Ang Boyfriend Kong...

Clause 4

Ang Boyfriend Kong...

Ang Boyfriend Kong... nahuli ako sa isang ngiti.

Kat's Note: Yeah... yun... biglaan eh. HAHA. Basta ang alam ko lang, na- in love ako dun sa ngiti niya. O'siya basa na :)

Time Frame: A week after Middle of School Year.

"Grabe ka, Bezzy. Ang galing mo. Natalo mo si Ira. Pa-Mcdo ka naman."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Natalo ko lang magpapa-Mcdo na ko? Hindi naman siya ganun kahirap kalaban." Non-academic day kasi namin ngayon sa school at naglaro kami ng Games of the General, natalo ko 'yung top 1. "Teka nga, asan na ba si Fatima?" I asked and looked around.

Nasa labas na kami ng campus, skipping puddles of water as we walk. Medyo umuulan-ulan kasi ngayon. Ang weird ng weather siguro dahil na din malapit na ang pasko. Papunta kami kung saan kami gagawa ng project--at hindi ko pa alam kung saan kami gagawa. Research pa lang naman 'yung gagawin kaya... ayun.

"Saan ba tayo gagawa?" tanong ni Lei.

"Hindi ko nga din alam eh."

"Gusto mo sa bahay na lang namin?"

"Ayoko nga!" I said.

He poked me on my side and I inched away. "Kunwari ka pa. Gusto mo din naman eh." I blushed but he didn't seem to notice. "Kaya lang, late na yata uuwi si kuya ngayon kaya hindi mo siya makikita."

"Ayoko pa din!" I said pero parang deep inside gusto kong i-push ni Lei na dun na lang kami sa bahay nila gumawa.

"Eh grounded ako!"

"Eh ano ngayon? Pa-chicks ka pa, naki-group ka na nga lang samin."

"Ang sakit mo naman mag-salita!" he said and faked that I broke his heart. "Late na kasi ako umuwi last week kaya hindi ako pwede hanggang six kundi nako, baka bahay-school lang ako ng isang buong linggo."

"Edi magdusa ka! Kasalanan mo yan kaya panagutan mo." Yan, isa yan sa mga favorite kong quote. Kapag may kasalanan, matuto kang sumagot sa mga consequences.

"Maawa ka naman sakin, tamad ako oo pero gusto ko namang tumulong sa project 'no."

I laughed. "Wow ha!"

"Kat!" someone called kaya lumingon ako. Nakita kong tumatakbo papalapit samin si Fatima.

"Oh bakit?" I asked when she was near enough.

"Hindi yata ako makakasama sa paggawa ng project ngayon. Nagtext si mama eh, birthday pala ng ate ko ngayon. Nakalimutan ko!"

I groaned and sighed. "Ang galing mo talaga!" I said sarcastically.

"Wag ka nang magalit! Research pa lang naman ngayon eh. Please? Ikaw na lang gumawa? Andyan naman si Lei eh," she pleaded.

"Para namang may choice ako?"

"Yehey!" she cheered like a kid. 'Yung totoo, third year ba talaga 'tong babaeng to? "Babawi ako promise!" she raised to her tiptoes para bumeso sakin. "Bye Lei!" and then she dashed off.

"So, paano?" tanong ni Lei.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Tara na!"

"Sa'min?"

"Saan pa ba?"

'Yung project kasi namin sa Chemistry ay science experiment. Kahit ano daw basta experiment at kailangan i-perform sa loob ng classroom plus explanation. Kaya naman ako nakaupo sa sala ng mga Sandivan at gamit-gamit ang laptop ni Lei at naghahanap ng magandang experiment.

'Yung bahay nila Lei? Grabe, malulula ka sa laki! Modern na modern na ang bahay nila, or should I say mansion? Glass walls, puro kanto, at puro angulo. Dream house ko nga 'yung ganoon design tas malalaman ko na 'yung kaibigan ko pala nakatira sa ganitong bahay? Tas simple lang 'yung kulay; black, white, tas light brick tile. May pool at graden pa.

"Lei, 'yung totoo, gaano kayo kayaman?"

He smirked. "Secret." Busy siyang nagugupit sa mga construction paper na nilettering-an ko kanina para sa cover page ng project namin. "Isipin mo na lang ganto, kahit magkaroon kami ng tag-limang anak at hindi kami mag-trabaho, mabubuhay kami."

"Hindi nga, 'yung totoo? Sindikato kayo 'no?"

He laughed so hard there were tears in his eyes. He glanced at me and his smile got wider when he saw my face. "Secret lang ah?"

I smiled. I nodded my head, excited for the big revelation. "Promise!"

"De joke lang. Bawal sabihin eh."

I breathed out, disappointed. "Niloloko mo naman ako, 'yung seryoso kasi!"

"Hard work and perseverance," sagot ni Lei. "Doctor si Mama. Archi si Dad. That's juts it."

Architect pala daddy nila, kaya na din siguro ganto kaganda 'yung bahay nila. And who knows? Maybe even before mayaman na talaga sila.

Suddenly, the door opened and there was loud chattering from a group of boys. Napatingin kami ni Lei at nung nakita nila kami bigla naman silang lumabas ulit ng pinto.

"Oh, bakit kayo lumabas?" we heard someone asked.

"May bisita yata kayo, Nic," answered another.

"Sino daw?" the former voice asked and with that the door swung open.

And Oh my God.

"Uy, Lei," sabi nung lalaki dun sa may pintuan. "Uh, may bisita ka pala." He gestured my way.

Bigla namang bumilis 'yung t***k ng puso ko. Oh my God! Siya 'yung nakasabay ko sa jeep! Siya 'yung kuya ni Lei!

"Uh, oo," sabi ni Lei. "Kilala mo naman yata siya eh, nagkasabay na kayo sa jeep 'di ba?"

Tumingin naman ako kay kuya ni Lei, only to find that he was already looking at me. "Ah, oo! Hi!" he said before waving and smiling at me.

"Hello," I greeted back as he started to remove his bag from his back.

"Baka gusto mo kong ipakilala," sabi ni kuya kay Lei.

"Psh," natawa naman si Lei. "Style mo!" But his brother just ignored him. "Kuya, si Katerina Dela Rosa, 'yung babaeng nakasakay mo sa jeep. Kat, kuya ko, Nicolo Sandivan."

"Hello po." I greeted politely again. Grabe ano ba 'tong ginagawa ko? Binati ko na siya kanina di ba? Baka mamaya isipin niyang feeling close pa ko. I mentally groaned. Pero ang pogi niya talaga eh. Hays, ano ba yan, Kat!

Nicolo nodded at me before returning his attention to his friends at the door. "Uy, pumasok nga kayo."

Dahan-dahan namang pumasok 'yung tatlo niyang kasamang lalaki at naupo sa mahabang sofa nila Lei at 'yung mga mata nila, parang 'yung mata ko lang kanina nung nakapasok ako sa loob ng bahay nila. Napa-ikot na ewan. Ganun kaya itsura ko kanina? Grabe nakakahiya, buti na lang nag-palit ng damit si Lei nung time na yun.

"I'm going to change," sabi ng kuya ni Lei.

Lei poked me again.

"Ano?!" I retorted.

"Yiee, kinikilig na yan," he whispered. I punched him on the shoulder. "Aray! Maton ka ba?"

"Hindi!" I answered. Nasuntok ko si Lei kasi parang yun na lang 'yung release ng kilig ko. Grabe! Kakilala ko na siya! OMG! Naunahan ko pa sila Fatima at Hazel samantalang mas nauna pa silang makasabay siya sa jeep. Grabe! Ang dami kong ikukwento sa kanila bukas. I internally squirmed.

"Psh, kilig na kilig ka na naman."

Hindi ko na napigilan at nakurot ko siya. I just couldn't contain the butterflies in my stomach anymore at ayun kay Lei ko nailalabas. "Lei," sabi ko habang nanggigigil sa kanya.

"Aray! Ayoko na, ayoko na!" Lei pleaded while trying to pry my hands off him.

Binitawan ko na siya dahil narinig ko 'yung footsteps ni Nicolo na pababa na siya. Naka-shorts siya at hoodie. Umikot naman siya sa sofa at in-on 'yung PC na nasa gilid ng mga sofa. Actually, out-of-place 'yung PC na yan dito. Parang hindi bagay na nasa sala. I wonder why kung bakit nandito yun.

"Anong gagawin niyo dito?" tanong ni Lei sa kuya niya.

Nicolo swiveled his chair to look at his brother. I focused on my research and actually found a good one; Baking Soda Volcano. Common pero yun lang 'yung madali, tsaka parang wala pang gumawa nun samin.

"Wala, may papakita lang ako sa kanila." He smirked. "You?" tanong niya kay Lei.

"Research lang para sa project," sagot ni Lei. Tinapik naman niya ko. "Tapos ka na ba dyan?"

"Ah, o-oo!" I answered.

"Talaga?"

"Oo nga, kulit."

"Laro tayo!" he said enthusiastically and began rummaging through his bag.

"Anong laro?"

He pulled out something. "Game of the Generals."

"Ambisyoso," was my only response.

"Kat, bakit ganoon?" he whined and pounded on the glass table with his face planted on it.

"Anong bakit ganoon?"

"Bakit ganoon?"

"Huh?"

"Bakit mo ko natalo?" he asked mournfully.

"Kasalanan ko bang obvious masyado 'yung flag mo?" I laughed.

He just glared at me at hindi nagsalita. He roamed his eyes around the house before it settled on the back of his brother. Nicolo was standing behind his friends as they huddled in front the desktop, he was much taller than the rest of them.

"Kuya," he called.

"Yeah?" tanong ni Nic nang hindi lumilingon.

"Laro nga kayo ni Kat."

Capital W-H-A-T?! Ano daw? Laro daw kami ng kuya niya? Huhu, I feel like crying. Baka matalo ko, nakakahiya naman sa kanya. Major turn-off. Teka nga, bakit ko ba iniisip kung matu-turnoff sakin 'tong lalaking 'to? Wala namang masama kung matatalo ako di ba?

Lumingon si Nic at nagtanong, "Okay lang ba?"

"Oo naman." I smiled at him and turned my attention on the board game. Oh Lord. "White or Black?" I asked him to choose his set.

"White," he answered and replaced Lei on his seat. I pushed all the white pieces at him and he shuffled them lying upside down.

I need to get my bearings straight. His on attack and I was on defense. I started placing my pieces and saw that he was already done and was watching me. Why was he watching me? Ang haggard ko pa naman dahil sa P.E. kanina.

At dahil sa mga butterflies na naman sa tiyan ko, hindi na ko nakapagpigil at tumingin sa kanya at tinanong siya, "Kuya, bakit ka nakatingin?"

Natawa siya, "Call me Nic."

"Nic."

"Yes?" he asked, his eye twinkling. Only then I realized that I called him.

I blushed as I shook my head and placed my last piece. Grabe nakakahiya! "Wala, tine-testing ko lang."

"Anong makukuha ng mananalo?" tanong ni Lei.

At dahil nagugutom ako nung mga panahong iyon, "Big Mac?" I suggested.

"Big Mac?" tanong naman ni Lei kay Nic.

"Anything would do," sabi ni Nic. "Game na ba?"

And without even thinking I said, "Excited much?"

A slow smile started to appear on his face, and it felt like it was in a slow-motion. My heart pounded in my chest and my whole body gone rigid as I was captivated by his smile. He really was mesmerizing.

Oh God, kayo na pong bahala sa'kin sa lalaking 'to. I silently prayed.

"Medyo," he answered and moved his first piece.

"Yes, sir, may I take your order?" tanong ng kahera samin sa McDo.

"Uhm, dalawa pong Big Mac, pa-upsize din po nung fries tas float 'yung drinks," sagot naman ni Nic.

"'Yun lang po ba, sir?"

"Uh, may gusto ka pa ba?" he asked. I shook my head 'no'. "Uh, Miss, 'yun lang po."

So, yeah... as you might have guessed already. Nanalo ako kay Nic. At nandito ako--kami sa Mcdo. Kaming dalawa lang. Paano ba naman, si Lei kasi masyado nang na-attach dun sa PC nila at ayaw nang hiwalayan. 'Yung mga classmate naman ni Nic, sumabay na samin palabas at nagsi-uwian. Kaya ayun, kaming dalawa na lang.

After naming maglaro at natalo ko si Nic, parang nawala 'yung kaba ko na malapit ako sa kanya. Nakaka-boost ng confidence. I think we can actually be friends. Makulit din siya parang si Lei habang naglalaro.

Umupo na kami ni Nic at tahimik na kumain. Walang nagsasalita. Syempre, awkward pa. I took one of my fries and put some ice cream on it. Tsaka ko lang napansin na ganun din pala 'yung ginawa ni Nic sa kanya. Nagkatinginan kami saglit at napatawa na lang. He put fries and ketchup on his burger at tsaka kumagat. Hirap ako laging kumain ng Big Mac kaya kailangan ko ng knife at hinihiwa pa.

Pagkatapos namin kumain, nagsalita na si Nic. "Sa Gate 1 ka lang nakatira di ba?" I nodded. "Hatid na kita?"

"Kahit 'wag na."

"No, I insist."

I nodded once more. Lumabas kami ng McDo at nag-simulang lumakad pauwi. Sa labas lang naman kasi ng subdivision namin 'yung McDo kaya walking distance lang. Habang naglalakad pauwi, mabuti na lang nagsimula ng conversation 'tong si Nic. Thank goodness!

Sa kalagitnaan ng usapan, biglang umihip ng malakas 'yung hangin and I shivered. Napansin naman ito ni Nic. Hindi na niya tinanong kung nilalamig ako o kung ano, basta tinanggal na lang niya 'yung hoodie niya at binigay sakin.

I took it gratefully. "Thank you." I couldn't believe a guy like him still exists.

Wala naman kami masyadong napagusapan kundi si Lei. Si Lei. Si Lei. Si Lei. Wala naman kasi kami masyadong alam sa isa't isa kaya hindi namin alam kung anong topic ang paguusapan namin. Good thing, hindi ganun kalayo 'yung bahay ko kaya soon, tumigil na kami sa tapat ng bahay namin.

I took off Nic's hoodie and gave it back to him. "Thank you ah?"

"Sa'yo muna."

"Huh? Hindi kuhain mo na."

"Ngayon lang," he said.

"Nic, mayroon naman akong damit sa bahay 'no?"

He chuckled. "Ngayon lang, para meron akong rason para makita ka ulit. Good night, Kat." He gave me one last smile before turning away.