Chapter 1
maloi
Walking down the hallways of the school had always been daunting. Ikaw ba naman kasi parating katabi ang isang Mariah Queen Arceta, malamang sa malamang mapapatingin sa inyo halos lahat.
Aiah's friends with everyone. And yes, EVERYONE. Di ko nga alam kung paano yon nangyare eh, wala naman masyadong sinasalihan itong kaibigan ko.
Masasabi ko pa nga na mas popular pa siya kaysa sa Student Body President namin. And that's saying A LOT. The only reason why she isn't Student Body President is because she doesn't want to run for office. She says she "isn't cut out for it" pero, siya parating leader sa groupworks at projects namin in class. So, di ko gets yung argument niya.
I won't deny that a possible surface level reason why everyone likes her is because of her beautiful features. At least that's what you hear almost every time we walk around. And you'll hear a bunch of things about her every single day. Everything good, might I add. Parang di na nga nauubusan ng pwedeng sabihin tungkol sa kaibigan ko. But, I can't totally blame them either, it feels automatic to be drawn to her looks.
Though there’s more to her than just someone you could look at and it pisses me off that she’s known JUST because she looks good. She’s got plenty of other skills and talents that only someone she’s been classmates with would have seen. Kagaya ng sinabi ko kanina, hindi siya masyadong nagpaparticipate kapag outside the classroom, pero inside? Go na go ang kaibigan ko.
While walking around today, I expected nothing different. Same old, “hay ang ganda talaga ni Aiah” or something of the likes. Or it could also be worse, some dude being all delusional of how Aiah would easily take his hand if he tried. News flash though, my Aiah is smart and it’s so annoying they reduce her to some stupid object you can easily “own” or “acquire”.
Though this time around, one of the conversations stood out to me, "mahirap na hindi siya mahalin"
At tama sila pero, bakit parang ang hirap para sa akin na i-accept iyon?
~~~
It's lunch time already and that thought still hasn't left my mind. Naka-upo kami ni Aiah sa isang mesa sa gilid ng canteen. Wala kasi masyadong tao dito at mahingin pa gawa na may mga bukas na bintana malapit sa amin.
She's been talking for a while now; I don't really know what about. To be honest, hindi ako nakikinig dahil patuloy na umuulit sa isip ko yung comment na yon.
Akala mo naman may karapatan siya. Sino ka ba?
"Oo na, wala na akong karapatan. Wala nga akong redeeming qualities eh. Alam ko na yun, di mo naman kailangan ibara pa sa mukha ko" pa-tampo niyang sinabi.
LUH? ANONG PINAGSASABI NITO? Wait, nasabi ko ba yon nang malakas?
"Uy, hindi yon para sa iyo no!" I told her while she's sulking.
LOI AYUSIN MO YAN. Uhmmmm paano ba kasi?
"Aiah naman oh, hindi nga yon para sa iyo. Sorry na" pagmamakaawa ko with my head tilted to look at her.
Kahit galit, ang ganda po talaga niya Lord.
"Jogging tayo tonight? Free ka ba?" she looked at me, eyes sparkling, she nods.
"8PM, sunduin kita, ah? I swear may natandaan lang ako kanina promise" sabay pagtaas ng kanang kamay ko kasama ng pinakamalaki kong ngiti.
"Ok, but still though, Loi. I've got no good characteristics" she says before sadly forcing herself to eat another bite.
Napahinga naman ako ng malalim. Nag-o-overthink nanaman siguro ito, ano kaya ulit nangyari? Affirm nalang muna, she'll tell you naman when she's comfortable letting you know eh.
Katabi man o hindi, nandito lang ako para sa iyo Maraiah Queen Arceta, hanggang dulo na 'to.