Chapter 4

AQUA

Heto ako ngayon sa classroom namin at nakatingin sa may bintana. It's our second day and I'm still thinking about the guy yesterday.

Isn't it weird if I find him familiar? And a little bit of connection with that person? 

"Best, hoy! Start na," pasigaw na bulong ni Sheena. 

Agad naman akong napatayo at bumati sa guro. At nang pag-upo namin ay nagulat ako dahil may kasabay na akong umupo. 

Tiningnan ko ito at agad ding inalis dahil naiilang ako. Did I just feel something strange? Kanina lang I was talking about a certain connection. 

Is this college? Really, huh? Everything is so new to me. 

I looked around and saw Karen Choi staring at me and the boy beside me. Perhaps she's thinking that we're both losers. 

Well, not me. Umirap lang ako at nag-focus sa klase. But then, sinong makakafocus kung may katabi kang bato at freezer na pinagsama? 

Kaya may naisip akong kalokohan at tumingin sa professor. I know this is childish but I don't care. 

Kumuha muna ako ng papel at dahan-dahang binilog ito. At pag talikod ng prof ay sinipa ko ang upuan ng katabi ko dahilan para mahulog ang ballpen niya kaya yumuko ito para kunin. 

Saka ko naman binato ang prof namin at agad bumalik sa pagsusulat.

"What is this? Sinong bumato sa'kin?!" sigaw nito. 

The class went silent and I was refraining myself from laughing so hard. I raised my hand and she noticed me. 

"I saw it," saad ko.

"Who?" I smirked.

"Him!" turo ko sa katabi kong kakaangat palang ng katawan sa pagkakayuko. 

"You?! Stand up, Mister!" galit na sigaw ng prof namin. And the guy stood up without saying anything or even reacting? Wala ba siyang pakiramdam?

Hindi man lang ako nito nilingon? Tss. It's like he doesn't care?! 

"What's your name?" 

"Steven Aries Scott," sagot nito. 

And right after I heard his voice I felt goosebumps. Natulala ako sa kanya and his voice keeps on echoing inside my head. 

Masyadong malamig. 

Hindi ko na siya pinagtuunan ng pansin at yumuko nalang. Bakit ba apektadong-apektado ako? Natigil lang ang pag iisip ko when he whispered something on my ears.

"I know what you did, brat." aniya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. 

His piercing eyes.. Na parang pinag-aaralan ang buong pagkatao ko. 

"We're not done yet," huli nitong saad bago tumunog ang bell at nagsi-alisan na ang mga tao. 

"What was that?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Sheena sa akin. 

Kumakain kami ngayon sa cafeteria at ayaw niya talaga akong tigilan sa kakatanong niya. I was getting annoyed already because I don't want to remember that incident. 

Although hindi ko naman uurungan ang Steven na 'yon pero I just don't want to remember what I did. 

Katangahan. 

"Well, I just want to replace that Karen Choi." sagot ko.

"What? Are you serious? By what means? Bullying that nerd hottie?" Sheena said what?! 

A hottie? I scoffed. 

Merely accepting the idea that he's hot. He's as good as a frozen popsicle. 

"Yes, I am serious. And no, he's not hot. He's cold as ice and I don't give a fuck about it. Get me?" I said with full annoyance. 

I thought Sheena would stop bugging me but she laughed. And I looked at her weirdly. 

She even clapped her hands while doing some I don't know gestures. 

"We should celebrate!" She said while controlling herself from laughing. 

"Celebrate what?" I asked. 

"Because you found your match," she said while grinning from ear to ear. 

Nangunot naman ang noo ko at inirapan siya. 

"You wish!" 

Katapat ko? No way. At sa isang katulad pa niya? Huh, asa. Papatunayan kong walang binatbat ang Steven na 'yon sa'kin.

So what kung napakacold niya? Tutunawin ko siya ng buo gamit ang apoy ko. 

Wait, did I just agree to what Sheena said? Ice and Fire. A perfect match. 

"Anyway, may kailangan akong hiraming libro sa library. Ano, tara?" biglang sabi nito. 

Tumango lang ako. Tapos na kami kumain at tumayo na para umalis. Buti naman at tapos na rin siya sa pangaasar. Hay, grabe. 

I thought I'll be good as a grilled barbeque dahil kay Sheena. Tss. 

Bakit ba ako may kaibigang ganito? But it's a good thing. At least, I get to enjoy my stay here in the University. 

Sa school nalang ako sumasaya dahil mala impyerno ang bahay na inuuwian ko. Mansyon nga sa laki at ganda mukha namang tirahan ng mga demonyo. 

Lalo na ang Hazel na 'yon. And speaking of, nakasalubong namin siya.

"Best, bakit ang sama ng tingin sa'yo nung girl?" bulong ni Sheena paglagpas nila Hazel and squad.

Napansin din siguro niya ang tingin sa'kin ng pinsan ko. 

"She's Hazel, my cousin. And we don't like each other," sagot ko. 

"I see. Ang pangit naman niya kumpara sa'yo. Inggitera ang peg kung makairap!" iritang saad nito. 

Tinawanan ko siya. Mukhang mas galit pa siya kesa sa akin which is kinda funny and heart melting.

I almost forgot how to socialize with people. I don't really have friends in the US. Although there are people who tried to be with me but I declined.

That's why they called me their leader. Parang tawag ni Karen Choi sa sarili niya.

Ang pinagkaiba lang namin self proclaimed siya. 

Feelingera kumbaga. What a pity. 

"Nga pala, naalala mo pa ba 'yong kalaro mo before? Ang sabi mo kasi sa'kin kapag wala ako may batang babae ka rin na nakilala noon." 

Huh? 

I stopped from my tracks, "Aqua? Hey, are you alright?" 

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil sa biglaang pagsakit nito. Batang babae? Kalaro? 

"Argh!" daing ko dahil mas lalong sumakit ito. 

Memories start flashing in my head but they're blurred. 

"Aqua! Oh my gosh. Girl!" I can hear her shouting but I couldn't feel myself. 

Mukha ngang may kalaro akong bata noon na kalahati ng edad ko. I was ten years old back then and we always meet each other in the park. 

Her name starts with E—,"Eline!" 

A strong grasping arms caught me when I was about to fall and I regained my senses. 

"Eline?" I whispered. 

I heard someone gasp and it was Sheena. She's looking at me— beside me. 

Napatingin ako sa gilid ko and I was surprised to see Steven. Siya pala ang may hawak sa akin and he's now looking at me intently. 

"What did you say?" He asked. 

I pushed him away, making me tremble. Muntik pa akong matumba kung hindi lang nakaalalay si Sheena. 

I have never been thankful for someone's fast reflexes until now. 

"I said nothing! And it's none of your business," I gritted my teeth.

"Thanks for catching me," malumanay kong saad at hinila si Sheena paalis. 

I could never forget the way he looked at me. And how his eyes changed when he asked me about it. 

I don't want to experience it again.