The Bucket List

the one with the list

Bakit kaya may ganito dito? He asked himself. Hindi niya nasabi sakin to ah.

Naramdaman niyang nagbukas ang pinto ng CR. He immediately kept the crumpled paper inside his pocket.

"Ayos ka na?" He told her.

"Oo. Teka, bakit ganyan mukha mo?" Maine told him as he put his right hand inside his pocket to hold the crumpled paper.

"Wala, ayos lang ako." He walked outside the room. He's still thinking about the list and why she wrote it. "Tara na oy. May basketball practice pa ko." Ginulo niya ng bahagya ang buhok ni Maine.

"RJ naman! Wag mong guluhin yung buhok ko!"

"Wala nang igugulo pa yang buhok mo sira."

"Tse! Tara na nga!"

Pagdating nilang dalawa sa basketball gym, RJ immediately saw Czarina, the almost crazy sophomore pestering him during his basketball practices.

"Ayan na ba yun?" Maine asked him as they went inside the locker room. Ito lang ang pinapayagan ng coach nila na pumasok since kakilala na nila ito.

"Oo. Ang kulit nga eh. Ikaw na bahala. Sinabihan na kasi yan ni coach dati pero hindi pa rin nakikinig."

"Sige. Ako na bahala. Dali lang niyan."

Lumabas na sila and he went straight to the court to do warm up exercises. Nakita niyang nilapitan ni Maine si Czarina, initiating a talk. He can't hear them though, but based on the look on Czarina's face, she was shocked.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagdribble when he saw the two walking outside the court. Hindi naman siya makasunod since he's in the middle of practice. Mamaya ko na nga lang itatanong, he told himself.

After an hour, he asked for a 10 minute break to his coach, and was given permission to do so. Kaya naman lumabas agad siya ng gym to find Maine, only to see her at the gazebo right in front the basketball gym.

"Maine."

Nagulat ito pagkakita sa kanya. Tinabihan niya ito sa upuan, nudging her head slightly on hers.

"O, anong nangyari?"

"As you wish, sir. Ayos na ho." she said, smirking like an idiot.

He can't believe her. Saglit lang yun ah? Naitaboy niya agad yung babaeng yon?

"Weh? Di nga?

"Oo nga! Ito naman walang bilib sakin!"

He laughed at her and messed her hair slightly. "Oo na. Thank you ha? Kain tayo mamaya diyan sa Pop's. Libre ko!"

She beamed upon hearing Pop's. It was her favorite diner just outside their school. "Sige ba! Oy, practice ka na don para makakain na tayo! Bilis!"

"Ito naman makataboy agad!" He remembered then the crumpled paper he saw at her room. "Teka, Menggay. Bakit may ganito ka?"

He showed her the paper he got from his pocket.

"Bakit hawak mo yan?" She asked him, a little bit shocked upon seeing the paper.

"Nakita ko lang kanina habang hinahanap ko yung physics report natin which by the way hindi ko rin na—aww! What was that for?!"

"Why are you rummaging around my things?! Nasa ibabaw lang kaya ng bed ko yung physics report natin!"

"You didn't tell me, you idiork! Sabi mo lang kanina hanapin ko! Aba malay ko bang nasa kama mo e lahat ng school things mo nasa study table!"

She groaned in frustration before pinching him on his shoulder. "Kainis ka!!"

"Masakit Maine ah! Nakakarami ka na!"

"Nangunguha ka ng gamit eh!"

"Fine, I'm sorry. Para saan ba kasi yan? Saka bakit puro sa US? Aalis ba kayo?"

She fell awkwardly silent. "Hindi naman. Pero alam mo naman diba na gusto kong libutin yung US kahit malaki?"

"Oo. Weird mo nga eh. Yun talaga napili mong ikutin. Sobrang common."

She pinched his arm again. "E ano naman!!" She pushed him to go back inside. "Bumalik ka na nga don! Magpractice ka na, nangangalawang na basketball skills mo!"

He put the crumpled paper back inside his shorts bago pa agawin ni Maine ang papel. "Wow. Ayos ka rin no? Biglang mang-aasar?"

"Go, Richard. Kakain pa tayo sa Pop's mamaya!"

He smiled at her and kissed her temple. "Thank you for earlier, Menggay. Laking tulong mo kanina, hindi na ko kukulitin ni Czarina. What did you tell her by the way?"

She smiled sheepishly. "That you're secretly gay?"

"Oh no you didn't."

She burst out laughing, yung tawang akala mo hinihika na. "If you can see your face right now, Faulkerson. That's priceless! Sana pala nakunan ko!"

"Di kita ilibre sa Pop's niyan eh."

"I'm kidding! Go na, RJ. Antayin na lang kita rito while I read a book."

"Fine. Diyan ka lang ah!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Pero yung bucket list mo gagawin mo ba?"

Nag-isip pa ito ng kaunti bago sumagot. "I don't know. Maybe. Naisipan ko lang din naman siyang isulat."

"Oh. Okay."

"Why did you ask?"

He smiled at her before walking back the gym.

"Nothing, Menggay."