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"Your name screams old and elegance, reminds me of Harry Potter."


I pointed out as I type in his name on the blanks, habang nagta-type ako I could feel his intense stares on my face, parang he's judging me how dare him! I shrugged it off and pursed lips, napa-atras ako nang maramdaman ko ang unti-unti niyang paglapit sa akin! He's so close to me!


"What the hell?!" I exaggeratedly said and moved away from my seat because he's so too close! Amoy na amoy ko ang sure akong mamahalin niyang pabango!


"Arte, 'di naman ako mabaho ah," inangat niya ang side ng suit para amuyin ang sarili, hindi nga! He smells crazy expensive! 


"You are! Your hair is so mabaho and matigas!" I shook my head and let go of the mouse so I could move away completely, he didn't move any inch but he looked at me and sniffed. 


"Yabang," he smirked and dampened his lower lip. "You smell nice, Lettie," he said coolly and looked at my monitor as if there's something wrong about it. 


Agad nag-init ang mga pisngi ko, I mean my favorite compliment is knowing that I smell good! But it's from Sibal! I could feel my cheeks are extra rosy now, I bit my lower lip. 


"T-thank you," I said and placed my hand on my nape. 


"Ayaw mo ba 'yong matigas? Maganda naman 'pag firm ah," nakanguso ang bibig habang nakatingin pa rin sa screen ng computer. 


"Anong matigas? What's hard ba?" With his serious remark he smirked and shook his head, my cheeks heated up more, what anong mali sa question ko?! 


"Depends," bulong niya ang I could see his foot tapping on the floor. 


"What?" Confusion surrounded me, not getting his joke! 


"Wala, ang sabi ko ayaw mo ba sa buhok ko?" I looked at his messy yet presentable hair, mahaba 'yon at matigas.


"I mean it's long and hard, bagay naman sa'yo," I said without any fondness. 


"May iba pang mahaba na bagay sa akin," tinignan ko siya nang nakakunot ang noo. 


"What?" He compressed his lips to stop himself from bursting into laughters, I slapped his arms and looked at him with grim. "Why are you laughing?!"


"Wala," he continued to shake his head. "Ayaw mo sa nagwa-wax?" Bumalik na sa pagkaseryoso ang kaniyang mukha and tilted his head a bit. 


"Not really, I just feel like it ruins your hair you know? And I think that can cause dandruff, there oh, you have na nga," I pointed his hair, I saw a small dandruff! I mean that's normal but can be preventable, and I think brands of shampoo can affect that.


"Weh?" Hinarap niya ako parang hindi pa naniniwala, he shook his head in hope that it will fall but it didn't, see! Feel ko sa wax din 'yon e! But instead na mag-'ew' ako I extended my hand to wave the dandruff away, mawawala 'yan 'pag nagbago siya ng hair care. 


I slightly fixed his hair as he stare at me, tinignan ko siya and shot my brow up, "Ano?" I saw how a part of his neck waved, a sign that he gulped, binalik ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya, his lips slightly parted then his hands snaked around mine which made crease my forehead, his hands are soft and warm!


"Ako na, at ang ganda pala ng mga mata mo, it's dark," he said and placed my hand on his lap, ginulo niya ang buhok niya and 'yong dumi sa hair niya ay nawala na agad. "I won't use wax anymore, Lettie, I'll listen to you," I bit my lower lip and pumihit na para humarap sa computer ko.   


"Bakit ka ba nakadungaw sa computer ko?" I puckered my lips and inhaled shortly, gosh why are my cheeks still hot?!


"Mali kasi 'yong spelling mo ng Dmitri ko," tinignan ko siya na naka-lean na naman sa akin, his eyes glued on my gaze which make me swallow, why the hell is his stares this intense?! Parang hinahatak 'yong mga tingin ko, indicating that I should just stare at his brown that has spots of green orbs.   


"How ba?" Tinignan ko 'yong spelling ko ng name niya. 


Dimitri, that's how it's spelled right? I know the spelling of Lucius because I used to watch Harry Potter!


"Walang 'i'," he leaned more and quickly typed the correct spelling of his name, oh so it doesn't have an i.


Lucius Dmitri A. Sibal


I read it again, ang ganda talaga ng name niya, "Ganda ng name mo," I brought up and clicked the submit button so I could get the project details na, when I clicked it I was bombarded with a ten pages of problems!


"Maganda rin naman iyo, ha," saad niya, I gave him a look and pouted, I want to cry sa dami ng gagawin, it's like 10 problems per paper, why do we even need this?! So irrelevant! "Lizette Ophelia, oh? Bakit parang naiiyak ka?" I pulled a face and back at our work. 


"Ang dami!" I fizzled and violently smashed the mouse on the table. 


"Shhhhh!" The librarian looked at me which made me smile faultily. 


"The first five is yours, okay? You do these, open your student app and your inbox," I took a screen shot of the screen and opened another tab para roon ko ise-send 'yong picture, on my student app I opened my message board and puro message ng mga grade 10?! May message rin ni John and why can't they leave me alone?!


"Ang dami niyan ha," hindi ko na pinansin and just sent him a message. 


Subject: Math Project

To: Sibal, Lucius Dmitri A.

From: Yrreverre, Lizette Ophelia DJ.

Yours is from 1-5 :).

One attachment attached


"Ayan na," tumango siya sa akin and looked at his screen, hindi niya ako kinibo and started to do his thing already, tinignan ko siya at sinimulan na niyang i-solve 'yong sinend ko, wala siyang tigil sa pagsi-scrible sa paper na ibinigay ko, he's narrowing his eyes but kept on doing it. "Baka hindi mo ma-solve, ha, you can YouTube it," I suggested but he just smirked.


"Math lang naman 'to," he encircled his answer which made me widened my eyes, that fast?!


Tinuon ko na ang attention ko sa screen and started to solve my part with a teary eye, ang hirap ng math! Gosh naman, I was nibbling with my lips when he slid a paper on my table, I looked at him with wrinkled forehead. 


"Done ka na?" He shot his brows up. 


"Oo madali lang naman, bakit? Nahihirapan ka ba?" With heavy heart I faced him, minaliit ko pa siya kanina! Ending ako pala 'yong hindi maka-solve, gosh why is this so complicated?! Nagkalong-baba nalang ako and tapped the end of my pen on my head. He chuckled and bit his lower lip. 


"Ang hirap! At home ko nalang gagawin!" Ibinalik ko na sa pencil case ang pen ko and closed the browser and clicked the button to shut my computer down. 


"Akin na," he tugged my paper back and started to answer it, hindi pa rin hinihingi ang calculator ko. "I'll teach you how to do it, halika," walang gana niyang hinatak ang chair ko and he successfully did it!


He successfully pulled me close to him with just one hand, ganoon ba ako kagaan?! 


"Kaya ko naman gawin lagi 'yong mga ganito, pero para kaya mo rin," on the middle of our table he placed my paper and started jotting down thin numbers, ang ganda ng sulat. "Tapos ito i-add mo rito," I bobbed my head and looked at him, ang ganda ng pilik mata niya.


"Makinig ka kaya 'no?" Tinignan ko siya nang masama dahil ngiting-ngiti siya, lumayo tuloy ako nang onti and sticked my gaze back to the paper. "Gets mo na ba? Kung hindi ituturo ko nalang ulit, basta rito you find multiples first na mayroong square root," patuloy lang siya sa pag-explain sa akin and I just kept on bobbing my head, this is the first time someone taught me math!


When we finished the first page of our project it was sakto na tapos na ang free time namin, we marched to our third floor classroom and gladly our teacher is not yet present, I don't get late kasi sa classes, I value time because not all people has the free time in the world. 


"You go to our house tomorrow." I said when all of our classmates disappered sa room.


I looked at Light who's currently looking at his DSLR, I don't know kung anong pictures ang tinitignan niya but that's the least that I could think about right now, I still have my practice, I was late for a couple of minutes yesterday so Miss Claudine got mad at me, kaya siya wala sa mood yesterday.


"Bakit hindi pa ngayon?" He pursed his lips, the strap of the camera was wrapped around his arms and hand, I could see his obvious veins and his clean and sleek fingers, may mga rings doon, on the thumb and on his middle finger, it was all silver.


"Because I need to inform my parents first and I have my practice today," I explained, every Wednesday is my rest day for ballet, because it's PE day, excuse ko 'yon because Wednesdays are extra tiring for me considering I have to do sports. 


"Bukas wala?" Nilingon na niya ako, I flipped my hair and fixed my pearl head band, I successfully strapped the strap of my bag pack on my shoulders, I gave him a nod and watch him stand up, too.


Hanggang ilong niya ako but without my shoes' heels I feel like hanggang baba lang, "Yup," hindi ko na siya susungitan, okay? He's a math genius! I won't deny that! He even helped me to solve mine!


Maybe he's not that bad at all, baka na-judge ko lang siya.


He's not mayabang it's just that he's not my kaugali and not kaugali of anyone I've ever known, and it's okay, difference is fine, it's not something that would keep me from befriending anyone.. Contrast and dissimilarity sometimes are mistaken or taken to be an unfortunate thing, pero ang kaibahan naman kasi ng mga tao it's made to be understood and be elaborated. 


I actually don't get it why other people describes this dude in front of me as the 'black sheep' of the family.. He's not that bad, when he looks at his camera he looks passionate and he's great naman ah, I mean, he's great at English kahit akala ko hindi siya nakikinig, and he can do Math without a calculator!


"Akin na," tinignan ko siya nang maypagtataka, we're walking down the stairs na, he's walking with me, nakasukbit ang strap ng bag niya and 'yong camera bag sa other shoulder. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay and gripped on my lunch box. "Akin na bag mo, ako na magbubuhat," he pulled my bag but I just shook my head. 


"Kaya ko naman," he clicked his tongue but didn't gave up to tug my bag. 


"Akin na, makukuba ka riyan," walang imik nalang akong ni-remove ang bag ko and binigay sa kaniya, tinignan ko siya and super rami na niyang bitbit! Para namang inapi ko siya! 


"Would you trust me with your camera? Ang dami mo kasing dala na," tinignan niya ang camera bag niya at umiwas ng tingin. "Ow.. " I pused my lips and looked at my foot. "You should invest on white socks, 'yon ang requirement," bulong ko, I was about to say something but a bag appeared in front of me.


"Ingatan mo," tinignan ko 'yon at nag-aalinlangang inabot, we reached the car park in silence and I saw Manong Herbert opening the car for me. "'Yan kotse mo?" Tumango ako and tightened my hold on his camera bag's strap. 


"Here na oh," I extended my hand and he gave my bag to Mang Herbert. "Thank you," I said as he receive his camera. 


"Ingat kayo."


"Uh.. Light," when I was about to turn my back I looked at him and smiled. 


"Why?"


"Friends?" I put out my hands to offer him a handshake, ibinaba niya roon ang tingin and he accepted it, his warm palm engaged with my dainty hands quick, ibinaba ko na 'yon at nginitian siya, see, he's nice!


"Friends, Lettie, sana sa Facebook din," he smirked and winked at me. Nahawa na ako sa ngiti niya and I just rolled my eyes.


"'Nak, ang Ma'am Claudine mo baka ma-late ka," paalala ni Mang Herbert I gave him a nod and looked at Light.


"Bye!" I watched him from inside of our car and he just stood there, fixed tie and uniform with his I.D, he looks neat, nakapamulsa and was watching our car disappear from the car park, I smiled. 


That night I accepted his friend request and I didn't even hesitated to follow him back on twitter, he even liked my rant tweets about wanting McDonalds! Tambay yata siya sa Twitter na lahat ng ni-tweet ko last night he liked. I shrugged it off.


"Mommy, my classmate is going here pala today because we will finish a project," I opened up and proceeded to grab my orange juice.


"Who, darling?" I gulped and looked at Dad, he's looking at me with suspicion, my parents are not that strict but their standards are just too.. Too unrealistic to reach for a mere individual.


But I try anyway, just so I could make them happy, it's like my purpose.. To make my parents proud, because everyday I thank them for everything I have now. But it shouldn't be like that, hindi dapat ipinaparamdam ng mga magulang sa mga anak nila na dapat may patunayan sila para lang mahalin nila sila nang lubusan.


Children are not investments or producers of sumptous achievements that you could flaunt to other people. Children.. They are supposed to be loved regardless of who they are and what their failures might be.. They should not be treated as displays or investments that could be compared to others. 


We are all unique in our own ways. But, I can't help but to please my parents because that makes them feel the joy that I've been wanting them to feel.. I've been raised in a house where you can't feel the love unless you have something to boast around this place.. La Carlota. 


And even though sometimes their expectations hurt my wings, preventing me to soar higher, I still wake up to heal just for them to see me fly again. 


I don't know if it's just me but, sometimes parents can cut their child's wings in passion with mere words even without noticing it. 


That's how sharp words could be, it can kill and invalidate someone.. Forever.


Kaya lahat ng salita natin pinag-iisipan dapat, we can't revoke what's already been spoken. 


"Si Sibal po.. " I whispered, my Dad's eyes almost glimmered in amusement. 


"Which Sibal? The one who's interested in the Medical field? Or Lennox who's been active in the business industry?" My smile disappeared when he did not even mention Lucius, he's a Sibal, too!


"Lucius po, Dad," I said and looked at my Mom.


"The black sheep," my Dad said without any remorse, I furrowed my brow and stared at him, I don't get it, hindi naman nila kilala si Lucius.. How can they say that he's a black sheep?


"That's not a nice thing to day, Dad, we don't know them naman po personally.. "


"Everyone knows that he's the black sheep, puro camera ang inaatupag, wala siyang mapapala roon," I bit my lower lip because I feel bad for my newly found friend, the whole province is judging him just because he's not interested in anything that fits the standards.


Why can't just people shut up specially when the thing that they're whining is about someone's passion and it makes them happy. 


Let people live at their own pace. 


"He's a great photographer," I defended. 


"He's not great for a Sibal, Ophelia," it was Mommy this time, I creased my forehead. 


"Who are we to say who's great of a person or not, Mom? Light is great naman and he's not stepping on anyone I think that speaks volume about who he is," Ate Michelle cleared her throat and smiled at me meaningfully. 


"He's been kicked out of Priston because of his numerous fights, clearly he's stepping on other people, walang pakialam sa reputasyon na pinaghahawakan ng pamilya, sabi 'yan ni Daniel sa akin," I blew my cheeks and reclined on my seat, this just won't end, Light won't be here to defend himself so at least I represented him on this breakfast, I hope that would do, Light.


I sighed because of the sudden question.. Why is it a hobby for other people to speak on topics that they don't fully know and understand? Why is it this easy to conclude what or who a person is even when though barely know them? 


"Bakit tulala ka?" With hurt pasture on my eyes I looked at my friend, I want to say sorry. Sorry because my parents and the whole land of La Carlota is labelling him as something that I think he could change from.


People can change for the betterment, we're young and full of hope.. And in fact the world is bound for constant changes anyway.


"Kasi ang pangit mo," I puckered my lips and looked away, guilt was dripping all over my system.


"Wow, Lettie, ang saya mo naman maging kaibigan," natawa nalang ako at umiling. See, he's all fun! Well three days pa lang naman kaming magkakilala but he's really not that complex, you just need to see through him. "Tuloy pa tayo mamaya?"


"Oo, convoy nalang siguro tayo," tumungo ako and drew something at the back of my notebook, we've he's eating beside me because it's lunch time, tapos na naman akong kumain and after this is our cub time, that's for an hour so after that we'll leave and go to our house.


After the bashful breakfast earlier pumayag din naman sila Mommy, that's better daw than me going to the Sibals, I won't do that din naman, hindi kami ganoon ka-close para dumayo ako. 


"What's your club? And why are you eating here?" Tinignan ko siya ang he's eating.. A burger again, pangalawang foil na 'yon ng burger. With a can of softdrinks on his table I winced, parang puro junk 'yong kinakain niya. "You need to drink water, too," I advised, tinignan ko ang face niyang passionate na nakatingin sa burger and his bouncy black and straight hair was lously touching his forehead.


It's not waxed anymore, I would tell, I smirked. 


See, he knows how to listen! He just needs guidance, I'd be that friend to him. Nakasabit pa rin ang camera sa bag while wearing our white shirt and maroon pants with his branded rubber shoes he looks nice.


He knows how to bring himself, nakasoot pa rin ang kaniyang earring and rings he's eating solefully. "Sige, gagawin ko 'yan bukas magbabaon akong tubig," he chewed and drank softdrinks. "FTA club, kinukuha nga ako sa basketball kaso tinatamad ako, 'wag nalang, at isa pa pala, nandito ako kasi wala kang kasama kumain kahapon kita ko," he moved his shoulders and crumpled the foil.


FTA means, filming, theater, and arts. Tinignan ko siyang punasan ang bibig with tissue and finished his softdrinks. I could witness how the apples on his throat move up and down and the chains connecting his two piercing move in chorus.


"You do basketball din pala."


"Oo, sa Priston varsity ako, mas gusto ko nalang sa FTA ngayon, I don't have the heart to attend try outs and practice anymore," tumango nalang ako and streched my foot, I have a practice with the doll club, wala ngang practice sa

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