CHAPTER NINE

THE very next day, our teachers were back to torturing us as some of the students prepared for the Intrams. Isa sa pinakamukhang tortured ay si President na mukhang hindi pwedeng umupo nang maayos at makapakinig sa lesson dahil halos maya't maya siya ipatawag ng kung sino man mula sa labas ng classroom.

I was thinking of doing something for him to — at least, maybe, somehow, I don't know — relax him. Brighten up his mood? He did it with me, one time. When he gave me chocolate. Maybe I could do it for him too. Kahit simple lang.

With that thought in mind, I was already thinking of my strategy for Jackie to not be a hindrance and turn it into a huge issue that might hurt us both, again.

Kaya naman nang tumunog ang bell ay inaya ko si Jackie na pumunta sa canteen na sakto namang nakaabang na pala sa amin sa labas si Clint. Ang okay naman sa lalakeng iyon ay nang sinabi niya sa aking gusto niya ako at sinabi kong hindi ko mababalik ang feelings na 'yon ay hindi niya ako hinahayaang makaramdam ng awkwardness kapag kasama siya. Ika nga niya, para lang kaming friends. But it's a different story when it comes to Jackie.

"So, Clint," dinig kong pagkuha ng atensyon ni Jackie sa lalake habang nasa likuran ko silang dalawa na naglalakad. "How are you? Pinapahirapan ka ba ni Haddy? Where are you na ba? Ligawan stage na? Should I introduce you kela Tita at Tito?"

Automatic na umangat ang kilay ko at akmang papagitan sa usapan nila nang sumagot si Clint. "Ang dami namang tanong. Isa-isa lang, mahina kalaban," natatawa niyang sabi pero mukhang hindi na-gets ni Jackie na siyang nagpatawa sa akin nang mahina pero tinalikuran ko na lang sila para hindi 'yon makita ni Jackie. Tanda ko pa yung kwento niyang nag-joke raw sa kaniya si Nexus pero hindi niya na-gets kaya napahiya raw siya. Grabe pulang-pula ng mukha niya nung kinwento niya 'yun.

"So, what na nga ba ang status?" pagpipilit na naman ni Jackie.

I rolled my eyes at her remark. "Friends," sagot ni Clint. Hindi ako nakatingin sa kanila pero parang may nakatingin sa likod ko. "I'm having fun because I get to spend time with Hadlee, na komportable siya sa akin."

Napangiti naman ako. Thanks, Clint. "What? Hanggang ngayon friends lang kayo?" Obvious na this time na nakatitig na sa akin si Jackie kaya naman nagkunwari lang akong walang naririnig at tuloy-tuloy na naglakad papunta sa cafeteria. Nagpresenta naman ako sa kanilang dalawa na ako na ang mago-order ng kakainin namin at sila na ang maghanap ng table namin. Para naman makabili ako ng ice cream para kay President nang hindi nalalaman ni Jackie.

With Jackie's attitude, papayag siyang ako na ang um-order para naman hindi na siya pipila. As for Clint, he now knew how to sit down and just let me do what I say or want. "So, may I take your order, Ma'am, Sir?" ani ko habang nakatingin kay Clint na siyang kinatawa niya.

Nang makuha ko na lahat ng order nila ay saka ako pumila. I was too occupied with the thoughts of the ice cream flavor that Nexus might like or already like when I heard a soft and calm voice in front of me. "Hmm... One chocolate chip ice cream and one strawberry ice cream. Thank you."

Ilang beses akong napakurap. Her back looked somehow familiar, lalo naman ang boses niya, and of course, her unique purple-pink tip highlights. Franne Germosa. One of the best racket sport players in our school, and one of the prettiest faces here. Kumbaga magka-level sila ni Jackie sa ganda.

I was very much preoccupied with her when I heard the lady on the counter. "Anong sa 'yo?"

"Uhm... Uh... One carbonara, one chicken with rice, one palabok, three medium iced tea, and..." Should I do this? I mean I should. Nexus has been nothing but good to me. The last thing I should do is repay him with kindness, kesa palagi ko siyang tinatarayan. "And four cookies and cream ice cream on cup po."

Nang makapagbayad na ako ay saka ako lumipat ng pwesto para makuha ng orders namin, sinenyasan ko pa sila para makahingi ng tulong sa pagbibitbit pagkatapos kong itago sa pocket ng jacket ko ang isa sa mga ice cream. Mabilis naman akong napansin ni Clint na siyang tumulong sa akin.

"Sanay na sanay ah," loko ko sa kaniya na siyang ikinangiti niya.

"Tingnan mo, kaya ko pa 'yan ng one hand lang," aniya na ikinaikot naman ng mga mata ko. Tumawa lang siya saka maingat na inilapag ang tray nang makapwesto na kami sa table namin.

Sinimulan ko naman nang i-distribute ang mga pagkain namin. At nang mapansin nilang inabutan ko sila ng ice cream ay pareho silang nagtatakang tumingin sa akin. "Pang-relax lang. Si Jackie, puro practice. At ikaw naman," turo ko kay Clint na nakaupo sa tapat namin, "puro trabaho at aral."

"Hey! Ba't practice lang sa akin? Nag-aaral din ako, Haddy ah," pagrereklamo ni Jackie na ikinatawa na lang namin ni Clint. "But seriously," inangkla ni Jackie ang braso niya sa braso ko, "thank you for this, Haddy."

"Good luck sa practices mo." Nagsimula naman na kaming kumain saka nagkwentuhan hanggang sa napunta na naman ang usapan sa ayokong topic nang dahil kay Jackie.

"Why are you still not seriously dating ba?" bigla niyang tanong na nagpatigil sa amin ni Clint sa pagkain. Seryoso naman akong tiningnan ni Jackie. Oh hell. "Why are you still not allowing him to court you, Haddy?"

Seriously, Jackie? I continued eating, my eyes stayed with the palabok. "Still not ready, Jackie."

But then of course, even if I put a lot of emphasis on her name, trying to let her know that she has to stop, Jackie would still be Jackie. "But you look so good together. I was watching you both kanina habang dala niyo yung food natin, and you, guys, looked so adorable."

I made sure that I put my poker face on, so neither of them would see just how irritated I am with this topic. I was about to answer her when I heard Clint talk. "Doon lang ako sa kung saan komportable si Hadlee."

"Really? Masyado ka namang mabait and understanding, Clint." I then felt her face me. "Baka naman mamaya may iba kang gusto kaya hindi mo pa pinapayagan si Clint, Hadlee ah," panimula niyang alam ko na ang susunod. "Maybe you like... I don't know... Nexus?"

"Jackie." I raised my head and looked directly at her mischievous brown narrow eyes. "Your ice cream's melting."

Napunta naman ang tingin niya sa ice cream niya saka nagmamadaling inubos ang carbonara niya para makain ang ice cream niya. I was about to go back to my food and finish it fast so I could give President his ice cream when I saw him enter the cafeteria alone.

I only read it in books and watched it in films, but I never thought that I would be able to experience it in real life. Everything really did slow down; everything was a blur except him. I saw how he smiled at the people greeting him. I saw how bright he was and just seemingly perfect.

And then I saw her.

Not my best friend, not Jackie.

But her... Franne.

I saw just how happier Nexus became after Franne approached him. How he became brighter. A lot more glowing.

And just how my heart felt heavier the more I stared at them.

Ilang taon ko nang ginugusto at tinitingnan si Nexus. I know the differences between his smiles — what's real, what's not, what's uncomfy, what's friendly.

Ah sht. Mas masakit pa 'to kesa sa panoorin sila ni Jackie.

Because this smile meant...

He likes her and it freaking hurts.

H | Z