War in Katipunan

Kabanata 23

Nang makarating kami sa UP ay medyo marami nang tao. Parating ganito kapag Lantern Festival. Maging sa buong durasyon UP Fair ay talagang dinadagsa ang UP. Isko ka man o galing sa ibang school, talagang dinadagsa ang UP Fair. The whole Sunken Garden is packed with different people on the whole duaration of the event. And I think it’s beautiful.

Marami ring mga magkasintahan ang uma-attend ng Fair dahil well, it’s a Valentines event. Talagang mapapa-sana all ka sa dami ng mga couples na nagkalat sa Sunken Garden. May mga estudyante rin na nagiging mag-‘on’ dahil sa UP Fair. At ang iba naman ay ini-enjoy lang ang mga bandang nagtatanghal, just like me.

“Fita! Spica!” agad akong napangiti nang makita naming sina Rafa at Adi sa usual spot naming kapag nanonood ng parade. Maganda ang spot na ‘to dahil kitang-kita ang mga nagpaparada at isa pa, lahat ng kasali sa parade ay dumadaan dito.

“Ba’t ba ang tagal niyo nanaman?” Rafa asked us.

“Itong si Spica kasi eh, nakabihis na ‘ko, siya maliligo palang!” And just like that, ako na ang pinag-initan nina Rafa. I laughed because it’s the first time that we’re late because of me. Palagi kasing si Fita ang dahilan ng magka-late namin dahil antagal niyang pumili ng susuotin. Being the fashionista that she is. Napailing na lamang ako.

Minutes after, the parade started. Kahit tatlong taon na ako na ako rito sa UP ay namamangha parin ako tuwing lantern parade. The lights are always beautiful at iba iba ang concept kada taon. It’s very unique and I’m lucky that I’m part of the community. I will always choose to be part of the UP community no matter what.

I was enjoying the parade while talking to some familiar students from my major when I saw familiar eyes, staring at me on the other side of the road. I immediately recognized those eyes. How can I forget that eyes anyway? It was the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen. The Norse God of Thunder’s eyes were the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen.

The same eyes that gave me a different feeling just by looking at it. Dati, iniisip ko kung bakit gano’n na lamang ang epekto ng mga titig ni Luthor saakin, But now, after several days of thinking, I must admit that I have fallen deeply. I already accepted the fact that I like him. But after days of not seeing him and reflecting, I realized that I am totally whipped.

I was about to wave at Luthor when my hand froze in the air when my eyes landed on the girl beside him. It’s not Ate Lilac, it’s a girl I haven’t seen before. Agad kong ibinaba ang kamay kong kakaway sana kay Luthor. Iniwas ko rin ang tingin ko at pilit na itinuon ang atensiyon ko sa parada. I suddenly felt heavy.

Just a mere sight of them makes me want to vomit. My breathing hitched and I lose my focus. Damn, girl they are not even doing anything! Damn right. Wala naman silang ibang ginagawa pero ganito na ang reaksiyon ko. Maybe because it’s my first time to see him with a girl that is not Ate Lilac. Yeah right, I want to make myself believe that it’s the reason but it’s not. I know this feeling. Alam ko na kung ano ‘to.

“Oy, girl, okay ka lang?” Halos mapatalon ako dahil sa pagsasakita ni Adi sa gilit ko. naningkit ang mata niya nang makita ang reaksyon ko. I bit my lip.

“Okay lang ako, Adi. Baka nilalamig lang.” Mukhang hindi naniwala si Adi sa palusot ko pero hindi na rin siya nagsalita pa. I let out a heavy sigh before my eyes settled on the other side of the road. Agad na inatake ng kaba ang puso ko nang makita kong nakatitig parin saakin si Luthor. The girl beside him was whispering something to him but his eyes are on me.

Iniwas ko ulit ang tingin ko at pilit na nakipag-usap sa mga kakilala kong schoolmate.

AFTER THAT awkward encounter with Luthor, I still haven’t heard a word from him. It’s okay though. I still have the time to think about my parents… and him. But seeing him on UP Fair with the same girl, isn’t helping at all. Kahit pa kasama niya sina Alonzo ay kapansin-pansin ang pagdikit ng babaeng iyon kay Luthor.