RAYOS stilled when someone yelled her name. And that someone was now bravely introducing himself in front of her. Her lips parted as she stared at the guy, who was smiling brightly at her. Nakalahad din ang kamay nito sa harapan niya.

"Leo Erese Davis."

She found his name unique. Sa lahat ng mga classmates nila, ang pangalan lang nito ang natandaan niya. And the way he introduced himself was very quick, even though she wasn't paying attention.

Rayos was busy cursing their homeroom teacher and her brother inside her head. Napakarami nitong tanong about sa kapatid niya. Ano ba ang malay niya sa pinaggagawa nito? If she hadn't accidentally heard her Kuya Light venting about how terrible her brother and cousin— Laur, were. Hindi niya malalaman na nagiging basagulero na ang malambing nilang kapatid.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Rayos sa kamay nito. His hand looks so firm and his fingers were long. Dinaig pa ang kamay ng babae. Unconsciously, she scanned his whole face.

The guy has soft curls hair, matangos ang ilong nito at hugis puso ang mga labi. She didn't heard how old he was, but for their age, kaboses na nito ang mga Kuya nila. It was deep. Manly. Sakto lang ang katawan nito at ang tangkad nito para sa kanya.

"Vraiose Cay Clemente. Don't call me Cay." Agad na sabi niya at tinanggap ang nakalahad na kamay nito.

Ang pamilya at malapit na mga kaibigan lang niya ang pwede na tumawag sa kanya, using her second name. Maski ang kambal niya ay ganoon din. They get easily irritated if someone called them using their second name without their permission.

Rayos was taken aback when the guy just smiled at her. His teeth weren't perfect but Rayos finds them cute. Nakakadagdag 'yon sa kagwapuhan nito. Yes, she finds him handsome. Very handsome.

Her eyes roamed around and saw some of their classmates, kahit yung mga taga ibang section ay nakatingin sa kanila. Sa lalaki na nasa harap niya mismo.

Doon niya napatunayan na hindi lang sa kanya malakas ang appeal nito. He looks gorgeous when he's not smiling. And he's more even gorgeous if he's smiling.

"Ah!"

Namula ang mga tenga nito at kaagad na binawi ang kamay niya. He shyly rubbed his nape and glance at her, hindi siya makaalis sa kinatatayuan niya dahil sa lalaki.

It's weird how Rayos just want to stand and looked at his face all day. Kung pwede lang na sabihan niya itong ngumiti sa kanya sa buong araw, gagawin niya. Although, hindi lang siya ang makikinabang.

"May itatanong ako," aniya.

He licked his lower lip and stood up straight. Tsaka lang napansin ni Vyrlle ang camera na nakasabit sa leeg nito. She's not a fan of camera but she knew how pricey it was based on how it looks.

"Y-yes? Ano yun?" nauutal na tanong nito sa kanya.

It's cute watching him fumbling.

"What do you want? Bakit mo ako tinawag? Hindi ka ba natatakot sa kapatid ko?" Sunod sunod na tanong niya sa lalaki.

She was actually surprised. Inaasahan na ni Rayos na walang lalapit maski ni isang lalaki sa kanya at sa kambal niya, lalo na at hinatid sila mismo ng kapatid nila sa kanya kanya nilang room. Sapat na rin ang kapatid niya para hindi malapitan ng kahit sinong lalaki si Nicha. As for Jillian, that girl was feisty. Isang lalaki lang ang papayagan noon na makalapit dito.

Even when they're in Junior high. Walang makalapit sa kanila dahil takot ito sa kapatid nila at kay Jillian.

The guy, named Leo, smiled even more. He looks confident, kaunti na lang ay mapapaniwala na siya nito kung hindi lang niya napansin ang paulit ulit na pagbukas at pagsara ng kamao nito.

"First, no. I'm not afraid, wala naman akong binabalak na masama sayo kaya bakit ako matatakot 'diba? Second, tinawag kita kasi…"

"Kasi?" she asked. Nanliit ang mga mata ni Rayos nang makita ang kambal niya sa malayo.

"I want to know you?"

"You want to know me?" ulit niya. Mahina siyang natawa sa lalaki. "Why?" she asked again.

"No particular reason, miss." Leo answered.

Mas lalo na sumingkit ang mga mata ni Rayos sa lalaki. No particular reason. What kind of answer was that? Hindi 'yon ang gusto niya na marinig mula rito. That answer was not enough to feed her curiosities.

"Anyway, sa cafeteria ka ba? Can we… eat together?" nahihiya na tanong nito sa kanya.

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya nang makita ang kambal niya. Kasama na nito ang pinsan nila at si Jillian. They won't noticed her because the guy was covering her.

"I'm sorry, I can't. Kasama ko ang kambal ko," she answered and smiled apologetically.

Rayos always been the nice girl and Vyrlle was the female version of their brother. Kahit natatakpan siya ni Leo, ramdam ni Rayos sa kalamnan niya ang posibleng pagkairita ng kambal niya.

"Oh, maybe next time? See you around, miss!" Leo smiled at her once again. Bahagya ito na tumabi sa dadaanan niya.

She awkwardly left and strode to her twin sister. Nakita niya na tinuro siya ni Jillian kaya sinalubong siya ng mga ito.

"Sa cafeteria nga muna! Bukas na tayo lumabas, pakabait ka muna ngayon ha?" Nicha teased and pulled Jillian towards the cafeteria.

Jillian wanted to eat outside. Mukhang may nakita na naman ito na bagong bukas na fast food chain sa tapat ng school nila. Isa pa, hindi sila papayagan na makalabas kahit gusto pa nito. Her brother wasn't around to fulfil her whims.

"Bakit ang tagal mo?" Vyrlle asked her.

Kinuha niya ang inabot na tray ni Nicha sa kanya at sumunod sa pila.

"Nagisa e," she answered.

"Homeroom teacher niyo? Tinanong ka rin ba about kay Kuya? Ayaw na ako paupuin kanina sa dami ng tanong." Nakasimangot na sabi ni Vyrlle.

Natawa lang siya habang pumipili ng kakainin niya.

Nicha and Jillian were still arguing in front of them. May burger naman na tinda ang cafeteria pero pinipilit pa rin ni Jillian na gusto nitong tikman ang burger sa labas. Nicha had enough and call her brother, Laur.

"Kausapin mo beh! Para matahimik ka." Nicha sarcastically said and passed her phone to Jillian.

Sabay silang nailing ni Vyrlle sa dalawa. Jillian on the other hand ended the call and glared at their cousin. Hindi niya na pinansin ang dalawa at nag order ng Sandwich at juice para sa kanya.

Her eyes roamed around the cafeteria, nakita niya ang ibang classmates niya pero hindi ang lalaki na lakas loob nagpakilala sa kanya kanina. Leo Erese was nowhere to be found.

He was asking her earlier to eat with him. Vyrlle was sure that he'll be here. With his friends.

"May hinahanap ka?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong sa kanya ni Nicha.

"Wala naman," sagot niya.

Nicha was eyeing her with curiosity. Hindi naman kasi siya madalas na magtingin tingin sa paligid niya. She always let them look for a vacant table para may maupuan silang lahat.

Nang makahanap si Nicha, agad siya nitong hinila at nauna na pinaupo. She was busy roaming her eyes around while eating her sandwich. Kanina pa siya nagtitingin pero hindi pa rin niya mahanap ni anino ng lalaki.

"May feeling ko na mahihimatay ako bigla sa isang subject natin!" Rayos heard her cousin said.

"Mahirap ba?" she asked without glancing at her.

"Hindi, consider pa nga na minor subject ang hawak ng teacher namin." Jillian answered.

"Bakit mahihimatay?" Rayos tilted her head a bit.

Pinaypayan ni Nicha ang sarili gamit ang mga kamay nito. Ang likot nito.

"He's handsome!" Nicha hysterically said.

Bahagya lang siyang tumango sa pinsan. Samantalang hindi maipinta ang mukha ng kambal niya at si Jillian.

Hinayaan niya na mag-usap ang tatlo about sa strand na napili ng mga ito, what are their thoughts about their teachers and such na hindi siya maka relate dahil naligaw, or should she say pinili niya ang strand na STEM.

Rayos was silently sipping her juice when a familiar face appeared on her head. Smiling while introducing himself. Parang nag flashback sa utak niya ang nangyari kanina.

No particular reason…

He wanted to know her just because? Sinabi rin nito na hindi ito natatakot sa kapatid niya dahil wala naman itong masamang binabalak sa kanya? Bakit? Ano ba ang intention nito sa kanya? He was messing with her head and she doesn't like it!

Hindi niya napansin na sobrang kunot na pala ang noo niya at pinapanood siya ng kambal.

"Bakit?" naiilang na tanong niya sa kambal.

"Is there something wrong, Cay? May masakit ba sayo?" she worriedly asked.

Umiling siya sa kambal niya. For the first time, she wanted to keep Leo as a secret. He's the only man na naglakas loob na lapitan siya after seeing how scary his brother's presence.

"Sobrang tulala mo dyan, sigurado ka ba na ayos ka lang? What's wrong?" her twin asked again.

"I'm fine, don't worry. I was just thinking if babasahin ko yung binili ko na libro o hindi." Lusot niya.

Vyrlle grimaced at her. "Weird mo!"

☕