The Coño Boy 3: Love What You Will

Chapter Ninety-Three: Questions

Tuesday after Easter.

I have one cut left.

If I don't come to P.E. today, I'm doomed.

*Well, hindi naman talaga doomed kasi if I do cut class today, that means hindi na ako puwede mag-cut Swimming P.E. for the rest of this semester. Sa dami ba naman ng nangyari do I have to be reminded na we're just at the cusp of midterms?*

The one fear I had kanina as I went to the swimming pool was the possiblity na the guys would like tease me.

*Hindi yung tease na nasa maduming isip ko, okay. Tease na tuksuhan —kaso tukso also has other connotations. More like yung tease na aasarin ka or kantiyawin. By the way, is that how you spell kantiyaw? Or was that canchaw?*

I got in at around 7:05 am. Strange enough, as I walked out of the showers, I noticed there weren't any members of FAST, the varsity swim team in the pool today. I've gotten used to those guys na, their rather active athletic presence somewhat electrifying the place. Far from the energy of our block na are just there to finish a P.E. course requirement. And nasanay na rin ako talking with Tom every now and then in between the exercises. May sense kausap and from what I gather is an all-around nice guy.

*Oh, don't get ahead of yourselves. Walang malisya 'yon okay? Very "Kuya" and not "Kyah" for sure. There's a difference. Pag "Kuya" eh brotherly pero pag "Kyah" eh flirty.*

And, it seems my day looked like it was on the up, since the guys in class are behaving like they always do. I put out the attendance sheet on the clipboard and got the index cards from the stacks on the small table where Coach Bok usually sets it down at umupo na lang ako sa bleachers in the hopes that everyone would mind their own business and part hoping na hindi nakita ng blockmates ko yung status ni Joaquin.

*Ito kasi yung class na both of us can be seen together. Obvious ba?*

7:15 am.

Not even anino ni Joaquin is in P.E. class today.

*I'm a little worried because I know his admission status as a pressure case required him to keep his grades up so that he gets off the probation list.*

Tom: Wala pa si Coach?

A deep and familiar voice asks from my left.

Sean: No, he hasn't shown up yet.

I turn to my left to see Tom standing there.

Sean: You're here pala. Parang wala naman yung team niyo dito?

Tom: Walang instructions na tinext para today. Nasanay na ako magising ng maaga at dumerecho dito kaya heto.

Sean: Ahhhh... Buti ka pa masipag gumising. It's a miracle that I even got here on time at all.

*The only miracle is sinusundo ka kasi ni Joaquin, Sean. Huwag masyado sa miracles at baka mamaya lahat na lang ng mangyari ay maging #Sign.*

Tom: Kailangan gumising ng maaga samin gawa nang nalakad pa kami papuntang school namin noon.

Tom takes the seat to my left.

Sean: Really? Like how long do you have to walk?

Tom: Mga isang oras mula sa amin pababa.

Sean: Seriously? I have heard of kids walking quite a distance to their school. I just never met one who did.

*That's probably the dumbest thing to say to him, Sean! Ano ba?*

Tom: Sanayan lang talaga lalo na kung isang public school lang ang meron tapos sa malayo ka pa nakatira. Yung mga classmate ko nga noon tumatawid pa ng ilog. Masuwerte na ako kasi kahit malayo na-aspalto naman yung daan pa sa amin.