What the heck was that?!
I stared at Theus' face looking for an answer, but I found nothing other than his perfect face and sexy lips. Naconscious ako bigla nang narealize ko na nakatingin din siya ng diretso sa mukha ko. I took a step back while averting my gaze.
"H-Hindi ba aalis ka na ng school?" I stole a glance at him, checking on his expression.
Nagsalubong bigla ang makakapal niyang kilay. Even the lines between his eyebrows seem perfect as well.
"Aalis ako ng school? Saan mo naman nakuha yan?"
"Well, nasabi nila Jade yung tungkol sa disinterest mo sa mga school and class activities. At sinabi mo rin daw na aalis ka ng school kapag pinilit ka nila. And then yesterday happened. I felt guilty na dahil ginawa kitang vice president you’ll end up leaving school.”
Nakapako pa rin ang mga mata niya sa mukha ko at nakikinig ng maigi sa bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko. Hinihintay ko siyang sumagot pero wala.
I’m feeling more conscious and embarrassed by every second, and the uncomfortable silence between us wasn’t helping at all. So, I racked my brain for anything else to say just to break this silence.
"Tapos ngayon hindi ka pumasok sa mga klase. Then, narinig ko pa kay Rommel na sinabi mong hindi mo na kailangan pumasok. Kaya..."
"Kaya akala mo aalis ako ng school?" He sneered, and then he leaned in a bit while looking at me with such derision and disbelief. "My God Yoanna! Sinong nasa matinong utak na graduating ang aalis at magku-quit pa ng school?"
Then he immediately burst into laughter as if just the idea of it all was too ridiculous to even consider.
'Sinong nasa matinong utak na graduating ang aalis at magku-quit pa ng school?'
Wala nga siguro ako sa katinuan. My shoulders just fell like all the tension from earlier was gone and was replaced quickly with dejection.
Sapul na sapul ako sa sinabi ni Theus at ang sakit sa puso. It was just a moment ago when, even though anxious and scared, I was really motivated and proud of myself for trying to start all over again, but I can’t believe that with just a word laced with ridicule from someone I don’t even know much, I was not so sure of myself anymore.
My eyes roamed his face, hoping he’ll realize that his words affected me and find even a tiny bit of remorse from saying those things to me but he doesn’t seem aware of that fact.
"You have nothing to worry about. I am not going anywhere far from you." He said with such confidence.
It was so obvious that he was teasing me but I believed he’s telling the truth and I’m just glad that I just misunderstood the whole situation and Theus is not leaving the school.
"Eh, Anong ginagawa mo dito? Bakit mo sinabi kela Rommel na hindi mo kailangan umattend ng klase ngayon?"
He sighed, "Unang una, wala pa namang proper lecture during the first meetings at kung meron man, it’s not like it’ll be hard for me to catch up. Second, you see those kids back there?" Lumingon siya sa stage kung saan ko siya nakita kanina kasama yung mga lower years.
Sinundan ko yung tingin niya. Nandoon pa rin yung mga estudyante. And from here, tanaw ko na busy sila sa ginagawa nila sa breadboard at mga components.
"Nagpapaturo sila sa’kin tungkol sa mga hindi nila maintindihan sa workshop. Tsaka kaya ko sinabi kela Rommel na hindi ko na kailangang umattend ng klase ngayong araw kasi si Sir Harold mismo ang nagsabi sakin na magtutor ako. Okay? Nasagot ko ba lahat ng gumugulo sa isipan mo, Yoanna?"
"Ikaw? Nagtututor?!"
"Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka?!" He looked at me with confusion, though I could also see his amusement through his half smirk.
"Hindi lang kita maimagine na nagtuturo kagaya ng hindi ko rin maimagine na class representative ka nung first year at second year kayo."
He chuckled, "I didn't know you knew that much about me. Niresearch mo ba ako?"
"Huh?!"
"And also… I'm a bit flattered knowing that you’re imagining me." He leaned in as he held his chin with his left hand as if trying to observe something that caught his interest. "In what way, Yoanna?"
I was taken aback at unti-unti kong nararamdaman ang pag-init ng mga pisngi ko.
No, Yoanna! Don't you dare blush in front of this jerk. "Hindi kita iniimagine! Just to be clear!"
His cunning little smile immediately turned into a frown, "Pero kakasabi mo lang na iniimagine mo ako..."
"Wala akong sinabi." I retorted, instantly.
Hindi siya agad sumagot instead tumingin siya sa stage.
This unexpected silence between us was a gift from above. Kailangan kong kumalma. I was fanning my burning face with my hands trying to calm myself while Theus wasn’t looking.
I was startled when Theus spoke again.
"Those kids were probably thinking something about us." Napalingon ako agad kay Theus, nakatingin na pala siya ulit sakin.
"Huh?" I don't get what he's trying to say.
"Didn’t you realize in what situation you are in right now? Di mo ba alam na baka mamisunderstood ng mga ‘yon yung sinabi mo sa’kin kanina?"
"Sinabi ko sayo kanina?! Ano doon?"
He lips curved up into a smirk once again. He's obviously enjoying whatever this is— this nonsense talk. And right there and then, sinabi niya ulit kung anong sinabi ko sa kanya kanina. Though, hindi ko maalala kung ganun nga ang eksaktong pagkakasabi ko.

The 'Fuck You' and the forcing him to something part. Right, I said that without thinking. Akala ko understood na ni Theus kung tungkol saan yung sinasabi ko at hindi ko na inintindi na may iba pa palang nakakarinig.
"They were probably thinking na may relasyon tayo. Or worse is… they might think that you forced me into doing ‘you-know-what’ with you." That devilish smile was still plastered on his, just as devilish, handsome face.
"What the heck?! Why would I even force you into doing ‘that’ with me?!" I can’t believe what I just heard him say and I felt all my blood rushed to my head. I'm a bit angry and extremely embarrassed. Walang modo talaga ‘tong lalaking ‘to.
He shrugged. "I don't know... Because you find me gorgeous? And hot?"
Now, I. Am. Angry.
Angry because of how irritating he is. And angry because, at the back of my mind, I know he’s right.