COCO

"Coco, bakit ba iwas ka ng iwas sa akin?" Anais' feet pounded the pavement as she tried to catch up. "Hoy, ano ba? Para ka naman tanga. Sandali lang nga, kausapin mo naman ako."

"What do you want?" I stopped and turned to face her.

"I want to talk to you." She answered.

"About what?" I asked in a low growl.

"About us. You've been ignoring me since last week. What is going on here?" She sighed.

"Hindi ba ikaw na din nagsabi na ayaw mo na?"

"Not our friendship! Coco, yun lang ba ang tingin mo sa akin?" Tears began to seer in the corners of her eyes. "Is sex the only reason why you put up with me?"

I just stared back at her tear filled eyes, trying to keep up a stoic expression. But inside, I felt a storm of emotions. I hated seeing her cry and I hated that I was the cause of her tears.

"Say something, you asshole!" She punched my chest. "Yun lang ba ang dahilan, ha? Was it just because I was convenient to you?"

"Anais, stop it..." I caught her by the wrists. I could feel my heart slowly crumble to the ground beneath me. Fuck! She affects me like no other and I didn't like it.

How did she expect me to react? She was letting the guy who I hated most in this world court her and there was a big possibility that they'd be dating in the future! I wouldn't mind it if it was someone else but the guy happened to be Steve Ocampo!

"Damn you! Sumagot ka!" Tears flowed generously down her cheeks. Still holding her, my jaw clenched as I tried not to let any emotion out. "I thought it was more than that! Akala ko special yun sa'yo...sa atin..."

"We fucked, Anais. That's what we did. There's nothing special about it." those cold, vile words escaped my mouth. "Yung ginagawa ko sa'yo, ginagawa ko din sa ibang babae."

That wasn't true at all. I had never had sex with anyone other than Anais. I had dated a bunch of girls. We kissed and touched in sexual ways but I had never allowed myself to go all the way. I wasn't a sentimental person but it was just those girls I'd been with in the past, they could never compare to even half the pleasure I get when it was with Anais.

She pried her hands away from my grip and slapped me across the face. "You asshole."

She turned and started running away, crying. I stopped myself from chasing after her. My eyes lowered to my feet as I felt the weight of my emotions crashing on me all at once. I rapidly blinked against the familiar sting in my eyes. Dammit! I shouldn't be feeling this way! She chose Steve over me. At least that was how I felt. She couldn't just drop me once the boy she likes starts paying attention to her. She had cut the special bond between us. Aminin ko man o hindi, natatakot ako. I was afraid she'd do with other men the things only she and I had been doing together. The mere thought of another man having her was enough to make me sick.

ANAIS

"Hey, ate Anais." Bryce came up to me with a cunning smile, that she-devil. "What are you doing? Are you thinking of your boyfriend?"

I sighed and ignored her. Wala akong ganang makipag-asaran sa bubwit na ito. I had been crying all night and I was just tired. I had no energy left. Hindi ko akalain na ganon lang ang tingin ni Coco sa ginagawa namin.

Oo nga, magkaibigan lang kami at hindi dapat namin ginagawa ang mga ginawa namin noon. But I gave him that part of me because he was special to me. Akala ko special din sa kanya iyon pero katulad nga ng sabi niya, we just fucked. I was a convenient fuck to him. Pag wala siyang girlfriend ako ang go-to niya, pag walang ibang babae pwede na. How could I let this go on for so long?

"I'm telling Dad." Sabi ni Bryce.

I just looked at her and shrugged.

Her brows furrowed. There was a hint of worry in her cute demon face. "I—is something wrong? Bakit malungkot ka?"

I lifted a glass of milk and took a sip from it. After placing my glass back down, I looked at her straight in the eyes. "Hey Bryce, listen to me. You're an annoying little imp, I'm sure you know that. But I'm still your big sister and I think it's my duty to tell you this. Boys are jerks, do you understand? Huwag na huwag kang mapapauto sa kahit sinong lalaki kasi kahit yung mga lalaking malalapit sa'yo. Kahit yung akala mo bestfriend mo, yun pala ginagamit ka lang."

"I don't like boys. Sabi ni Daddy you'll get cooties from them." Sabi ni Bryce.

"Sure you will. I got too close to Coco and I caught cooties from him."

Bryce's eyes widened. "Ew! Really? You have them?"

I nodded my head. "They hurt alot. They bite you all over and when they bite it feels like needles on your skin. Kapag marami talaga sila pwede ka nilang kainin hanggang puro buto ka na lang."

Bryce took a step away from me with a mix of horrification and disgust on her face. Hindi ko maiwasan mapangiti sa itsura niya.

"Where are you going, Bryce. Come here. Yakapin mo naman ako." I held my arms out.

"Yuck! Baka mahawa ako sa cooties mo!" She exclaimed. I got up from the dining chair.

"Come on, give your ate a hug. I love you, Bryce." Lumapit ako sa kanya. She immediately bolted away from me and I chased after her. "Come here, you little imp! I'm going to give you cooties!!!"

"NOoOoOo!!! MOmmmy! Dadddy!" Sigaw niya habang hinahabol ko siya.

"Hey, Anais!" Humabol sa akin si Steve habang naglalakad ako sa corridor papunta sa susunod na class ko. I turned my head and saw his handsome face. God, he was so dreamy. Everytime I see him, para akong nanonood ng mga commercials niya na nakikita ko sa tv. The camera loved his face. He was as handsome in person as he was in the tv.

"Hey." I smiled at him.

"Tulungan na kita d'yan." He took the books I was carrying in my arms.

"Thank you."

"Got any plans for later?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"After school, I'm going home."

"Already? Hindi ba pwedeng lumabas tayo?"

"Kasi kapag hindi ko kasabay si Coco o si Audrey pauwi palagi akong pinasusundo ni Dad sa driver."

"Ako na lang ang maghahatid sa'yo."

I shook my head. "My Dad will freak out. Lalo na kapag nakita niyang lalaki ang naghahatid sa akin. He'll keep me locked up in the house for a year."

"You're Dad is really strict." He chuckled.

"Really strict is an understatement. He is paranoid." Natawa din ako. Huminto ako sa harap ng pinto ng susunod na class ko. "Well, this is me. I need to go to my class now."

"Oh. D'yan ka lang pala. That went too fast."

I nodded my head and took the books from him. "Thanks again, Steve."

"Can we at least have lunch together? Ano'ng oras ba break mo?"

"Right after this class." Sabi ko.

"Mine too. So, it's a date?"

Tumawa ako ng mahina. "I guess, it is."

"Yes!" He pumped a fist in the air. "Hey, I want to give you something before you go?"

"Ano naman yun?"

He took something out of his back pocket and then held a long stemmed red rose in front of me. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful lady."

"Steve!" I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from smiling to the point of giggle. "Hindi ka na sana nag-abala."

"Para sa isang magandang babaeng katulad mo, mag-aabala ako." He said.

"Ikaw talaga." I shook my head. "Just to remind you, ha. We're not in the theatre."

"I know that? Bakit? Ano ba sa tingin mo, acting lang ito?"

"I don't know."

"It's not, Anais. What I feel for you is as real as anything I've ever felt."

"I hope that's not a dialogue from Shakespeare's play." I couldn't help giggling.

"Trust me, it's not. It came from my heart." He winked.

"Sige na. Nagsisismula na ang class." I dismissed.

"I'll see you later." Binuksan ni Steve ang pinto ng classroom at inilahad ang kamay niya. I immediately locked gaze with Coco the moment I entered the classroom. It wasn't like I was looking for him. Talagang aksidenteng nagkatinginan lang kami. It felt so awkward now.

"Bye, Anais." Narinig kong sabi ni Steve.

I turned my head to his direction. "Bye. Thanks for the rose."

He nodded his head before closing the door. Hindi na ako nag-angat ng tingin dahil ayaw kong makita si Coco. I sat a few chairs away from him and focused on the lecture. Kahit hindi ko siya tignan, ramdam ko ang bigat ng mga titig niya sa akin. It made me so uncomfortable. Pakiramdam ko ang haba ng oras ng klaseng ito. All I wanted to do was for this class to be over because I couldn't concentrate. I wanted to turn my head and look at him but I stopped myself from doing so.

That one and a half hour class had never felt that long. Finally! The bell rang. I shifted to put my books back to my bag and lifted my head up. Muli kaming nagkatinginan. This time his eyes were cold as he looked at me.

I glared at him. Bakit ako iiwas ng tingin sa kanya? Hindi naman ako ang may kasalanan sa amin dalawa. Everything I showed and gave to him were all real. Sex was only supposed to be done with the person you love. I had sex with him because I loved him. Not in a conventional boyfriend-girlfriend kind of love but it was still love. I could've saved my virginity for my husband but I gave it to him because I love him. What was his reason? He was bored? He was horny? I was the only one available?

He could even be lying when he told me that he had lost his virginity to me. He had a handful of girlfriends before we even started having sex. Ako naman si tanga, naniwala.

I snap my neck away. I angrily swung my bag on my shoulder.

"Ana!" Dumungaw si Steve mula sa pinto ng classroom.

"Hey." I quickly put on a smile and walked to him.

"Tapos na ang class niyo?"

"Yeah." I answered.

"Shall we?" He asked, offering his arm to me.

I encircled my arm around his and we walked together to the cafeteria. We sat on a table and Steve stood up to order food for us. Naiwan akong mag-isa sa mesa. I rested my chin on my hand and sighed. Kung hindi lang kami nag-away ni Coco, magkasama kami ngayon. We'd be eating under the shade of a tree in the school's garden.

COCO

Hah! Look at that asshole. Look at that stupid face as he chewed on his stupid food. Stupid asshole! Doesn't he know that Anais hates turkey sandwich? Of course, he doesn't know that! He wouldn't be giving her turkey sandwich if he knew! Dumbass!

He doesn't know Anais like I do. I knew what food she liked, I knew what food she hated, I knew her fears, and I knew her dreams. Hell! If I were blindfolded I could even recognize Anais by smell. I knew her more than that stupid asshole. I knew her from the inside out.

Hah! Looking at them laughing. What were they talking about anyway? Too bad I couldn't hear it. They were at least five tables away from mine.

"Hey, ano'ng ginagawa mo dito mag-isa?" I felt a pat on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Tate standing next to me. The Tate. Tate the great. And most of all, the university's new football star. He was tall and well-built for a teenager his age. "Where's Anais?"

"Bakit ba siya ang hinahanap mo? Nakita mong ako lang mag-isa dito." I snapped.

"Somebody's a little grumpy. Hindi lang ako sanay na hindi kayo magkasama." He pulled the chair across from mine and sat on it, putting his tray down.

"Get used to it." I shrugged.

"Nag-away na naman ba kayo?" He asked picking up his BLT sandwich and took a big bite.

"She has a boyfriend now." I said in a mockingly girly tone.

"That explains it. I guess it's just you, Yvo, and I then." Sabi ni Tate. "Speak of the geek! Hey, dude!" He waved at Yvo. Pinuntahan kami ni Yvo at naupo sa bakanteng silya sa tabi ko. He took out a lunch container.

"What are you doing here? Nasaan si Anais?" He asked as he dug into his food.

"Bakit niyo ba siya hinahanap sa akin?" I said, irritated. "Mukha ba akong lost and found."

"Calm down. I'm just not used to seeing you without her."

"Anais has a boyfriend. I guess he'll be hanging out with us now." Tate grinned.

"Boyfriend? Si Anais may boyfriend? Saan mo narinig yan?" My brows furrowed.

"Sa'yo. Dude, kasasabi mo lang kanina."

"Hah! Yun magiging boyfriend niya? He won't even be able to stand being around that brat for one day." I turned my head to where Anais and Steve were. "And that Steve, he's so in love with himself. If he could fuck his reflection in the mirror, he probably will."

"Are you jealous?" Tanong ni Yvo.

"Jealous? What the hell? Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?" I banged my fists on the table.

"Jealous, a word derived from the medieval latin word zelosus. It's an emotion that refers to the thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, concern and anxiety over an anticipated loss of status, particulary in reference to a human connection."

"Isn't that amazing? He's like a human computer." Natatawang sabi ni Tate.

"Well, how do I fucking turn this off?" I pressed on his nose.