In Between Calms and Storms

Chapter 06

Tiningnan ko ulit ang phone ko at nakitang hindi niya talaga ako finollow-back! Gago, gagawin talaga akong follower!

I mean, wala naman akong pakealam dahil hindi naman ako masyadong nago-open ng social media. Sadyang nakakainis lang kung pride ang pag-uusapan.

My lips parted a little when I saw that he put a post in his story. Hindi ko kaagad viniew 'yon at pumasok muna sa elevator. It came from a graphic post made by our school's publication na nalaman kong member din pala siya.

@ejzrv
Walang mali sa protesta, may protesta dahil may mali.

Umangat ang gilid ng labi ko. I immediately clicked the like button and exited the app.

Matalino naman pala si tanga.

Kahit nakakabobo talaga 'yang follow-follow niya. Childish, tsk.

Pero bilib ako sa story niya, setting aside our unlabeled rivalry. May pangalan siya rito sa siyudad, e, as far as I know. Sa thousand followers pa lang sa Instagram, alam kong bigshot na.

But using your platform to raise awareness isn't something people can easily do—only those who have the courage and the will to stand for something greater.

Especially when it comes to these kinds of issues, wherein people are expected to take different sides. May mga tao pa ring hindi nakikinig, hindi galit, at hindi mulat ang mga mata.

And when we talk about corruption and bad governance, that's where the real problem lies. Yung pondo na dapat para sa tao, napupunta lang sa bulsa ng iilan. Roads which are left unfinished, hospitals and flood control projects underfunded, schools lacking resources—lahat ng ito hindi dahil walang pera, kundi dahil may mga taong inuuna ang sarili kaysa sa bayan.

Worse, nasasanay na lang ang iba, parang normal na lang ang ganitong sistema. Kung sino pa 'yung taas-noong nangako tuwing eleksyon, sila pa 'yung unang tumalikod pagkatapos manalo.

Hindi mahirap ang Pilipinas, hindi lang natin nakikita kung saan napupunta ang pera. Hindi dahil kulang ang bansa, kundi dahil mali ang pamamahala.

That's why voices like his matter. Kahit maliit o malaki ang reach mo, speaking up against corruption is a form of resistance. Kasi habang may nagsasalita, hindi tuluyang mananahimik ang katotohanan.

"Dito lang ba banda?"

"Yes. Pwede ka mag-book nalang but if you want to commute, just follow this direction."

"Okay..." I trailed and checked my Maps app once again.

"Sorry, dude. I'm also loaded with a lot of activities today, so I can't go with you. Hindi ako nakakapag-focus sa coffee shop."

I chuckled. Alam ko iyon kaya nga nagtanong nalang ako sa kanya kung saan ang directions sa isang café.

Even back then, I'd do things productively if I were surrounded by people who were also doing the same thing as me. Kaya nga tambay ako sa library noon, lalo na tuwing exams.

But then, today is Saturday, so I doubt if open ang school library. I have tons of things to do, so I'm looking for a coffee shop that is also a study space.

Mabuti na at marami rito. Hindi katulad sa probinsya.

This time, nagdala na talaga ako ng payong.

I reached the study café and booked a solo table. Na-amaze pa ako dahil ngayon lang ako naka-try ng ganito. There were also students, even from different schools based on their ID laces, who were studying and didn't even notice the background.

I took a photo of my table with my things and posted it on my story. Nag-reply pa ang OA na si Reis dahil akala niya nakalimutan ko na raw ang IG ko.

It was already an hour before I realized na malapit na ring gumabi. I felt my throat dry dahil hindi pa ako bumili ng beverages.

Just as I was about to stand up, someone placed a matcha drink on my table.

"Ano 'yan?" Tanong ko kay Ryx. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?"

Kumunot ang noo niya, umiinom pa ng chocolate drink.

"Am I not allowed here? Am I banned here?" He asked as if innocently, sarcastic naman.

Dumako ang tingin ko sa matcha latte. "Ano 'yan?"

"Grass?" He shrugged and sat at the table next to mine. "And for your information, I'm also studying. This seat next to you is the only one that's not occupied. And that drink isn't from me."

"Kanino galing?"

"Ewan. Baka kay Kuya Guard?"

Sobrang pilosopo talaga mag-Tagalog. Hindi naman ako sinasagot ng maayos.

I looked away with a roll in my eye. Umayos ako ulit ng upo.

"Huwag mo 'kong kausapin." I glared at him pero kinuha ko naman 'yung matcha na bigay niya.

Halos dalawang oras din akong nag-aral nang hindi man lang siya pinapansin. It seemed like he was also really here to study because he even brought his laptop, notebook, and pens.

Gusto ko ngang makiusisa dahil senior ko siya, so obviously, tapos na siya rito sa topic namin.

But I chose not to. Baka ano na namang ipagawa sa akin! I'd rather study on my own.

Kinuha ko ang iPad ko at naglagay ng alarm dahil naka-headphones naman ako. Hindi pa rin ako tapos dahil sobrang daming activities each subject, kaya lang ay inaantok na ako kaya plano kong mag-power nap.

When I glanced at Ryx, I stopped myself from chuckling kasi siya pala 'tong naunang matulog.

"Huwag tularan ang mga seniors," I jokingly whispered to myself before dozing off.

Nang magising ako, wala na siya dahil gabi na rin pala. I just booked a ride on the way home dahil wala na akong gana mag-commute pa.

I did my usual night routine. Umiinom na ako ng gatas nang mapagdesisyunan kong mag-open ng social media.

I opened my Instagram because I received a lot of notifications from people liking my story. Nang tingnan ko ang messages ay bumungad ang reply ni Reis sa story ko. Pati ang note ni Ryx na nasa una.

@ejzrv
:)

I slouched on the sofa. Bumuntong-hininga ako.

Pwede bang i-unfollow 'to? Hindi niya naman siguro mapapansin sa dami ng followers niya.

Pero paano kapag nalaman niya? Baka isumbat pa sa 'kin at singilin ako!

I looked at my story and saw that Ryx viewed it kahit hindi kami mutuals.

My brow raised and as I opened the settings of my Instagram. I switched the privacy from public to private.

Bahala siya. Kung gusto niyang makita ang stories ko, dapat mag-follow siya.