Must Be Love At First Glance

CHAPTER TWO

I was about to open an app to watch movies, nang bigla kong naalala na gumawa ‘yong kaibigan ko ng confess wall for the students of Wilfredo D. Rafols MNHS, our school, para maibahagi ng mga studyante ang kanilang saloobin o nais iparating na spesyal na mensahe sa taong ninanais.

Sakto at marami akong naisulat na mga tula with a different subject, kada tula ko ay iba‘t-ibang tao ang inspirasyon ko sa paggawa and mostly ang subject ng bawat pyesa ko ay mga lalaking gusto ko. Instead of confessing what I‘ve felt for them, idinadaan ko na lamang ito sa pagsusulat.

A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS POETESS in short.

I messaged my classmate s***h friend named Alexa Veraldena, the admin of the said confess wall, para ipadala itong pyesa ng tula ko for Raizen that I admired recently.

[On chat]—Day 1 of poem confession.

[Yvonne Elora]: “Good evening Alex, papadala ako ng mensahe para kay Raizen Cortez hehe.”

[Alexa]: “Good evening din Elora! Kay Raizen Cortez? As in ‘yong transfer sa grade 10?”

[Yvonne Elora]: “Oo dzae!”

[Alexa]: “May gusto ka ba?”

[Yvonne Elora]: “Admiration la‘ng bhie.”

[Alexa]: “Admiration at gusto pareho la‘ng ‘yon!”

[Yvonne Elora]: “Hindi nga, shunga.”

[Alexa]: “Asus! Eh Nasa‘n na ba ‘yong mensaheng ipapadala mo?”

[Yvonne Elora]: Wait la'ng teh, excited ka."

[Yvonne Elora]: “To; Raizen Cortez

Sa karagatang walang humpas ang kagandahan, ika‘y aking nakita dahil sa maamo mong mukha.

I heard your voice across this mountain, I saw you in my dreams and I can‘t stop blushin’.

Titig mo‘y nakakatunaw, mukhang ako‘y mababaliw na sa yakap mong nakakauhaw.

Beneath the stars and moon, there I was, wishing that one day, you might see me as a girl who‘ll accept the whole you and be by your side even in our sorrows and joyous moment. The one you will like and loved, however, I wish I was her who you like.

Love,

Swift/Swift11”

[Yvonne Elora]: ‘Yan na, sana ma-notice niyaaaa!”

[Alexa]: "Wait mo beh."

After a few minutes. . .

[Alexa]: “Posted na bhie. Ang ganda!”

[Yvonne Elora]: “Thankies bhie, mwa mwa ka sa‘kin!”

[Alexa]: “Stop that mwa mwa bhie, ang jejemon mo.”

W-waw? Did she just say, jejemon ako? Itong bruhang ‘to, bukas ka la‘ng pagdating ko sa school!

[Yvonne Elora]: "Grabe ka Alexa ah, parang 'di friend!

[Alexa]: "Peace be with you. ✌️"

While I was typing that poem to be delivered for him, hindi ko mapigilang magpagulong-gulong sa kama dahil sa kilig, I can‘t believe na magpapadala ako ng confession para kay Raizen kahit kanina la‘ng naman ay nagkalapit kami, siguro it‘s just an admiration for how he showed rightful manners towards me.

Honestly, as I was with him, I can't stop feeling myself in cloud nine. I don't know pero nu'ng magtama ang hintuturo namin kanina nang ibigay niya ang kaniyang t-shirt, para akong nakuryente. All I think that moment was the fireworks exploding inside my head.

I put down my phone on my bedside table para matulog na dahil it‘s already 8:26 in the evening, so I can wake up early and get ready for school without hurrying.

Simula pa ngayon na nakahiga ako para matutulog na, hindi na ako makapaghintay na mabasa ang reactions ng mga tao sa confession na‘yon specially his, but overthinking visited me again, ughh! I hate having a negative feeling about this, kahit na hindi ako makilala ng lahat, still nakakahiya parin kung hindi niya magustohan.

“Stop this nonsense Elora, he will like it. Hindi naman siya suplado or what siguro?” bulong ko sa sarili ko. I sighed then and blanketed my self.

. . . . .

*School bells rings, sign of 15 minutes break.

Lumabas ako ng classroom after the second class held by Mrs. Obanza, our oral communication subject teacher. Wala akong kasama dahil ayaw‘ng lumabas ni Leian at nahihiya naman ako sa ibang classmate ko na friends ko rin kasi may sarili silang circles. So, naglakad ako papuntang canteen na nasa kabilang building to buy something to drink and eat, para naman madagdagan ang energy ko.

I sat down on the vacant seat near the window of canteen after I got my snacks. Nagbabasa ako ng libro habang kumakain, kasi it is better to have something to read or watch while eating, it's my habit. Sa kalagitnaan ng pagkain ko habang nagbabasa, biglang natapunan ang buong sarili ko ng malamig na juice dahilan para napatayo ako.

“Oops!” banggit ng isang medyo matangkad at magandang babae sa magarang kasuotan. Tiningnan la‘ng ako nito ng pataray nang nakataas ang isang kilay.

B!tch?! What's her problem?

I looked at the person who spilled its juice on me intentionally, “Ba‘t mo ginawa ‘yon?” tanong ko, I felt the ice from the juice kaya nilamig ako.

“I‘m sorry, I didn‘t see you.” suplada nitong sagot, piniit pa talaga ang boses para mukhang walang nagawang mali. Now, some of the students were looking at us.

“You mean it! Ang luwag ng daraanan oh, hindi naman ako basurahan para tapunan mo ng juice at lalong hindi ako invisible.” bakas sa boses ko ang pagkainis, she‘s lunatic.

“Kasalanan ko ba kung mukha kang basura?” mataray niyang sagot, tumawa naman ang tatlo nya pang kasama na mukhang mga frogs.

Sasagot na sana ako ng biglang may dumating na lalaki sa harap ko.

“Stop this Sheena. Stop being mean to others lalo nang wala namang ginagawang masama sa‘yo.” sabi ng lalaking nasa harapan ko. He‘s defending me from this queen frog.

I just stood there, speechless while staring at this boy like a rock.

Sheena seems afraid and speechless towards this boy, kaya umerap ang tatlong mean girls lalo na si Sheena at tiningnan pa talaga ako nito from head to toe bago tumalikod.

May Regina George pala dito sa campus.

“Thank you. . .” pasalamat ko sa lalaking ngayo‘y nakaharap na sa akin, we stared at each other for a seconds.

“You‘re welcome. I‘m sorry about what my ex did to you.”

Wait? Ang Sheena na ‘yon ay ex-girlfriend ng lalaking ‘to? Pumatol pala ng palaka ang prinsipe na ‘to.

“Ako ng pala si Damien Agust, it‘s nice to meet you.” sambit nito at iniabot ang kamay niya sa‘kin.

Tinanggap ko naman ang kamay niya, “I‘m Yvonne Elora Caviño, you too!” nakangiting tugon ko. His hand is so soft, hindi ko na ata ‘to bibitawan, chariz!

Damien is a handsome guy, looks like made in London, but he's a pure american, he has a light brown hair, matangkad mukhang 5‘8 samantalang ako 5‘3 huhu, mamula-mula ang balat pero maputi, naninindig ang panga, he‘s eyes are hazel hue, matangos ang ilong, makapal ang pilik mata at ang kilay niya. I could tell, he might be Aphrodite in male version.

“Can I call you Yvonne?” malambot niyang tanong. Shet, kahit mine pa ang itawag mo sa‘kin mas okay pa ako sa okay.

“Uh, sure!” I replied with a smile.

Tinulungan ako ni Damien sa pagliligpit ng gamit ko, canteen nga la‘ng pinuntuhan ko pero mukhang aalis na dahil sa daming dala haha. He even accompanied me going back to my class.

“Nasa‘n pala ang classroom mo and what is your grade level right now?” Damien asked as we were walking ahead to the building where my classroom is.

“ ‘Yong building na ‘yan, ” tinuro ko ang building ng classroom ko, “And I‘m in 11th grade section A-2.”

“ Wow, parehas la‘ng pala tayo ng building and I‘m in 11th grade too section B-3! A transferee.” joy was painted on his face with a little bit of surprise after knowing that we we're under the same building and level.

“Oh! Hahahaha, I didn‘t know that literally!” natatawa kong sabi.

“Exactly! This school is wide!” tumingin siya sa akin at sinabayan ako sa pagtawa.

Nagmumukha na kaming mga shunga tuloy sa daan sa kakatawa.

“By the way, pure american ka ba?” tanong ko. Nandito na kami sa 1st floor ng building at paakyat na sa 2nd floor.

“I am pure american, you‘re right. That‘s why I spoke a lot in english but I knew some tagalog and I'm still learning on it, everything about your country. I admit, it was quite difficult but enjoying.” he said and grinned.

“My parents are business owners, they decided to build their business here in Philippines dahil sa filipino kong lolo and american lola. My grandparents lived here in Manila with my Aunt Olivia and Aunt Meg taking care of them.” he stated as we walk upstairs.

“Last 2 years la‘ng ako nakauwi dito dahil my Mom wants me to follow them here dahil wala nang maiiwan sa‘kin duon sa America.” he added.

“Oh, that‘s why you‘re here pala. Did you find yourself struggling on learning or get along with other people?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Honestly, hindi naman masyado. In our class, everybody is so kind to me, they know how to adjust and understand me especially the teachers here.” sagot niya at tumingin sa‘kin nang nakangiti.

“Oh! We‘re here.” wika niya. Tumingin ako sa kaniya.

"Thank you Damien." I smiled.

He leaned closer to me, "Salamat din sa'yo Yvonne. Goodluck sa classes mo." he whispered to my ear that made me stopped from breathing as I felt his breath brushing my ear.

Ano 'yon Damien ha? Baka malagotan ako ng hininga dito.

Nagpaalam na ako kay Damien at ganu'n rin siya para bumalik na rin sa kanilang classroom. He even winked at me and smirked before turning his back, I felt like a thunder hit me. I was smiling happily that almost rip my mouth as I walked in the room. I was stunned when everyone is staring at me, and then I realized. . .5 minutes na akong late!

“Why you‘re smiling Ms. Caviño when you are late?!” galit na bungad ni Mrs. Laurel. She‘s our third subject teacher on Organization and Management.

“Ehhhh, nakasama niya kasi si Mr. Kupido Ma‘am!” pang-aasar ni Patrick sa akin, classmate kong geng-geng.

“Shut up!” sigaw ni Mrs. Laurel sa kaniya kaya agad na umayos siya. Buti nga sa‘yo!

“I‘m sorry Ma‘am, it won‘t be happen again.” paghingi ko ng tawad habang nakayuko ng konti.

“Siguraduhin mo la‘ng, dahil sa susunod papaupuin kita sa labas.” pagbigay babala ni Mrs. Laurel.

“Take your seat.” kalmado niya nang pahintulot.