To everyone deeply affected by the recent calamities, especially the earthquake in Cebu, please know that my thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt empathy are with you. Seeing it with my own eyes—the resiliency, bravery, and bayanihan of Cebuanos made me truly believe in what it means to stand together. #BangonCebu
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One
Matapos umalis ni Ryx sa classroom namin ay hindi na ako tinigilan ng mga kaklase ko.
Kahit 'yung mga hindi ko pa masyadong nakausap, lumapit sa 'kin para magtanong! Sinadya niya ba 'yon para gumulo ang buhay ko rito? E, ang tahi-tahimik ng pag-aaral ko rito!
"Paki-check ako, Xiel, if okay na sa part na 'to. Kung hindi naman, pwede ko ulit i-revise."
"Okay," I answered and got the paper from a classmate. We were doing a group activity, so the chairs in the classroom were arranged in circles.
They assigned me as a group leader, na wala naman akong magawa kung hindi ang tanggapin. That's why they'd been asking me questions about what to do for their part.
"Okay na 'to, Khate."
"Sige, thank you! Ilalagay ko na sa file. Nga pala, pwede magtanong, Xiel?"
Kaagad kong tinigil ang ginagawa at itinuon ang buong atensyon sa kanya. Here I thought she was going to ask a question about the activity.
"Paano pala kayo naging magkaibigan ni Ryx?"
I was already face-palming in my imagination. Si Kio na nasa kabilang grupo pero katabi lang namin ng upuan ay malakas na humalakhak, kaya naman tiningnan siya ng mga kagrupo niya, nagtataka.
I smiled. "Kasali ako sa organization na kasali rin siya. Magkakilala lang din kami. We're not that close enough to be friends."
They all nodded, na para bang silang lahat talaga ang naghintay ng isasagot ko. They didn't ask more questions which was a good thing. Mukhang na-gets din naman nila namin hanggang doon lang ang koneksyon namin ni Ryx.
I mean, they obviously didn't hear what we were talking about. And from what they saw, it just looked like he just dropped off something. Which is totoo naman.
Kasi ano naman ang isasagot ko? Na magkatapat nga lang ang unit naming dalawa? As much as I am trying to hang out with them, I'm still not that comfortable if they keep on visiting my unit when they find out that Ryx and I are neighbors.
"Lugi kasi sa notes, lumamang ang isa d'yan." Pagpaparinig ni Kio nang kumakain kaming dalawa sa canteen.
Siya lang naman 'yung nakarinig ng pag-uusap namin ni Ryx dahil magkatabi nga kami.
Hindi ko pa nga nasasabi sa kanya na magkaibigan kami ni Reis, o na may kaibigan ako sa kabilang school. I'm not even sure if he knew Reis, although they've already told me may pangalan ang circle nila sa kanilang mga schools.
"Pwede mo rin naman hiramin. Dalhin mo tapos i-photocopy," sagot ko sa kanya at umiling.
I didn't want to think about anything about what Ryx did. He probably saw his younger self in my place, that's why he probably felt that no one should ever experience what he experienced back then.
O baka gusto niya lang talagang magkaroon ako ng utang na loob sa kanya? Tsk.
Oo na, malaking tulong ang notes niya. Ang ganda ba naman kasi ng sulat—lahat handwritten, naka-color-coded highlights pa ng topic, definition, examples. May nakalagay pa nga sa gilid ng simple definition ng mga uncommon terms.
After our exam week, our school intramurals began—also called Sigasig, from sigla which means enthusiasm or vigor. Sigasig is a closed-campus activity exclusive to Vasquez College students, where departments compete against one another.
ВЫ ЧИТАЕТЕ
In Between Calms and Storms
Любовные романыRyx's city life was flawless, like a glass tower untouched by storms. Though messy at times, it was still perfectly his. But when Xiel came, a boy from the province, he became a contradiction dressed in calmness - an imperfection that felt dangerous...
