War in Katipunan

Kabanata 10

KABANATA 10.

Tutor.

KASALUKUYAN kaming nakaupo sa bench sa Sunken Garden habang kinakain namin ang Burger at fries na binili ni Luthor sa isang fast food.

“Ang presko pala rito.” Napalingon ako sakaniya. He was eating burger.

“Ngayon ka lang ba nakapunta rito?” I am referring to Sunken Garden.

“Nope. Pumupunta rin naman ako rito kapag nag-aaya ang tropa sa UP Fair. Pero ngayon lang ako nakapunta dito ng umaga.” Tumango-tango naman ako. Napaghahalataang maraming kaibigan at sociable na tao si Luthor.

Uma-attend rin naman ako ng UP Fair, pero mas excited ako sa mga banda na magp-perform at sa parade. Adi and Rafa are always with us tuwing UP Fair. Gano’n rin kapag Paskuhan sa USTe. Palagi kaming kompletong apat.

“Madalas kaming tumambay dito noong first year kami. Pero ngayon, halos lahat ng oras namin, inuokopa na ng plates namin kaya wala nang time para tumambay.” I chuckled. Partly, true naman. Pero kung talagang stressed ka na ng bongga, ‘di mo rin mapipigilang hindi mag unwind.

Kadalasan sa mga blockmates ko, nagp-party kapag masyado nang toxic ang acads. Pero ako, I’d rather stay in my room and watch movie.

“I remembered that time when I was in my second year on med school. Talagang nag-cram ako no’n. The pressure was too high and I thought that I couldn’t continue being in med school anymore,” I looked at him. He was opening a sensitive topic and I can’t help but to listen. “I thought of giving up. As in give up na talaga. I was ready to give up my dream of becoming a doctor.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I am shocked. Sa ilang pagkikita namin, I saw how passionate he is on his studies. Hindi na-imagine na nangyari rin pala sakaniya ang ganiyan. Maybe it's natural at sadyang mataas lang talaga ang tingin ko sakaniya. He chuckled when he saw my face.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t give up. Kaya nga ako nandito ‘di ba?” Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Oo nga ‘no? I looked at him again. Halatang gustong-gusto niya talaga ang ginagawa niya. Halatang may plano siya para sa sarili niya. I somehow envy him. He really knows what he wants.

“Remember that night that we saw each other on a bar. ‘Yong nag-celebrate kami dahil tapos na ‘yong final exams namin,” Tumango ako. I remember that time. “That was our last exam before graduating to Med School.” Lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko!

“You’re graduating!” I stated the obvious. Natatawang tumango siya.

“Oh my gosh, you’re graduating!” I was too excited! Masaya ako para sakaniya. It was my first time to see a friend graduating from med school. His parents must be proud!

“Yeah. I’ll do my residency after. It will take three years, I think.”

“Sus, kayang-kaya mo yan! Ikaw pa ba?” sabay kaming natawa sa sinabi ko. I was just lifting up his fighting spirit. Sabi kasi ng iba, mas mahirap daw kasi kapag nag-residency na. Mararamdaman mo na raw diyan ang sobrang pressure. Lives were already depended on you.

“Thanks. Should I invite you to my graduation party?” Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.

“Ofcourse! Magtatampo ako kapag hindi mo ii-invite.” I said, joking. But to my surprise, he nodded and said that he will definitely invite me.

Matagal-tagal pa kaming nag-kwentuhan bago niya ako inihatid sa condo. We already exchanged phones before he left. Sakto namang pagkaalis ni Luthor ay siyang pagdating saakin ng text ni Ate Dan.

‘I already sent your number do’n sa itu-tutor mo. Anytime today, tatawag na yo’n.’

Naka-attach na rin sa text ni Ate Dan ‘yong number ng itu-tutor ko. I said my thanks to Ate Dan. Mabuti na rin ‘yong may raket ako kaysa saw ala ‘di ba.