David’s P.O.V.
It had been three months already and yet, awkward pa rin ang lahat sa pagitan namin ni Helena. But I must admit, I had always been thinking about that smack kiss. Palagi ko na lang tuloy iniisip… ano kayang nangyari kung mas tumagal pa ang aksidenteng halik na ‘yon, to think na kakikilala pa lang namin?
Helena was my first kiss.
Vanessa was my first girlfriend pero kahit kailan ay hindi ko siya nahalikan sa mga labi. I was already contented with just holding hands and kiss on the cheeks.
Marahil ay ‘yon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niya ako nagustuhan nang buo… o baka naman kasi sa simula pa lang ay hindi na niya talaga ako gusto. She only used and treated me like a slave. She was a happy-go-lucky type of girl who was always up for fun and maybe, she found me a little bit of boring!
Speaking of Vanessa? After what happened to us the same day I had that experience with Helena, she decided to transfer to section two—Drew’s section.
She might have just realized na wala na siyang mukha pang ihaharap sa akin. I knew I was being mean and bitter, but who wouldn’t? Sa murang puso ko ay natutunan ko siyang mahalin nang totoo, pero anong ginawa niya sa akin? Niloko lang niya ako. She shattered me into pieces and time could only tell when would I be ready to truly forgive her.
On the other hand, it was obvious that Helena kept on distancing herself within my reach. Regardless, I could say that she still kept on competing with me and that—she was still eyeing the valedictorian title.
I was not threatened as the results of our first grading period showed that I was still on top. Kahit na pinatawag pa ako ng Guidance Counselor at Principal. It was a good thing that what happened in the garden did not affect my overall standing at St. Augustine’s Academy. They only gave me advice that it should never happen again.
These past few days, my mind was preoccupied with so many things. Kasama na nga roon ang isiping… paano kung hindi ko nailigtas si Helena no’ng araw na ‘yon? Paano na lang kung nasagasaan siya? Ano kaya ‘yong naramdaman niya no’ng aksidente kaming nagkahalikan? Ako rin kaya ang first kiss niya? But above all these, what I was really curious about was…
Who is Athena?
She was also the one who kept on bugging my head, aside from the kiss Helena and I shared together. I didn’t know but why does it feel like… I had an unknown connection with her?
I saw Helena browsing her tablet with that Athena’s Famebook profile on the screen: Athena Cari Delgado. She looked exactly like Helena, but based on the posts on her timeline—she was already dead.
Helena seemed to be really surprised when she saw me at her back. I lied and I told her that I didn’t see anything, but in fact, I saw everything. Mula sa paghahanap niya ng kung ano mang libro sa halos lahat ng shelves sa library, sa sandali niyang pagkatulala na para bang may malalim siyang iniisip, hanggang sa muntikang pagkahulog ng tablet niya pagkakita niya sa akin.
She walked out of the library forgetting about her handkerchief and when I got it, goosebumps suddenly covered my entire body when I saw Athena’s name embroidered on it.
Was Athena her dead twin sister? Or was Helena having a dual personality disorder?
Damn it, I think I’m going crazy! Bakit kasi ibang pangalan ang nakaburda sa panyo niya?
“Mr. Rivera, are you even listening?” the voice of Mrs. Cheng suddenly dragged me out of deep reverie.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I beg your pardon,” nahihiyang sabi ko. First time kong hindi nakapag-focus sa klase ngayon. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung anong topic na ang itinuturo.
I must admit, I wasn’t listening from the time she started opening her mouth to discuss something to us. Glancing at both of my sides, all of my classmates seemed to be suspiciously looking at me as if asking me if my thoughts were still related to what happened between me and Vanessa.
“I think, this is the very first time that you are not listening in my class. Masyadong malalim ang iniisip mo, David. Care to share your thoughts to the whole class?” I could sense from Mrs. Cheng’s voice that she was somehow disappointed at me.
I just bowed my head to silently apologize as I was unable to speak. How could I share to them that I was thinking about Helena, our accidental kiss and that dead Athena’s name on her handkerchief?
“So as I was saying, you and Helena were chosen as the leaders for the Annual Camp that will be held next week. I wanted the two of you to discuss all the necessary things regarding this matter and submit to me your proposal the day after tomorrow. Is that clear, Helena Mari and David Cristoff?”
“Yes, Ma’am!” we answered in unison.
“Good,” Mrs. Cheng remarked before she continued her lecture.
After a few minutes, the bell rang as a sign of break time. My mind had been inattentive all throughout and I must admit, wala akong natutunan kahit na Geometry pa ang first subject—my most favorite of all subjects.
Nag-aayos na ako ng mga gamit ko nang lapitan ako ni Helena. I was more than surprised. I wasn’t expecting her to do the first move, since I was already used to seeing her rushing through the door before everyone came out of the classroom.
“So what’s our plan, Rivera?” she asked with an arched left eyebrow.
I let out a deep sigh. Here we are again… that last name basis again!
Kami na lang ang natira dito sa classroom. Hindi ako umimik bagkus ay matagal ko lang siyang tinitigan… I even looked intently at her lips and that was when I saw the redness of her cheeks.
I must admit, she’s getting prettier now…
“Can you please stop looking at me?” mataray na tanong niya, kahit wala naman akong ginagawang masama.
“Can you stop calling me Rivera? You can call me David, Dave or DC. Whatever you want, ‘wag lang Rivera.” nangingiting sabi ko sa kanya.
I really didn’t want to be called Rivera. Not that I hated my surname, I just didn’t want to. It felt like I wasn’t comfortable. I didn’t know what her game was all about, but she would not like it the moment I started playing her games.
“I don’t want to. Now, what’s our plan, Riv—” pilit pa rin niya pero pinutol ko ‘yong sinasabi niya. I wanted to tame this hard-headed green-eyed girl.
“Call me Rivera again and—” siya naman ngayon ang pumutol sa sasabihin ko.
“And what? Nobody scares the hell out of me, Rivera!” nakataas ang kilay na tugon niya. She even let out an annoying chuckle. She was really full of herself.
Hmm, let’s see…
“Okay, madali naman akong kausap eh. Call me Rivera again and I will kiss you!” I seriously said. This time, my stares hardened and I didn’t break our eye-to-eye contact to prove to her that I always mean what I said.
Natahimik naman siya, namula at nag-iwas ng tingin. I knew it—she suddenly felt uneasy.
I secretly smiled. “Did I just tame the beast inside you, Helena? Did I just scare the hell out of you?” I asked her, at the same time, mocking her.
“Y-You can’t do that,” she said, still having a hard time to look at me. If I knew, she got frightened the moment I said that I would kiss her… and I was really determined to do it.
“Try me. Say Rivera again and I’ll do what I said!” I started stepping closer to her. She began stepping backwards, until her back was pinned at the wall.