Sheena's POV
"Why did you even force us to drop you here? I swear, ang ganda pa ng sleep ko tapos you'll disturb me lang?" Mikha said while maneuvering her dad's car.
Pinilit ko ang mga kaibigan ko para ihatid ako at sakto, Mikha's parents went out of the country for business matters kaya madali lang ang pagtakas namin sa sasakyan ng daddy niya. Mom told me to wait for my driver but I insisted to commute. When I reached the gate of our subdivision, I called my friends to pick me up.
"Nagreklamo ka pa, hinahatid niyo rin lang ako." I answered.
"Only because you promised us a movie night at your house, Shee." Mikha calmly replied. I looked at the back seat and saw Colet and Maloi sleeping peacefully. Nakanganga pa si Maloi so I threw a crumpled tissue to her mouth. She didn't realize it until she started chewing. Tawa lang ako nang tawa tapos siya, halos patayin na ako sa tingin.
"Shut up, you two! I'm trying to sleep." Sita ni Colet sa amin ni Mikha. "Plus, we're benefiting naman sa kalandian ni Sheena eh, let it pass, Mikhs." she added.
"Psh! Kalandian pero dinamay pa tayo." Maloi butted in. Naalala tuloy ng dalawa 'yong katangahan ko kaya tawa na naman sila nang tawa.
"I got scared, okay? Mabuti nang back up ko kayo. She was looking at me as if I am capable of doing something illegal." I reasoned out.
"Bakit, hindi ba?" Colet asked, challenging me but I just shook my head and decided to keep my mouth shut.
Wala akong laban sa mga ATE ko.
After about 20 minutes, we finally arrived. I bid my goodbye to my friends but they pulled me closer to them at isa-isa nilang ginulo ang buhok ko. I raised my middle finger to them before finally going out of the car.
"Good morning, Sir Manong Guard!" I greeted the hospital's security guard as I logged in and was about to enter the place.
It's 6:30 in the morning and as usual, I prepared early to catch Gweneth and have a conversation with her. Gusto ko nga siyang unahan eh, baka sakaling mapansin niya kung gaano ko kagustong makausap siya.
As I stepped inside the venue, I immediately saw a short-haired girl reading a book, this time, ibang book naman. She's such a bookworm!
"Good morning!" I greeted her and smiled sheepishly.
She just looked at me and went back to reading, as if she didn't saw me here. I started dragging the nearest monoblock chair and placed it in front of her. Tinitigan ko lang siya at hinintay na tingnan ako, pero lumipas ang 20 minutes at hindi niya man lang ako magawang tingnan.
So, I decided to break the ice again. "Gweneth! Can I ask a question?"
The girl put down her books at tiningnan niya ako ng marahan. Her face is expressionless, i swear to God! Paano ko nakakayanang kausapin siya even if she's like this?
We're just looking at each other for about 3 minutes and I am starting to get conscious. You got this, Shee! I cheered for myself.
"What?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Okay." I replied.
"Huh?"
Ang slow pala ng crush ko. "You said you'll ask a question." she's still looking at me.
"I already did." I told her at nakipagtitigan pa sa kanya. Thank God at mukhang nakuha na niya 'yong joke ko. I was waiting for her to laugh pero wala akong naantay na response from her.
So, I decided to shoot my shot again.
"Paella is pronounced as 'pa-e-ya', right?" I asked.
She hummed. "So, bakit 'yong vanilla hindi va-ni-ya?" I asked curiously.
"Make sense, I'll research about it." she replied and went back on reading her book. Kung emoji lang ako ngayon, baka ako na 'yong emoji na nakatunganga lang wondering if what I joked was a good thing or not. Good thing kasi nagka-interes siya sa sinabi ko or not because she didn't laugh at my joke AGAIN.
Pero malabong maging emoji ako, kalbo 'yong mga 'yon eh. Hayaan na nga lang!
An hour and a half have passed and people are starting to arrive one by one. Napupuno na ang venue at natanaw ko na rin si Miggy , beside him was Brianna. They're talking to each other and I saw Miggy tried to carry her cute small bag pack.
I approached Miggy so Brianna immediately went to Gweneth.
"I saw what you did there, buddy. Paano mo nalalaman 'yang mga ganyang moves ha?" I teased.
"Sa movies." he simply answered. "Sheena, here, take this." he added and handed me a cash. Kung sila Mikha lang 'to, kinuha ko na 'yong inaabot niya eh.
"Why are you giving me this?" I asked.
He cleared his throat and looked at me seriously. "You gave me and Brianna foods yesterday. I'll pay for it basta huwag mo na siyang bigyan ulit. Crush mo ba siya?"
"What if crush ko siya?" IÂ played along with his little tantrums. Nang makita ko na paiyak na siya, I kneeled down to level his height and played his hair. "I'm joking, buddy. My crush is your Ate Gweneth, not your Brianna." I explained.
"Dapat hindi ka umaaming crush mo siya to make her interested about you. Ang hina mo pala Sheena!" pangangantiyaw niya.
"Ate Sheena, call me ATE SHEENA." I replied pero iniwan niya lang ako. I followed Miggy to our station and started helping him to finish reading a story. Iyon kasi ang activity namin ngayon.
When we're done, volunteers including me cleaned up the venue. I searched for Gweneth but she's not here. Nagtanong ako sa mga kakilala niya if they saw her and they told me she went to the comfort room.
So I decided to follow her. Upon entering the comfort room, I heard someone vomiting inside the last cubicle. I don't know if it was Gweneth or some random patient or volunteer. "Hello? Miss, are you okay?" I asked the person behind the cubicle but no one responded.
I am starting to get scared. Wala naman sigurong multo dito sa venue kasi nasa ward or emergency room silang lahat, diba?
Tatakbo na sana ako when finally, someone responded. "I-i'm okay." she said. Nanlaki ang mata ko because the voice was familiar. Of course, she's my crush. Alam na alam ko na agad ang boses niya.
"Do you need anything? Are you really okay?" I worriedly asked.
She didn't respond so I waited until she come out. I was playing with the faucet and the hand warmer by washing my hand and putting it in front of the hand warmer. Paulit-ulit lang kasi nakakatuwa. Mayaman naman sila Colet, wala lang sa kanila ang electricity bill ng hospital. But I stopped when I didn't notice that Gwen's beside me na, wearing her usual poker face.
"Ah, ano, andaming colors sa kamay ko kanina eh kaya nasa comfort room ako." I told her and smiled sheepishly.
"Sheena, we read books, hindi tayo nagcolor." she replied and went outside the comfort room.
Alam kong napahiya ako doon but I didn't bother making it a big deal. Instead, sinundan ko pa siya. "Gweneth, are you okay? What happened?" I asked.
"Oo, may mali lang sa nakain ko." she said without looking at me.
Sasagot na sana ako when I saw someone yelling at his kid. As we walk closer to them, nakita ko si Miggy na nakayuko habang pinapagalitan ng daddy niya.
"Why did you steal money from me!? Lagot ka sa akin, bata ka!" his dad shouted again and hit Miggy's head hard.
I saw Gweneth stiffed but she's not my priority right now. I rushed towards Miggy and hide him behind my back. He's sobbing heavily while gently caressing the side of his head.
"Sir, I am his partner sa activity namin earlier. He offered me the money but I didn't accept it po. Sir, I know what Miggy did is wrong but you don't have the right to hit your son. You can simply approach him nicely." I defended my buddy as he continue to cry.
"Don't teach me on how will I discipline my son. Wala kang alam." he shouted.
I smiled at him. "Sir, I know my place po and it's true that I don't know you or Miggy personally but you can be in jail for doing that to your child. Please be nice to your son po. He's a good kid, sir." I turned to Miggy and gave him my assuring smile. I mouthed 'it's okay'.
"Miggy, can you say sorry to your dad?" I asked and the kid nodded.
"D-dad, here's your money. Ate Sheena didn't accept it. I-I'm so sorry, daddy." Miggy said and even if I can feel that he's still scared, he still approached his dad and hugged him. Kinikilig ako. Hindi dahil sa nakamasid sa akin si Gweneth ngayon, kundi dahil tinawag akong 'Ate' ni Miggy.
I smile as I watched Miggy's dad walk away carrying his son with him. I turned to Gweneth and saw her proudly smiling at me.
She's so simple yet charismatic and beautiful. Hindi man lang kumalahati 'yong mga queen bee sa school namin compared to her. I smiled back at dahan-dahang naglakad papunta sa kanya.
"Uh, nasobrahan slow motion mo." she started. And for the first time, she was the one to insist a conversation.
I laughed. "Sorry, nafeel ko lang eh." I told her and scratched my temple.
"That was so nice of you. I didn't know you are this kind." she commented and looked away. Siguro ay nahiya rin siya sa sinabi niya.
If she's not Gweneth, siguro pinagyabang ko pa iyong ginawa ko kanina. Act of kindness from an asshole like me, bro!
"Believe me, I'm not nice. Siguro kapag nasa school ka namin, you'll heard different stories of how messed up and shitty I am." I told her.
She shrugged off her shoulders, "I won't judge based on their stories. Ang babaw 'non. I'd rather observe you para ako mismo ang magsasabi ng judgement ko sa'yo."
"Oh, edi judger ka rin?" I teased.
"Nope, observer lang." she casually replied.
"So, interesado ka na sa akin niyan? Ikaw ah! Crush mo ba ako?" I joked.
She shook her head at binilisan maglakad. Ito na naman tayo, she surely love the chasing game.
"Gweneth!" I called her, mabuti naman at lumingon na siya. "Tara kain tayo?" I asked.
She didn't turn to look at me but she stayed at her spot. Tumawa ako at binilisan para makapunta sa kanya. "I have a curfew eh, 1:30 dapat nasa bahay na ako."
I looked at my wrist watch. It's already 1:00pm. "Oh, okay." I smiled even though deep inside, I am disappointed.
"Maybe next time?" she smiled. Sinong may sabing disappointed ako? May next time pa!
"Really? Sure!" I goofily answered.
"I owe you one lunch out." she said and slightly nodded.
Ngumiti rin ako. Bakit ba kapag ngumingiti siya ay napapangiti rin ako? She's like a Princess tapos ako 'yong frog. Okay, hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang mga naiisip ko.
"Gweneth, you have nothing to repay me. Whether you want to spend that "next time" with me is up to you. You're not being forced here." I smiled at her. "Pero kung mapilit ka, sige na nga. Aarte pa ba ako? Crush kita eh, sana mapili para sumaccess na ako." I added at natawa sa sarili kong banat.
She bit her lips, stopping herself from smiling. Bibigay ka rin sa susunod. I am more than willing to wait until you're ready to smile at my own corny jokes and stuffs.
"Sabi mo eh. Paano, una na ako ha?" she said. Pero bago siya maglakad ulit, I pulled her into the canteen near our venue. I bought two bottled water at binigay 'yong isa sa kanya.
"You vomited earlier eh. Drink this and don't forget to eat your late lunch. See you tomorrow, Gweneth." I smiled.
"See you tomorrow, Sheena. And oh, call me Gwen." she said at naglakad na papalayo.
Pinapanuod ko lang siya hanggang mawala na siya sa paningin ko. When I recovered, I messaged my friends in the group chat.
Sheena: People fall in love in mysterious ways. Random message but they immediately seen it. The three of them reacted laughing emoji.
Maloi: nagkacrush ka lang, tugtugan mo Ed Sheeran na. Thinking out loud tapos kapag nasaktan, Happier na soundtrip mo. Kahit gustong-gusto ko silang giyerahin, hindi nalang ako nagreply. I don't want to ruin this day.
I put my phone inside my pocket and waited for my driver to arrive -- with smile on my lips.