Hurt Me Not (Nigel Streus)

"You're too tall for her Nigel. Go back to your line!" the scary teacher yelled at me but I still didn't followed her.

Instead, I sat on the ground and crossed my arms while pouting my lips. Who said that she can order me around?! I am Nigel Streus!

"Nigel, I'm going to count."

"You're so annoying old woman! I want her to be my partner, can't you get it?!"

That's it! I loose my patience. How many times do I have to tell her that I want Vanessa as my partner but she keeps on blabbering that I'm too tall, doesn't she know that height doesn't matter?!

"Nigel, I don't like that attitude," she muttered as she glared at me.

Who cares?

"Don't worry old freckled woman. I don't like you too!" I shouted back.

I saw how her eyes widened in disbelief while my classmates just laugh with my remark. Hah! She should thank me that I didn't called her ugly.

"Get out!" she shouted angrily. She even get the stick to point where the door is.

Fine! I'll get out but I will ask mom to kick her out in this school too. And when she's out I can already become Vanessa's partner in this dance class.

I was about to stand up but a familiar voice echoed inside the classroom. It sounded like a voice of a sirene. Not that I already saw a sirene and heard its voice but that is a personification or metaphor or whatsoever it is. I was asleep when the old freckled woman taught it.

"Miss. I will talk to Nigel so please don't make him out of your class," she pleaded.

I was totally amazed by what she said. Amazed is not the right word. I was totally moved! I can see it. She also has a crush on me! Aha! Tsk. Tsk. Nothing can beat the handsomeness that I, Nigel Streus, have.

"As if he will listen to you," the old freckled woman said.

Hah! If Vanessa says it. I will going to do it. Even if it means jumping on the rooftop.

"Ahm. Nigel, can you just do what Miss said? Promise! If you do that I will eat lunch with you," Vanessa stated looking at her sideways.

She's blushing and the thought of it makes me blush too.

"If you say so," I responded. And what the! I can't suppress myself from grinning. Argh!

•••••

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

"Hey! Don't laugh!" pagpipigil ko sa kanya sa napakalakas na pagtawa niya ngunit parang hindi niya ako naririnig.

Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtawa at alam kong kanina pa namumula ang buong pisngi ko. Wala pa akong napagkuwentuhan ng pangyayaring iyon sa buhay ko. Wala pa! Kahit na ang NAKSS.

"Seriously Nigel? Ganoon ba kalakas ang tama mo kay- anong pangalan niya ulit?"

"Vanessa."

"Tama Vanessa!"

"That was in the past," pagpupumilit ko.

"Ilang taon ka noon?" tanong niya na pinipigilan pa ang tawa ngunit kumakawala pa rin.

"9 or 10?" patanong na sagot ko.

"You're too young Nigel," she commented as she sipped on her coke in can.

I sighed. I can't believe this girl. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya ako nagawang pagkuwentuhin ng childhood memory ko. Damn! Sa susunod nga iiwasan ko na 'to. Hindi na ako magpapa-iwan kasama siya.

Kaya lang kanino naman ako sasama?

Kay Seikon? Huwag na, papatayin ako ni Sera.

Kay Sine? Ililibing ako ni Kuya ng buhay.

Kay Kestrel? Magkaka-world war 3.

Kay Alesa? Oo single kami pareho pero hindi kasi ako si Seikon kaya malabong pumasa ako sa standards niya.

Sige! Ako na ang kawawa! Ako na ang hindi mahal ng nanay ko!

"Hindi ka pa naman nababaliw 'di ba?" tanong ko sa kanya nang makita kong bahagya siyang nakangiti.

Ipinikit niya ang mata niya at dinama ang malakas na hangin. Ang buhok niya na hanggang balikat ay nililipad lipad at ang ilan ay humaharang sa mukha niya. Wala namang nagsabi sa akin na ganito kahangin sa rooftop. Pati puso ko tinatangay.

"Masaya lang ako," sagot niya nang bumaling sa akin.

"Halata nga."

"I'm just happy to know your other side. You know, lagi na lang ang happy go lucky side mo 'yung pinapakita mo. Hindi ko alam na may half childish half pasaway side ka pala," mahabang aniya na hindi na nakatingin sa akin.

Pinagmasdan ko lang siya habang patuloy pa ring hinahangin ang buhok niya. Wala akong masabi. She's beautiful in her own ways. Hindi man siya nabiyayaan ng tangkad, puti, sobrang tangos na ilong ay maganda siya.

May salamin ako kaya huwag ni'yo akong sabihang malabo ang mata ko.

"Doctor Nigel," tawag niya sa akin kaya kaagad kong iwinaksi ang mga gumugulo sa isipan ko.

Tinignan ko siya habang naghihintay sa mga susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Tell me more about you, please," she pleaded.

Hindi ako kagaya ni Kuya na kayang sabihin ang salitang NO nang harap-harapan. Hindi rin naman ako mamamatay kung sakali mang ikuwento ko iyon. Hindi naman ako madamot, baka mamaya ma-ikwento niya rin sa iba at gawan pa ako ng libro. Instant celebrity na ako.

Nigel Streus. Celebrity- Doctor

Gandang pakinggan!

"Since this is your last day here, sige na nga! Ikukuwento ko na."