"Oh, alam mo na kung saan buildig mo. Bahala ka na sa schedule mo, magtanong tanong ka nalang kung may hindi ka alam." bored na sabi ni Ella. First day of school kasi ngayon at hinatid niya lang ako sa building ko.
"Ikaw, saan?" I asked her.
"Sa kabilang dulo pa. Anong oras ba break mo?" she asked and glanced on my schedule.
"Uh, 9: 30 ngayong umaga. Ikaw ba?" I asked. 
"8: 45, hindi tayo magkasabay." umiling siya. "Basta, doon 'yung cafeteria. Sabay-sabay naman ang luch break kaya lunch nalang tayo magsabay." she shrugged. Tumango naman ako at nginitian siya.
"Sige, kaya ko na. Thank you." I smiled. Tumango lang siya at ngumiti kaunti bago naglakad paalis.
The whole morning went by fast. Wala naman masyadong ginawa sa klase dahil puro pakilala at orientation lang naman ang nangyari.
"Oh, kumusta?" tanong ni Ella nang makaupo siya sa harap ko sa cafeteria.
"Okay naman, wala pa naman masyadong ganap." I answered and shrugged.
"Oh, anong kailangan mo?" mataray na tanong ni Ella nang may lumapit sa kanyang lalaki, kaedad lang din siguro namin.
"Pinapaabot ni mommy." he shrugged and gave her a paper bag. Napalingon sa'kin ang lalaki at nakita ko ang bahagyang pagkunot ng noo niya.
"Si Seah, kaibigan ko." pakilala ni Ella.
"Wow, you have a friend? That's new." he held his chin and smirked.
"Gago, lumayas ka nga dito." mataray na sinabi ni Ella pero tinawanan lang siya.
"I'm Dexter. Pinsan ni Ella." he smiled and offered his hand.
"Chelseah." I smiled and accepted his hand for a handshake.
"Familiar ka." his brows furrowed.
"D-Dexter, lumayas ka nga dito." biglang sabi ni Ella at tinulak ang pinsan niya.
"Okay, okay. I'm leaving." he rolled his eyes and ruffled Ella's hair. "Napakataray." he whispered before leaving.
"Cute siya." I smiled.
"Hoy," sita agad ni Ella at inirapan ako. "Gaga, 'di pa 'yan nakaka-move on sa ex-girlfriend niyang nang iwan sa kanya noon." she crossed her arms.
"Aw, sayang." ngumuso ako. "Pero loyal na ako kay Ivan." I smiled sweetly but she just made a disgusted face.
"Loyal ka kanino?" a voice from behind asked.
"Ha?" gulat akong napalingon sa likod ko at nakita si Ivan na nakatayo doon.
"W-What are you doing here?" gulat kong tanong at bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata. Bigla ko tuloy naalala, dito din pala siya nag-aaral!
"Same question." singit ni Ella at sumubo sa fries niya.
"Napadaan lang, papunta na dapat ako sa mga kaibigan ko." he pointed at a table a little far from us.
"So ano nga ulit 'yung sinabi mo kanina?" he asked and smiled.
"Wala, wala. Nag aasaran lang kami ni Ella." I answered and looked away.
"Dinamay pa ako, amp." bulong ni Ella at pinaningkitan ako ng mata. I glared at her to tell her to just go with the flow but she just rolled her eyes.
"Loyal ka sa'kin, huh?" Ivan bit his lower lip.
"Wala akong sinasabing ganun."
"Hmm, parang may narinig ako, eh." he chuckled.
"Hoy, Ivan! Saan ka galing, napakatagal mo?!" biglang agaw pansin ng isang lalaki at umakbay kay Ivan. Ang lakas naman yata masyado ng boses? Parang may kaaway..
"Chase, papaduguin ko talaga 'yang bunganga mo kung hindi ka titigil sa kaka-sigaw." Sita ni Ella sa lalaki at umirap.
"Ella, napakasungit mo nanaman." the guy fired back and suddenly looked at me.
"Woah." gulat niyang sabi at napatingin kay Ella.
"Si Seah, childhood friend ko." Ella smiled, parang iba yata 'yung ngiti niyang 'yun, parang nagbabanta na ewan.
"Oh, uhm, I'm Chase." the guy winked at me. I smiled at him and offered my hand which he gladly took.
"Oh, bitaw na." sita ni Ivan na kinatawa ni Chase.
"E'di sorry. Oy, pumunta ka na sa lamesa natin. Tropa muna bago babae." Chase rolled his eyes.
"Coming from you?" sabay na tanong ni Ella at Ivan kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ni Chase at napahawak sa dibdib niya, umaaktong nasasaktan.
Umalis na din siya maya-maya habang si Ivan ay nag stay pa.
"Oh, ano pa gunagawa mo dito? Scram, dude." pagpapalayas ni Ella.
Ivan smiled at me and waved his hand before walking away. "See you around." pahabol niya pa bago tuluyang umalis.
Nang makaalis na siya, agad kong sinamaan ng tingin si Ella na tahimik na kumakain ng carbonara niya.
"Alam mo? Nakakairita ka." I told her.
"Don't worry, I know that already." she smirked. I groaned which made her laugh a little. She really likes pissing me off, huh? Alam niyang crush ko 'yon tapos pinapalayas niya nalang bigla!
"Close pala kayo?" I asked later on, remembering the way she talked to them. Napangiwi naman ako maya-maya nang ma-realize na ganon nga pala talaga siya makipag usap sa lahat. Mataray at parang laging may kaaway.
"Mga kaibigan sila ni pinsan ko." she shrugged. Tumango naman ako at tahimik nang kumain.
"Oh, napadpad ka dito?" tanong ko nang makita si Ivan sa labas ng classroom ko 'nung break ko ng hapon.
"I asked for your schedule sa office. Sabay pala tayo ng break every afternoon." he smiled and leaned against the wall.
"You up for some iced coffee?" he asked. I smiled at him and nodded. May malapit na café dito sa school kaya doon nalang kami dumiretso.
"Here you go. Hanggang anong oras break mo?" Ivan asked when he got back with our coffee. May dala din siyang dalawang slice ng chocolate cake. 
"Hanggang 3 pm. Isang oras pa." I answered and started eating.
"Pangatlong kape ko na 'to ngayong araw." I chuckled when I sipped on my coffee.
"Mahilig ka pala sa kape, huh?" he smiled.
"Mamamatay ako kapag hindi ako nakapag kape sa isang araw." I laughed a little.
"How's the cake?" tanong niya maya-maya.
"Masarap. I also like how moist it is." 
"I baked that." he suddenly said which made me look at him. I swallowed the cake in my mouth and took a sip from my coffee before talking.
"Seryoso ka ba?" I asked.
"Yeah, my mom owns this café, actually." he said.
"Oh, wow," I looked around. "It's good, Ivan. You never mentioned you liked baking." I said.
"Bihira lang naman. It's just something I do when I'm bored." he shrugged.
"Hmm, you should bake more often." I smiled and took another bite.
"Uhm, Seah, you have something on your..." he pointed at the side of my lips.
"Ha? Wait." I tried to take it off with a tissue. "Okay na ba?" I asked. Umiling naman siya at kumuha na din ng tissue at tinupi bago lumapit sa'kin at siya na mismo ang nagpunas.
Napatulala tuloy ako nang makitang sobrang lapit na niya sa'kin at nararamdaman ko na ang paghinga niya. I stared at his face while he was wiping mine. He stared at my eyes for a few seconds which made me look away. Ano ba ginagawa niya?
He chuckled and sat back on his chair, crossing his arms. "You're blushing." he pointed out.
"I'm not!" I said and looked away. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang maramdamang sobrang bilis na ng tibok ng puso ko.
"Kinikilig ka naman na yata?" he teased and bit his lower lip to hide his smile.
"H-Ha? Hindi, assuming ka."
Kinikilig ba ako? No, no. Hindi naman siguro, 'no? 
Kumalma ka, Seah! Hindi ka kinikilig, ano ka ba! Nasobrahan ka lang siguro sa kape kaya nagpa-palpitate ka. Know the difference between palpitation and kilig, okay? Palpitation lang 'yan.