Unbind the Strings

Twenty Four

"Hey are you okay?" I asked her. She said she's fine and masakit lang daw paa niya but it's tolerable naman daw. Kahit na bhie, pain is pain. Napakasakitin talaga ng baby ko na 'to. 

I asked her to take her shoes off and she asked me why. Baka gagamitin ko? Hay! 

"Your feet hurt, right? Hubarin mo muna. Dadayaman kita. Sabay tayong mag papaa." I said while pointing at her feet. Baby naman, ang kulit! "Akin na nga." I knelt down and carefully removed her shoes. Ako na mag-aadjust bhie. Ikaw dapat luluhod sa 'kin eh, bakit ako ang naluhod sa'yo. Unfair. 

Baka nahahalata na niya na bet ko siya kaya nagpanggap muna along suplado lit. "Wala akong gusto sa'yo, 'no. Ang feeling mo naman." Sorry bhie, baka mahalata mo agad, let's take it slow.

I saw her waiting for her service outside. Mukhang kanina pa 'to nag-iintay. I asked permission from my parents if they can let Cali hop in and drop her home. They agreed so I asked her to come in. She refused a few times but I got to make her agree. She was quiet and halatang nahihiya. 

Hindi pa nga marunong tumawid. "Kapit ka sa 'kin, o ako kakapit sa'yo?" I asked her. Hindi siya sumagot kaagad kaya hinawakan ko na ang kamay niya. Ang tawag dito mga chong, diskarte. 

I tried to shoot my shot and asked if she has a phone. I asked her if pwede ba ako makitext but I just want to know her number so I already have her contact on my phone. Mga chong, ang tawag ulit dito, diskarte. 

We exchanged a few texts and I was really enjoying talking to her. She really makes me smile and happy, hay nako Cali. Isa na talaga siya sa reasons kung bakit gusto kong gumising sa umaga. Panagutan mo 'tong nararamdaman ko, Calimba.

The next day came and as usual excited na naman ako pumasok. Today's the voting day and I can't help but feel nervous para sakanya. She has to win, not only because she deserves it but I want to be with her also. 

"Are you nervous?" It was actually for my Cali but I don't her to get the idea muna so I shifted the topic and made it look like it was for Gab. Her facial expression changed quickly and I saw the frustration in her face. 

Voting was done and I was really waiting for Cali's results. I'm sure mananalo 'yun, I already talked to some of the lower levels na iboto siya. Nasaan na kaya 'yun? I can't see her, I have to congratulate her and tell her she did a great job. Ayun, target unlocked. Kakalabas niya lang ng comfort room so I walked towards her. She congratulated me and I hugged her right away. You deserve this, Cali. You deserve me, hehe.

"Calimba, samahan mo ako sa canteen!" she refused and asked me bakit siya ang gusto kong kasama. I told her that she's the one I want to be with kaya huwag na siyang umangal. I treated her kase ako ang humingi ng favor. We went back to our room and nakakahalata na ata ang classsmates namin na lagi kami magkasama. Ayoko naman na mapasama siya kaya I just said na we're just friends. 

"Mauuna na ako. Aantayin nalang kita sa classroom." she said when the girls approached me. Cali, huwag ka namang magselos. Ikaw lang babae ko, maniwala ka sa 'kin. Hays. I told her to wait because we'll go up together. I won't leave her behind. 

I was called in the office to sign some papers and finalize some things for the school year. "Uh, Ma'am, naiwan ko po 'yung file case sa classroom, kunin ko lang po saglit." pagpapaalam ko kay Miss. Nakakapagod mag-akyat baba sa hagdan, ha. I reached the room and I heard a fuss. I hurriedly checked the room and saw Seah grabbing Cali's hair. Tangina, foul! 

"SEAH!!!" She hurriedly removed her hand from Cali's hair and acted like she was embarrassed. I am so mad right now. How can they do that to Cali? She doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. "Leave. Baka kung ano pa magawa ko." The girls ran away and I immediately talked to Cali. I asked her how is she. She looks flustered and shocked. Pucha, nanahimik yung tao eh.

"Kaya kong ipagtanggol sarili ko. Hindi kita kailangan." Gago? Anong nangyari? nalungkot ako at nagulat sa sinabi niya. I was just trying to protect her. She walked away after that. Hindi ako mapakali, I wanted to follow her and ask her what's wrong, but at the same time I thought to myself baka kailangan niya ng space. 

I went early to school para tanungin siya kung anong problema niya. Kahapon pa talaga ako hindi mapakali. "Cali, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" Lagi akong napapangunahan ng takot. She asked me about what and I just said it's about the school council. What a loser, Keane. She said I should just talk to my vice-president regarding the council. Ano bang mga palusot 'yon, Jay! Nainis ako sa sarili ko kaya umalis nalang ako. 

"Ate, magkano dyan sa box of roses?" I asked the lady, babawi nalang ako kay Cali through this. Masyado along tatanga tanga magsalita, hindi ko madiretso. I went to Tiffany and Co. to look for something na babagay sakanya, although lahat naman ng suotin niya bagay sakanya. Ako nalang kulang. My eyes darted for this diamond bracelet, mukhang ubos ang ipon ng Kuya Jay niyo. 

Cali deserves this. She deserves all the love in this world. She deserves me and my love.

Ang landi ko pucha. 

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this is jay's pov, oki. masyado siyang maraming sasabihin kaya cut ko muna hehe!