Chapter 1

KISS

Nasa gym kami para sa last subject namin na PE when I heard shrieks from our fellow students outside our gym.

Napatingin ako sa kanila nang akma kong isiserve ang bola.

Natigil ang lahat dahil sa akin.

I turned my attention back to our play.

Our class was divided into four teams, six girls each team. We were competing with each team and the team that will win would be exempted. So everyone was pumped up because it would be one less problem for us in finals.

I served the ball and landed quickly on the floor. Our opponent didn't even notice the ball because they were busy looking at something.

Our teacher blew his whistle and announced the winner. We won.. but I felt I cheated kasi nadistract na sila sa tinitignan nila.

My teammates called for a celebration. So pumayag ako. Tutal wala naman akong gagawin sa bahay and since last year na namin ito sa primary, mas magandang magbonding kami for the last time.

And I'm studying at an all girl school. And probably all girl school again sa high school. Sobrang strict ni Kuya Ashmere dahil ayaw niya akong makihalubilo sa opposite sex.

Wala naman akong pakialam kung saan ako mag aral. As long as they have the best facilities and curriculum.

Anyway, iyong mga kalaban namin ay parang wala nang pakialam sa result. Hay nako.. kanina lang okay pa sila. Competitive. Then biglang nagbago ang hangin.

I wiped the sweat that went to my eyes. It stung. I walked quietly side by side with my teammates who couldn't stop talking about our celebratory party after this.

When I was about to pick up my bag, I looked at our teacher who was busy talking to Peter! Why the hell was he here? Asan si Kuya?! So it was him who made my classmates distracted? Asar.. hindi nalang naghintay sa car park!

He looked so serious and dark while staring at me. Nagmadali kong pinulot ang duffel bag ko at dumiretso sa shower room. Napangiwi ako ng bigla akong nakaramdam ng cramps. But it went away.

I stepped under the shower and quickly wash my sweat off.

I dried my skin and hair then put some lotion bago ako nagmadaling nagbihis.

I still feel uncomfortable whenever he was around. Kahit medyo umayos ang pakikitungo ko sa kanya ay hindi ko pa rin matagalan ang mga titig niya. Para niyang binabasa ang nasa isip ko. Kaya naiilang ako.

I closed my locker and came out. Wala nang ibang tao sa shower room. Sobrang bibilis naman nilang naligo!

My PE teacher was gone kaya napatagilid ako ng ulo. Saan naman na kaya si Peter nito? Baka nakikipagflirt na? Wala talagang pinapatawad! Kahit elementary papatusin! Masyadong playboy!

I furrowed my eyebrows then walked towards the exit. Someone grabbed my wrist. I slammed onto a hard chest. I heard gasps from my classmates.

I decided to play innocent. Kahit naiinis na.

"Oh my, sorry po. Why are you here po?"I asked him. I stressed the word po at the last part of my sentences.

He breathed slowly. I could see his blue eyes suddenly turn a shade darker. I became curious. Like I wanted to pull him closer and look at his beautiful eyes.

"I'm here to pick you up love. So if you are finished we better head home."he said huskily.

His voice gave me goosebumps.

I shook my head stiffly. I stepped back.

"I need to go out with my classmates po. You go ahead and I will get Manong Ram to fetch me po."i said and looked behind him. My classmates were pushing themselves to go near us. I wanted to roll my eyes at them.

Kaya ako naiinis eh! Dahil lahat nalang nang babae napupunta sa kanya ang atensyon!

I pulled my hand away and walked to my classmates.

"Right girls? We will go somewhere else?"i smiled sweetly at them. Then glanced at him with my brow raised up.

He sighed softly. Like his losing patience. He didn't even bother to look at my classmates. How rude!

I often wondered how the hell he gets his girls if he's like this.

"You can come Mister."Anne said. She eyed me like I have to invite this guy.

"Don't worry Mister. We will just get some ice cream."May said politely.

"Why don't you introduce us to your friend Shanelle?"Loi suggested. Hindi na nakatiis.

Naiiritang pinakilala ko sila isa- isa.

"These are my classmates, Anne, May, Loi, Eris, and Kyla. Girls this is my brother's friend Peter Leo. Now shake hands so we can go."

I crossed my arms and looked at Peter expectantly. Habang pinapakilala ko sila ay hindi man lang talaga sumulyap ang magaling sa mga kasama ko. Ang bastos lang.

Nang hindi siya kumilos ay napasinghap na ako sa sobrang inis!

Then I saw the corner of his sexy lips rose up. And his eyes sparkling. He was laughing at me!

He nodded quickly at my classmates finally acknowledging them then grabbed my arm.

I heard my classmates giggle.

The freak? He just nodded and these stupid girls became happy and crazy?

What was happening to this world?

"You don't need to introduce them to me if you didn't like it."he crouched down to guide me on his passenger seat and put my seatbelt on.

I held my breath when he got near me. His scent hit my nostrils.

"I don't care. You can have any girl you want."I said acidly. I rolled my eyes at him.

He chuckled and pinched my cheek.

I squatted his hand.

"So cute."then turned to the driver's seat.

"Where to love?"he asked me. Wearing his freaking smile that gave my heart a flip.

Cursed him.

Nagrequest ang mga classmates ko na mag ice cream so nauwi kami sa gelato shop na pinuntahan namin ni Peter noong nakaraan, habang naghihintay kay Peter na nag order ng ice cream namin ay tinanong ako ng tinanong about sa kanya. I answered all of their questions boredly. Sana pala hindi nalang ako sumama.

"What about his number girl? Pashare naman." Loi said.

"Why don't you get it yourself?" Naiinis na ako but I restrained myself.

"Duh! Sapalagay mo ba ibibigay niya sa amin?!" Loi said while rolling her eyes.

"Kaya nga eh. Sige na. Textmates kami!" Kyla said then took her phone out. Lahat sila gumaya. "Here.." i gave my phone. "I didn't have his contacts. Never bothered." Nag unahan sila sa pagtingin. Nakasimangot na binalik nila sa akin ang phone ko.

"Ay ano ba yan! Kaibigan ng kuya mo, tapos wala kang number nya?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Anne.

"Yong kay Kuya mo nalang!" Tumatawang sabi ni May. I just shook my head. Alam nila na madamot ako pagdating sa kuya ko. Kaya hindi oobra ang pasimple nilang banat.

"Pero wag ka, kay Shanelle lang laging nakatingin si Peter!" Nakangiting sabi ni Eris.

Napakunot ang noo ko ng tumango silang lahat.

"Baka ikaw iyong tipo niya. Kinikilig ako sa inyo." Anne said.

"He has lots of girl everywhere. And I'm too young for him!" I said. I cleared my throat when I sounded bitter.

Napatingin sila sa likuran ko. Alam ko na kung bakit..

They giggled and sat up straight when Peter came back with a tray full of ice cream. He laid the tray on the table and took two cups. One with two scoops of strawberry gelato and one Cappuccino.

He placed mine in front of me. I smiled shortly.

I was sitting on the corner of the long cushioned chair. With a little space maybe a baby could fit in, next to the glass wall.

Nabigla ako nang imbes umupo sa pagitan nina May at Loi ay doon siya sumiksik sa maliit na space sa may glass wall.

Napausog ako pati na rin ang katabi kong si May. Nagkatinginan ang mga classmates ko. Lou and May were disappointed. Halata sa mga mata nila.

Silly girls.

Anne tried to talk to Peter but he just either nod or shake his head. Ang gandang kausap. He was quietly eating his gelato.

I was talking and laughing with my classmates when I felt another cramp. Kaninang umaga ko pa nararamdaman ang mabigat kong tyan pero wala naman akong diarrhea.

Nang mawala ang sakit ay nagmadali akong sumubo ng sumubo. I think I needed to use the toilet! And I didn't want to leave my gelato because it might melt at ayoko na noon!

"Love slow down."he whispered on my ear. I cocked my head to look at him. Nabigla ako ng punasan niya ang labi ko. Napabuka ako ng mga labi dahil sa sensasyon.

I heard my classmates gasp. Napatingin ako sa kanila while my heart was beating so fast. Nakatunganga sila sa amin na parang nanonood nang kdrama. My hands were shaking so I had to hide it on my lap.

I felt his big warm hand covered my small one. I looked at him. He just continued eating his ice cream. Smiling slightly.

I tried to pull my hand but he didn't let it go. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata but he never glanced at me. I sighed and tried to calm myself.

I continued eating my gelato that was melting. At nawalan ako ng gana.

I pushed the cup away from me.

Peter's head instantly turned to me. "You don't want it anymore?" He whispered.

Napatango lang ako.

He let go of my hand under the table and took my cup with my plastic spoon.

He exchanged our cups. I picked up his spoon and tried his.

Hmm..Not bad.

He was looking at lips and my tongue while I was licking the spoon. I just knotted my forehead.

His blue eyes were clouded with some emotion I couldn't understand.

Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay napasinghap ako.

He's so beautiful.

So beautiful.

I went to the toilet again when I felt my face heats up. Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko. Bakit ang lakas ng dating niya sa akin! Simpleng titig lang ay nagbabago na ang pakiramdam ko.

Naghilamos ako ng mukha at nagpunas. Biglang sumakit na naman ang puson ko at nakaramdam ako ng parang may lumabas! Oh my! Para akong nakaihi!

I quickly went to the cubicle and pulled down my panties.

I saw blood and I panicked.

Oh my! What to do? Hindi ko ini-expect na magkakaroon ako nito! I wasn't prepared.

I thought of my classmates. What if umuwi na sila dahil hindi sila nakapaghintay sa akin? Yong school bag ko pa naman ay iniwan ko na sa kotse ni Peter with my phone in it.

I cried helplessly. I was in pain. And didn't know what to do.

Someone knocked on the door.Bigla akong nabuhayan ng loob.

I dried my tears and called out. Asking for help.

"Love you okay?"I heard Peter's voice outside.

Dahil sa walang pagpipilian ay tinawag ko siya para humingi ng tulong.

"Hey, are you with anyone there?"his voice full of concern.

"No. Nobody's in here. Please it's very painful!"i shouted when I felt another cramp.

I heard the door opened and closed.

"What happened love?"he knocked on each cubicle.

"Last cubicle." I was curled up on the toilet bowl.

"Love, please tell me what happened."his voice was begging now.

"I have tummy cramps. Then I thought I peed myself. Then I saw blood Peter!"I explained. Crying when I felt another cramp. Mas masakit na.

I clutched my groin and tried to push. Groaning like a wounded animal.

"Love hang on. I just get something for you. Please wait for me."I heard his quick footsteps and after a minute or so he came back and knocked on my door again.

"Love, I brought your bag here with me. You can change your panties. I asked your classmate to put that pad on.

Then I saw my duffel bag on the floor.

I quickly grabbed my bag and opened it.

May nakita nga akong panty ko na may nakalagay ng sanitary pad. I cleaned myself and put it on. I felt relieved.

I heard some footsteps again and my classmates came in.

"Shanelle, inumin mo ito para mawala yan menstrual cramps mo."

I kicked my duffel bag and then they pushed it back in. May nakalagay ng tablet ng gamot at bottled water. Nang mainom ko ito ay dahan dahan ko ng binuksan ang pintuan ng cubicle. Nakita ko si Peter na pinapanood ang kilos ko.

I smiled a little. Didn't know what to say.

He grabbed me and enveloped me into a hug. I could felt his harsh breathing and fast heartbeat.

"I thought something happened to you love."he whispered and kissed my forehead. He inhaled my scent and slowly exhaled.

"Damn love.."

I was silent on our way back home.

I looked at Peter. He was quiet too and kept clenching his jaw from time to time. Annoyed at something I guessed.

His face was dark.

"Thanks Peter."I solemnly said.

I was sincere this time. Even if it was so embarrassing to ask a grown up man to get me a napkin, he didn't hesitate to help me.

I felt my face heat up again.

He looked at me for a moment then glanced back on the road.

"You need to take your phone with you all the time love."he said seriously.

I nodded my head even if his eyes were on the road.

"I never thought this will happen Peter."I answered back.

"Then from now on."he said then clenched his jaw. Napakagat ako ng labi. He looked formidable but still beautiful.

We pulled up when we arrived at our house. I quickly got out of his car without waiting for him.

He was on my side in an instant and pulled my bag at the backseat.

He also held my hand as we walked quietly. His grip tightened when we were inside. He pulled me towards his body and embraced me.

"Please never do that again."he pleaded. Concern evident on his voice.

"I'm sorry for troubling you."apologetically I looked at his hooded eyes. I put my hands over his broad shoulders and tiptoed. Then kissed the side of his lips. Napaatras ako.

It was supposed to be a kiss on his cheek. But he suddenly turned his face towards me.

I let go of his shoulder and stepped back.

I covered my lips with my hand and my eyes wide with surprise.

"I-it was supposed to be on the cheek Peter."I defended my action.

"Yeah right.." he said smugly. Biglang bumalik ang kinaiinisan kong expression ng mukha niya! Kanina okay na eh. Humalik na nga ako because I appreciated his help..

"It was!"my voice in high pitched.

"I swear!"

His brow turned up. Then eyed my lips. Naiilang na dinilaan ko ang ibaba kong labi. His blue eyes turned a shade darker suddenly. His smirk dropped

"Don't ever do that to any boy."he said warningly. Napalunok ako.

Then I shook my head. "I never thought of kissing anyone Peter!"I shouted. Baka naman akala niya kung sino-sino na lang ang hinahalikan ko.

He eyed me darkly.

"Good. Now go to your room to rest and I will talk to Tita and Tito."he ordered me.

I nodded my head and grabbed my bag in his hand.

"You don't mind me having dinner with you, do you?"he said when I turned my back on him.

I shook my head and ran upstairs.

Double embarrassment.

Great day indeed.