PORTION 01

TJ's POV

Nandito na kami sa school ngayon. And after a few subjects, it is now lunch time.

Alam kong cafeteria 'to at maraming tao rito pero ang daming babae na nakapaligid sa table namin ngayon.

I saw shoes below, side of my table. I know it's Nathan and Jaybi, so I looked up and I'm right. They both shook their heads and sighed at the same time.

'Di na nasanay sa 'kin, eh.

"Pwede ba kaming makaupo sa tabi mo, Mr. Popular Guy?" Jaybi jokingly asked.

I just shrugged, pag go-with-the-flow ko sa kalokohan nila.

"By the way, I already found the guy," Jaybi said, starting a new topic.

"So sino 'tong unlucky guy na 'to, huh?" I asked.

Jaybi immediately grabbed his phone from his back and showed a picture of a guy, "Zackarios Zeyn Coates known as Zack, he's an introvert but famous at the same time."

Napatigil ako sa pagnguya, did I heard this name before?

"Kung famous siya, bakit hindi ko siya kilala?" I was brought back to reality because of Nathan's question.

I stared at Nathan, "Of course, you don't know him, kasi ang kilala mo lang ay puro mga pornstar.

"Oo, gagsti," Jaybi continued. "'Yung tipong Nathaniel pangalan mo, pero demonyo ka."

Nag-apir kami ni Jaybi, and we saw Nathan scratching his head so we both laughed at him.

What a p•rnhub boy!

"Aya niyo nun? 'Pag nagkataon titingala na lang ako sa baba sabay kaway sa inyo." And then looked up and waved, ginawa niya yung sinabi niya.

"Gag•!" At napamura na lang kami ni Jaybi sa inasal ng kaibigan namin.

"So, kailan mo balak umpisahan?" Jaybi changed the topic.

I looked around to see this unlucky, it's lunch time so maybe he's here. And after looking, I finally found him.

Right there! I just saw him right now so why not now, right?

"Right here, right now." And then grabbed my drink before I stood up and went to his table.

This isn't my first time trying to win someone's heart, but this is my first time courting a man.

I sat beside him, "Lonely?"

"You're with me, so I'm not."

Medjo Pilosopo kuya mong boy, ah.

"Who are you?" Someone just sat across the chair of Zack.

"I'm—"

"Tayshaun Justin Johnson, the Mr. Popular Guy, right? Pwede ba magpa-picture?" A girl went in to stop what I'm trying to say.

I smiled, "Sure."

I stood up and stood next to the girl, and we took a picture together.

"I lost my appetite." Zack stood up and was about to leave, when his friend spoke.

"Are you sure?" This guy was startled because of what's happening.

Tiningnan niya na lang ito ng masama bago tuluyang umalis. I shook my head, what's wrong with him? But I did not let him disappear from my sight, I followed him.

"Can we talk, kahit 3 minutes lang?"

We're out of the cafeteria, when I asked him.

"1 minute," pagmamataas niya.

"2 minutes."

Aba syempre hindi ako magpapatalo, saan makakaabot yung 1 minute, ah?

"1 minute."

"Fine!" walang gana kong banggit. "Can I court you? Just answer me."

I could clearly see how he frowned at what I said.

"The way you asked me was— anyway, but the answer you want is yes, right?"

A straight-forward person!

"Yeah!" I answered, with a smile.

"Give me a valid reason to say yes, then."

I looked away first to think.

Hindi ko naman pwede sabihin na dahil sa bet, o kaya naman trip lang ng barkada. Why would I court a guy?

I looked at him back. His eyebrows rose, questioning me and my whole existence.

"Because I-I like y-you?"

"Is that an answer or a question? Seryoso ka ba?" he asked, expressionless.

"An answer?"

His eyebrows furrowed even more.

Why is it so hard!? Put your minds together, Tj!

He just shook his head, and all I could do was to sigh. Then he left, without saying anything after that. I just shook my head too, disappointed. And I went back to the cafeteria, and to our table.

"So, anong nangyari?" As soon as I arrived here, Jaybi asked me right away.

I shook my head, "Hindi siya yung tipo ng tao na madali mong makuha."

"Hinahamon mo ata ako? I'm the Mr. Popular Guy, right?" Nathan imitate, and acted like what I did yesterday's night. "Find me a guy, then."

And they are both laughing at me right now.

"Nakakatawa 'yon, Nathan?" I asked, calmed, but a bit annoyed.

"Tatawa ba kami kung hindi, ah?" Pilosopong sagot niya sa 'kin, and laughed again.

After laughing for a few minutes, Jaybi gave me a serious face and asked, "Is that a give up?"

"Give up, my ass."

"Oh, Tj niyo pikon," asar pa ni Nathan.

"Huy, ikaw na hugis niyog ang ulo, tumigil ka na! Kagabi ka pa!" sambit ko. "Tanyog-tanyog!"

"Pikon-pikon," asar pa niya sa akin, sabay labas ng dila na parang bata.

They just laugh afterwards, as I wondered what I should do next.

"It's your specialty pala, ah?" Jaybi is teasing me, again.

"The more they don't want me, the more I want them to be mine," I said while looking at the atmosphere.

Kinabukasan...

I am here at school now. I have morning classes but I am a bit early because it's just 7:30 a.m. and as Mr. Popular Guy, there are a lot of women here who are disturbing my quiet life again.

I saw someone coming towards me. Not far I saw a familiar face that I just met yesterday, the face owned by someone named Zack.

"Yesterday, you just asked me if you can court me and now you're trying to flirt with these girls, seryoso ka ba talaga!?" And he even threw a plastic bag on me, "There, Tj! Feed them!"

He left angrily. These women started standing up, and seemed to want to leave for good. I was happy when they left me, but I was uneasy when someone threw plastic on me.

I just picked up the plastic bag and I saw some food.

I smirk, "Akala ko ayaw niyang magpaligaw, pero bakit parang siya pa nanliligaw? May pagkain kuya mong pa-heart to get."

"So, anong nangyari?" Nathan together with Jaybi showed up, out of nowhere.

Nakakunot noo ako dahil sa taka, why are they asking me all of a sudden?

"I gave food to Zack with a sticky note, asking him for breakfast, nakasulat do'n na sa 'yo nanggaling, so we're asking you. What happened, wala pa ba siya?" And they both tried to look around to see him.

I was shocked by what Jaybi had said.

"Then, bakit hindi niyo sa akin sinabi?"

"I'm trying to call you but no one is answering," medyo iritang sabi ni Jaybi.

Kinapa-kapa ko yung bulsa ko, "I forgot my phone."

"Tinext ko si Nathan," Jaybi added.

We looked at Nathan and now he just checked his phone, "Hay, hala. Hehe, sorry."

Binatukan namin siyang pareho, "Sabi ng 'wag i-mute, eh."

"Forget it, Jaybi. Wala na tayong magagawa. Hahanapin ko na lang siya."

They nodded before I left. Though they are the ones who challenged me still they are trying to help me to fulfill it. I'm trying to find him, but I couldn't find him.

After 3 hours class. Umalis na ako ron, wala naman daw yung next Professor kaya free na kami 'til lunch.

I just went up to the rooftop with food. I was actually going to the cafeteria this morning to eat but because of what happened I lost my energy to eat. While going upstairs many women wanted to come along, but I kept saying no to them.

I sighed. Kakarating ko lang ng rooftop.

Suddenly someone just sang, I went where the sounds came from and it's like heaven, I finally found Zack.

Bakit kasi ngayon lang ba ulit ako pumunta dito? Kung alam ko lang na dito kita makikita, e 'disana mas dinalasan ko pagpunta rito nitong mga nakaraang araw. But I used to go here before.

I just stood up there, and just watched him sing a song. Unexpectedly, he has a beautiful voice. And after singing a song, I clapped for him.

"You have a beautiful voice, did you know that?"

He looked at me then he started to put his guitar inside his guitar bag. Then he started to walk towards me, so I smiled.

"I'm Tayshaun Justin," I said, and offered my hands to him.

He passed by as if he didn't see no one, and he passed away as if I wasn't here.

"Saan ka pupunta?"

"None of your business," he replied, annoyed.

I ran to him, grabbed his hand and pulled him so he could look at me, "Galit ka ba?"

"What do you think?"

Answering my question with another question? Kagaling, ah!

I sighed, "How can I make it up with you?"

Yes, what I hate the most is that you're really upset because of me. I really can't stand that.

"You don't need to."

Why do I feel something? Like I'm guilty.

"Fine, I'm sorry." I grabbed his hand and gave the food I was holding earlier. "Keep it or leave it, It's up to you."

And I walked away. Iniwan ko na lang siya ron at bumaba na ako.

I just went to the library first, my next class is still at 1 p.m. so I know that it is okay to sleep. I just set the alarm around 12:30. And let myself sleep here.

I'm in the middle of my sleep when my phone kept ringing.

"P•ta! Natutulog ang tao! Anong kailangan mo!?" I shouted, answering the call.

I was in the corner, and I could see everyone looking at me right now.

"I'm sorry," I apologized to them, they looked away and continued what they were doing.

"Why so hot, huh? Bagong gising ka ba? Want some foods?"

"Say it, what do you want?" I straightforwardly asked.

Pasikot-sikot pa itong si Jaybi, ayaw na lang sabihin.

"Punta ka na lang dito sa cafeteria."

And I hung up.