Chapter 3 - A Bit Strange

• Ruben's Point of View •

When it comes to music, Jade never fails to amaze me. It's our music class right now and she's showing off how she play violin again. Favorite subject nya kasi ito at favorite din sya mismo ng music teacher namin.

Matapos nyang matugtog ang french suite no. 4 in flat e, nag-bow sya at nagsipalakpakan ang mga kaklase namin. Napangiti sya sa buong klase, at pagtingin nya sa akin ay mas lumaki ang ngiti nya.

"Well done miss Jade, you may take your seat."

Pagkaupo nya sa tabi ko ay nagsimula nanaman syang mangulit. She just simply wants some words of praise from me whenever she does a play in front of the whole class. "So, how did I do? I'm impressive aren't I?" See?

"Yeah, yeah. Napakagaling mo." I told her with a bored tone.

Napapout naman ang bruha. "Can't you be more sincere? Parang wala ka namang pake eh."

"Ano pa ba gusto mong sabihin ko? Wow! Ang galing mo sobra, pa-autograph nga po idol! Or, Jade! How can you be so talented! How to be like you po?" Napa-irap naman sya sa'kin. I can't be more sarcastic right now.

I may have been impressed, but I'm pissed off right now. "Minsan tinatanong ko sarili ko kung best friend nga ba talaga kita." At nagtampo na si Jade.

Napabuntong hininga ako at napilitan mag-sorry sa kanya. "Look, I'm just in a bad mood today. So I'm sorry."

Sinamaan nya lang ako ng tingin sabay irap. Ugh, this girl is making things difficult sometimes. "Okay, next... Mr. Alois Ruben Chevalier." Tawag nung teacher.

Tumayo naman ako at ginamit ang piano na nakahanda na sa harap ng klase. Pinatugtog ko naman ang sonata tempest mvt. 1 ni Beethoven. Quickly glancing at my crowd, di ko maiwasang mapangisi ng makitang nakanganga silang lahat.

I usually play saxophone during music class and play the easiest pieces, but this time, I think I wanna show off just a little. Nakikita ko din sa isang gilid na nagulat si Jade sa ginawa ko, manghang-mangha din sya dahil sobrang focused sya sa pagpapatugtog ko.

Gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya na kaya ko rin syang pantayan, that I can climb up to her level and show off my talents. And that praising someone like her would be a waste of time-- the best that I can offer her is to think as if she's my equal.

But in truth, it's rare for others to get to my level or out-best me.

Pagkatapos ko sa piano, di na ko nag-abalang antayin ang pagdismiss sa'kin ng teacher. Pagbalik ko sa upuan, dinaldal nanaman ako ni Jade. "That was incredible... di mo sinabi sa'kin na nag-piano lessons ka!! Ang galing mo!"

"Yeah, alam ko." Di ko maiwasang ilabas ang ngisi ko. I knew this would happen.

"Do you think we can play together as a duo? Ang astig pag nagawa natin yun!" Then she kept shaking my shoulder, I don't know if I should be happy about her remarks or get annoyed of what she's trying to do.

Hinayaan ko lang sya magsalita ng magsalita because I know I earned those praises. Then I suddenly felt my phone vibrating. Kinuha ko ito sa aking bulsa at pasimpleng binuksan para mabasa ang email na narecieve ko.

• Jade's Point of View •

I feel like Ruben's acting a bit strange today. Parang may hinihintay sya at parang di mapakali. Tumigil ako sa pakikipag-usap sa kanya dahil nakikita ko namang di sya nakikinig sa akin.

Sumilip ako sa tinitignan nya, and it was his phone. "Ooh~ may ka-text ka pala ah?"

Nagulat siya sa akin at tinago ang cellphone niya. "What the hell Jade!? Privacy please."

"Kasi naman, kinakausap kita pero di ka naman nakikinig sa'kin."

"Well, it's not like I'm gonna listen to you talking all the time. Tsaka tingin ko kailangan kong umalis ulit, I have something urgent to do." Then he left me again. Nang i-excuse sya ng teacher ay nalabas kagad sya na parang excited na bata.

Kanina lang nag-skip sya ng history class, pati ba naman music? Kawawa na nga grades nya, pinapalala nya pa lalo. Pag sya bumagsak bahala na talaga sya sa buhay nya.

But whatever he's doing, he should know what to prioritize first-- at dapat inuuna nya ang mga school work! Pihadong magagalit si tito Rouel pag nalaman nya 'to. Tsk, I hate worrying for someone who couldn't give a shit about what's more important. So whatever he's doing right now, it's his own business.

Wala akong pake sa ginagawa nya dahil wala din naman syang sinasabi sa'kin tungkol sa ginagawa nya, hmph!

Pagkatapos ng klase namin, di na sya pumasok sa iba pa naming subjects. Di na rin sya bumalik nung lunch. I know I said I don't care what he's doing right now pero di ko maiwasang mag-alala dahil best friend ko sya.

He's like my brother dahil magkasama kaming lumaki.

"Aaagh! Ruben, where are you?" Nasambit ko habang nag-aayos na ng gamit ko sa locker ko.

Then as on cue, he showed up. "Missed me?" Aniya.

"R-Ruben!?" He patted me on the back and opened his locker which is right next to mine. "Saan ka ba pumunta!? Alam mo ba may quiz tayo sa dalawang subjects tapos may project na pinapagawa sa science!?"

Napabuntong hininga naman sya na parang pagod na pagod sya. "Pwede ba? Just shut up for a sec, I'm still in a bad mood you know."

I swear, baka masapak ko ng wala sa oras 'tong lalaki na 'to.

"Fine. I'll shut up, but don't you ever talk to me again!" Sabi ko sa kanya at padabog na isinara ang locker ko. Napa-walk out na rin ako kasi nakakapikon talaga si Ruben.

Nakakahiya lang din dahil nadidinig ko ang mga bulungan ng mga nakakakita sa amin.

"Oof, lovers quarrel?"

"Sana all may jowa."

"Nagbreak kaya sila?"

Uugh!! Please guys, hindi ko jowa si Ruben! He's my best friend---MY SUPER SARCASTIC STUPID MOODY BEST FRIEND THAT HAS THE WORST ATTITUDE!!!

• to be continued •