"Guys! Guys! I saw him walking this way! 'Tapon niyo na 'yang mga 'yan d'yan! We have to leave! Now!" Gino exclaimed in panic as soon as he came back from the comfort room.

Sandaling katahimikan ang umalingawngaw sa tagong parte ng students park kung nasaan kaming apat.

My snort then broke the silence. "Sinong multong parating ba ang nakita mo, Gino? Must be a decapitated one since your ass is dead scared!"

Tamara and Kyle's laugh roared together with the sound of the dancing leaves blown by the afternoon wind.

Gino looked at us disbelieving before groaning in frustration. Sunod ay sarkastikong bumwelta, "Very funny, Lew! But the vice pres of the Student Council is on his way here. At wala akong planong magpahuli!"

He pointed at the bottle of liquor and cups on our table.

"Are you drunk?" I looked at him accusingly then bark a laugh. "Ang corny na ng joke mo!"

"Gino, how can you be sure he's heading here in the first place? At ano namang gagawin noon dito? It's class hours!" Tamara scoffed before leaning her head on Kyle's shoulder.

"She's right, dude." The latter sneered.

Gino shrugged while sighing in defeat. "He's a senior. But fine. Do as you all please. Bahala kayo kung mahuli kayo riyan. I'm outta here!" Isinukbit niya ang bag pack at nauna nang umalis.

"Are you fucking serious?! You're that scared?" pahabol kong uyam sa kaniya sa pagitan ng pagtawa.

Ni hindi man lang lumingon! He must be pissed if not drunk. Pikunin na, duwag pa.

Nang tuluyan na siyang nawala ay napailing na lang ako sa sarili at napahawi nang mahaba at unat na buhok patungo sa kaliwang balikat. I drink from my own cup and while pointing towards where Gino headed out, I deadpanned, "The dude wuss out because he's drunk. Nagdadahilan lang." Then I shouted scornfully, "Fucking wimp!"

Bahagyang namula si Kyle nang malakas na tumawa. "Ikaw ba naman ang bulakbol at may sundalong tatay! Takot lang no'ng mapatawag ang magulang niya sa school."

Biglang nagtaas ng isang kamay ang nakapikit nang si Tamara. And with a sleepy voice, she announced, "Actually, I want out too."

I sigh disappointedly before turning to Kyle who's waiting for my response. Nakasimangot akong nagkibit-balikat dito sabay labag sa loob na sinabing, "I guess that's it then?"

"Can you go home by yourself after cleaning this mess?" He grinned while emphasizing that he has to tend to Tamara so that leaves me in charge with our mess.

Sarkastiko ko siyang tinapunan ng tingin sabay ngiwi. "Is this one of the cons of having a high alcohol tolerance o dahil magagaling kayong mga kaibigan?"

Kyle chuckled but there's a sudden change on his expression as he stood up. "Shit! I think someone's heading this way! Maybe Gino wasn't kidding!"

"At sino naman 'yan? The senior vice pres of the great Student Council?" I said in all sarcasticness.

"Maybe..."

I blinked clueless a few times as I watched Kyle makes his way to leave together with Tamara. Then I blurted out, "Is it the time for me to panic?"

"Lew, ikaw nang bahala riyan! I'm sure you can take care of that guy for us!" Then he left. He really left! Just like that.

Naiwan ako roong hindi makapaniwala hindi sa kaduwagan ng mga kaibigan, kundi sa kung paano nilang naatim na paglinisin ako ng kalat na naiwan!

"I don't remember being anyone's lackey," bulong-bulong ko habang sinisinop ang mga cup na ginamit at ilang pakete ng junk foods doon.

Sunod ko na sanang dadamputin ang bote nang may kung sinong kumuha niyon bago ko pa man mahawakan. I lift my head, expecting to see the vice pres senior Gino and Kyle's blabbing about. Handa na akong kunin ang loob nito para lang makalusot sa pagkakahuli ngunit natigilan ako sa nakita.

"You drink hard liquors like this?" anito habang inosenteng ineeksamina at inaamoy-amoy ang boteng hawak. Sumulyap ito sa akin pagkatapos kumunot bahagya ng noo.

And the moment his curious gentle eyes met my nonchalant expression, I felt something tugged inside of me. I can't decide if it's for guilt or relief. What I'm sure of is that I'm not in trouble anymore. This kid right here can't be a senior and most definitely not the vice pres. He looked like a batch mate or maybe even younger than me. Hindi nga lang pamilyar ang mukha sa akin. But that doesn't matter now.

Sinuklay ko ng mga daliri ang buhok at taas noong ngumisi sa kaniya. "You'll get to taste it when you get to a certain age, kid. Anyway, the trash bin is right there. Care to lend me a hand?"

Inginuso ko iyon sa kaniya. Sabay mataman akong tumitig sa inosente niyang mga mata at malinaw na binigkas ito matapos, "And listen... none of us see each other here, okay? This moment never happened."

I assumed that we had a silent agreement when he didn't say anything. That's why I nodded once before heading to the trash bin.

Pagkatapon ko ng mga hawak ay tumalikod ako rito na parang walang nangyari. I was on my way to leave when I heard him speak again.

"What, that's it?"

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko at natigilan. Mabagal akong bumaling sa kaniya sa pagtataka.

He was standing in front of the trash bin and the bottle is still on his hand. Iminaniobra pa muna niya iyon sa akin bago tuluyang itinapon. He looked at me like he was expecting or anticipating something then. I don't get it.

"Uh, thank you?" I shrugged unsurely.

The guy laughed like I said something funny. Gusto ko sanang pagtaasan ng kilay kung hindi lang ako muling natigilan dahil sa pagkakarinig ng tawa niya.

Why does it sounds so pure?

"What?" I scoffed instead.

"Seryoso ka ba?" nakangisi niyang untag. Sabay bahagyang paling patagilid ng ulo. "Who are you calling a kid? You're not even allowed to drink that yourself."

Lito ko siyang sinipat at inobserbahan. "Aren't you a junior too? Don't tell... me..."

Napasadahan ko ng tingin ang uniform niya at agad napansin ang malapad niyang balikat at dibdib sa ilalim niyon. He has a clean cut. Matangkad at mukhang disente habang nakatindig. Nang lumipad ang tingin ko sa pin ng SC sa blazer niya ay namilog ang mga mata ko. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko roon at sa inosente niyang mukha matapos.

What in the hell is going on? This kid right here is the vice pres of the Student Council? Someone's gotta be fucking kidding me. Akala ko ba senior iyon? So this means I'm busted and couldn't even plan a counter attack or something because I let my guard down?

"And you think I'm a junior? Was that supposed to be a compliment or a diss?" He started walking languidly towards me.

I laughed nervously at the unprecedented turn of events. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," he slowly affirmed with a nod. "You've just been caught red handed doing something you shouldn't." Makahulugan siyang sumulyap sa trash bin bago pumamulsa at nagbalik ng tingin sa akin, the slits of his eyes narrowing. "You are in trouble for short."

Gusto ko sanang kabahan o mag-panic ngunit hindi ko mahanap ang alinmang emosyong iyon sa akin sa mga oras na 'to. Maybe it's because of the alcohol. Or maybe because I can't sense any intimidation nor menace in him at all. That's strange. But nonetheless, I still did what I should.

The sides of my lips curved for a sweet smile. "Look here, vice pres. I'm thinking we could talk this out for a bit. How about we make a deal—"

"Kilala mo 'ko?" Kita ko ang bahagyang pagkakagulat niya nang pinutol ako sa sinasabi.

Imbes na sumagot ay mas lalo lamang akong ngumiti at humakbang palapit sa kaniya. Hindi siya gumalaw mula sa kinatatayuan. Ang bakas ng gulat sa mukha niya ay mabilis humupa nang sinalubong ang linya ng mga mata ko.

Inawang ko ang mga labi para sana ipagpatuloy ang sinasabi ngunit animong nalunok kong bigla ang dila. It's because of his damn innocent eyes. Sa dinami ng mga matang tinitigan ko ay wala pa ni isa roong katulad ng sa kaniya. Na para bang malaking kasalanan ang magsinungaling habang nakatitig doon.

"I'm guessing that's all you know about me?" May nagdaang kislap sa mga mata niya nang ngumisi dahil sa pagkakatiklop ko.

Pinilit kong tatagan ang pekeng matamis na ngiti kahit sumusuko na ito. Ayaw kong magpatalo. Bakit ako magpapatalo? Sa dinami ng mga loko-lokong lalaking pinataob ko, sa isang ito lang ako titiklop? No freaking way.

Inabot ko ang isang braso niya. Napasulyap siya roon ngunit hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon.

"Tell me more about you, then." I smirked at him playfully. "And afterwards, we will both forget what happened here. What do you think?"

Umawang sandali ang mga labi niya bago unti-unting napangiti, his lenient eyes softens even more. At hindi ako makapaniwalang nakaramdam ako ng hiya sa simpleng pagtunghay ko lamang sa kaniya. Na para akong isang makasalanang demonyitang niloloko ang isang inosenteng bata. Hindi ko maintindihan!

Sa parehong ngiti ay marahan siyang umiling at bahagyang yumuko palapit sa mukha ko, sapat upang matitigan ako nang mabuti. "Gusto mong kalimutan ko ang nangyari rito? Then... go out with me."

Para akong mabubulunan nang biglang tumalon ang puso sa narinig. But when it dawned on me, I felt irritation slowly crept in. Mabilis kong binitiwan ang braso niya at humakbang palayo upang tuluyang tigilan ang pagpapanggap.

I can't help but scoff in annoyance.

I dated anyone I find interesting. It's no big deal. Pero ngayong sa isang ito iyon nanggaling, hindi ko mapigilang makaramdam ng pagkaka-insulto. Somehow, I'm thinking he sees me as an easy girl. At ayaw ko ng ideyang ganoon ang iniisip niya tungkol sa akin. Oh, for fuck's sake he's not even my type!

Ngumiwi ako at sa tinig na may halong disgusto ay sinabi kong, "No."

Chuckling, he nodded as if I didn't dump him outright or that he's prepared because he already anticipated my answer. Kinagat niya ang labi pagkatapos. "Okay."

"Okay, as in you'll shut up about this?" I press on my luck.

"Oh, I will. Definitely."

Nagliwanag ang mata ko at pangiti pa lamang sana ulit nang dinugtungan pa niya ang sinabi.

"Kung papayag kang ligawan kita."

Itinawa ko ang muling pagtalon ng puso. "Ligaw? Uso pa ba 'yon?"

I'm used to boys making advances towards me. At hindi rin naman bago ang mga banat niyang ito sa akin. Pero bakit ako naaapektuhan?

Tamad siyang nagkibit-balikat at inosenteng kumurap. "Unless you want a fubu?"

Namilog ng bahagya ang mga mata ko ngunit pinigilan ko ang mapamura.

"I'm just kidding." Humalakhak siya sabay napayuko ng bahagya para lang mapakamot sa dulo ng kilay.

Humalukipkip ako at matalim siyang tinapunan ng tingin. "I'm dating someone."

Napansin ko ang bahagya niyang pagkakatigil. Hanggang sa dahan-dahan siyang tumango. "I can wait."

Kumunot nang kaunti ang noo ko. He'll wait? Bullcrap. "You can't court someone who's taken."

"Can you see yourself marrying this guy?"

Naguluhan ako sa tanong niya kaya't hindi ako nakasagot. Kasal? At our age? Hilo ba siya?

He shrugged as if proving a point. "Doesn't matter if you're dating him, then."

Mukhang matino pero may pagkasiraulo rin pala ang isang ito. I like his point though.

Interesting.

Namamangha ko siyang pinagmasdang mabuti. "So how can I be sure you won't tell on me if I agree with your baloney?"

Muli siyang humakbang palapit habang sinusuklian ang titig ko gamit ang banayad ngunit seryosong mga mata. "You have my word, Lew."

Wow. First time meeting and talking and he's already calling me with my nickname. Are we pals in our previous lives? Okay.

"Just let me court you."

Courting and waiting my ass. Sino pa bang seryoso sa ganiyan ngayon?

I snorted. "Whatever." Then I turn around and left him there.