Unbind the Strings

Two

Inisip ko ulit 'yung mga nangyari kaninang araw and wala lang naman sakin 'yon. Nagulat lang talaga ako kase siya palang nakakagawa 'non sa'kin.

"Cathan, baba na! Kakain na!" Mom yelled.

"Pababa na po!" I was about to leave my room when my phone suddenly buzzed.

I received a text from an unknown number.

From: Unknown Number:
"Ma paloadan mo ng 150 itong Globe number na 'to, 09066xxxxxx na sa'kin na po 'yong pera, Ma."

Hindi ko alam na may anak na pala 'ko. Sakyan ko nalang trip nito.

To: Unknown Number
"Nak, nakuha mo na ba load mo? Ikamusta mo ako kay tito Hector mo ha. Ingat kau jan..."

Laptrip ampucha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Ululin mo na lahat 'wag ako. Makikitext ka pa ha.

I went downstairs to eat and rested for a bit before going to the shower. I just wore a two piece silk satin pajamas and did my skin care before laying down the bed.

I checked my phone and clicked the unread message from the unknown number.

From: Unknown Number
"Gago HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Sinakyan trip ko amp HAHAHAHAHAHA"

"Hoy calimba, goodluck sa election bukas!"

To: Keamag
"Bakit ba tinatawag mo akong Calimba ha?! Ganda ganda ng pangalan ko parang tanga 'to."

He replied right away.

From: Keamag
"Kase Cali + Timba = Calimba. 'Yang katawan mo parang timba, tuwid na tuwid wala man lang ka curve curve. Buti nga hindi Casul tinawag ko e. Mas mukha kang gasul. Maliit na mataba HAHAHAHA!"

Ah timba. Ah gasul.

To: Keamag
"Nakakatawa 'yon? Pakyu! Matalo ka sana bukas"

Morning came and same old routine I get ready for school. Today's the election day. We will know the results of the election right away. Hindi naman kasi ganoon karami ang estudyante rito kaya mabilis lang bilangin ang boto nila.

"Good morning, Cali!" Amielle greeted me when I entered the room. I greeted her and smiled back. "Goodluck sa election mamaya! Win or lose kering keri 'yan!" She cheered while raising both of her arms.

Gab knocked on our door and excused our partylist because we have to meet and talk about the election. She waited for me to go out and clinged her arms onto me.

"Are you nervous?" Jay asked.

"Uh, hindi naman." I said while pursing my lips.

"Hindi ikaw tinatanong ko, si Gab." He said. Ay. Okay. I rolled my eyes on him.

"Nope, I'm a bit confident about this. Besides, I think I earned the trust of the kiddos. Sinuhulan ko kaya sila ng candy para iboto nila ako." Gab said while finishing her chocolate drink.

"That's my girl! HAHAHAHAHA." Jay laughed while playing with Gab's hair. He does that to everyone. Except for me, hindi naman kami close. They hugged each other and Neil broke the silence by telling us to go inside the meeting place.

"Manalo o matalo, mag papapizza padin ako!!! Pero syempre ako lang oorder at si Jay ang mag babayad!!" Sabi ni Kai habang nakatayo sa lamesa.

"Ulol. Ano ako banker?" He stood up.

Our meeting finally ended. They just told us na kahit anong mangyare, the bond that we made will stay the same. Mag papapizza padin si Keamag.

There's a part of me na nag eexpect na mananalo ako. I don't know but I feel negative at the same time. Feeling ko they don't know me yet since I'm a transferee but let's see.

The bell rang. Yes finally, lunch break na. Niyaya ako ni Gab sa canteen together with Neil, Kai and Jay. Dami naming napag-usapan kahit random things lang.

"Feeling ko mamimiss ko si Jay pag umalis." Kai said while finishing his food.

"Bakit? Saan siya pupunta?" Tinanong ko sila.

"Bakit? Sasama ka?" He asked me while smiling and raising his eyebrows.

"Ano palitan ng tanong? Ako nauna ako muna sagutin mo."

He sniggered. "Chill, hindi ka pa nga nanliligaw eh sagot agad? Pwede naman kaya lang shy ako e HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." Tawa siya ng tawa.

"Mabuti pa nga umalis ka na lang. Wala kang magandang naidudulot dito sa bansa puro kagaguhan lang." I said while twisting my mouth into a side placement creating a crease in the cheek.

"Mamimiss mo din ako, trust me." He winked and continue eating his food.

"Kadiri. Kilabutan ka nga!" Umalis na ako kaagad at binalik ang pinagkainan sa may counter top.

Bago ako umakyat ng hagdan, he wished me good luck. I did the same and went back to our classroom. I overheard my classmates talking about me.

"Ewan ko ba bakit ang feeling close niya kina Jay e 'di naman siya belong don HAHAHAHAHA!" A girl wearing an eyeglasses said. Ang balita ko matalino daw 'yon saka focus talaga sa acads niya. She's fit and her long straight hair compliments her face.

"Akala mo naman mananalo siya as secretary! Half of the students barely knows her kaya!" The girl beside her agreed.

I entered the room like I didn't hear anything. I sat down and studied for our quiz later. Wala naman akong ibang pwedeng gawin kung hindi mag aral. I can't fight back, yet. Hindi ko pa sila kilala. I should know my place.

The election started. Wish ko lang sana matapos na kaagad para hindi na ako sumama kina Gab. Daming ebas e, sarap sampalin.

They are already announcing the winners. I excused myself to go to the restroom. I can't contain this feeling, hindi ko alam kung mapapahiya ako pag nalaman kong hindi ako nanalo. For sure pag bubulungan na naman ako ng mga chismosa don.

I fixed myself before going out of the restroom. I heard my classmates screaming in happiness. Siguro nanalo si Keamag.

"Congrats, Jay!!!!!!"
"You deserve it!!! Ayusin mo 'wag kang pasaway ha!!"
"Goooo President!"

A bunch of girls are cheering for him when he went out of the room. He was smiling when our eyes met. He walked towards my direction and stopped 5 meters away from me.

"Sayang nanalo ka. Congrats, pala." I tried to tease him.

He went closer and now we're 3 meters apart from each other. He looked at me like he wants to say something. His eyes looked worried and somehow upset. He sniffed and threw his arms around me. He pressed his hand on my back and pulled me closer. It was quick but tight.

"Congrats, Calimba."

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