Gleaming Part

....14

"You don't know how much of a risk you are trying to plan, Ashley. I told you that this is not your fight, this is mine." Hindi ako natuwa sa plano ni Ashley. 

Inirapan niya ako at pinag-krus ang kamay niya sa dibdib niya. "What the hell? Naririnig mo ba sarili mo, Cadie? Oo nga, naiintindihan ko na laban mo 'to. Pero bakit? Bawal ba kami lumaban din? Kaibigan ka namin, pamilya na rin. Sa tingin mo matutuwa me or us sa nangyayari sa'yo?" Natahimik ako tinignan lang siya. 

As much as I want them to help me, I can't. Hindi nila alam kung sino nilalabanan nila. Papa is something else. Hindi kaya even though they have powerful families, hindi nila kakayanin si papa. Never. 

She sighed, "Just think about it, Cadie. Sana maintindihan mo na hindi lang ito ang nasa plano namin, isa lang 'to." Tumalikod na siya at naunang maglakad paalis.

Umiling ako at tumingala. 

I thought this would feel lighter when I told them, but this made me so heavy. So heavy, hindi na napapanatag ang loob ko, mas lalo ako napapaisip. Everything seems so heavy right now. Nararamdaman ko na kailangan ko ingatan mga kaibigan ko. It frustrates me. 

Huminga ako ng malalim bago bumalik sakanila. They were all laughing at agad namang lumapit sa'kin si Eugene. 

"Hey, WuvWuv." Natawa ako sa pag-tawag niya sa'kin. Nag lalambing.

"Love." I called and smiled back at him. Ngumiti siya sa'kin. 

Nanlaki ang mata ko nung lumapit siya sa'kin. 

"It makes me happy whenever you call me that. Kinikilig ako." Bulong niya sa'kin na ikinatawa ko. 

At least, there's something I can be happy about today. This guy. 

He was about to say something when the bell rang. Lumapit na ako sa iba pa naming kaibigan at nginitian sila. I got my bag and paper bag from the bench at lumapit na ulo kay Eugene. He got my back and paperbag at lumapit siya sa'kin ng unti. He waved bye to our friends at nag simula na kami maglakad. Magkatapat lang kasi ang classrooms namin kaya lagi kaming sabay naglalakad papunta sa classrooms namin. 

"Malapit na matapos school year, after graduation, summer tapos college na. Mag-UST tayo ha?" Napatingin ako sakaniya at napangiti. He's extra noisy today, it makes me happy. 

"Yes, we'll spend the summer together and yes, sa UST tayo mag co-college. Don't worry, love." Mas lumawak ang ngiti niya at dinikit pa ang sarili sa'kin. 

"Cadie." He whispered. 

"Hmm?" Not bothering to look at him. I felt him near me. 

"I value you." Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at ngumiti. 

I looked at him and I felt so light around him. "And I do too." 

Napansin ko na ang dami nakatingin sa'min ayun pala nasa harapan na pala kami ng classroom ko at ngingiti-ngiti mga kaklase ko. Bigla akong nahiya kaya kinuha ko na kaagad iyong bag at paper bag ko sakaniya. I heard him chuckled kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin bago pumasok.

School is just like any normal day, my type of freedom. I can't help it but to feel light in school. Kasi nakaka-pressure iyong mga school works, it gives me peace. Peace of mind from what's happening to me. But, like in any other happiness, it still ends. 

"Okay, class. See you next week. Please do not be absent, I will give out your togas and stubs for your graduation. That'd be our last meeting. I won't give my speech right now, saka na next week! Have a good day and don't be absent to your other subjects, okay? Class dismissed." Umalis na ang adviser namin at nag simula na ako mag ayos ng gamit. 

I was about to exit the classroom when I saw Patty's friend, my classmate called me. 

"Cadie!" I smiled at him. 

"Gabriel, what's up?" Napakamot siya sa batok niya habang may nilalahad siya sa'kin gamit ang kaliwa niyang kamay. 

I looked down, "Hala, what's that?" 

He laughed a little, "A thank you gift. I mean, I am Patty's friend but I am also your classmate. Thank you for being one of those people whom I can trust, pwede ko malapitan sa personal or acads man. I really don't know how to thank you, but I hope this will do." Inilahad na niya ulit ang regalo niya kaya napatawa ako and slowly accepted it. 

Inangat ko ang regalo niya, "I will only accept this because this will say that you're part of my life and I am sentimental. So, thank you! I will open it at home." 

Tumango tango naman siya at napangiti, "Please do open it at home. Thank you for helping Patty pursue her dreams, it took her really some time to get there. Without your help, baka ginive up niya na iyong pangarap niya, so thank you ulit." 

Tumango ako at ipinasok na iyon sa bag ko bago lumabas ng classroom. 

Nagulat ako nang bumungad sa'kin si Eugene. Kumunot ang noo ko, "May training ka." 

He nodded, "Nood ka." 

Umiling kaagad ako, "I need to be home." 

He frowned and grabbed my arm, "No, nood ka." Him and his childish acts. I don't know what to do with him anymore. 

I let him drag me to go to our school's swimming area. Nang nakarating kami dun, kumaway ako sa mga ka-team mates niya kaya kumaway din sila sakin pero eto namang si Eugene, nilagyan ba naman ako ng tuwalya sa ulo ko para hindi ko makita mga ka-teammates niya. 

"Eugene! Annoying!" Tinanggal ko ang tuwalya at sinamaan siya ng tingin na ikinatawa niya lang. This guy really?

He made me seat at the bleachers overlooking the swimming pool. 

"Mag papalit lang ako." I nodded at him and didn't bother to look back at him but watched his other teammates practice. 

"Hey, those beautiful eyes are only for me. Hintayin mo na kasi ako muna mag palit." He tried to block my view while I was trying to look at their practice. 

Inirapan ko siya. "Go change."

Natawa siya at umiling bago umalis. 

I was busy watching the swimmers practice when someone sat by my side. 

"Sabi na nga ba dito lang kita mahahanap eh." I looked at him. 

"Hey, Cameron." I greeted him. 

He smiled but there's uneasiness to him. 

"What's wrong?" I asked him. 

Huminga siya ng malalim. Nang may sasabihin na dapat siya narinig ko si Eugene kaya napatingin ako sakaniya. 

Holy shit, him and his abs!