Mabilis lumipas ang mga araw. Malapit na ding mag-Christmas and New Year's break. At dahil doon, heto kami ngayon nakikinig sa prof namin na nag-aasign ng bagong project and report.

Hindi pa nga kami tapos sa ibang report, may kasunod agad. Nadagdagan pa yung project namin na nursery rhyme. But this time, individual naman. Case study about Child disorders.

Aish, yung totoo? Akala ko makakapagpahinga na ko this coming break pero hindi pala. Naman!

"So tomorrow wala munang klase because your prelim exam was scheduled on the next day. Take your day tomorrow for a review. You may go now."

Haaay, what a day!

"Lynn? Hello...."

"Huh? Are you talking to me?" I asked Harris as he showed up in front of me.

"Is there any Lynn here? Kanina pa kaya kita kinakausap."

"Lumulutang yata isip niyan Harris. Haha!" Dallia says.

"Sorry. I'm just thinking about what disorder might be interesting for my case study."

"Its okay. Tatanong ko lang sana if you had plans when will we start our project 'bout the nursery rhyme making."

"Ah, yun ba? Ahmm.. I don't know yet. Maybe after the prelim. We can talk about it."

"Okay. But, did you already choose a topic for that? I guess Mathemathics lessons would be fun."

"Yeah. Interesting yung Math. Yung four operations na lang yung gawan natin ng song. Okay ba?"

"Sige yun na lang. Pag-usapan na lang natin after prelim kung paano natin gagawin. I have to go na." Harris glanced on his watch.

"Mukhang may date ka ah. Ayiee." Pagbibiro ko.

"Wala nga eh. Baka ikaw gusto mo?" Seryosong tanong niya. Ano daw?

"Huh?" I asked in disbelief.

"Haha! Just kidding. I really have to go. Next time na lang tayo magdate. Bye!"

And then, he left me hanging. What the hell?

"Huy Lynn! Kinikilig ka no?" Pang-aasar ni Dallia.

"Psh! Bakit naman? Hindi no!" Pagtatanggi ko. Hindi naman talaga.

"Okay lang kiligin Lynn. Sa kagwapuhan ni Harris lahat ng girls kikiligin. Ang unfair lang kasi sayo lang siya ganyan." Dagdag pa ni Dal.

"Hindi ako kinikilig no! Nagulat lang ako sa inasal niya. I didn't expect him to be like that. Siguro dahil close kami kahit papaano kaya siya ganon."

"Aysows! Baka naman may gusto sayo pero dinadaan ka lang sa biro."

"Tss. Hindi no. Wala. Haynaku Dal, tama na yan. Tara gala tayo. Asan na ba sila Jen at Aliya?"

"Kasama si Char, may binili lang. Saan naman tayo pupunta?"

"Ahmm.. Kayo ba? Maaga naman tayo nadismiss ngayon, dun tayo sa malayo." Gusto ko muna huminga-hinga. Nakakasuffocate na dito sa school.

"Trinoma tayo. Sasama naman kaya sila? Lam mo na strict ang parents. Haha!"

"At anong meron dito?" Charlotte suddenly appeared kasunod sina Aliya at Jenny.

"Gusto kasi gumala ni Lynn. Lam niyo na yung bakasyon natin hindi na tayo makakagala dahil sa mga projects. Ano? Gorabels tayo dali!" Pag-aaya ni Dal.

"Go ako dyan! Dali!" Jenny giggled.

"Ako din." Si Char naman.

"Ikaw Aliya?" Tanong ko.

"Sabi ko kay mama 7 pa labas natin pero since alas-dose pa lang... syempre gora ako dyan."

"Alright! Nakumpleto din tayo sa wakas. Yehey. Tara na dali! Saan ba?"

"Trinoma at SM North tayo. Sawa na ko dito sa Fairview." Suggest ni Jenny.

"Sige na tara na. Sayang oras. Mabuti na lang nakasibilyan tayo ngayon." Aliya

"Tama! Tara na." Yaya ko sa kanila.

(At the mall.)

"Grabe traffic, nakakagutom. Kain muna tayo." Char says.

"Tara, saan niyo gusto?" I asked them.

"Aba libre mo? Sige ba. Haha!" Biro ni Dal.

Kuripot talaga to si Dallia kahit kailan. Haha.

"Oo na sige na. Libre ko." Sabi ko naman.

"Talaga? Yes! Ang bait talaga ni Lynn hindi gaya ng isa dyan. Haha!" Loko to si Char. Si Dal naman binelatan lang siya. Haha.

"Dun tayo sa ******. Masarap yung foods dun. Meron pang friends package. Pang-syala pero keri naman sa bulsa." Jenny

"Sige. Dun tayo. Tara."

My phone rings while we're heading to the resto that Jenny suggested. I forgot to check my phone. Nakatulog kasi ako sa byahe.

Pagtingin ko sa caller ID, it was Ricci. I totally forgot him. Katext ko siya kanina before magstart yung klase ko.

I answered the call.

"Hello?"

My friends looking at me asking who I am talking with. I mouthed to them that its Ricci so shut up. Haha.

"Where are you now?" He asked instantly.

"Ahmm... Why?"

"Just answer where are you." He seems so serious. May problema ba siya?

"Why your asking nga kasi?"

"Bakit di mo na lang kasi sabihin kung nasaan ka?" He sounds annoyed but what the hell? What is his problem?

"I'm at the mall with my friends." I tried to stay calm though medyo naiinis na ako.

"Buti pa sila may time na makasama ka sa galaan" He says and laughs sarcastic.

"What is it then Cci? Do you have a problem with that?" I asked him trying to sound annoyed.

"Problem? Yeah meron. Ikaw." Seryosong sagot niya.

Bakit ako? Ano ba talagang problema niya?

"Why? What did I do to make you annoyed? What's your problem with me?" I asked as my friends trying to make me relax. We went to a corner table and sat down.

"I'll order na." Dallia whispered and get my wallet on my bag as I let her to.

Ricci on the other hand was not talking. The fudge is his problem?

"Hellooooo. Is there anyone there?" I said over the phone.

"You really don't have an idea what was my prob?" He finally spoke.

"I don't so please tell me why are you mad at me." I sounded like giving up on him. As much as I feel annoyed, I knew that there's a reason why he's acting like that.

"You lied to me."

"Huh?"

"This morning I asked you to go out on somewhere because I badly missing you. But you told me that you had your classes. And then right now your having fun with your friends." He explained sounding lonely but still annoyed.

So that's it. I get it now. And I am so stupid to not even remember him. Magkatext kami kanina and he asked me out on a date but I refused since we had a class. Stupid Lynn!

Hindi ko man lang siya natext kanina. Sa kaiisip ko ng mga school works nalimutan ko siya.

"Sorry ha kung nasira ko yung mood mo. I'll hang up na. Kumain ka muna. It seems like di ka pa nagla-lunch sa dami ng in-order niyo. Sige na. Bye." He ended the call without waiting for my response.

WTH? How did he knew that we are about to eat? Is Ricci here as well?

I look outside the resto. I tried to search him but even his shadow is no where to be found.

What did just happened? Bad trip naman oh. Nakakainis talaga. Ang tanga ko.

"Huy baks, anong napag-usapan niyo? Bakit bagsak ang face mo? Saka sinong hinahanap mo?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Char.

"Huh? Ah, wala naman. Nakagawa lang naman ako ng katangahan. Haha!" I laugh sarcastic. Talaga nga namang what a day for me. Aish!

"At anong katangahan yan, share mo dali." Jenny

So ayun. I told them about what happened. Nag-story telling ako ng katangahang ginawa ko habang kumakain kami.

"Loka ka pala girl! Nagtampo si Ricci sayo. Dapat nag-explain ka na nalimutan mo. Ganon." Charlotte

"Pano nga eh binabaan ako."

"Oo nga. Pero malay mo nandito din talaga siya kaya ka niya tinatawagan in a sudden. Baka nandiyan pa yun sa tabi-tabi. Try mo tawagan at kausapin." Aliya

"Oo nga. Sige ka mawawala sayo si papa Ricci mo." Jenny

"Loko! Hindi ko naman siya pagmamay-ari." Sabi ko naman.

"Hindi mo pa kasi sinasagot." Dallia

"Its only been two weeks since he started courting me."

"But its been less than two months na magfriends kayo. Sagutin mo na girl. Seryoso naman di ba? Plus the fact na you met his family na." Aliya

Parang ang bilis naman kung sasagutin ko kaagad siya. Natatakot pa ako. Hindi pa ko handa.

"Hindi pa ko ready eh."

"Bakit naman? Okay naman kayo di ba? Mahal ka niya at mahal mo siya, anong problema? Haynaku, bigyan mo ng happiness yung self mo hindi puro aral." Charlotte

"Tama. Paano kung kailan ready ka na, saka naman siya napagod. Paano yun?" Jenny

"Eh di ibig sabihin hindi niya mahal si Lynn. Napagod agad siya eh. Kung mahal niya yung kaibigan natin, hihintayin niya. Di ba Lynn? Saka huwag niyo ngang ipressure si Lynn. Kaya na niya yan." Seryosong saad ni Dallia.

Kahit maraming kakikayan yang daldalita kong friend, magaling mag-advice yan.

After we had our late lunch, heto kami ngayon nasa videoke boot. Nag-iingay sila. Nag-eenjoy sila magvideoke samantalang ako hindi mawala sa isip ko si Ricci.

I texted him kanina asking where he is but I didn't get a reply. Galit talaga siya sa akin.

"Last song na to Lynn. Anong gusto mong kantahin?" Jenny

"Sige na kayo na lang." Wala ako sa mood.

I checked my phone. Still no reply. I open my messenger. Hindi siya online. Baka busy na siya.

Nababaliw... na ako... sa iyo oh oh...

Ako ay litong-litong.

Naloloka... nahihibang...

Sa kaiisip sayo oh hohooo... 🎶🎤

I looked at Char who was singing that song. They were teasing me. Haaays oo, tama sila. Nababaliw na ko kay Ricci.

"Loko-loko talaga kayo. Sige lang kanta pa more. Dun na lang muna ako sa games. May dalawang token pa ako. Sayang."

Lumabas ako ng boot at dumiretso doon sa machine na naglalaman ng target ko, si Pikachu! Haha, i love Pikachu kasi. Kanina pa nga ako nagtatry kunin siya kaso kapag malapit na sa hole nahuhulog siya. Kainis!

Nagconcentrate ako pagkahulog ko ng token.

I counted 1, 2, 3 then press the button. Left and down, pero ayun nahulog ulit si Pikachu.

"Kaninis naman eh!" I blurted out.

"Hindi kasi ganyan. Ganito dapat." I froze when someone suddenly holds me from my back. Of course it's him, Ricci. He got my one last token and drop it on the token hole. He holds my hand tight trying to help me and get Pikachu. He's too close to me. His face were almost touching mine.

"I'll guide you. Relax lang dapat."

Halos siya na yung nagpapagalaw sa kamay ko. I literally froze. His body was touching my back. Medyo nakayuko siya kaya naman yung chin niya nasa shoulder ko na.

I felt awkward. Nagulat na lang ako na hawak niya na si Pikachu. Paano niya nakuha yun?

"Here's your Pikachu. May iba ka pa bang gusto? I'll get it for you." Natutunaw ako sa smile niya. Hindi ko maimagine to. He seems not mad at me samantalang kanina lang galit siya over the phone.

"Hey, natulala ka na diyan. Oo na alam ko naman na ang gwapo ko eh. Haha!"

"Bakit ka tumatawa?" I asked and tried to sound serious. "Galit ka sakin di ba? Tapos ngayon parang nothing happens."

"Nakita na kita eh. I felt relieve na." He smiles a bit and looked down. "Ayaw mo bang nandito ako? Sorry, naistorbo kita. Sige na balik ka na dun sa mga friends mo." He tried to smile again.

Baliw to. Dapat nga magalit siya eh. Bakit ba ganyan siya? Lalo lang akong nahuhulog sa kanya.

Bakit ba sobrang bait niya?

"Kasi nga gusto kita." He says out of the blue.

"Huh?" Did I say it out loud? Aish!

"Haha, tinatanong mo di ba kung bakit ang bait ko?"

"Ah.. Hehe. Hmmm. Sabi ko nga. Haha." Aish, stupid Lynn. Ang epic mo!

"Sige na balikan mo na yung mga friends mo." He smiles while looking at my back. "Ayan na pala sila eh."

"Hello Ricci!" Dallia wave at him so he waved back and greet them too.

Natapos na pala sila sa videoke.

"Sheeems hi Ricci! Mas gwapo ka pala sa personal!" Jenny

"Haha! Huwag ka masyado maingay Jen, baka makilala siya. Buti na lang nakasuot ka ng cap Ricci." Charlotte

"Yeah, I've always wear a cap whenever I go out."

"So ano na. Okay na kayo?" Dallia asked me. I don't know what will I say. "Uy Ricci. She told us your conversation earlier. We knew what happened. Huwag mo masamain. Of course were friends so its normal na alam namin yung about sa inyo ni Lynn."

"Dal!" Saway ko sa kanya. I don't know if its really okay with Cci.

"Khaira okay lang I understand. Go ahead Dallia, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, Dal na lang. So I was saying na let Lynn explain her side before you react and get mad at her. Yun lang naman."

"Yeah. I know but thank you. Thank you for comforting her. I'm sorry about what happened."

"Your welcome Cci. Were always here for Lyn. Right guys?" Dallia

"Big check! By the way I'm Jenny."

"Hello Jenny." Nakipag-shake hands si Jen and Ricci accepted it.

"Aliya here!" Ali waved at him. He do shakehands too with her.

"So it was nice to meet y'all, Khaira's friends." Ricci happily said.

"Ako din. Syempre lodi ka eh. Haha! Pwede papicture?" Jenny asked.

"Oo nga, dali!" Aliya

"Sure sure!"

After they've got a photo with Ricci and took a groufie, they've decided to go home na. They left me alone with Ricci.

"So pano ba yan, solo na kita ngayon." And with that, he pinched my cheeks and hug me.

"I miss you so much baby."

Shocks! Kinikilig ako!

"Wala man lang bang I miss you too baby?"

"Psh! Hindi ako baby no. Malaki na ko." He released me from his embrace.

"But still your my baby." Hinawi niya yung buhok ko at inipit sa tainga ko.

"At sinong may sabi?" I asked.

"Ako. Sino pa ba? May iba ka ba?"

"Wala no. Wala akong iba. Baka ikaw meron."

"Of course! I have no one but you. Only you." He winked at me and intertwined his fingers with mine. "Tara nood tayo sine, yung horror."

"Horror?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Haha! Joke lang! Ikaw pumili ng movie. Tara."