Collide / [Park Jay]

49

It was a busy week for everyone, however, fulfilling on the last day. Medyo stressful ang naging takbo ng exam week but just like the previous ones, nairaos naman.

Good thing I still managed to keep my mind straight despite all the things that happened recently. Ayaw ko naman kasing makaapekto iyon sa akin because in the first place, I don't have something to gain if I choose to dwell on those. Although, I must admit, my curiosity kicks me sometimes.

"Dadaan ka pa sa club niyo?" Hana asked after I ended the call with Jiro. Nasa classroom pa rin kami ngayon at naghahanda pa lang sa pag-alis nang tumawag siya. Last day ngayon ng exam week kaya maaga ang dismissal namin.

"No.." Alanganin kong sagot.

"Oh, bakit ka tinawagan?" Tanong ulit niya.

"He asked me if I want to join. Kakain daw sa labas, eh." Sabi ko at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-aayos ng mga gamit ko.

"Kayong dalawa lang?" She asked again. I immediately looked at her with a frown.

"Hindi, ah. He's with some of our club members daw." Mabilis kong sagot. She just nodded slowly but it seems like she still wants to ask me so many things.

I'm still undecided about it, though. Sinabi ko na lang kay Jiro na magte-text na lang ako kung sakaling makakasama ako. I mean, kung sa libreng oras ko ngayon ay puwede naman since I'm still four hours away from my shift sa store. Pero nagda-dalawang isip pa rin ako doon dahil parang nahihiya naman akong sumama sa mga hindi ko pa lubusang kakilala.

"Ask Jay if he's coming. Part naman siya ng club niyo, 'di ba?" Sunhee commented after I told her about it. Nautusan kasi siya sa faculty office kaya wala siya dito kanina.

"For sure, he's invited as well but I don't think he'd come. Alam mo naman 'yon.." I said as I took a quick glance on him. Nakatambay siya ngayon sa harap ng pintuan kasama ng iba pa naming kaklase at mukhang nagkakatuwaan sila doon.

The school bell rang as a signal of dismissal. It's only a matter of minutes and we can already see the students fill the hallways. Like usual, nag-stay muna kami sa classroom saglit para palipasin ang mga nag-uunahang estudyante. Pagkatapos noon ay tsaka pa lang kami lumabas.

I thought we're just supposed to leave quietly. Pero napansin ko na lang na tumigil pala saglit ang mga kaibigan ko sa tapat ng pinto kung nasaan naroon ang ilang kaklase namin. Nauuna kasi ako sa paglakad at nalaman ko na lang iyon nang marinig kong magsalita si Hana.

"Mukhang may bonding kayo sa club niyo, ah. Sana all!" She said. Even without looking back, I already know who she's talking to.

"Yeah, I got invited. But I'm not going. Hindi naman kami close." Natatawang sinabi ni Jay. I expected that response from him, though. Hindi rin naman kasi siya mahilig sumama sa mga hindi niya talaga personally kilala.

"Oh, really? Si Yerim kasi pupunta, eh. Close kasi sila ni Jiro." Dugtong ng kaibigan ko at natawa rin. I don't know why she brought that up all of a sudden. Hindi pa naman ako sigurado doon.

Nauna ako sa kanila sa paglakad kaya medyo ilang hakbang rin ang layo ko sa kanila ngayon. But not far enough since I can still clearly hear what they're talking about, though, I'm pretending that I couldn't. Nagtingin-tingin na lang ako sa cellphone ko para malibang panandalian.

"If Jiro isn't there, hindi rin naman 'yan pupunta. Pero dahil nga nando'n, siyempre..." Jay said lazily. Nabigla ako doon kaya agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya, only to find out that he's already looking at my way.

"Edi sumama ka kay Yerim. Arte naman nito!" Hana said as she jokingly punched Jay's arm. Nakita ko lang ang pag-iling niya doon at may ilan pang sinabi na hindi ko na masyadong narinig.

Even though I was hesitating, I feel like I really don't have plans on going because like what I've said, I'm too shy to even try to get along with some of them. Hindi ko lang alam kay Jay kung bakit parang pinapangunahan niya ako masyado doon. He really thinks I'm going solely because of Jiro? Like.. we're not even that close.

"Jay is so maarte talaga! It just goes to show na hindi naman talaga niya gustong maging part ng broadcasting club. He doesn't want to get close to them." Hana laughed as we find our way out of our building. "How about you, Yerim? Pupunta ka?" She added.

"Yeah.." I answered, slightly frowning. If that's what Jay thinks of me, then I'll definitely just join. I don't know what he meant by that but I didn't like the way it sounded.

"I thought you were hesitating. Mabuti naman at naisipan mong sumama. You need to meet new people once in a while, you know.." Sunhee said as she tackled her arms around mine. Kasalukuyan na kaming nasa waiting shed sa labas ng campus, hinihintay ang kanilang sundo.

"Wala rin naman kasi akong gagawin, eh. Mamaya pa ang shift ko." Sagot ko na lang.

Jiro and some of our club members are already at the place where we're about to eat. Upon telling him that I'm going, he said he'll come back here to fetch me. Kahit na sinabi ko na naman na h'wag na dahil hindi naman iyon gano'n kalayo mula dito. Walking distance lang, actually. But he insisted so I just let him.

"Ingat ka, ha? Mag-chat ka na lang kapag may nanggulo sa'yo do'n. Enjoy!" My friends said as they bid me goodbye. Natawa na lang ako habang tinatanaw ang pag-alis ng sinasakyan nila.

I didn't wait that long and Jiro eventually came. Mas maaga ang dismissal nila kumpara sa amin kaya alam kong kanina pa sila magkakasama.

"Buti sumama ka. It's a small treat by the club leaders since starting next week, magiging sobrang busy na tayo para sa school festival." He smiled. I can still see how his eyes sparkled even behind those glasses.

"Nahihiya nga ako kasi hindi ko masyadong ka-close 'yong iba, eh." Giit ko. Halos si Jiro lang rin kasi ang madalas kong makausap doon dahil sa kanya kami nagsu-submit ng tasks.

"Don't worry. They're all nice. Honestly, gusto nga nilang makipagkilala sa'yo, eh. But I guess, they're just too shy to approach you." Sabi niya. Halata ang gulat sa itsura ko ngayon. I didn't know some people actually wants to get to know me. I mean, I just believe I'm too boring.

Hindi naman nagtagal at nakarating din kami sa isang restaurant malapit lang sa school namin. Nasa labas pa lang ay may naririnig na agad akong tawanan. And for some reason, I suddenly feel nervous. Iniisip ko kung tama bang narito ako ngayon o baka napilitan lang ako. However, Jiro looked at me with assurance like he's telling me that it's gonna be okay. Doon pa lang ako kumalma at kalaunan ay binilisan na rin ang lakad para maabutan siya.

"Yerim's here." Bungad niya sa mga kasama namin. They all went silent for a split second after seeing me. Pero agad rin naman iyong napaltan ng masiglang pagbati.

"Hi.." I said as I smiled awkwardly.

They started asking me so many random things about myself that I just answered casually. Mababait naman sila lahat. Sadyang hindi lang ako sanay sa ganitong klase ng atensyon. They're all funny and they always try to include me in their conversations so I won't feel bored or out of place.

"Dito sa second floor. Yeah.." I'm busy looking around and appreciating the place when I heard Jiro talking to someone over the phone. Saglit ko siyang nilingon at pinanood ang pagtapos niya sa tawag.

"May dadating pa?" Marahan kong tanong. Iba-iba rin kasi ang oras ng dismissal namin kaya 'yong ibang members ay humahabol na lang.

"Oo." He simply said.

I just nodded slowly as a response and continue scanning the whole place. But as I was doing that, my eyes suddenly saw a familiar figure standing beside the spiral stairs. Palinga-linga siya sa paligid, tila may hinahanap.

Mayamaya ay narinig ko na lang na nagri-ring ang cellphone ko at pangalan niya ang bumungad doon.

"Jay's calling.." Si Jiro ang pumuna doon. I just stared at it for a while, not wanting to believe that he's actually here. Parang kanina lang ay sinabi niya na hindi siya pupunta dito. "Oh.. 'yan na pala siya, eh." Dugtong niya.

"Ignoring my calls on purpose, huh?" Jay said as he sat beside me, not caring if everyone's eyes are fixed on us.