Every Bad Thing

Chapter One

I spent my morning classes staring at him. Silas Raphael Gallego. He's even more handsome up close. His skin was smooth and sun kissed. His nose was greek and regal. Somehow like my brothers who inherited it from our father.

I got my mother's, which was straight-edged. I have no complaints. It wasn't special. Matangos lang at deretso, but it made me look more feminine. I'll always be thankful for what I'd be undeservingly given.

Observing him, I've come to a conclusion that his eyes were light brown. Not green. Masarap titigan. Iyong tipo na kapag natapatan ng araw o kahit anong liwanag, kala mo ay masisilaw ka kakapag tiningnan mo. It also looked like it could produce its own light at night.

Staring at him for hours, he never looked at my way. Hindi ko nga maalala kung gumalaw ba siya sa pwesto niya. He's still as a fucking rock. Hindi ko nga rin sigurado kung humihinga pa ba siya.

Hindi ko talaga nilabuyan ang pagtitig sa kanya. I wanted him to look at me or at least catch him stealing a glance─but none of the above ever happened.

Maybe he's shy?

Naisipan ko na ayain siyang sumabay sa akin ng lunch. I thought it was a perfect plan since he's new. He'd probably want a companion so he won't be left out or eat alone in the canteen.

Pero nagkamali ako. Nang lumingon muli ako sa kinauupuan niya matapos ayusin ang notebook sa backpack ay wala na siya sa tabi ko.

My eyes searched the room for him, only to see him dashing out of the door faster than Usain Bolt can. Napangiti ako at umiling-iling. What a lone boy.

"Laurene." I heard Vance's arrogant voice from somewhere.

Naglaho ang ngiti ko sa boses niya nang maalala ang ginawa niya kanina. I turned to him and grimaced. I lost the interest that I had for him for what he did.

I stood up from my seat to face him properly. "You're an asshole."

"What?" his eyes widened. "What did I do wrong?"

"You existed." I sarcastically smiled. Hinawi ko siya paalis ng dadaanan ko at sa gulat ay marahas na napaupo siya sa upuan.

Nagmamadali akong lumabas ng room, inaasahan na kahit papaano ay maabutan ko siya pero wala na siya sa hallway.

Ipinagkibit ko na lang ng balikat iyon at dumiretso sa canteen. Two out of my four siblings were already there when I reached the place. Kuya Xavi is nowhere in sight while our youngest, Hyon, is in a different lunch schedule since she's only grade six.

Nakaupo ang kambal kong si Hadeon kasama ang mas bata sa amin ng isang taon na si Zeno. Isang buong table ang sakop nila. Nobody dared to sit with them, because they already know that the Serrano siblings flock together at lunch.

Our eldest is Xavi Alexzander, he's seventeen and is already graduating this year. Hadeon Davis and I, fraternal twins, are both fifteen years old. Sophomores. Hindi kami magkaklase dahil iyon ang kagustuhan ko. Mas libre kasi ako sa kalokohan ko kapag ganoon. Si Zeno Pierre ay fourteen years old, freshman. Si Hyon naman ay twelve years old pa lang.

"Hi, mga beshie ko." I leaned down and kissed my brothers on the cheek. Hadeon didn't react but Zeno exaggeratedly showed me his repulsion.

"Kadiri ka, Laurene!" pinunasan niya pisngi at umusod ng upuan para makalayo sa akin.

"Arte nitong pangit na 'to." tawa ko at pumalit sa inuupuan niya kaninang katabi ng kambal ko.

"Mas pangit ka." Zeno hissed.

"Hades, mas pangit daw tayo, oh!" malokong pagsumbong ko at tinuro si Zeno kahit na nasa tapat ko lang siya. Hinawi niya ang kamay ko.

"Kids." he grumbled and punished us with his scary death glare. I wonder if I'm as scary as him when I do that. Gusto ko i-try minsan.