What We Used To

Chapter 3

A i a h

"Aiaaaaah! Aaaaaah!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Sheena mula sa labas ng classroom namin. Sobrang high pitched nito kaya narinig ko pa ang mga kaklase kong nagreklamo.

Isinara ko ang notebook na sinusulatan ko ng notes at saka tumayo sa kinauupuan ko. Lumapit pa sa akin si Shee at hinila ako papalabas ng classroom.

Gusto kong maluha nang makita si Mikha na nasa labas ng classroom. May bitbit siyang bulaklak at isang garapon ng stick-o na paborito ng marami sa classroom namin kasi uso. Pero paborito ko talaga ito kahit pa noong nasa elementary pa lang kami.

Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Mikha at kunwari'y hindi apektado' kinikilig sa ginawa niya, "anong kalokohan 'to Mikhaela Janna? Ang corny mo."

Imbis na sagutin ako ay iniabot niya lang sa akin ang garapon at bulaklak saka ngumiti, "kunwari pa, gusto rin naman."

Nag-ingay ang mga kaklase namin at tinukso kaming lahat. Napailing na lang ako. Karamihan naman ay aware sa kung anong mayroon sa amin ni Mikha. Alam nilang from best friend ay naging manliligaw ko ito.

"See you later, may class pa 'ko," she told me before going back to her classroom.

I can't help but tear up upon remembering that moment from 6 years ago back when Mikha was still pursuing me. We were in junior high school at that time. Hindi kami magkaklase kasi inalis ang block section policy sa school but she always visits me in the classroom for lunch and sometimes just to give me stuff.

Good old days. The only problem we had back then ay kapag may mga org works na sumasabay sa usapan namin. Kailangan pa naming maghanap ng ibang time para mag-set ng date. Also, kapag nag-extend ng oras ang teacher ng isa, someone has to wait for minutes. Well, that didn't really became a problem for us, actually. Lahat ata ay hindi problema sa amin dahil palagi kaming nakakahanap ng paraan.

"Yieeee," I snapped back to reality when Jhoanna teased me.

I remembered those moments because Mikha was here, standing in front of our classroom with a jar of stick-o and a bouquet of flowers.

"Sana all." Maloi, a friend of mine whispered to my ears.

Lumapit ako kay Mikha. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya napapasok ng guard na masungit gayong taga-ibang college siya. Pinagtitinginan tuloy ang girlfriend ko. Bukod sa maganda siya, she also wears a different i.d lace indicating that she's from another department.

"Corny ka pa rin until now," I joked while reaching for her gifts.

"Corny para sa'yo," she responded. She smiled at me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. She is always the sweetest.

"I'm afraid I cannot entertain you more, parating na ang prof sa next class eh. I'll see you later, okay?" I told her.

"Iniabot ko lang talaga 'yan," she told me. "See you later, I'll wait for you later sa labas ng building mo. Tumakas lang ako sa guard kanina."

She laughed and it was my most favorite sound before, and until now I guess? Nakitawa rin ako sa kaniya, imagining how she managed to escape that grumpy guard of our building.

"I'll go now. See you later, love." Paalam niya. I gave her a peck on the cheeks before she went.

I'm smiling ear to ear while I'm watching her going downstairs but it eventually faded when I remembered her words last time.

"Even with all the doubts, the fears, the questions, the uncertainties. Sana palagi mong tandaan. You are my certainty, Aiah."

I am her certainty but why can't I be certain with what I feel for her? Because honestly, until now, despite the efforts she's done for me, I'm still confused. I still don't know where it will lead me.