Chapter 12: Tsundere

Ace's POV

"Mr. Martin Ace?"

I know someone's calling me but I can't focus.

"Mr. Martin Ace D. Lopez!"

For the second time, wala ako sa focus para pansinin kung sinong tumatawag sa akin. 'Yung tipong parang echo ang tumatawag sa pangalan ko sa malayo.

Then, someone from behind me is continuously tapping my back. Hindi ko pa rin pinapansin kasi I was just focused on daydreaming and looking at the window.

"Aray!" I shouted and tiningnan ko kung sino ang kumurot sa likod ko.

It was Tara.

"Ace, kanina ka pa tinatawag ng teacher natin." She whispered.

Tiningnan ko ang paligid ko and lahat sila nakatingin sa akin! Ano na naman 'tong kahihiyang ginawa ko?

"Mr. Martin Ace, are you with us? Share mo naman kung anong iniisip mo and para kang nanonood ng music video d'yan sa bintana!" the teacher scolded me.

"I'm sorry po, Mrs. Perulina." I said while looking so embarassed.

"Stand up!" she shouted.

I stood up and looked at our Geometry teacher na nanggagalaiti and I was like "Galit na galit, gustong manakit?"

"Who's the father of Geometry?" she asked.

"Euclid po, Mrs. Perulina." I answered.

"Two angles that add up to 90 degrees?" she asked another question.

Duh? Ano ba naman 'yang mga tanong niya? "Complementary Angles po, Mrs. Perulina."

Mrs. Perulina smirked and said, "Go to the board!"

"Okay po, Mrs. Perulina."

Tumayo ako sa whiteboard and she gave me a marker. I'm guessing that she'll let me solve a problem. Bring it on, Mrs. Perulina!

"Find the surface area and volume of a cube whose edge is 6 units!" she asked with a very strict tone and a stern face.

"To find the surface area, we'll need to use the formula for finding the surface area of a cube which is A = 6a squared." I said while I'm writing the formula sa whiteboard.

While writing the solution, sinasabi ko rin kung paano ito ginagawa, "Using the formula, 'A' is the Area, then equals to 6 and 'a' whould the the '6 units' then put squared. Then by calculating it, surface area is 216 units squared. To get the Volume naman, use V = a cube, 'V' is volume then 'a' is should be 6 units then cube... answer is 216 units cube." I said as soon as I wrote the final answers and closed the marker and gave it to her.

Somebody from our class just clapped slowly, then sumunod na 'yung iba.

"Wooh! Galing galing naman ni Ace!" Tara shouted then naghiyahawan na rin ang iba ko pang classmates.

Sa totoo lang, mas mahirap pa 'yung situation na kinakaharap ko sa buhay ko ngayon dahil sa three weirdos na gumugulo sa akin, kaysa sa problem na binibigay ng geometry teacher namin! Ano ba 'yan!

"Baka first place MTAP 'yan!" another guy classmate of mine shouted, the one that's sitting in front of me sa seatplan sa room, si Lester.

Napaface-palm na lamang si Mrs. Perulina and said, "Sa susunod, Mr. Martin Ace, please pay attention. I know na magaling ka sa Math subjects mo. But, please, during our classes refrain from daydreaming. Nakakatulog ka pa ba? Ang lalim na ng mga mata mo, bawas pogi points 'yan!" She said and pinabalik niya na ako sa upuan ko.

Nang makaupo na ako sa seat ko, I tapped Lester and whispered, "Thanks, Lester."

"No problem! Anytime! Basta papakopyahin mo lang ako palagi! Haha!" Lester said.

Then I looked at Tara that's sitting behind me, "Thanks din, Tara." I said.

"Mag-uusap tayo later after class. May ikukwento ka sa akin, I can feel it!" she whispered.

"Wala 'no." I said.

After our Geometry class, which was the last class for the day, hindi na napigilan ni Tara ang sarili niya and tumayo na siya sa harap ko while I was cleaning my desk.

"So, Ace, spill the tea! Bakit ka nagde-daydream kanina?" she asked.

"Wala, hindi lang ako nakatulog kakabasa ng yaoi manga kagabi. Haha!" I said.

"No, it's more than that! 'Yung totoo, Ace?" she said.

I looked at her bag na buhat buhat niya and I said, "Malaki ba 'yang bag mo? Itago mo na lang ako d'yan. Ayoko magpakita."

"Why! Ano nangyari!" she whispered and got so intrigued.

I don't know if kaya ko sabihin sa kanya kasi involved ang step brother niya dito na si Jeffrey. But then again, I just needed to talk to someone, and I think Tara is the best person that'll understand me the most right now.

"Tara, straight ako sa paningin mo, right?" I asked.

"Oo, kasi sabi mo!" she said then laughed.

"But seriously, do I look like one of the ukes? Hindi na ba ako mukhang straight?" I asked, since up to date, tatlong guys, which I assume that they are Semes, are the ones na nanggugulo sa akin most of the time.

"Hmmm." she paused and looked at me and said, "A 'Tsundere' na uke!" She said and laughed.

By the way, if you don't know what a 'Tsundere' is, ito 'yung mga tao na may pagka-cold, mainitin ang ulo, temperemental, and in the long run, nagiging friendly as time goes by, in short pabebe na mataray. Haha!

"No, I'm not a 'Tsundere'!" I exclaimed.

"Yes you are. Sabi kaya sa akin ni kuya Jeffrey, he made you into a more 'Tsundere' type sa novel niya compared sa totoong buhay. So he sees you as a 'Tsundere'." she said.

Since lumabas na ang pangalan ni Jeffrey, I need to spill the tea, I guess?

"Tara, kasi, I have this serious problem. May tatlong guys and I think that they're pursuing me." I whispered.

"O.M.G.! Tatlo ang nanliligaw sa'yo? Da who?" she whispered while her eyes were widely open.

"Ayoko na pangalanan, but, they know I'm straight pero napakapersistent nila. Parang wala na ngang araw na hindi ko sila nakikita and nahihirapan na ako! Parang gusto ko na lang magtago! I don't know what to do!" I said while I'm about to give her a breakdown.

"Ace... you're living inside a yaoi and BL world na! I'm so proud of you!" she said.

"Ano naman ang nakaka proud doon ha? It's not even fun! Tsaka I'm not gay and I'm not interested sa kahit sino sa kanilang tatlo and I prefer not to!" I said.

"Malapit na, Ace." Tara said.

"Malapit na ang alin?" I asked.

"Mapalit ka na maging straight-turned-gay! Haha!" she added.

"Baliw ka talaga, Tara! But seriously, hindi ko na din alam ang gagawin ko." I said.

"Alam mo, Ace, madali lang 'yan. Para kang hindi nagbabasa ng yaoi and BL ano? Pero sige, I'll help you! Ako ang magiging guardian angel mo sa journey na 'to and tingnan natin kung sino sa 3 guys ang magwawagi sa puso mo. Hihi!" she said.

"No! I don't want to be with them! Kahit sino sa kanila!" I exclaimed.

"Hindi iyon ang nakikita ko sa mga mata mo, Ace. The fact that you're daydreaming means bothered ka sa kanilang tatlo. In fact, I feel na nahihirapan ka mamili sa kanila. Hahaha!" She said.

What if totoo nga ang sinabi ni Tara? What if I'm just building a wall as a facade to cover myself from this monstrosity?

"Then, what shall I do?" I asked.

"Oh, I thought straight ka? Haha! Bakit ka bothered?" she said.

"Yes I am... am I?" I asked and wondered.

"Ace, ikaw makakasagot niyan and not me. But ang masasabi ko lang, who ever makes you feel happy and cared the most, doon ka." she said.

"Pero paano kung tatlo silang ganoon sa akin?" I asked.

"Oh my gosh, Ace! Ang haba ng hair! Ganda lalaki eh! Ace, gusto ko makita mga moments niyo! Naiintriga ako! Kainis!" Tara said while laughing.

"Later, may concert for a cause akong pupuntahan dito sa school. And all 3 of them, will be in the same venue. Gusto mo sumama?" I asked.

"Ace! Ang bad mo! Bakit mo sila pinagsasabay?" Tara whispered.

"No I'm not! I'm doing this dahil sa concert for a cause to help those who are in need! Isa pa, hindi ko sila pinagsasabay-sabay, since wala namang panliligaw na nagaganap, and I assure you na walang magaganap!" I said.

"Ace, Ace, Ace... Kailan kaya lalambot ang puso mo? Hihi! Hirap talaga maging 'Tsundere', but gusto ko 'yan! Maging hard to get ka until mawalan na sila ng lakas ng loob." she said and it gave me an idea.

Naisip ko, if she thinks that I'm a Tsundere, then why not be one? As long as I don't open my heart sa tatlong 'yun, I'll be fine. My heart will be perfectly fine, walang sira, walang gasgas, walang basag, and fully furnished!

"Pupunta ako later sa concert since may ticket din ako. Sabay na lang tayo later!" Tara said.

"Sure, I'll be with Chester and Harry." I said.

"Alam mo, 'yang dalawa mong bestfriend, feeling ko may something sa kanila." she said while her eyes were squinting.

I smirked then I asked kung anong napapansin ni Tara, "Anong nakikita mo sa kanila?"

"Well, kahapon ata 'yun or the other day, basta, they were beside the gym and eating merienda. Nakaupo sila sa isang bench and they were facing each other. So itong Fujoshi instinct ko sensed something. Nag spy ako sa kanilang dalawa and I saw the unexpected." Tara whispered.

"Ano nakita mo?" I asked while smiling dahil natutuwa ako since I'm one step closer from winning the deal, the 10K!

"Sobrang sweet nila sa isa't isa! Nagsusubuan sila ng food and they were smiling and laughing at each other! Para silang nagde-date dalawa! And what's more, pinupunasan nila 'yung mga lips nila kapag may mga sauce na naiiwan! I mean, who does that? And medyo may lagkit 'yung mga tingin nila and I feel they were about to kiss!" Tara said while her pitch is getting higher.

I don't know about the kissing stuff, since Tara is a Fujoshi, may tendency na 'yung kwento ay baka may mga dagdag na dahil sa mga imagination na nabubuo sa utak niya. But hearing her story, that's enough for me.

"But do you think na may chance maging silang dalawa?" I asked.

"Yes! Sobrang bagay kaya nilang dalawa! Minsan, kapag silang dalawa lang sa room niyo sa dorm, try mo maglagay ng camera and check mo kung ano gagawin nilang dalawa! Hihihi!" Tara said.

Sounds like a plan, but I'd rather not. Mas gusto ko makita 'yung small steps nila kaysa magulat na lang ako one time big time sa ginagawa nila if wala ako sa tabi nila. I'm not yet ready to see my friends doing that stuff. Hahaha!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We're at the School Hall kung saan magaganap ang concert for a cause. Sobrang lamig sa lugar and I forgot to bring my jacket. Or baka nilalamig lang ako dahil kinakabahan ako? Haha! Anyway, kapag ako sinipon kinabukasan, alam ko na kung ano ang dahilan!

I'm also with Harry and Chester and we're standing in the middle of the venue waiting for Tara, Jeffrey and Lucas.

"Ace!" a very sharp and high pitched voice shouted my name from a far, and nang tiningnan ko ito, it was Tara together with her step brother Jeffrey.

We waved at them and pinuntahan na kami nina Tara and Jeffrey sa pwesto namin kung saan kami nakatayo. Yes, no seats and pakiramdam ko rakrakan 'tong concert na 'to.

"Ace, ready na ako ma-meet 'yung 3 guys na nililigawan ka!" Tara whispered to me.

"Nandito na 'yung isa." I said.

Tara looked around and hinahanap niya kung sino ang tinutukoy ko.

"Nasaan? Hindi ko makita? Wala naman nagpapapansin sayo ah?" Tara whispered.

"Mamaya, makikita mo." I said.

I can feel na mas lumalamig na sa lugar at nanginginig na din ako, bummer I forgot my jacket!

"Ace, you can wear this." Jeffrey said habang inaabot niya na naman ang Belstaff niyang jacket.

"Hindi, okay lang. Nakakahiya tsaka mamaya iinit din." I said while my lower jaw is shivering.

"Tsk, 'wag na makulit, Ace." Jeffrey said and sinuot niya sa akin ang jacket.

Wala akong nagawa...

Sobrang lamig sa venue and napakainit ng jacket niya like he's body was touching my heart. Like he's hugging me in this very cold place... Ahhh! What am I thinking!

Napatingin ako kina Tara, Harry, and Chester and they were looking at me and sobra silang gulat na gulat sa ginawa ni Jeffrey sa akin na sinuotan ako ng jacket.

"Ehem ehem, I didn't know! Chester, Harry, gusto niyo pumwesto tayo sa ibang lugar?" Tara said.

"Pakiramdam ko, parang hindi tayo kailangan dito. Alis na tayo?" Chester added.

"Let's go! Maraming antik dito, nakakainis!" Harry said as well.

I think alam na ni Tara kung sino ang tinutukoy ko and I think she doesn't have a problem with that. Does it mean na okay lang sa kanya?

Someone from behind tapped my shoulder with a very warm and tender hand and said, "I'm sorry, I'm late!" Lucas said.

Sobrang pawis na pawis na siya and siguro tumakbo siya, but then again, he still looks so clean! Parang ang fresh niya pa rin tingnan kahit na ang gulo ng buhok niya at pawisan na siya. Ganito ba ang advantage ng mga mapuputi?

"Buti nakaabot ako. Akala ko nagsimula na 'yung concert." Lucas said habang hingal na hingal siya.

"Okay ka lang, Lucas?" I asked then inabot ko 'yung panyo ko sa kanya, which is by the way an extra handkerchief na nadala ko, "Here, you can use this."

He immediately grabbed the blue handkerchief from my hands and pinunasan niya ang mga pawis niya. But what made me amazed is that hindi nasira sa pagkakatupi 'yung panyo ko like he was so delicate while using it.

"Ibabalik ko na lang 'to pagkatapos ko malabhan." Lucas said.

"No, sa'yo na yan." I said.

"Sure? Okay lang sa'yo, Ace? Hindi ba nakakahiya?" Lucas asked.

"It's fine, no worries." I said and smiled.

"Contestant number 2?" I heard Tara whispering to Harry and Chester.

"Walang duda, contestant number 2." Chester said and Harry nodded.

Itong tatlong 'to! Ako na naman ang napagdiskitahan! Tch!

Then biglang nag jumping jacks si Jeffrey out of nowhere so nagulat kami at napatingin sa kanya.

"Kuya Jeff, bakit ka biglang nag jumping jacks dyan?" Tara asked.

"Nagpapapawis ako. 'Yung pawis na pawis." Jeffrey said while he's still doing it.

He's old but his mindset is like a teenager guy! Mygahd!

Hinila ako bigla ni Chester and Harry papalapit sa kanila.

"Ace! Maglabas ka pa ng panyo!" Chester whispered to me.

"Isa lang extra ko!" I said.

"Bakit kasi isa lang dinala mo! Hindi mo ba naisip na may dalawa kang manliligaw?" Harry whispered.

"Correction, 3 and counting!" Chester added.

"Hindi ko naman din sinadya na magdala ako ng extra na panyo! Tsaka malay ko ba sa kanila!" I said.

"Ace, haba talaga ng hair mo! Pero who's the other guy? Nandito na ba si Contestant number 3?" Tara whispered.

"'Wag ka magugulat, Tara, pero 'yung pangatlo..." Chester whispered.

"Hello, mic test? Is this thing on?" A very deep and husky voice overflowed the whole venue and after that, narindi ang mga tainga ko dahil lahat ng mga babae and even the gays, sumigaw nang marinig ang boses ni Seph na nasa stage together with his bandmates. Even si Tara, tumatalon din sa excitement nang makita niya si Seph sa stage na para bang sinasamba nila ito. Is he that famous?

"Hala! Ang pogi niya talaga! Guyth! I think maiihi ako dito!" Tara said while sobrang kilig na kilig siya kay Seph.

"Good evening sa lahat ng nasa venue. Maraming salamat at pumunta kayo." Seph said and everybody screamed na para bang kitang kita mo na ang litid sa mga leeg nila. Ano ba 'to? May kulto ba si Seph?

"I have a very special guest. Nandito ka ba ngayon sa venue?" Seph said while he's searching for someone. Maybe isa ito sa mga singer na magpeperform sa concert.

Everybody was so attentive na parang lahat ng sinasabi ni Seph kinikilig sila. I guess, tama nga si Lucas, sobrang dangerous nga ng mga fans ni Seph lalo na kung may masabi akong hindi maganda sa kanya. I guess I'll just keep my mouth shut and enjoy the concert and normal na event lang naman 'to. What else could go wrong?

"This special person's name is Martin Ace. Andito ka ba?" Seph said and nakatulala na lamang ako.

I was shocked nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko. I have to act like hindi ko siya narinig. Hindi ako magsasalita and once na malaman nila na I'm that special person, baka hindi na ako makalabas ng buhay sa kulto ni Seph!

"Andito siya!" Chester shouted and tinuro ako.

"Great, Chester! Thanks for saving my life!" I whispered and looked at him with glaring eyes.

"Si Seph... ang contestant number 3?" Tara said and she was astonished.

Everybody looked at me and I feel na pinapatay na nila ako sa mga isip nila... Lahat sila nakataas na ang mga kilay at nakapamewang na rin. Pakiramdam ko, tinutusok nila akong lahat sa mga tingin nila sa akin!

I told my myself that this night will be a disaster... a chaos! Good luck if may next chapter pa ako ng buhay ko!

Ayaw ko na! Uwi na ako!

End of Chapter 12