In Between Calms and Storms

Chapter 04

At alangan namang hindi ko malaman, e, sinabihan nga ako ng kapitbahay ko?

"I'll go to the library nalang," Kio said when I told him I was going to the office.

"Okay, pupuntahan kita. May class pa tayo ng 3PM."

He gave me a salute and jogged towards the library.

Speaking of kapitbahay, malas talaga dahil nakasalubong ko pa siya sa hallway. Nakasuot siya ng uniform at mag-isang naglalakad, may hawak na sandamakmak na papel.

Our eyes met. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin pero hindi ko inakalang kakausapin niya ako.

"Is there an agreement that we'd pretend we don't know each other at school?"

I halted at my steps and turned around to glare at him.

"Hindi kita nakita," pagrarason ko.

He shrugged. Nagulat ako nang ibigay niya sa 'kin ang kalahati ng mga papel ng hawak niya. I almost stumbled kasi ang bigat!

"Ano na naman—"

"You're going to the orientation, right? Come with me. I'm going, too."

I had no choice but to follow him.

Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit, basta ay iyon na ata ang naging tingin namin sa isa't-isa, as much as I don't want to have enemies here at school, ayoko namang magpatalo.

At saka, alam ko namang inaasar niya ako, naiinis lang ako kasi alam niya lang kung paano ako asarin.

"Seryoso, ano bang problema mo?" I asked while we were walking.

Tumingin siya sa 'kin at bumaling ulit sa kabila. A few seconds later, he sighed and took some papers from me, inilagay niya 'yon sa mga hawak niya.

"You're just so entertaining when mad, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng lalaking namumula kapag galit."

I scoffed. Ibabato ko na talaga 'tong hawak ko sa kanya.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Depends on how you take it," walang pakealam na aniya.

It didn't take that long to reach the office. Agad siyang binati ng mga tao roon at President pa ang tawag sa kanya.

"Good morning, Pres!"

"Wow, nandito na ang bida!"

"Pres, ito na 'yung draft sa sched ng activities natin next month."

May isang officer na lumapit sa 'kin at kinuha ang dala-dala kong papel, nagtataka pero hindi na nagtanong.

I just smiled awkwardly.

I sat together with some obviously new faces since they all had the same behaved posture.

Magiliw na bumati ang mga members ng org na makikilala mo dahil lahat sila ay nakasuot ng polo ng org at may embroidered na title nila sa left side.

"Wait lang, guys, ha?" Daisy, the one I was familiar with kasi siya 'yung nag-good luck sa 'kin sa interview, was also the secretary.

"Ang tagal kasi ni Koen, Vice President natin iyon. Wait lang natin saglit," she said to which all of us nodded.

I saw Ryx shaking his head who sat in front of the table while flipping some pages of the paper.

He tsk-ed. "Evict na 'yan," he commented which made some of us laugh.

I even saw how the girls beside me were swooning at the sight of him. Napailing nalang ako. Kung alam niyo lang ugali niyan...

Naging tahimik ulit matapos ng iilang palitan ng salita ng mga officers. Not until someone who was in a hurry came in.

"Shit, sorry. Late na ba?"

I heard gasps.

Like, seryoso.

A tall, handsome guy with red-brown hair smiled at us and waved his hand. Kulang na lang mangisay tong tabi ko na hinahampas na 'yung katabi niya secretly.

Hindi ko rin mapigilang hindi tumitig sa kanya kasi kahit lalaki, aaminin ko namang kumikilala rin ako ng mga taong malakas ang appeal at charisma, e.

Although he just stood there, even apologizing because he was late, his presence was screaming something alluring.

Hindi naman siya intimidating o ano, 'yung tipo lang na, kapag nakasalubong mo sa hallway, lilingon ka ulit kasi kahanga-hanga ang facial features niya.

I heard someone clearing his throat. Hindi rin naman napansin ng iba 'yon.

"Yes, one of our face cards 'yan, everyone." Daisy chuckled when she saw everyone in awe. "Kaya kung isa 'yan sa mga rason niyo kung bakit kayo sumali rito, 'wag kayong mag-alala dahil hindi kayo madi-disappoint."

Agad ding nagsimula ang orientation na in-introduce nila ang purpose ng organization. Hopeline, the name of the organization, aims to help people suffering from mental health issues.

Its main advocacy focuses on raising awareness about mental health, providing support for those in need, and organizing activities that prioritize overall mental well-being.

Sumali ako rito, hindi dahil katulad ng rason ng iba, but because I believe that physically exposing myself in actions related to mental health is important, especially since my field is Psychology.

"So, yeah," Koen clasped his hands together and smiled at us. Muli na namang naghampasan ang katabi ko. "That's all for now. I hope all of you will remain active and on the go, since the org needs more helping hands."

"We'll announce soon regarding our activities, thank you for showing up, everyone! You guys are appreciated." Daisy smiled.

Umalis din ako matapos magpaalam nang tumawag si Reis sa 'kin.

"I can't fetch you today, dude. As much as I want to, our damn professor assigned a heavy group project. Tang-ina, wala pang buwan pero ang pagod ko pang-isang semester na!"

I chuckled at his rant. "Okay lang, marunong na kaya akong mag-commute."

It took him a while before replying. "Sigurado ka?"

"Yep," I said, popping the 'p'. "Good luck with the project!"

Lumabas na ako sa school at nagpa-planong pumunta kung saan maraming jeep na dumadaan.

A car honk made me almost jump.

Tumingin ako sa gilid at nakitang bumababa na ang window ng sasakyan.

"The fuck—"

"Come in."

I glared at him immediately.

He raised an eyebrow at me. One hand on the steering wheel.

Ilang minuto kaming nagsasamaan ng tingin hanggang sa bumuntong-hininga siya.

"Come on, I don't have that much patience," Ryx spoke out.

"Pwede ka namang umalis na," pagmamatigas ko.

He sighed again.

"Sasakay ka o bubuhatin kita para ipasok sa loob?" Seryosong saad niya dahilan para umawang ang labi ko.

Hala. Nag-Tagalog na si Mr. President.

In just the blink of an eye, I found myself in the passenger seat of his car. Labag man sa loob ko, malay ko ba kung totohanin niya 'yung sinabi niya?

He cleared his throat, obviously amused.

"Thanks. Last na 'to," I said after buckling my seatbelt.

"Hmm... Not sure about that, though..." He meaningfully said and drove away.