Must Be Love At First Glance

CHAPTER FOUR

I'm currently here in our classroom attending our last morning subject, general mathematics.

Argh! I really hate math, when its time strucks, my energy goes down. I can understand easily when I pay attention to it pero madali la‘ng nakakalimutan because I have a short memory. Buti na la‘ng mabait at mapagkumbaba itong si Mrs. Haraya, our general mathematics’ subject teacher.

“Since I already introduced to you the concepts of function, tuturuan ko naman kayo how to solve function. So, makinig ng maigi.” salita ni Mrs. Haraya sa harap.

I feel dizzled looking at those mathematics equations, the numbers and signs, ugh! Kung pwede la‘ng balewalain ‘to, nanuod na ako ng k-drama ngayon, pero I KENNAT!

I stay still on my seat, pinipigilan ko ang antok at pilit na tinutok ang atensiyon ko sa discussion ni Ma‘am, kasi kung hindi, maze-zero ako kapag quiz time na n‘ya. Naalala ko kahapon nu‘ng sabihan n‘ya kami na minsan la‘ng siya pumapasok na walang activities after discussion, so I must be ready at any cost. Kahit mahirap lalavarn tayo! Fight!

After 45 minutes of Mrs. Haraya's class, it's time for lunch. Lumapit ako kay Leian para sabay na kami kakain, sumabay rin naman ang iba naming malapit na kaklase since grade 10. But, before we started, inaya ako ni Leian para bumili ng maiinom, while the others just waiting for us to comeback.

“Pabili nga po'ng pepsi.” sabi ni Leian sa tindera. We‘re at the canteen.

“Ilan?” tanong ng tindera.

“Ikaw Elora, bibili ka?” tanong ni Leian. Grabe makatingin ang babaeng ‘to nakakabudol, napalabas ko tuloy ang dollars ko. However, masarap rin ang pepsi ipares sa pagkain kapag napakalamig, refreshing.

After we bought our drinks, we headed back to our classroom.

“Elora, Guys, arcades after achool?” pag-aya ni Leian sa kalagitnaan ng pananghalian namin. Himala nang-aya ang introvert.

Muk’ang napa-star ang mga mata ko pagtingin kay Leian, I love arcades! I always wanted to go there pero hindi pinapayagan eh, sana ngayon payagan ako even only this time.

“Sige!” nagagalak kong sagot.

“Sama ako!” Hazel Ann.

“Ako rin!” Melissa.

Kaming tatlo la'ng ang gustong sumama, habang ang dalawang kaibigan namin na sina Irish at Irene hindi, dahil may lakad si Irish, at si Irene naman hindi pinapayagan.

. . . . . . . .

We‘ve finished our classes this afternoon, wala ng patumpik-tumpik pa, diretso na agad kami palabas ng campus. As my girlfriends were happily exchanging sentences to each other as we walk on our way, ako naman kinakabahan na tinatawagan si mama.

It only took 4 rings before she answered my call.

[On call]

Elora:

Hi Ma!

Jessica:

Elora? Napatawag ka? Pauwi ka na ba?

Elora:

Ma eh kasi. . .

Jessica:

Ano?

Elora:

Pwedeng sumama muna ako kina Leian, Hazel at Irish sa gala? Pupunta kami sa mall malapit dito para mag-arcades po. Pleaseee. . .

Jessica:

Oh anong oras na ba? 4:45 na. Oh sige, sige, basta umuwi ka na pagsapit ng 5:50 ha?

Elora:

Ang iksi naman ma, pwedeng i-extend mo pa ng konti?

Mama Jessica:

Ikaw talagang bata ka, delikado na sa daan pag gabi, kaya walang extend-extend!

Elora:

Sige na la'ng po. Kaysa naman hindi mo ako payagan.

Mama Jessica:

'Buti naisip mo.

Elora:

Hehe, pakisabi na la'ng po kay papa ma, thankies po! Byeee!

Jessica:

Oo, sige na, mag-ingat ka ah?

Elora:

Opo.

[End of call]

Ang kaba ay napalitan ng saya, I did not expect na papayag si mama, masyadong strict eh, I think because I mentioned Leian, I know they trusted her, dahil malapit na kami since grade 9 along with Charm and Sarah, our two closest friends na nag-transfer na ngayon sa other schools.

We just walked to the mall dahil malapit rin la‘ng naman. Nang makapasok na kami sa arcades, agad na kaming bumili ng tickets at coin, mabuti na nga la'ng affordable.

While Hazel and Melissa were busy playing, humanap rin kami ni Leian ng ibang malalaro and we choose the basketball since naman bankante.

We're joyfully playing basketball, we even made a bet if who‘ll be the one that will treat us a snacks.

As I step back to point out my target, I suddenly bumped into someone. I gasped in shock so, I quickly turned around to apologize but. . . nasupresa ako nang makita ang lalaking nabangga ko.

It was Damien.

“Hi.” he greeted with a smile.

“Hey, it was you!” I gladly responded. He‘s with his two male friends who are undeniably charming too.

He grinned, hindi inalis ang mga mata sa‘kin.

Damien‘s looking so good on his white long sleeve with white shirt and black trouser along with a nike shoes, idagdag mo pa ang medyong magulo n‘yang buhok.

“I‘m sorry I bumped into you.” I apologized.

He chuckled, “Bumping into someone who‘s amazing as you was like a film taken by fate. . .”

Ang corny pala ng taong 'to? What does it mean?

“Ahahaha, might be. . .” hindi ko alam ano‘ng ibang itutugon ko. I‘m just looking at him.

He‘s still staring at me with a grin, masyado nama'ng gawain 'yan para sa isang magkaibigan, para tuloy akong natutunaw na sorbetes. I can‘t bear this, I might fall. . .

“Sino ang kasama mo?” he suddenly asked.

“Si Leian, kaibigan ko.” I grabbed Leian .

“Hi.” bati niya, bumati rin si Leian pero nahihiya.

"I also have other friends there na kasama rin namin." tinuro ko kay Damien ang kinaroroonan nina Hazel at Melissa.

“Leian, this is Damien Agust, my friend. I met him yesterday in our school.” pakilala ko.

“Damien, Leian Mae Muntanui, my best friend.” dugtong ko pa.

He also introduced his two friends to us, Felix Agassi and Ezekiel Emmanuel who have been his longtime friends since he moved here in Philippines, but they aren‘t at the same school.

Nagpaalam muna si Felix and Ezekiel para maglaro sa ibang games, while Leian just enjoyed herself taking selfies. Damien and I went to the corner so that we can talk privately but first, nagpaalam muna ako kay Leian.

We talked about anything, laughed and even gossiping about our school's hidden secrets that I knew.

But in the middle of our conversation, biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Mama, kaya nag-excuse muna ako sandali kay Damien para kunin sa bag ko ang cellphone.

When I opened it, shucks! It's already 5:40.

Dug-dug. . .dug-dug. . .

“Uh, Damien?” wika ko pagtingin sa kaniya.

He raised his right brow, “Bakit Yvonne?”

“I need to go na eh, 5:40 na kasi, 10 minutes na la'ng before my curfew.” medyo nagpa-panic na paliwanag ko.

“Hatid na kita sainyo.” he offered.

“May mga kasama ako eh.” tugon ko.

“It‘s okay, may dala akong kotse.” sabi niya.

“E ‘yong mga kasama mo?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“I can talk to them.” sagot niya.

Kinausap ko si Leian tungkol sa paghatid ni Damien sa amin, pumayag naman siya, tsaka namin pinuntuhan sina Hazel at Melissa while Damien went to his friends para magpaalam. Hindi naman ako nahirapang kumbinsihin itong sina Hazel at Melissa na sumabay dahil nagpaliwanag naman ako. Kaya nang makapagpaalam na si Damien kina Felix and Ezekiel, lumabas na kami ng mall para makasakay na kay Damien.

We just rode peacefully, si Melissa at Leian ay mahina lamang nag-uusap sa likod habang si Hazel na katabi nila ay knock out na dahil siguro sa pagod, 5:49 na kami nakabyahe, hindi naman masyadong malayo ang mga bahay nina Leian, Hazel at Melissa kaya mapapadali la'ng kami, pero sa aming apat ako ang mas malayo sa kanila kaya sila ang nauunang mahatid pauwi.

Now, kami na la‘ng dalawa ni Damien ang bumabyahe patungo sa‘min. Tahimik la'ng kami dahil walang nagsasalita, ang awkward tuloy.

Nakabibingi ang katahimikan, kung ano-ano naman ang pumapasok tuloy sa isip ko, so I decided to talk first.

“Uhmm. . .Saan ka pala nakatira?” tanong ko as I looked at him. Diretso la‘ng ang tingin n‘ya sa daanan namin, because it‘s a bit dark.

“Nakatira ako with my fam sa Asuncion subdivision, street 12.” sagot n‘ya tsaka tumingin sa‘kin.

Asuncion subdivison street 12? It‘s near from our village, it will only take 10 minutes from ours to his.

“Asuncion subdivision? Malapit la‘ng ‘yon sa‘min actually.” I said. He was stunned on my statement when he took a glance of me.

“Wow? How coincidence it is, right?” he asked suprised, yet happy as he expressed.

“Y-yes, exactly.” I let out a small laugh.

Minutes ago, we finally reached our destination safely thanks to him. Before I got out of his engine, I thanked him for driving me and my friends home safely.

"Goodbye Damien." I smiled.

"Goodbye Yvonne, see you." he gave me his warm smile along with a sexy dimples that made my stomach tickles.

Akmang bubuksan ko na sana ang pinto nang pigilan niya ako.

"Yvonne, let me." wika niya sabay ngiti.

I smiled at him, "Okay!"

Lumabas na si Damien ng sasakyan at lumiko la'ng saglit papuntang labas ng pinto kung saan ako nakapwesto.

He opened the car's door like a royal guard welcoming its royal highness. Such a gentleman, indeed.

"Careful princess." he uttered as he reached for my hand and I accepted it.

"Thank you." I giggled.

Nakatayo na kami ngayon sa tapat ng gate namin, mukhang may gusto pa siyang sabihin dahil panay siya tingin sa'kin tsaka yuyuko naman sabay haplos sa leeg. 'Yong parang hesitated sa gagawin niya.

"May sasabihin ka pa ba?" I asked politely.

"Ahmm, no. Wala na." he chuckled.

"Sige, I'll get in na ha." paalam ko.

"W-wait Yvonne!" habol niyang wika kaya napalingon uli ako na medyo nagtataka.

I thought he has nothing to say anymore.

"Goodnight." malambing niyang wika at ngumiti sa'kin. He's voice is warming my cold skin.

"Goodnight din!" masaya kong sabi.