Joey called for an emergency friendship meeting the following day. All of us, minus VP Peter, were gathered around the small coffee table at our club room. Joey and I took our place on the couch while the rest were sitting on the carpeted floor. I kept on wringing my hands, too nervous to tell them what the meeting was all about. I had a feeling Robyn had an idea for she was wearing a frown on her face.

Joey cleared her throat. “Andito tayo ngayon kasi may importanteng sasabihin si Alex sa atin. At bilang kaibigan ni Alex, dapat ay bigyan natin ng pagkakataon na pakinggan natin ang sasabihin niya.”

All eyes were on me now. Was I really ready for this? But I had no other choice. I had to get this over with. I took a deep breath and said, “Gusto ko nang itigil yung plano natin na saktan si Benjamin.”

“Sige, bigyan mo ‘ko ng isang magandang rason para itigil na ang plano,” Robyn said impatiently.

“Alam ko naman na para sa ikabubuti yun ng mga ordinaryong estudyante yung ginagawa natin. Oo, gusto kong turuan ng leksyon si Benjamin dahil sa bet nila ng kanyang barkada. Gusto kong mahulog ang loob niya sa akin tapos sasaktan sa bandang huli para malaman niya ang pakiramdam ng nasasaktan at pinaglalaruan. Gusto kong gumanti sa kanya.” I let my eyes scanned the faces of my friends, trying to observed their reactions. “Pero, ang totoo, ayoko na. Hindi ko pala kaya. May gusto na ako kay Benjamin…” I glanced at Joey and she gave me an encouraging nod. “At alam kong gusto na rin niya ako…”

Then I started telling them what Nathan had told me earlier. I received different reactions from my friends. Alicia was happy for me. Madie had a hard time accepting the situation but she said she would give Benjamin a second chance to redeem him self. As for Robyn, well, she did not take it very well, actually. She was still skeptical with Benjamin’s feelings towards me. But she accepted my decision, nevertheless.

I felt good after I let it all out. Telling my friends the truth that I could no longer carry on with our plans for revenge made me feel better. I felt suddenly light and free as air when I finally became true, not only to my friends, but to my self as well.

 I like Benjamin. And that was the truth.

According to Nathan, Benjamin liked me, too.  Knowing the truth made me feel wonderful.

But there was still one deception left. I needed to tell him I knew of their bet. And I needed to tell him the truth about our previous plans. Tomorrow I would have to tell him. But how?

***

Benjamin texted me last night and told me he wanted to tell me something today. I already had a clue as to what he would be telling me: He would be confessing about the bet. Nathan had said that Benjamin was just waiting for the perfect timing to tell it to me, and I guess he chose today to tell me so.

Recess came and there was still no sight of Benjamin. Did he change his mind about confessing to me? I saw Cheska approaching when I was about to head for the cafeteria. And I was surprised that she suddenly grabbed my wrist and tugged me to follow her.

“Teka. Saan mo ‘ko dadalhin?” I asked her.

She stopped on her tracks and faced me. “Sorry, masyado lang akong na-excite, eh. Pinapasundo ka sa akin ni Benj. May gusto kasi siyang sabihin sa ‘yo.” She started walking and I allowed her to lead me.

I suddenly felt nervous –my stomach was churning and my knees were buckling. Benjamin would finally confess about the bet, and I knew the time for my own confession would be now.

From a far, I saw a crowd of students gathered around the school quadrangle. I was puzzled for a moment. Was there a pep rally of some sort?

Cheska pulled my wrist and guided me towards the crowd.

“Miss Cheska! This way!”

Cheska smiled graciously at the boy who called out her name. There was a small opening at one side of the tight circle where several boys were trying to maintain the opening by forming a line and create some sort of human barricade.

We made our way to the opening, like an actress walking on a red carpet where the crowd had gone wild so they could catch a glimpse of their favorite stars. The boys were trying their very best to push back the crowd. I shot Cheska a questioning look.

“Pinakiusapan ko sila na tumulong. Kasi may surpresang naghihintay sa ‘yo sa gitna,” she answered.

Cheska and the power if her charms could make any guy do crazy things.

We reached the middle where several boys were pushing the crowd to form a circle. The crowd, which was mostly consisted of girls, were shouting (and crying!) something I could not comprehend.

Chesk tapped my shoulder and pointed a finger to my left. I twisted my neck and saw Benjamin standing at the very middle of the circle with his back facing me.

“Benj! It’s time!” Cheska shouted before she left me to blend in with the crowd.

Benjamin slowly turned to face me. He already looked incredibly handsome, but when he smiled at me as our eyes met, he took my breath away.

He started walking towards me. I noticed the flowers on his arm, and it suddenly registered on my mind that he was not only going to confess, he was also going to propose. I knew it was presumptuous of me to think of it as like that, but I just knew it. It was like a girl’s instinct.

He stood in front of me, staring straight to my eyes. The loud noise from the crowd suddenly died down as if they knew Benjamin was about to speak.

“’Di ba sabi ko sa ‘yo kagabi may sasabihin ako?” he said. I gave him a nod and he continued. “I want to tell you the truth. I don’t want anymore lies between us. Alexis, niligawan kita noong una because of a bet.”

I heard everyone sucked in their breath. The once silent crowd suddenly started to murmur and whisper a question to the one nearest to them if what they heard was right. Benjamin was oblivious of the crowd’s reactions for he continued to speak. “But then, things became different. When I got to know you better, I realized I don’t want to pretend anymore. I want to court you for real.”

The crowd gave a loud cheer. Most girls sounded as if they were crying like they were dumped by their boyfriends. A small part of the crowd cheered happily for me.

Benjamin held my right hand. “I asked you to be here because I want everyone to know what a jerk I have been to make that bet. But I want them all to know that my feelings for you now are real.”

I gasped when he suddenly knelt down on one knee and extended the roses towards me. “Alexis Marie Salvacion, will you be my girl?”

The wail from the students became even louder. Some were shouting “No!” while others were yelling “Yes!” I had a strange feeling those who shouted for yes were my friends.

I looked up and saw the school building behind Benjamin. There were students standing at the balcony on every floor. One by one, I saw them rolling down several tarpaulins with different messages. One said “Please be my girl” and the other one was written “Please say yes”.

I did not read the rest of the messages for I looked down until I met Benjamin’s brown eyes anticipating my answer.

My lips quivered. My hands trembled. It was very easy to say yes to him. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to give him my yes. But he had to know something first. The truth would set both of us free. He had the right to know. He needed to know.

“Benj… May sasabihin din ako sa ‘yo…” I caught sight of my friends from the crowd who were giving me encouraging looks. I gave them a nod before I faced Benjamin once more.

I opened my mouth but no words came out.

“Oo, gusto kong turuan ng leksyon si Benjamin dahil sa bet nila ng kanyang barkada.”

The crowd suddenly fell silent once more as they tried to listen to the recorded voice of someone who sounded very familiar.

 “Gusto kong mahulog ang loob niya sa akin tapos sasaktan sa bandang huli para malaman niya ang pakiramdam ng nasasaktan at pinaglalaruan.”

The voice came from the loud speaker. I saw the angry faces from the girls on the crowd directed at me. If looks could kill, I would already be dead with the way they were throwing daggers with their eyes. Benjamin slowly stood, confusion registering on his handsome face. I knew that voice. And I knew Benjamin recognized it as well.

“Gusto kong gumanti sa kanya.”

That voice was mine.

#TheNerdClubAlexis
#AlexisAndTheBet