EHLEIN POV'S
"EHLEIIINNNN!!!!!!", narinig kong sigaw mula sa likuran kaya agad akong napalingon.
It was Patricia. She was running towards me and as she came close she immediately clutch both my shoulder.
"Ehlein, sino 'yun?", excited nyang tanong saka ako niyugyog.
"Huh?".
"Anong 'huh'? 'yung gwapong humila sayo kanina sino 'yun?", nakangising tanong muli nya.
"That was just some random stranger asking for something", I lied. Partly.
Ngumisi lalo sya.
"Liar. Manliligaw mo ba 'yun?".
"Definitely not".
"Kakilala?".
"No".
"Edi sino 'yun? Alangan naman hilahin ka nya ng walang dahilan? There's definitely something between the two of you. Perhaps he's the reason why you're being called at the office".
I stared at her for a moment. She really got the idea and I guess I'll just need to tell her.
"Okay, okay you're right. But I'll tell you about it soon after our last class".
"Papatayin mo ba ako sa curiousity?".
"No. I'm just saying na mamaya ko nalang sasabihin dahil mali-late na tayo".
She suddenly grinned at me.
"Fortunately, maam dalmacion said na wala muna syang klase ngayon dahil may importante syang gagawin".
"Is that so?".
"Yup. so spill the beans, Ehlein".
I sighed. Then I ended up telling her everything excluding the kissing part. Pagkatapos kong magkwento ay pansin kong tila nasisiyahan si Patty sa kanyang mga narinig.
"So what's his name? ni minsan hindi mo man lang nabanggit 'yung pangalan nya. 'Wag mong sabihing hindi mo kilala 'yun?".
"I don't know him and I'm not interested anyway".
"Bakit naman?".
"I just don't like him that's why. And besides ayoko ng maalala pa ang lalaking 'yun".
"What if magkatagpo uli kayo?".
Napatingin ako ky Patty. She's right. There might tendency na magkatagpo uli kami. What am I gonna do if that happens?...
"Why don't you just ignore him?", patty suggested.
I smiled, "Yeah, I'll just do that".
"By the way, iniwan ko nga pala mga gamit at bag natin kay Matt".
"Okay, Let's go grab it".
"Daan muna tayo sa Convenience bago umuwi may bibilhin lang ako saglit", wika ni patty habang naglalakad kami sa kinaroroonan ni Matt.
After Patty buy the thing that he needed, I then headed towards my apartment. Walking distance lang kasi ito kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang mag commute. I was about to unlock the door when I heard my neighbors door swung open.
"Hija", tawag saakin ng isang babae na hula ko ay nasa mga mid 30s.
"Po?", I politely responded.
Lumakad ito papalapit saken then handed me a small bag.
"Ano po ito?".
"May lalaking pumunta dito kanina. Naki-usap na ibigay ko daw sayo", paliwanag nito.
"Did he tell who he is?".
"Hindi eh".
"Ah cge po. Thank you".
Matapos makapasok sa aking apartment at malapag ang aking mga gamit ay naupo ako sa aking study table at tiningnan ang laman ng bag. There was a small box inside and as I open it I was stunned to see a necklace. Behind the necklace was a small note. Nang buksan ko ang sulat at mabasa ang laman non ay bigla na lamang akong nanlamig.You got to be kidding me...
"NOW WE'RE EVEN"
*KINABUKASAN*
"Tomorrow we'll gonna be having an oral recitation regarding with todays topic. I will select student randomly, so everyone please be prepared", anunsyo ni maam clarisse bago tuluyang lumabas ng classroom.
Agad kong niligpit ang aking mga gamit upang habulin si maam clarisse.
"Patty, mauna ka na sa next class susunod nalang ako", I said to her before running out of the classroom.
Napansin ko si maam na pababa ng hagdan kaya dali-dali ko syang sinundan.
"Maam Clarisse", tawag ko dahilan kaya napahinto si maam sa paglalakad at napatingin sakin.
"Oh Ehlein. Is there anything you want?".
I grab the box from my bag and handed it towards her.
"What's that?".
"I can't accept it", nahihiyang sagot ko.
"Did Hess gave it to you?".
I nodded.
"Why are you giving it back?", tanong muli niya.
"I just feel like I don't deserved receiving such gift".
"Then why don't you personally bring it back to him?".
Napayuko ako. I felt ashamed sa susunod kong sasabihin.
"The thing is. I don't really want to get in touch with him again. Nagbabasakali lang po if maari nyo po ba itong ibalik sa kanya?".
She was silent for a moment.
"Okey, I understand", sagot ni maam clarisse saka kinuha ang box sa kamay ko.
"Maraming salamat po, maam, and sorry for the hassle".
"It's nothing, Ehlein. You should head back to your next class now or you'll be late", nakangiting wika ni maam clarisse bago tuluyang bumaba ng hagdan.
Napangiti narin ako for the thought na hindi ko na poproblemahin pa ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yun. Finally, I can now have a peaceful life without minding that ill-mannered jerk.
After our morning session, we and patty then headed to the cafeteria for lunch. Pagkatapos makabili ng pagkain ay tumungo narin kami sa table na madalas naming pwesto. The place isn't that crowded. Iilan lang ang mga studyanteng nandoon dahil narin madalas na sa labas kumakain ang ibang studyante.
Nasa kalagitnaan na kami ng aming pagkain, when it was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice behind me. Nabato ako sa aking kina-uupuan as I realized who it is. What is he doing here in school? was he also a student here?
"Hey, chopstick".
I gulped. It isn't my name but I feel that it was me who he meant by that.
"Hessiah, sino bang tinatawag mong chopstick?", narinig kong sabi ng isang lalake.
I look at Patty and motioned her to help me. She nodded.
"Excuse me. may kailangan po ba kayo?", nakangiting tanong ni Patty sa mga ito.
"This friend of mine was looking for a girl named 'chopstick'", sagot ng isang lalake.
I noticed na tila natatawa si Patty kaya tinapunan ko sya ng masamang tingin.
'Bakit chopstick tawag sayo?', pabulong nyang tanong sakin kaya bahagya kong sinipa ang paa niya. She really have the time to make fun of me.
"Naku sorry po wala po kaming kilalang 'chopstick'. Try nyo nalang pong magtanong sa kabilang table", sagot ni Patty sa tonong natatawa.
"Her name is EHLEIN actually", wika ng walang modong lalake na diniinan talaga ang pagbanggit sa pangalan ko.
I gulped as he spoke my name.
"May pangalan naman pala Hess eh. Ba't ka ba puro chopstick ng chopstick? kaya tuloy tayo nahihirapang maghanap eh", reklamo naman ng kasama nitong lalake.
"Did I even asked you to come with me?".
"I'm just helping you out, dude. So be thankful. Halika na nga at magtanong na tayo sa kabilang table".
"No need".
I suddenly felt his presence near me and to my surprised he whisper on my ear.
'Got the nerve to ignore me?'