Chapter 3

"Oh, i-serve mo 'to doon sa table number 5"

Tinanggap ko ang tray na binigay ng kasama ko at hinanap 'yong sinasabi niyang table. I found out that it was their table that's why they waved their hands on me. Napapatingin tuloy sa kanila yung ibang customers. My classmates were really embarrassing. Why do they have to wave their hands on me?! As if we just meet each other for years. Besides, we're in a freaking restaurant where I was working after classes. Tapos ganoon sila umasta, ewan ko nalang sa kanila. 

"Ganyan nga, ayusin mo. You should place our orders properly so that your salary will get higher." Tinuro pa ni Fiona kung saan ko dapat ilagay ang mga pagkain nila. Kinakawawa talaga ako ng bruhang 'to! 

"Demanding ka 'te?! As if you're going to pay for her salary, tsk. Umalis ka na nga lang, hindi ka naman kasama sa treat ni Pres," irap na sambit ni Roses. 

"Tahimik nga kayo! Baka palabasin tayo ng manager nila dito. You guys couldn't stop fighting whenever you're together," singit naman ni Mau at nagsimula nang kumain. 

I just shook my head and left them in their table. Sumama sila sa'kin pagkatapos naming maglinis sa room. It's not that far from the Academy and it's meters away from our house. Mabuti na nga lang at tinaggap ako rito eh. They even order foods here to have more customers. Kahit ganun ang ugali nila, I'm still proud of them for being my classmates.

 Ever since the first year, kaklase ko na sila kaya kilalang kilala na namin ang isa't-isa. They're not like the other students that underestimates other because of their state of life. Kahit na mayayaman sila, mas pinipili parin nilang makisalamuha sa mga hindi kagaya nila. 'Yong iba kase, porket mayayaman high standards agad ang gusto nila. I don't even know why are they so picky in terms of having friends or classmates. Maybe because they don't want to ruin their reputation or whatsoever.

"One set of Eat All You Can meal"

Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin ng marinig ko ang boses na 'yun. His brows arched when he saw may reaction. Bakit ba siya nandito? Of all the restaurants near the Academy, he still preferred to eat here. 

"Just wait in the table, sir. It'll be there in a minute." Sinulat ko ang sinabi niya at walang pasabing umalis para ibigay 'to sa kasama kong maghahanda ng mga pagkain. 

If I could just swap with my co-servers to serve them but I couldn't. Break na nila at ako na lang ang natira dahil nga working student ako. I have to serve all of the customers here for two hours before going home. Kaasar. Bakit ba kase nandito Caseth?! 

"Where's the dessert?" inis niyang tanong sa'kin.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko pagkatapos kong ilapag ang mga pagkain sa mesa nila."What?! You didn't say you want a dessert."

"Bingi ka ba?! Just give what your customer want, it's your job right?. Magbabayad naman ako eh," sabi niya pa at nagsimula nang kumain. 

I pursed my lips and closed my fists, calming myself because customers were watching us. Napatingin naman ako kina Ziro at Hades pero agad rin silang nag-iwas ng tingin. If I could just punch him right here and right now, but I would be dead if I do that. Hindi lang ako mapapahiya sa mga tao, matatanggalan din ako ng trabaho. 

It's okay, Shara. Hayaan mo nalang siya dahil customer mo siya ngayon. But if we meet outside, papatayin ko talaga siya. Pashnea! 

It's already 7:00 when my work ended and unfortunately, he wasn't there anymore. Nagsiuwian na ang mga kaklase ko pati narin si Mau pagkatapos naming mag-usap saglit kanina. Nawala narin sa paningin ko ang letseng mokong na 'yon kaya hindi tuloy ako nakaganti. If would count the times that he bullied me, it was a hundred times, I guess? Hindi ko nga alam kung paano niya ako nakilala. I just woke up that he's always mad on me everytime we've met. Tapos kapag hindi ko siya napapansin, siya naman yung magpapapansin at itutulak ako, kunwari hindi niya ginawa. How stupid right?! 

"Aish! May araw ka rin sa'king hayop ka. You always ruin my day." Sinipa ko yung bato na nakaharang sa daanan ko kaya nadapa ako. Argh. Ang tanga ko din naman pala.

"Why are you always so pathetic?!"

I heard his voice but I didn't bother to look at my back. Mahirap na, baka multo pala 'yon. Sa araw araw na naririnig ko ang boses niya, pati ngayong ako nalang mag-isa nandito rin siya?! 

"Aray! Ang sakit!" daing ko ng maramdaman ang hapdi ng tuhod ko. 

Someone grabbed my hand and carried me on the bench near the post."Ang lampa mo kase! Why won't you take care of yourself?! You act like an elementary student."

I couldn't speak right now. P-Paanong nandito siya?! I saw him left with his friends earlier. And why is he helping me?! We're enemies, right? 

"Are you stalking me?! How come that you're here?!" tanong ko sa kanya. 

He get something on his pocket and it was a band-aid."Asa ka! Feeler. My grandma told me to buy a flour and I think I was lost. Wala naman kase siyang sinabing lugar kung saan ako bibili."

Harina?! Aanhin naman ng lola niya ang harina? And he's wearing a cap and a mask, huh? Nagmumukha na siyang holdaper sa itsura niya ngayon. But wait, I think there was a store over the karinderya. I bet he saw it when he passed by. 

"Wala ka bang nadaanan na ibang store? Didn't you saw the store near the karinderya that you passed by?" Dahan dahan akong tumayo nang matapos niyang ilagay ang band-aid sa tuhod ko.

He just rolled his eyes on me and walked first without waiting for me."Hindi naman ako tanga katulad mo para hindi 'yon makita. It was already closed and I'm tired to go to the mall."

"Ang sabihin mo, tamad ka lang. Ano namang silbi ng sasakyan kung hindi gagamitin 'di ba?! Ano 'yon, display lang?!" I whispered while walking slowly on his back. I don't even know if he heard what I've said. 

He suddenly stop and turned around that made bumped on his chest. Darn it. Ang tigas naman, jusko! Pero infairness, he smells like bagong ligo. 

"Ano? You want to smell me for the whole time? Sabihin mo lang, hindi ako uuwi," he said arrogantly that's why I pushed him a little. 

Wait. A-Am I smell---Oh my gosh! Agad naman akong napalayo sa kanya nang mapagtanto ang ginawa ko kani-kanina lang. I rolled my eyes on him and walked away, leaving him. I know he's smirking right now and he would tease me later. Memorize ko na ata ang mga galawan niya eh. 

"Sumama ka sa'kin kung gusto mong bumili ng harina. I think nagstock si Mama sa bakery namin. You can buy if you want."

I heard him smirked at my back that made me turn around and raise my eyebrow at him."Ang sabihin mo, gusto mo lang ulit akong maamoy kaya inaalok mo akong samahan ka sa bahay niyo. But if that's what you want, it's not a problem for me." 

Dahil sa inis ko ay agad ko siyang sinapak kaya napadaing siya sa sakit. How could he say that to me?! I don't have any interest on him. Ang kapal naman ng bituka niya, hmp! 

"Anak, akala ko hi---Oh, may kasama ka pala. Kaibigan mo ba siya, anak?" Lumapit ako kay Mama nang lumabas siya ng gate para halikan siya sa pisnge.

I immediately looked at him and stuck my tongue out."No, Ma. Nagpalaboy laboy lang 'yan dahil naghahanap ng harina. Maybe he would eat that for dinner."

I almost burst out of laughing when I saw his reaction. Hindi maipinta 'yong mukha niya dahil kitang kita ko 'yon. He didn't wear his mask and cap that's why he looks so handso---este angry pala. 

"Aba! Ang sama mo talagang bata ka! Pasok sa loob!" tinuro ni Mama ang bahay namin sa loob kaya napakamot nalang ako sa ulo ko at pumasok."Halika, hijo. Ibibigay ko nalang sa'yo ang harinang kailangan mo. Hindi mo na kailangang magbayad," baling niya naman kay Caseth kaya hindi ako makapaniwalang napatingin kay Mama. 

Wait, what?! Why is she so kind on him while she talks to me like I did something bad. Ako naman 'yong anak niya ah?! Why is it like she's on his side?! Hindi naman niya kilala si Caseth pero kung ituring niya, parang siya pa ang nas anak niya kaysa sa'kin. Unfair, amp. 

"Chill, Shara! I'm not going to get your mother from you. Don't kill me with that stares." Nilagpasan niya ako at sumunod kay Mama papunta sa bakery namin. 

Kinabukasan, nagmamadali akong magsuklay ng buhok ko dahil maglalakad pa ako papuntang Academy. After I bid goodbye, I immediately ran outside the gate since I'm wearing a P.E uniform. It's a mixture of red gray and white and has a logo at the right chest. I waved at my friends or should I say, my co-servers inside the Eat All You Can when I saw them. Palagi kase kaming nagkikita sa tuwing dadaan ako papuntang Academy. 

Napaigtad ako ng may biglang bumusinang kotse sa gilid ko. I was coughing because of the smoke coming from its pipe. Bumaba ang bintana ng kotse pero hindi ko masyadong maaninag yung mukha niya dahil sa mga usok. Anong klaseng sasakyan ba 'to?! Ba't ang dami namang usok?! 

"Look who's there. Ikaw pala 'yan, panget. How's your day?" Binaba niya ang shades niya kaya nakita ko ang walanghiya niyang pagmumukha. 

"Ikaw na naman?! Kailan mo ba ako lulubayan, ha?! Look what you've done! I smell like a roasted barbeque right now! Kasalan mo 'to eh," inis kong singhal sa kanya. Nagdadabog akong pinagpagan ang uniform ko at inamoy ito. 

Argh. I do really smell like one. 

"Ops! I didn't saw your presence so I don't have to say sorry. Kasalanan mo, hindi ka kase tumabi kahit alam mo namang maraming sasakyan ang dumadaan dito." Tinaas baba niya pa ang kilay niya na ikinainis ko lang lalo. 

"Baka kailangan mo ng perfume, Shara. Meron ako di---"

"No need. I'm not using perfumes. Ipainom mo nalang dyan sa kaibigan mong may sapak, baka sakaling makapag-isip na 'yan ng maayos," I cut Hades words and left without waiting for his word. 

Pinaharurot niya pa ang SUV niya kaya nabugahan na naman ng usok ang uniform ko. Ah, talaga humanda ka sa'kin mamayang lestugas ka! If we're enemies, then I'll treat you as one. Just wait for my revenge. 

"Ses! Bakit ang tagal mo? Malapit nang magbell oh," bungad sa'kin ni Kyle or should I call him Kyla. He's a gay. 

"Lol! Ikaw nga ngayon pa nagpakita, saan ka ba galing?! You're so handsome today, Kyle," biro ko sa kanya. I know he would get mad because I called him like that. 

Hinampas niya ako kaya muntik na akong mapasubsob sa sahig."Gaga ka! I said don't call me Kyle, it's Kyla. Kalorke ka ghorl!"

I just shook my head and sat on my chair. My classmates were almost complete since the flag ceremony will start any minute from now. 

"Uy Shara! Are you excited to know who's your partner tomorrow?" Roses asked while walking towards my direction. 

My brows furrowed, thinking about what she means."Ha? Anong partner? You said it's an Acquaintance Party so why do we have to know our partner?!"

It has been an important event every school year and was held during the first week of July. I'm not aware that we should participate on it by pair. Like, I've been joining that kind of event for years but it doesn't require partners. Loner nga lang ako last year kahit na may mga nag-aaya sa'king sumayaw. I'm not fond of socializing with others. 

"Naku bess! Sabi ni maam kanina 'yon daw ang isa sa bagong rules bukas. The rest will be announced later after the flag ceremony," dagdag pa ni Mau kaya napabuntong hininga nalang ako. 

Should I really participate on it? Alam ko naman kaseng lalaki at babae ang partners kaya parang naiilang ako. It's not that I'm sick of guys but it's just that I have a bad feelings on it. Parang hindi magiging maganda ang kalalabasan nito bukas.