I had a plan.

I looked on the clock.

2:54 PM

I guess I have time.

I went downstairs to call Kuya Roland.

"Kuya Roland!" I called him, he just finished cleaning the car.

"Yes, Ma'am Tash?" He looked at me, he's wet. The waters were dripping on his shirt. 

"Uh! Kuya, can we go to school now? I forgot something in my school." I lied about forgetting something.

"Oh! Gano'n po ba, Ma'am? Saglit lang po. Palitan ko lang yung damit ko po," He said to me.

"Call Ate Lita, too," I ordered politely.

I told him so that my mum will not be angry with me. I don't want that.

Minutes passed and we're in the car. I looked on my watch and it's already 3:24 PM and we're inside the Greenfields Subdivision. Hoping that he'll not go away before I go there.

Hoping.

3:37 PM. When I arrived at my school. I waited for him in the waiting shed. It's pink. I saw also another students there.

"It's already 3:39 PM, where is he? We don't have a T.L.E. exam. Well, we're taking an I.C.T. Anyways, I expected him to be one hour early from the regular students." I said in the air

I opened my Twitter to tweet

Natasha @natashanexx
Waiting for you.

And I played shuffled songs on Spotify. Still waiting. I decided to call Ashley. I don't want to be bored! Plus, I don't have games on my phone.

[Oh! Sis! Bakit ka napatawag? May chika ka ba?] 

"Thank you for the advice you gave, Ash! It changed my way of thinking." 

[Ano ka ba! Small thing, sis! Ano ginagawa mo diyan sa kwarto mo?] 

"I'm not in the house," I replied.

[Eh? Sa'n ka? Puntahan kita.] She insisted.

"No! I'm fine. Nasa school ako. I want to talk to him." I replied. Looking at the cars passing by.

[Sino? OMG? Wag mong sabihin na si--] 

"Gilbert."

[Ugh! Wondering why we bother with love if it never lasts.] She said, irritated.

[Pero, OMG huh! Ano pwede kong matulong?] She questioned me, she's willing to help me, huh?

"Nothing! Just don't make me bored waiting for him," I answered, looking to my left, waiting that he'll appear.

After Ashley entertained me, I ended the call and I saw 15 minutes and 33 seconds.

And It's already 3:54 PM.

"Magpapakita ba talaga siya? Or I'm being a delusional fish here?" I said in the air.

When I said that, the person beside me looked at my face.

"Hi!" He greeted.

"Uhm! Hello?" I greeted back, I raised a brow," I said when I'm feeling uncomfortable. "Sorry! I need to go," 

"Potek! Ang sungit naman," I heard while I'm walking away from him.

My heart was beating so fast. I'm scared of him.

"Kuya Roland! Let's go," I command.

"Ma'am is your things you forgot is already with you na po?" He asked, he's improving, huh. Liked it.

"U-uh, y-yeah" I stuttered. Looking at my empty hands.

"Ma'am Tash! Wait lang po. Hinihintay pa po natin si Ms.Lita, ayun ma'am, oh! Napasarap sa mga street foods," He pointed out. Gano'n na ba talaga galit niya kay Ate Lita. Sabagay 'The more you hate, the more you love."

I'm glazing to the campus wishing he'll appear while we're waiting to Ate Lita.

After 13 minutes of waiting. Ate Lita hopped in the car.

He's already late. 4:20 PM will be the time when the regular students finished their examinations. I hate him. I freaking hate him.

"Oh! Ma'am, musta po?" Ate Lita greeted me.

"Fine. Let's go" My mood is from 10 drops to -9.

Kuya Roland already pressed the gas.

Still staring while the car is moving.

I saw a girl playing the ukulele while walking towards the gate, a girl with glasses, also a small girl... she's cute and also... Angel!

"Kuya! Stop" I shouted that made them crazy and shocked.

"MA'AM!" They shouted back.

"Ma'am! Wag naman po kaya mang-gulat!" Ate Lita said, she even touched her chest, "Aatakihin ako niyan, ma'am."

I hopped outside the car, immediately. And I went inside but the guard stopped me.

"Ate! Tapos na school hours natin. Bat ka pa nandito?" The guard told me.

"Uhm! I'll get my... M-my " I stopped.

"Natasha? Natasha, right?" The boy who saved my life last time and he saved my life again.

"H-hey !" I said, "Who are you again?" I whispered to him

"Vincent, boy!" He replied.

"Oh!" I said.

"Vincent! What's..." I said, looking to the guard.

"What's up?" I asked and I looked my way to him.

"Ha? Nangyari? Sa'yo?" He asked and even scratched his head.

"Bye!" I ran to our classroom. I used the 4-steps stares and I'll walk to the right to go to our classroom.

"Kingina naman bro!" He said... he's Gilbert! Yes! I remember his name!

"I-I'm sorry! G-gilbert" I pleased.

"Kinginapple, king and apple yung story selection namin kanina, hehe," He denied.

I just looked at him, standing.

"Ah! Ba't ka pala nandito? Susunduin mo ba ako? Akala ko ghinost mo na ako," He said while using his hand to fix his hair.

"Y-You're not angry with me? Right?" I asked, hoping he said no.

"Ako? Ako magagalit? Ano bang ginawa mo sa akin?" He laughed.

Really? Parang wala lang sa kanya 'yon? Nakakainis.

"Bat ka nandito? Last ko nang itatanong 'yan. Kung wala naman, una na ako," He said.

Hindi ba manlang  niya ako kakamustahin? Or what?

"Una na ako, ayaw mo sumagot eh," He said and walked away.

"Wait!" I shouted.

Safe! Buti na lang wala 'yung Grade 10 sa room. If Grade 10 STEs were there, I'll be dead!

He looked at me, he's holding books. He walked towards me.

Is this what I imagined in our Kitchen that made my hands wet? Freak 'The milk' imagination scenario.

"What is it, Natasha?" He holds my side face with his hand.

I became Olaf at that time. Ain't walking but frozen. I can't feel anything except my heart that beats so fast.

"Are you hungry? That's why you're not responding? " he asked.

I nodded at him. I don't want to talk. Too shy.

He grabs my hand while walking. He knew that Kuya Roland is there because he has resources, I think? He gave his hoodie to me, so I can hide while we're walking.

"Don't worry, ibabalik din kita. Trust me," He said with so much comfort. I can't hide my romantic excitement inside his hoodie. Thankful, because he can't see me.

I felt that he holds my head to bend.

"You can finally remove that piece of shit on your face. Pero kung ayaw mo pa rin, sige. Ganiyan ka nalang hanggang bayan." He ordered.

Annoyed and romantic excitement I felt that time. They're fighting. Hoping that annoyed will win.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Hindi ka pa nakakasakay dito. Saan ka ba pinalaki?" He laughed.

I rolled my eyes on him and pouted.

"Hala! Yung puso ko. Wag kang ganyan. Ang cute mo!" He looked at me, titled his head slightly.

"Nasa tricycle tayo, my treat don't worry." He continued

Oh! Ito pala 'yung lagi kong naririnig kay Ate Lita na sinasakyan niya kapag namamalengke tuwing magka-away sila ni Kuya Roland!

We hopped outside the tricycle. And we entered to pares house. I saw the sign it's "Janet's" It's airconized pero mainit pa rin-. We went to second floor. Oh! Few people.

He fixed my chair. What a gentle... dog. 

"Ano sa'yo?" He gave the menu as he asked me.

"Wala ba ritong spaghetti? And French fries?" I asked, still finding it on the menu.

"Paktay! Edi sana sinabi mo nang maaga para sa Jollibee tayo kumain." He scratched his head.

"Let's move to Jollibee, then." I replied immediately.

"Ha? A-Ano? Sabi ko treat ko. Pero ito na muna. Pagtsagaan mo muna...Ms. Natasha. Ang gasta mo naman," He said, wondering.

"Just order. Kung ano nalang sa'yo 'yun nalang din sa akin," I replied back.

"Sige, ha! Sabi mo 'yan," He said, he was pointing at me.

While he was ordering. I looked at the place. Their chairs have circles. It's gray. Looks like a mini-restaurant. I'll tell to my friends that we'll eat here, next time.

He placed the number on the table.

"Ayos na po. Kainin mo yung in-order ko." He ordered me, smirking.

I nodded.

"So! Ano? Hindi ka na ba ulit comfortable sa akin? Ano ba nangyari?" He asked, curious.

"Nothing happened," I replied.

"Weh? 'Di nga? Paanong wala?" He asked.

I didn't notice him. I'm annoyed.

He stopped and took his phone. And I get mine too. I don't want to be bored. I went to my Twitter to swipe and to see the hashtag for today. Until I saw a blue notification.

Gilbert liked your tweet

What the fuck?

I looked at it to see what tweet did he liked.

Natasha @natashanexx

Waiting for you.

Oh! Shit! That's the one I twitted earlier. And it's for... him

"Waiting for you, huh." He whispered.

I looked at him and rolled my eyes.

And my notifications popped-up again.

Gilbert replied to your tweet

Gilbert @gilbertxanche to Natasha @natashanexx

I'm here, in front of you

I bit the sides of my cheeks to hide my romantic expression.

"So! I guess we have. What did they call that? 'Mutual Understanding?'" He asked.

I looked at him, raised a brow.

"Really? Natasha? Baka hindi mo rin alam meaning ng M.U.? " He asked me.

"Nabigla ka ba sa sinulat ko? I am so sorry." He begged.

"Yeah" I whispered.

"Sorry again! I really mean it din naman. I like you, Natasha Shane De Verra. Pero kung hindi ka pa naman ready, that's fine.I'll wait for you" He confessed.

Wait for me, my devil peasant, and my psycho.

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♡