Class hours ngayon at wala kang makikitang estudyante pagala gala sa campus. Lumabas ako saglit upang kumuha ng tubig at mag cr.

Pabalik nako sa shs building ng makasalubong ko yung photo journ. Mukhang galing siyang clubroom? Idk? Idc.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad ng makita ako. But pag lapit niya, napaatras din ako patalikod. Naalala ko yung yakap niya sakin!

"What?" I asked arching my brow to the highest level!

"Uy teka baba mo yan. Hahaha." He said at binababa niya yung kilay ko. I slapped his hands. It will ruin my makeup. "Yung cam ko?"

"Nasa classroom. I didn't expect that I'll bump you here right now. Duh?" I sarcastically said to him.

"Sige tara." He said at nag lakad.

"Tara? Where?" I asked. Napaka dami nitong gusto sa buhay niya. May klase pa kaya ako.

"To your room? Lead the way, please?" He said pointing his hands on the stairs.

"What? No! Ayoko. Baka may makaoita pa saatin na magkasama." I refused.

"Edi bring it to my room nalang." He put his hands on his pockets. Kapal ng mukha nito. "Ingatan mo camera ko ha? Ingatan mo o iingatan kita? You choose." He said and winked at me.

"I will not do that thing. If you want, meet me at the canteen later. Same table." I said at umalis na.

"Weh? Gusto moko makasama mag lunch eh! Hoy!" He shouted pero nag dirediretso lang ako paakyat ng building. 

My graduating year will be a disaster if he will always go on my way.

"Iannah? You are smiling!" My seatmate said. Parang himala sa kaniya na nakita akong ngumiti.

Hinawakan ko agad ang labi ko.

"What? I'm not! Naduduling kana ba? Tss. Don't talk to me please." I said at binuksan ang binder ko at nagkunwaring nag aaral.

I'm smiling? What is the reason?

We're dismissed 20 minutes early that's why I decided to go to the council office for a bit. I'll check the attendance sheets and I'll take my lunch. I brought the camera of that journalist and placed it inside my bag.

Pag pasok ko ng council room, I go directly on my table and look if the attendace sheets was complete already. This is the way for us to monitor if the students are here or they are taking a half day.

Madalas kasi sa mga estudyante, hindi pumapasok ng umaga then dumadating for their afternoon class. The president noticed that because every flag ceremony, konti lang ang estudyante tapos pag uwian they become doubled.

That's the reason behind this attendance sheets.

"Ms. Sec, I'll go and take my lunch na. Ikaw din ha?" Our ssg adviser said at lumabas ng pinto pag katapos ko siya tanguan.

Nilagay ko sa isang folder ang attendance sheet at nilagyan ito ng date. Nagulat ako nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan kaya agad akong napaharap doon.

But then, I realized it was our vice president.

"Ow. You're here." He said kaya tumango nalang ako at bumalik sa lamesa ko. "Nag lunch kana?" He said.

Nagulat ako. He asked me. Why?

"Why? Do you care?" I asked. Malay mo kahit konting pag as--

"I do care." He said at bumalik sa binabasang libro.

"You what?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"I care Ms. Secretary." He said nag tataka sa balik kong tanong.

"Do you like me?" I asked. Hayop, ang kapal ng mukha ko.

"What? Is it still about before? I care because you matter in this organization. Yun lang." Diretsong sabi niya at pumunta sa locker.

"Yun lang?" Di makapaniwalang tugon ko.

"I do that in other officers to." He calmly said. Yeah right. Ganun siya sa lahat.

Napangiti ako ng mapakla. Lagi ko nalang binababa ang pride ko sa lalaking 'to.

"Why don't we try Mr. Vice President? Maybe we clicked? Just a try?" I hopefully asked, souded desperate. Lumapit pa ako sakaniya.

"Still a No Ms. Secretary. I'm sorry." Binalik niya ang libro sa locker at kumuha ng bago.

"Alam mo ikaw? Paasa kadin eh. You'll ask me if I eat already, you will say that you care. You know that I like you right? Don't treat me special if I'm not." I said at bumalik sa table ko para kunin ang gamit ko. I can't handle this anymore. Kasi at any minute, tutulo nanaman ang luha ko and I don't want anyone to see that.

Binababa ko ang sarili ko at pride ko para sa isang tao. Well? Not me. Pero dahil sakaniya, nagagawa ko. Oh hell how desperate, Iannah.

Kinuha ko ang gamit ko. May narinig pa akong humampas na kung ano pero diretso padin ang lakad ko. Hinayaan ko siya doon dahil I can't stand with him a little longer pa.

Nakasalubong ko yung photo journalist but I remained silent. Nilagpasan ko siya pero tinawag niya ako.

"Hey! Sec!" Habol niya sa akin. I don't have any places to go to. Maraming tao ngayon at pag dito ko nilabas yung sakit na nararamdaman ko, maraming makakakita na mahina ako. Not gonna happen.

I go straightly to the pre school building dahil halos wala nang tao dito. Maaga ang uwian ng mga pre school. I chose to go in the pre school garden.

I sat in the grass. Para akong tangang tumatawa habang umiiyak.

"Hoy! Ano ba?" Hinihingal na sambit ng photo journalist. "Nakakapagod ka ha. Hindi pa ako kumakai- hey teka, bat ka umiiyak?" He looks so worried.

"I'm not crying. Excuse me? Duh?" I said and forced myself to be in my normal state. Well, I did. "Here's your camera." I gave the cam to him at tumayo na ako.

He looks excited when he received it. Talagang passion niya ang pag pipicture picture huh? Nag lakad na ako paalis but then--

"Noo! What? Hala." I turned back my gaze onto him and I saw the lenses of his camera. It was broken!

Is it my fault? Is it?

But then I remembered. May humampas kanina nung nag walkout ako sa harap ng vp.

Napasapo ako sa noo ko sa inis. Such a stupid girl, Iannah.

Lumapit ako sakaniya para tignan yung camera. Hindi niya ako tinitignan dahil nakafocus siya doon sa basag.

"Oh hell. Hey photo journ, I'm sorry." I sincerely said.

Tumingin naman ito saakin. He doesn't look mad at all pero hindi din siya nakangiti.

"I'm sorry, I didn't notice na tumama pala kung saan. I'm very sorry." Sabi ko at hinawakan din yung camera.

"Nangyari na e." He said. Mas lalo akong naguilty.

"I'm really sorry. I'll help yoy fix it." I said to him. "And I uhm, I promise."

Hindi ko padin mabasa yung emosyon niya pero nagsalita siya.

"Hindi mo ba napansin?" He asked.

"Hind. Hindi ko napansin na yan pala yung tumam-" he cut me.

"No, not that." Sabi niya at umiling.

"Eh?" Naguguluhan ako! Ano ba gagawin ko sa lalaking 'to?

"You keep on saying sorry." Huh?

Did I say sorry?

"Let's go and get some lunch. Mamaya na natin pag usapan 'yan." He said at tumayo na.

"Pero yung camera mo?" Palag ko.

"May camera naman ata sa journ room? Sasabihin ko nalang kay chief. Mabait naman yun." Mabait? Chief? So si Iarrah?

"No! Give me your cam, papaayos ko." I insisted.

"Talaga? Oh." He removed the sd card at binigay saakin. "Pero hihiram padin ako kay chief ha? Papahiramin naman ako nun panigurado. Mas mabait pa sa maba--" iniwan ko na siya dun at nag lakad na. Edi siya na mabait! Siya na angel, siya na lahat! Patayuan ko pa siya ng rebulto sa sobrang bait niyang school mate!

Pero mabait na kakambal? Years ago? 'Di ko sure.

Pumunta na akong cafeteria and I'm very much aware na nakasunod yung photo journalist saakin. Dire-diretso akong pumasok pero dapat pala hindi ko ginawa.

I saw the vice president having lunch with my sister.

He keeps on rejecting me but he can have lunch with my twin?

Ano ba wala saakin?

"Oh. Si chief yun ah! Lalapit ko lang ha? Sasabihin ko hihira--" Paalis na siya pero pinigilan ko ang kamay niya.

"Please." I said. Nagtataka naman siyang lumingon saakin.

"Ha? Please ano? Teka lang lalapit lang ako sakan--" pinigilan ko ulit siya.

"Please. Kahit ikaw lang, kahit ngayong lang, ako naman yung piliin mo."

_________

A collaboration story with air_jhel!

Meet Iannah Cervantes' twin and discover her story!

Kindly check air_jhel's account and meet Iarrah Cervantes.