Chapter 2

"Do you hate my cousin?" Rill suddenly went to me when I was quietly reading a book in my desk. It has only been two days since I decided to not talk to Isaiah. Siguradong hindi iyon kapansin-pansin kasi hindi naman kami close kaya nakakapagtaka lang na pati ito ay napapansin ni Rill.

At saka, bakit ba 'to lapit nang lapit sa akin ngayon? Napapansin ko na talaga ang biglaan niyang pag-usap sa akin. Magkaklase kami for a long time pero ngayon lang ata kami nagkaroon ng desenteng usapan. 

"Ha?" napatanong ako. Hindi ko naman kasi alam kung paano sagutin ang tanong niya. Sure, I am quiet but I am not expressive nor openly hostile to anyone.

"Sabog ka ba? You sometimes act like lugaw, you know? Kulang ka ata sa tulog, eh." Hindi ko alam kung nang-aasar ba siya pero sinabi niya iyon sa seryosong ekspresyon. Talaga bang ganito siya ka prangka?

"Bakit mo natanong?" Iyon na lang ang naging sagot ko.

"You always give him this mild angry glare, you know," sabi niya at ipinakita pa nga sa akin kung paano ko raw tinitignan ang pinsan niya. At ano raw? Mild angry?

I just shrugged at her, hoping that she will take it as a sign that I do not wish to answer her question and that she would just leave me alone. Kasi seryoso, nasa dugo ba nila ang maging mapang-asar?

"Cause you know, you're bagay. You and my cousin," she suddenly said which made me shocked. She only gave one look at my expression and continued like she did not care what I think about what she think, "And as you may know, I am looking for two models that I can photograph. There are many couples out there but they are too basic and they look like plain vanilla ice cream. But you and my cousin looked like a charcoal ice cream. You've heard of that, right?"

Rill's freaking weird. Ano bang pinagsasabi niya?

"So will you be up for it?" she suddenly asked. 

Hold on, she did not offer me anything?! And even if she would, tatanggihan ko siya panigurado! Kaya pala lapit nang lapit sa akin! May kailangan pala. Ah! I hate that I thought for a moment that she wants to know me. I hate these cousins, only that I hate Rill on a lesser degree.

"No, I won't be up for it. And can you not talk about your cousin and your own interests with me?" I said. I need to draw a line. After all, that's why I've got no friends.

"Okay. Pero sayang naman." I was relieved of what her answer and as soon as I thought she was leaving me alone, she spoke again.

"Kenny, you did not answer my question though," she looked at me with her eyes wondering.

"You hate my cousin ba?" tanong niya ulit.

"I don't hate him but I don't particularly like him too," I answered para naman lubayan na niya ako.

"Oh, okay. You heard her, Kuya," sabi niya at biglaang tumayo habang may tinitignan sa likuran ko. I looked over and saw Isaiah standing near. Was he eavesdropping this whole time? And was he what... guilty because he was being too nosy?

I did not get to ask Isaiah about my wonders and not that I really have plans to ask him. I am just genuinely curious because why would he be eavesdropping to a girls' talk? That is just lame.

It was around 11 when we were dismissed. Maaga kaming pinakawalan ng Prof. dahil nakacatch up na raw kami sa mga natitirang lessons namin. I was itching to go to the cafeteria kasi kanina pa akong gutom. Hindi na naman ako nakakain ngayong umaga dahil may binili pa akong damit na sobrang daming gustong bumili. Kung mamayang hapon ko pa ito bibilhin, mauunahan ako, ganoon na rin kung kakain pa ako. 

Despite my serious image, I am into clothing and designing. Not too much though. I just enjoy dressing up myself but in a classy and elegant style. That kind of fashion fits my whole image and what I want for people to have an impression of me. 

Nang naorganize ko na lahat ng gamit ko ay tumayo na ako. I looked over Isaiah and noticed we were the only two people in the room. He stands up in the same time as me then slowly went outside. Kasunod lang talaga kami, kahit sa linya for lunch, he was in front. I did not complain though, it's not that I hate him too much that I do not want him around. I just do not wish to associate with him more.

"Were you bothered?" he suddenly asked as his eyes were on the food. I looked up to him again and just shrugged. I want to forget that already because I feel like I overreacted.

It was me who finished getting my lunch first and found a bench. The whole cafeteria was packed. Maybe because our traditional school festival is just around the corner? Our school has this event every year to host an inside festival, kind of like an acquaintance party, only that the venue is different and the students gets to choose where. Last time it was on a tropic island? Of course, we need to pay for some expenses but other than that, the school shoulder it. Activities that happen are hosted by different clubs too, that's why academic tasks aren't that heavy anymore compared last week.

So everyone's busy, huh? Not me, I guess. I never joined any club. Hindi naman siya required and clubs do not really add plus points and such. It is not much of a boost so it's just a waste of effort for me. Saka wala pa akong nahahanap na interesado akong salihan. There was the Arts Club, it was hosted by Rill for the last two years but they stopped and did not open it for this year. I did not know why though.

Tahimik lang akong kumakain, nakikinig sa mga pinag-uusapan ng mga tao sa paligid ko. One advantage of being the quiet kid who wasn't cared that much is that I get to know the teas. Kaya gusto ko talaga minsan ang personang kilala ako sa mga nakapaligid sa akin.

The safest thing you can be is to be  someone other people would think that they figured you out only to know in the end that you are a stranger to them.

Dessert ko nalang ang kulang at tapos na ako for lunch. May one hour break or so ako dahil nga maaga kaming pinakawalan kaya siguro kalmado ako. I was cheerful for a while not until, again and again, another bloodline of the Thomases dare to sit in front of me and then have the guts to ignore. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong problema ng magpipinsan 'tong sa akin.

Like what? They like me or want me to be their friend or they hate me but not so much that they would bear my presence just to annoy me?

"Do the photoshoot," Rill said while I was shamefully looking at her audacious face. May gana pa talaga siyang iulit 'yang offer niya, ah! 

"No."

"Sucker," and she continues to eat her salad. 

"Not to offend you or anything, but don't you think you are bothering me?" I asked frankly.

"No, never will I be a bother. And besides, you do look bored," she said.

Bumuntong hininga na lang ako para hindi mapasobra 'tong inis ko. Rill's that annoying person you want to throw away but can't and at the same time, she's the kind of person no one would want to throw away so hard.

Nang tignan ko ang paligid ng cafeteria ay napansin kong nakatingin na naman dito si Isaiah. Out of habit, I raised my eyebrow at him and rolled my eyes. He didn't react to that. 

When Rill was done eating, I stood up and she followed. Isaiah was just behind us too. I guess, he's looking out for Rill or something? 

"Will she do the photoshoot?" I heard him asked.

"Oo," kampanteng sagot ni Rill na nakapagpatigil sa akin sa paglalakad.

I looked back at them and put my arms to my chest, just to tell them I get a say on their skits.

"Hindi ako pumayag sa kung anumang gusto niyong dalawa kaya p'wede bang lubayan niyo na ako? You did it for years in school, surely, you can do another year, right?" I sarcastically ended my remarks.

Rill laughed. Ugh! 

Dinalian ko nalang ang paglakad patungo sa building namin. Nang papasok na ako sa room ay tinapik ni Isaiah ang likod ko kaya napalingon na naman ako.

"Oh?!"

"It's not that I want this but your parents made an agreement to my secretary that you will be my date in a social ball. They should've told you this morning or maybe they plan to do it tonight. That's why Rill's hopeful for her own photoshoot," he said, with a lot of things to process, my voice grew small.

I remained my composure though.

"Wala akong kinalaman diyan kaya please lang naman, huwag niyo akong sundan o kausapin. Also, can't you go there alone?" nagpipigil pasensyang ani ko.

"I wouldn't care about you if I don't have to. Besides, ang mga magulang mo mismo ang nagsabi. Plus, mind you, everything's prepared for the ball and that includes your dress," ani niya.

I glared at him and push his chest a bit but hard and went on my way to my desk. I will surely talk to my parents about this. 

I was fuming mad! Nadagdagan pa nang tignan ko si Isaiah na sobrang tuwa!

Nagmamadali akong umuwi matapos ang klase. Nadatnan ko si Mommy and Daddy sa office nila, parehong nasa magkalayong table at may mga papeles silang inaatupag.

"Good evening. You didn't knock," si Dad.

"Isaiah told me about the ball?" I asked, hinihingal pa!

I looked over Mommy for answers since mukhang walang plano si Daddy na sagutin ako. 

"Hmm, we'll be there din naman, iha. I just thought that Isaiah should have a partner since he'll be alone," kalmadong sagot niya.

"He have Rill!" 

Daddy looked up because of my voice. Nadala lang ako sa emosyon kaya biglang tumaas ang boses ko.

"Rill's also invited and she's bringing her own date, I heard," si Dad.

At this point, hindi ko alam kung ano ang mas nakakagulat. The fact that alam ni Dad na may date na si Rill o iyong alam ni Dad kung sino si Rill.

"Besides, what could you lose in being Isaiah's date?" Mommy seconded.

My sanity.

Now, the office is so quiet as they seem so busy with their papers. Great! Tapos na ang usapan nang wala pa akong masiyadong naiisatinig.

Hindi ako bumaba para sa hapunan ngayong gabi. Nakakawalang gana, bwiset.  Sinabi ko nalang na kumain na ako. The ball's after two weeks. Sinusubukan kong kalmahin ang sarili ko. It's just a ball, I thought.

Nakatanggap din ako ng email habang nakahiga lang ako sa kama, naghihintay na mabisita ng antok. Galing sa kompanya nila Rill iyon at imbitasyon lang din naman. I studied their company's name and I looked it up.

And wow, they really are richy rich. For now, the one sitting on the chairman's position is Rill's father while wow... Isaiah Thomas is the acting CEO.

Now that I think about it, noong unang punta niya rito ay dahil si Dad ang nagproprocess ng inheritance papers niya. Kaya pala may sekretarya na rin siya. I was wondering bakit niya iyon nasabi kanina.

Another mail arrived and when I checked the user, it was Isaiah's. He sent me a forwaded photo of two dresses. I raised my brow.

"Which one?" I read his message.

I looked at the pictures he sent. The first dress was classy and elegant. Quite common if I would say but regal. It was a black silky dress and it's sleeveless. It's better than the other one. The other one is quite revealing than the former.

"The first one," I typed and send it to him 

What's this? I thought. Are we that close enough to text each other at night? Whatever, all for business anyways.

He left me on seen. It was fine though. I thought that was the end of it but he send another message. It was a song shared from Spotify. 

The title is "We Are" by ONE OK ROCK.  Alam ko 'to. It's on my playlist. Pero bakit niya sinend 'to, eh, gabi na? O bakit siya biglaang nagsesend? Feeling close ang hayop!

"Wrong send," basa ko sa pahabol niyang mensahe. Hmm, 'yan tanga.

I replied to him. 

From [e-mail]

To [e-mail]

- Okay.

He replied immediately.

Isaiah Thomas

to me ↓

Good night : ))

What the hell? Is he flirting or is he being nice?

Ew to both anyways.