya pinakilala sa'kin yung girlfriend nya. I can't help but feel betrayed. Alam na alam nga ni Ruben na gusto ko si Caiden, tapos sya na may girlfriend hindi man lang nagkwento!

Pagka-alis nung babae, he headed to my direction. Nagulat sya ng makita nya ako, nang makalapit sya sa akin ay napangiti sya na para bang good mood sya. He showed me his papers and bragged that it was too easy for him.

"Guess what? Tapos ko na, sobrang easy. It wasn't really that challenging for me."

Napasimangot lang ako at binigay sa kaniya ang lunch bag nya, "Eto na baon mo." Walang gana kong sabi at tinalikuran sya para bumalik na sa classroom.

Kakain na lang ako na mag-isa sa classroom!

"What the-- Jade!? Anyare sayo?" Humabol sya sa akin at kinulit ako.

Ngumisi lang ako pero naiinis pa rin. "I'm fine. Don't mind me." If he won't talk about it, then it's fine. Ayoko namang ipilit na sabihin nya sa akin lahat ng sikreto nya.

Suddenly, Ruben just feel so far away from me. "You don't look like it. Tell me, ano bang problema at nababadtrip ka?"

Tinulak ko sya palayo ng onti. "Pwede ba? Personal space please."

"Wha-- tch." Then he gave up trying to figure out what was bothering me. Classic Ruben. Hahayaan nya lang akong mapawi ang galit ko over time. Di man lang ako suyuin! Or hindi man lang ako ilibre-- baka mawala galit ko non, kaso hindi eh! Hinayaan nya lang ako.

Napanguso lang ako...

...

Then i realized that i was acting as if i was his girlfriend. What the frick Jade!? Napa-iling lang ako at inisip ko na lang na pwede din akong magalit sa kanya dahil best friend ko sya! Tsk, damn it.

I hate this. I really hate it when Ruben keeps secrets from me.

***  

These days, parang ang layo ni Ruben sa akin. I know that he's determined to focus on his studies but i kinda miss talking to him. Kung hindi sya nagbabasa ng libro, tinatapos nya ang mga assignments namin. Tapos pag bumibisita ako sa kanila, sasabihin ni tita na nag-aaral si Ruben.

Kaya nitong recess, i decided to talk to him. "Mag-aaral ka nanaman ba Ruben?" He used to be the most laziest person when it comes to studying, pero para na syang nag-aadik sa mga libro nya at sa pag-aaral.

"Of course i do, i still have a lot of catching up to do." Then he suddenly opened his book. But before he could read, ipinatong ko ang kamay ko sa kanyang libro so that i can get his attention.

"Ano ba Jade?" Iritable nyang sambit at sinubukang tanggalin ang kamay ko.

"I think we need to talk." I told him.

"Talk about what exactly?"

Now that he asked that, parang gusto ko syang tanungin tungkol sa girlfriend nya. Gusto ko ding sabihin na sana wag na syang magsikreto sa'kin. Pero habang nakatingin sya sa'kin, parang ayaw nya na 'kong makita dahil nakakaabala ako.

I think mas prefer ko yung dating Ruben-- hindi sya palaging busy, nakakausap ko sya, tas nakakapag-gala kami. Ngayon kasi parang wala na syang oras para sa'kin, it's like we're not even best friends anymore.

Di ko sya nasagot at napabuntong hininga na lang ako. "Nevermind, kukunin ko lang yung science book ko." Umalis na lang ako at pumunta sa locker ko.

Maybe this is for the best. It's not like Ruben will be with me forever. May sari-sarili din kaming buhay after all. Tsaka tama nga sya, may mga bagay akong di alam tungkol sa kanya. Ang unfair lang talaga dahil pakiramdam ko ay kilalang-kilala nya ako at alam na alam nya ang buhay ko, tas samantalang sya na best friend ko di ko masyadong kilala.

Pagbukas ko sa locker ko, nagulat ako ng makakita ako ng maliit na notebook dito. Hindi sa'kin 'to, puro libro lang naman nilalagay ko sa locker ko. Kinuha ko yung notebook at binuklat ito and it wasn't actually a notebook, isa pala 'tong scrap book.

And i got even more surprised when i saw my picture in this scrap book. "Holy sh-- puro picture ko ang laman ng scrap book! All the pictures were taken in school, and some were from the malls. Oh my gosh, kanino naman galing 'to!? I can't believe may stalker ako!!

Nang makarating ako sa dulo ng scrap book, merong iniwang mensahe yung may-ari nito.

I hope you liked my gift for you ^___^

I've always liked you, and i still do. I wish you

notice me someday.

Your admirer,

August.

Uminit ang mukha ko sa nabasa, at parang tumatakbo na kabayo ang puso ko. This is my first time to receive such a thing from an admirer. Whoever this guy is, sana magpakilala naman sya ng maayos. Hindi yung pamisteryoso pa!

And who the hell is August? May pangalan na ganon!?    

Napangiti na lang ako at naisip, if Ruben always keeps secrets from me then i'll have this as my own secret from him! I kept the scrap book in my skirt's pocket and went back to class.

Ruben's Point of View

Nang maka-alis si Jade, naiwan akong naguguluhan. Lately she's been acting so strange and weird. She would always roll her eyes on me or puff her cheeks with glaring eyes everytime our eyes meet. Umiiwas na lang ako na baka sakaling tumigil din ang topak nya.

What's with her these days? Ano kaya nagawa ko para mainis sya sa'kin nang ganon?

I just shrugged off the stupid thoughts and continued on reading my book. Then suddenly, our art teacher came into our class looking for me. "Is mister Chevalier here?" He asked.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. "Ano po 'yon sir?"

His face looked so disappointed while looking at me, "I heard you started trying to improve your studies."

"Yeah, is there a problem?" I asked.

"Yes, you're failing in my subject mister Chevalier." Sigh. I can't doubt what he just said, art is the most subject i hate. I mean, art is useless so i don't give a crap on studying about it.

"Then how can i improve my grades?" He gave me a piece of paper, and as i read it, it was a recommendation letter for a club. "I can't give you remedial tests since all activities done in my subject can't be done so easily, so i'm giving you the chance to improve your grades by joining the theatre club."

"Wha-- Why the theatre club!?" I can't believe this, he wants me to act!?

"Theatre is also art mister Chevalier, so if you'll excuse me, i'll go to my next club now." Then he left.

Napakamot na lang ako sa ulo ko habang nakatingin sa letter na hawak ko. So straight after classes, dumiretcho ako sa theatre club gaya nung sabi ng art teacher namin.

Knocking at this club's door, bumukas ito kaagad and a familiar face showed up. "Good afternoon, how can i help y-- what the-- ba't ka nandito?" Tinarayan nya ako kaagad.

Napataas kilay ko sa kanya. "That's what i'd like to ask you myself as well miss clean freak." I told her.

"Okay, you can go now. Don't ever show yourself to me, ever, again." Isasara nya na sana ang pintuan ng harangan ko ito bago nya ma-isara.

"If you're a part of this club, then i'd like you to see this letter." Pagkabigay ko sa kanya ng sulat, nagulat sya at napatingin sa akin ulit. "The heck!! Mister Ferrez was recommending you for this club!?" Aniya.

"Yeah, so what now? Papapasukin mo ba ko o hindi?" I asked her.

Tas mukhang labag pa sa loob nya na pagbuksan ako ng pintuan. "Tch, fine. You can go inside." Kung makatingin sya sa'kin, parang mapapatay nya 'ko.

Napangisi ako sa kanya. "Thanks for letting me in, miss clean freak." Sambit ko.

"I have a name you know." Yeah, and is this suppose to be deja vu? Di ko na lang sya pinansin at kinausap ang president ng club na 'to.

to be continued