Chapter 9

Jade's Point of View

"Di tayo tuloy bukas dahil magkakaron na ng practice ang theatre club tuwing Sabado." Yan ang nasabi sa'kin kagad ni Ruben nitong lunch time.

"Why?" I feel bad that we won't get to hang out this weekend, but this is a chance for me to go with Leroi! Napa-inom na lang ako ng tubig so i can hide my damn grin.

"Na-aksidente yung actor na may role na Romeo, at ako yung ipinalit nila." I choked on water! Di ako makapaniwala sa nasabi ni Ruben. "Ano!?"

"Sabi ko ako yung ipinalit nila sa actor nang Romeo..." Seryoso!? "...so i'll be twice as busy. I've got a lot of lines to memorize."

"Are you sure about that!? Hindi ba parang ilang weeks na lang tas play nyo na!?"

"Yeah, but i can manage." Sagot nya at confident pa. Well if he thinks he can do it, then maybe he really can. I'm just glad this happened, hindi ko na kailangan magsinungaling pa kay Ruben.

And so our day continued. After classes, dumiretcho na kagad si Ruben sa kanyang club. Pagkarating ko naman sa locker ko ay may mga maliliit na regalo nanaman si Leroi na binigay sa akin. I kept it all in my bag and went to the school gym.

Naki-usap kasi ni Leroi na puntahan ko sya sa school gym ngayon dahil nagpapractice sila para sa upcoming game nila. As i got there, they were already playing. Naupo lang ako sa bleachers habang pinapanood sila.

Looking at Leroi who's serious at his game, di talaga ako makapaniwala na may gusto sa'kin ang isang popular guy na gaya nya. Unlike Caiden who's super studious, Leroi is more into athletic sports like this. Last time he won in a swimming competition and now he's trying to focus on basketball.

Napangiti na lang ako habang pinagmamasdan syang naglalaro. Maybe it won't be so hard to fall inlove with a guy like him, he's kinda sweet and funny. And maybe it would've been better if sya na yung nagustuhan ko nong umpisa pa lang.

"Oh hey." Napatingin ako sa kumausap sa'kin.

Mukhang isa din sya sa mga players pero di sya kasamang naglalaro doon. He doesn't really look like a player, he's quite skinny and delicate pero parehas kasi sila ng suot ni Leroi. "Uh hey." I replied.

Umupo sya ng medyo malapit sa akin at uminom sa bote nya. I thought di nya na ko kakausapin pero nagsalita sya ulit. "So sino dyan yung boyfriend mo?" Now that i see him closely, he looked a bit cute.

Napa-iling na lang ako. "No uhh, i'm just here to see a friend of mine play." Ayoko namang i-assume na boyfriend ko na si Leroi dahil di nya pa 'ko tinatanong at di ko pa sya sinasagot! Tsaka paano kung bigla magbago isip ni Leroi sa'kin?

"Talaga? Swerte naman ng kaibigan mo na 'yan." Aniya't natawa, medyo nagtaka naman ako sa nasabi nya.

"Huh?"

"If i were him, i'd quit this game and just stay with a cute girl like you." Wow, lakas bumanat neto ah.

"Sorry but, who are you?" Tanong ko.

"I'm just an extra member here. Anyways, i have to go take a shower now. It was nice talking with you." Then he left as soon as the game was over.

What a weird guy.

Nang makita ako ni Leroi kagad syang lumapit sa'kin. "You're here!" Natutuwa nyang sambit. Para lang syang bata na nakita yung paborito nyang palabas or pagkain, ewan ko kung sinasadya nya 'to para magmukhang cute pero ang cute nya talaga. Takte.

"So how was i? Ang galing ko ba?" Sa tanong nya, he's really expecting me to praise him.

"Yeah! Ang galing mo talaga!" I just went along with it so he would stop with the overconfident self-praising.

"Hehe, i know right? Sobrang galing ko talaga." He was really cute, now i just want to shut him up. I just kept on nodding to every praise he says to himself. Ngayon napapa-isip na talaga ako, am i sure about this shit?

Then out of nowhere, he held my hand and gave me the sweetest smile. "I guess all of that wouldn't be possible if it weren't for you. You're my motivation after all!"

Napangiti ako, maybe i can get used to this... maybe? But nah... who am i kidding, i think i'm starting to really like Leroi.

Ruben's Point of View

I feel so tired from all the practicing. Buti na lang binigyan din kami ni pres ng ilang minutong pahinga. Nakakainis lang talaga, ba't pa kasi naaksidente si Niel?

Then suddenly, lumapit sa akin si pres for a little chat. "You were doing great a great job as Romeo! I'm really glad that i had you as the substitute for Neil." Aniya.

"Yeah thanks." I couldn't really care less right now. I'm just too tired.

"So about the kissing scenes.." nanlaki mata ko sa narinig.

"No! We're not doing that." Sabi ko sa kanya. I looked at miss clean freak from afar with a lot of disgust. No way i'm gonna kiss that bitch.

"We can skip that at the practices pero kailangan yon pagdating na sa mismong play. Atsaka maganda naman ang Juliet natin ah?" Anong maganda sa babaeng yon? All she ever do is bitch around me.

"I still prefer not to." I answered.

"Hmm, bakit naman? Nahihiya ka ba or something?"

"No, it's not that---"

"So you're gay!?" Nakakalokong hula ni pres. Mababatukan ko talaga 'tong babae na 'to kung'di lang sya president ng club na 'to.

"I'm not gay! I don't want to do that damn kissing scene because i already have a girlfriend." Palusot ko, well it's kinda true though. Jade's my girlfriend, she's just not aware of that fact yet.

"Woah, to think someone so cold and grumpy like you have a girlfriend... you just blew my mind." I didn't know if that was an insult or a compliment. I just ignored her because it was a worthless conversation anyway.

And as practice resumed, my mind was still quite bothered by Jade. I really need to get rid of that Leroi soon. Damn it.

Jade's Point of View

I didn't get much sleep last night 'cause i kept thinking about today, Sabado na at may date kami ni Leroi! And i don't know what to do right now. Di ko alam kung ano susuotin ko tsaka kung ano ayos ng buhok ko.

"Ugh! Ba't kase di ako marunong mag-make up?" Napanguso lang ako habang nakatingin sa mga make-up products na binili ko. Ba't nga ba ako bumili ng mga ganito, eh di naman ako marunong?

Napabuntong hininga lang ako at itinabi na lang ang mga 'to. Ang naiwan lang ang lipstick na kulay pink. Nag-apply ako non ng onti tsaka namili na 'ko ng damit na susuotin. Kaso pagkabukas ko ng closet ko, di ko alam kung ano kukunin ko.

Magde-dress ba 'ko? Or jeans?

Takte ang hirap naman maging babae! Kinuha ko na lang yung pinakabagong dress na ipinadala sa'kin ni mama at yun na lang ang sinuot ko. Pagkatingin ko naman sa salamin, buhaghag pa buhok ko.

"Aish, dapat nagpagupit na lang ako." Sabi ko ng suklayin ko na buhok ko, sobrang haba eh! Nakakatamad magsuklay.

Hinayaan ko na lang na nakalugay ang buhok ko at naglagay ako ng clip para di gumulo bangs ko. Pinagmasdan ko sarili ko sa salamin. I sighed. "Pwede na siguro 'to?"

Pagkalabas ko ng kwarto ko parang nagkaheart attack ako saglit sa nakita ko. "I-Ikaw lang pala dad, hehe..." napahawak pa ko sa dibdib ko na parang pinapakalma puso ko.

Takte nakakagulat talaga. Akala ko nasa trabaho sya! But it seems like he took a day off dahil nakapambahay lang sya ngayon.

Napatingin sya sa akin mula ulo hanggang paa, kinabahan naman ako sa tingin nya. Kung makatingin kasi si dad parang kakatay eh. "Saan punta mo?" Tanong nya, pero halatang wala naman syang pake sa'kin.

"U-Uh ano... uhm.." shet, ano sasabihin ko!?

Ayoko namang sabihin na may date ako ngayon, baka bigla nya kong pagbawalan. Medyo kj din kasi itong si dad-- ayaw nya yata akong nakikitang masaya. "Are you going out with Ruben today?" Aniya.

Kagad naman akong napa-oo. "Y-Yeah! Pupunta lang kami sa mall ngayon, mamamasyal-masyal lang."

My gosh, i'm so sorry for lying dad! But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, kaya please lang 'wag mo na lang ako pansinin!!

Nagulat ako ulit ng lumapit sya sa akin at pinunasan nya ang gilid ng labi ko. Then he placed his hand on my shoulder. "Lampas pa lipstick mo. Anyway, have fun with your date." Then umalis na sya.

Am i dreaming?

Did dad act just like a real dad to me right now? Napangiti na lang ako at umalis na ng bahay. Nagpahatid naman ako sa lugar kung saan namin pinag-usapan magkita. At pagkarating ko doon ay nandon na rin sya.

He look so good with his dark blue jeans and gray checkered shirt. Nang makita nya ako ay kumaway sya at lumapit kaagad sa akin. "Wow, just wow... i never thought simple could be this beautiful." Pambobola nya.

Napa-iwas na lang ako ng tingin. "Whatever, s-so saan tayo pupunta?"

"Wherever the wind take us to!" What!?-- Napahawak sya sa kamay ko at hinila ako. "L-Leroi! Teka lang!" Dinala nya ako kung saan nakapark ang motorcycle nya.

"Here, you take this." Then binigay nya ang isang helmet nya. Pagkasuot ko ng helmet sumakay na sya. Medyo nag-alanganin naman ako sumakay dahil first time kong sasakay sa ganito. "Tara na!" Aya niya.

I just sighed at napasakay din. Kumapit ako sa balikat nya tas natawa pa sya sa'kin. "What's so funny?" I asked.

"You should hold on to me like this, baka mas lalo kang mafall haha." He took my hands at pinayakap ako sa kanya. "Hold on tight!" I did what he said then we finally took off.

While we were on the road, the fast wind felt so good and as well as his scent tickling my nose. I never thought this is how we'll start our date.

I tried to imagine what might possibly happen today. Are we gonna go have romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant? Are we gonna walk at a park filled with beautiful flowers and other views? Or are we gonna go to some place where he'll give me surprise?

Not that i want to expect to much out of this date, i just hope i have a fun time.

"I hope you like this!" After an hour we finally arrived at some place.

"Anong lugar 'to?" I asked as i got off his bike. The place was like a big garden, filled with colorful roses and it has this small hut in its center.

"Ah, this is my mom's garden. It's our favorite place to hang out. Dad built this for her birthday when i was younger." Kwento nya.

Kinuha nya ang susi nya sa kanyang bulsa at binuksan ang gate nitong garden.

"Wow, this place looks so great! But why did your dad built it here? Ba't hindi sa bahay nyo?" Pagkapasok ko sa garden, naaamoy ko na ang bango ng mga rosas.

"Well dad had this spare land, di nya alam kung paano nya gagamitin 'to kaya niregalo nya na lang kay mom. Tsaka katabi kasi nito yung hotel namin." Then tinuro nya yung building na malapit sa lugar na 'to.

Namangha na lang ako sa ganda ng garden na 'to. "Your dad loves your mom a lot huh." I hate to admit that i'm a bit jealous. Hiwalay kasi ang parents ko.

"Yeah, but it's just sad..." napatingin ako sa kanya ng mapahinto sya sa pagsasalita. Napaupo sya at nangolekta ng mga pulang rosas. "...that my mom had to die." Oh...

"I'm sorry to hear that." Sabi ko.

Natahimik na lang ako, di ko na alam kung ano pa ang sasabihin ko sa kanya. I just continued to gaze on the beautiful roses then bigla nyang inabot sa akin ang naipon nyang mga rosas. "For you."

"Ah thanks." Kinuha ko ito at napangiti na lang sa kanya.

He smiled but he was obviously looked sad. "Maybe i shouldn't have mentioned my mom. You probably feel pity for me."

"N-No! Not at all!--i-i mean i feel sad that you lost your mom, but i uhh-- ugh! It's fine." Gosh nakakahiya, nataranta kasi ako. Di ko alam kung anong dapat kong sabihin sa kanya.

He just laughed then suddenly pinched my cheeks gently. "Why are you so damn cute!? Hahahaha!" Namula ako at tinabig ang kamay nya.

"Ano ba Leroi!" Nahihiya kong sigaw.

He laughed so loudly. "Sorry, i just can't help it! Ang cute mo kasi hahahaha!"

Napagmasdan ko na lang syang tumatawa. He looked really happy with me here. Napangiti na lang ako at napatingin sa mga rosas na binigay nya.

I think i'm really starting to like this guy. If i ever end up with him, i wish he'll be happier with me.

to be continued