Chapter 1: Popular

Madaling natapos ang isang araw. Hindi na ulit kami nagkita pagkatapos noon. Siguro'y busy siya sa studies, o kaya naman tinatamad lang lumabas ng klase. So... I just paid it no mind, at itinuloy ko na lang din muna yung studies ko.

Kasulukayan akong nag-aaral para sa Prelims namin. I need to badly pass this exam. Bumaba ang Science ko last grading ng sobra-sobra. My parents keep on bugging me about it. I'm emotionally and physically pressured.
Eren and I were batchmates and I'm luckier because of that compared to his other fangirls. He belongs in the 1st section. He's running for valedictorian. Since Grade 7, he's always on top. He never failed.

"Kinakabahan ako" I don't know where to start. Hindi ako nakapag-aral ng maayos kagabi dahil wala ako sa sarili. I watched some videos on YouTube, read some novels and surf the internet.

"Can I borrow your notes for a while? I'll just check something" Aniya ko kay Katie. She turned and gave me her notebook. She's industrious, while I'm not.

"Grabe over 100 daw yung prelims natin ngayon sakanya." aniya at ibinalik ang kanyang atensyon sa librong binabasa.

Seriously? Napatulala na lang ako sa mga libro na nasa harap ko. I can't even touch my periodic table!

"Kaya natin to" I said.

Oh come on Casey, stop convicing others when you couldn't even convince yourself. Umiling na lamang ako at nag concentrate.

Ginugol ko ang mga nalalabing oras ko sa pag-aaral. Hindi ako nakinig saaking first 2 periods at masinsinang binabasa at minememorize ang lahat ng formulas.

If I want to be reach him, I should do something.

Nang matapos ang exam ay nakahinga na ako ng maluwag. I never thought that the exam will be as hard as that! Niligpit ko na lang ang mga gamit ko at inayos ang mga books na aaralin ko mamaya.

I checked my watch. I still have one hour to roam our school. Mamaya pa akong susunduin ni daddy.

Naglakad lang ako papuntang likod ng school. There, I can relax, read some books and reflect everything that I've done. Pinagmasdan ko ang naglalakihang puno, tinignan ang mga bundok, ang mga halaman. I love nature so much. I closed my eyes. Feeling the rhythm of the wind. I let my hair bounce. This is so refreshing.

Nandodoon ata ako ng halos 20 minutos. Natigil lang ang pag rerelax ko ng may narinig akong mga yapak at ingay papunta sa aking pwesto. Hindi ako lumingon at nanatiling nakatitig sa aking harapan.

When the footsteps and noises stopped, I turned my head. And there, I saw Eren. He's holding a thick book and beside him is his friends, laughing. Umiiling naman si Eren habang nakangiti.

I cursed silently. Why are they here?

Without even thinking, I stood up and gathered my things. I checked my phone hoping that my Dad texted me, but he didn't.

Sinalubong ko sa sila sa paglalakad. Ako na paalis na sa lugar na iyon, at sila na papunta pa lang. I'm not looking at them. Dire-diretso ang lakad ko kahit na rinig na rinig ko ang mahihina nilang hagikgik.

They were probably laughing at me.

Well who wouldn't right? I think they remembered my video. Kinagat ko ang pangibabang labi ko. That video went viral in our school. I was in grade 8 when I filmed myself using John's phone. Walang pakundangan kong ipinahayag doon ang nararamdaman ko para sakanya.

"Hi guys! It's me Casey Louisse!" I smiled and waved at the camera.

Iginala ko ang camera sa buong classroom namin. I was really planning on making a YouTube channel before. But then I realized that I'm still young for it.

"Say 'Hi' to my video!" Tumatawa ako habang iniisa isa ang mga kaklase kong busy sa kani-kanilang ginagawa.

Napatingin ako sa labas ng classroom namin. There, I saw Eren walking towards his classroom. Agad-agad kong inilipat ang camera sa banda nya.

"Grabe ang gwapo talaga niya..." Nilagay ko ang focus ng camera saaking mukha. "Grabe! Tuwing nakikita ko siya, hindi ko talaga alam yung nagyayari saakin. Hindi ako makapag salita ng maayos o makapag-isip! Normal ba yun?!" I can hear the frustration in my voice.

"Napakatalino niya tsaka gwapo! Napaka taas! Napaka hirap abutin!... Pero okay lang, crush lang naman eh. Inspiration!" Inirapan ko camera.

Lumipat ako ng pwesto at pumunta sa harap ng glass window namin. "I don't know if he likes someone. I don't have the courage to ask him that." I shrugged.

"I have lots of crushes, inspirations rather. But this guy? He's different. He's not the 'crush guy type!' He's more than that!" sigaw ko.

Paparating na ang aming teacher kaya naman pinatay ko na din ito kaagad. I'm satisfied about what I've done.

"Thanks! May video nanaman ako diyan" I laughed as I handed him his phone.

I never knew that John posted my video. He never asked my permission. It's private and I know that those kinds of videos should not be posted in social media.

"Casey! Casey! Halika panoorin mo ito!" Hinila ako ni Eunice papunta sakanya.

I frowned my eyebrows. "Bakit?"

"Yung video mo loka loka! Nasa Youtube!" Tumawa siya't binatukan ako.

Hindi ako natinag at pinagpatuloy ko ang ginagawa ko. "Anong video?" I'm really planning on making a YouTube Channel so if that video became a big hit, then I should consider ny thoughts.

"Yung about kay Eren!" Halos mabitawan ko ang hawak kong nga handouts nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. I snatched her phone. Please, sana hindi ito yung iniisip kong video na sinasabi niya.

"Grabe ang gwapo talaga niya..."When I heard that statement, I gave it back to her. Shit! Bakit nasa YouTube yun?!

"Ilan na yung views?"

"Hmm... 3,569 views, 2456 likes and 21 dislikes!" Napapikit ako ng mariin. Shit! There's a big chance that Eren already saw it!

"OMG! Sikat ka na!" hysterical na sabi niya.

"Asaan si John?" Nagmamadali kong inayos ang gamit ko at nagpl-plano na hanapin siya. I need an explanation and I need him to delete that video right now!

"Nasa UP sila. May competition sila sa Math ngayon diba?" Nawalan ako bigla ng lakas. I looked at her phone.

"Bakit naman kasi niya pinost yun?!" There's hint of frustration in my voice.

I bit my lower lip. I can't think clearly. What am I supposed to do? I'm really nervous. I can feel the beating of my heart. My hands are trembling.

Tinititigan ko lamang si Eunice na kasalukuyang tuwatawa at paulit-ulit na pinapanood ito.

Nakakahiya.

"Casey!" I turned my head and face them.

They're still laughing.

"What?" I raised my eyebrow.

Ngumisi lamang si Syd saakin. Isa siya sa mga kaibigan ni Eren. I rolled my eyes.

Bwisit!