Too Focused To Notice
Today, Keil went to school earlier than usual. He woke up early to finish some school works before cramming out of his school. He walked slowly on his way, staring at the early morning scenery. The silent streets, and the cold gust of wind. Huminga ng malalim si Keil, taking in the fresh air into him. Soon enough nakarating na din siya sa school gate. Tumingin siya sa school building, and it was unusually quiet. There were few students yet, kaya naman payapa pa ang paligid.
"Ehh? The early bird gets the worm?", a familiar voice talked to him from a nearby bench inside the campus. Mabilis na bumaling ng tingin si Keil, to see Rie, smiling at him.
"I win then, Mr. Keil".
Keil smiled back at her. Not just those smiles he used to give her before. This one was special, and he doesn't even realize it. He doesn't realize that he smiled too much and that he also blushed a bit.
She didn't notice it too, even when she also did the same. It's just, they were too focused with each other to notice.
Keil sat beside Rie, asking why she doesn't go inside the classroom yet.
"Apparently, the people in charge of opening the rooms come by 6:30, kaya eto...", sagot ni Rie, sabay hinga ng malalim. "Pero medyo napaaga ka ata? I didn't expect you to come as early as six sharp... Not in a million lifetime", dagdag pa nito, as if mocking Keil.
Keil of course took it as an insult and bragged, "Hmph! Di lang naman ngayon ako maaga pumasok! I.. I go to school late on purpose!", said he, who was a terrible liar.
Tinawanan lang siya ni Rie, as they both spent the early morning talking to each other until it was time for class.
They were both late.
Later that afternoon....
Nagkasalubungan sa gate si Keil at Rie ng Hindi nila pinapansin. Tulala noon si Keil, habang may tinititigan naman sa malayo si Rie. They bumped into each other, and when they noticed the other, agad nilang tiningnan ng masama ang isa't-isa.
"Oh? Di ka pa pala nakakauwi, Mr. "Maaga Ako Pumasok Pero Late Pa Din Ako Sa Klase At Nandamay Pa Ng Iba"?, pang-iinsulto ni Rie kay Keil.
Keil gritted his teeth and took revenge, "I don't recall anything like that, Ms." Talk And Talk Nonstop Hanggat May Masasabi"".
They both turned away from each other, walking grumpily away instead of walking together. They both took different routes than usual, but each of them took turns going left and right by street corners, until they both reach the same vending machine from where they usually walk together.
Keil's forehead went wriggly, and so did Rie's. They both looked at the vending machine, then at each other.
"No, you won't!", Keil said as he ran towards the vending machine. Rie was about to run, but instead she let out a pout. She looked away, and gave Keil a
"Hmph!".
But then she was touched by a cold can of iced coffee on her cheeks, galing kay Keil. "By the way, I meant oh no you won't be paying for anything", Keil said with a blush. Rie looked really happy with a smug look on her face, at mukhang hindi ito magaling magtago ng emosyon niya sa mukha. Natawa na lang sa kanya si Keil at ininom na ang kape nito.
They sat on a bench, minding their own drinks. Umihip ang malamig na hangin, pero wala sa kanila ang kumakausap sa isa. It was mutual for them.
The feeling of wanting to be with someone, but also being too shy to talk to them.
But Rie chose to break the silence. "You're having coffee today, huh?", she asked.
Keil looked at her with a "isn't-it-your-fault- that-i-was-drinking-something-else-last-time" look.
Rie kinda got what the look was for, but she laughed nonetheless for what a stupid face Keil made. Nanahimik naman si Keil habang inuubos ang iced coffee niya, still with a too serious look in his eyes.
Keil gulped all of it, and threw the can at a nearby trash bin. He then stood and looked at Rie, who also looked at him.
"Tara?", he invited her as escort.
Rie drank what remained of her coffee, then handed it to Keil. "Tara".
She then smiled and walked ahead of Keil, who also threw her can away onto the same trash bin.
Another day ends well for Keil and Rie, without Rie noticing that Keil has already fallen much deeper for her than for "Mary". And without Keil realizing that Rie and Mary is just the same person. None of them also realizes that an unexpected event is about to change their lives as an actress and as a writer.
"Hidden Letter, an all new novel by the mystery author K, earned itself millions of reads just over a day as well as a very promising collaboration opportunity".
Later that night...
Rie's face went blue after receiving the news that she will be the face of Iris, the main heroine of the novel "Hidden Letter" by none other than K.