In Between Calms and Storms

Chapter 09

Notes

Finally, pwede na mag-note sa Instagram at Messenger ng it is what it is.

Pero sa college, hindi talaga pwedeng prayers at quotes nalang ang gawin.

"Nasaan ang baso? Bakit hindi umiikot?" Rinig kong sigaw ni Reis na tumayo na para hanapin 'yung baso.

I sighed while shaking my head. Hindi naman ako madalas umiinom lalo na't ayoko ng lasa ng alak. Kaya lang, hindi ko pa nakikita ang grades ko sa portal ay parang kaya ko nang laklakin ang isang bote.

I'm not sure if I did well, but I tried my very best to study. Hindi naman ako ganoon ka-grade conscious, pero syempre, ini-aim ko naman ang mataas na grades para kina Mama.

"Kumusta exams?" Dim asked as he sat beside me. I immediately acted as if I was covering my ears which made him laugh.

"Kumusta sa 'yo?" Tanong ko pabalik kahit hindi ko sinagot ang tanong niya.

He shrugged.

"Basic," tapos ay tinuro niya si Ryx na ngumingisi at may hawak na baso at pinapaikot 'yung laman habang kausap si Reis. "Pero mas basic 'yon para sa kanya."

I pursed my lips. I've already known Ryx's image in school—academic achiever at dean's lister, student leader, student ambassador. Lahat yata ng club at organization na existing sa school ay kasali 'yan.

And based on what I heard from people—since I really hear about him a lot in school—for someone who has already been active since his first year, never did he never even had a failing grade.

Wala raw dos.

Tang-ina.

Lamang siya sa 'kin d'yan, kaya pwede bang hindi kasali sa scoreboard namin ang academics?

I mean, I also never had a line of 8 grade in Senior High School. I even graduated with High Honors and some awards like the Service Award.

"Pabasbas ka," Dim continued teasing me. Mula noong malaman nilang nag-aaway kami ni Ryx ay hindi na nila kami tinigilan.

Agad na nalukot ang mukha ko. "Ayoko, baka may virus."

Sa lakas ng tawa niya ay halos lahat ay napatingin sa banda namin. Even Ryx glanced at us even while talking to Reis, with his forehead creased.

Dmitri stopped laughing after a minute. "It's just so weird but refreshing to see people in the group arguing. Palagi nalang kasing tumatango si Zo sa lahat ng bagay."

Renzo, who was sitting on the other side next to Dim gave him a side glance, ni hindi man lang tumugon.

"See?" Dim shook his head, na parang expected reaction iyon ni Renzo sa kahit ano'ng sabihin niya. "Hindi man lang pumalag. Kahit siguro i-backstab ko 'yan, titingin lang 'yan."

Nasa bahay kami nina Reis. Tita is out of town dahil pinuntahan niya si Tito sa US. Kaya solong-solo ng baby boy nila na spoiled brat ang napakalaki nilang mansion.

It was a pool party with not more than fifty people. Mga kakilala at kaklase lang din ni Reis 'yung in-invite niya. I've already met and befriended some kasi pilit niya 'kong ipakilala sa kanila.

"Damn." Rinig kong pagmumura ni Dmitri sa tabi ko. He was squinting his eyes and biting his lower lip.

"I should've been the one na pinakilala ni Reis kanina," he told me. "I would've been talking to some hottie already."