The Way I Loved You (TOA Series #1)

Chapter 18

Juancho nodded.

"Grabe, hindi ba nakakapagod?" I asked again with my now toned down voice.

Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi, ang paaralan na 'yon ay malayo rito sa amin. Alam ko dahil kilala 'yon at karaniwang may mga kaya sa buhay ang nakakapasok dahil may kamahalan. Kung ako nga'ng naglalakad lamang dahil malapit lang ang school ay napapagod na. Paano pa kaya siya o sila na kailangang gumising nang higit na maaga dahil kailangan pang bumiyahe?

Naalala ko tuloy no'ng nakaraan, nakita ko siya na papasok sa loob ng sasakyan nila. Sigurado ay iyon ang service nila papasok at pauwi ng paaralan.

"I've been doing that for more than a decade already, Sharina," he replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Gusto kong umirap subalit pinigilan ko. "Alam ko. Marunong akong magbilang, Juancho," tugon ko na mas sarkastiko.

Sumimangot siya. "What I meant is that, I've been doing that for a long time so I already got used to it."

Tinawanan ko lang ang nakasimangot niyang mukha. Hindi ako nagsalita kaagad sapagkat may bigla lamang naisip. Ano kaya ang pakiramdam na mag-aral sa isang paaralang halos lalaki ang nag-aaral? I am curious about what her sister felt but I think I am more curious about what Juancho felt since he was used to having male classmates until it changed.

"Anong feeling mo no'ng nagkaroon ka ng babaeng kaklase? Kasi 'di ba nasanay ka na lalaki mga kaklase?"

"Nothing," he answered in one word.

"Nothing? As in... wala talaga?"

Puwede ba 'yon? Nasanay kang lalaki ang kaklase mo tapos magkakaroon ng babae? Siyempre kahit papaano, mararamdaman mo 'yong pagbabago.

His right eyebrow raised. "Why? It was all the same to me. Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses na makakita at makasalamuha ako ng mga babae."

Hindi ako nakaimik. Mukhang sanay talaga siya sa ganoon, iyong walang pakialam. Nakakapagtaka tuloy kung bakit naging interesado siya sa akin. Sa mga kuwento lang kasi nangyayari ang nga gano'n.

Reality is very different from fiction. So for something like this to happen really surprises me.

"Besides, I was there to study," he added. "Not to deal with people. Kane also doesn't seem to care."

"Introvert ka?" he asked.

He shrugged. "I guess... you can say that. But I'm not really shy, I just like being alone."

"Magkaiba tayo..." halos bulong ko subalit mukhang narinig niya dahil sumagot siya ng tango.

"I know."

He's somehow introverted while I'm not. I am often loud and expressive while he's silent and snob. But just like what they say, the opposites do attract.

"But no one has to change for us to work, despite the differences," he said. "There will be moments better spent in silence."

"At mayroon din namang mas mainam kung hindi tahimik," segunda ko.

He nodded, a slight beam passed his lips. "It's called balance."

I think through this, I will slowly learn to appreciate silence even more while he, on the other hand, will also learn that sometimes, having someone to talk to about lots of things is actually fun. We will influence one another... in a good way.

After all, life is about learning new things and embracing diversity. Like how different black from white is, but when combined can produce something beautiful. Sometimes, the most contrasting things end up being a great pair.