Parallel Intersection

Chapter 10

He's a catch. How I wished I would be able to have him...maybe for a lifetime?

That's too much. Nahihibang na ata ako dahil kung ano-ano na lamang ang aking naiisip.

"Let's go." Anyaya sa akin ni Joe.

Hindi ko na siya tinanong pa tungkol sa napag-usapan nila ni Mama. Sana lang ay walang sinabi na kahit anong kalokohan si Mama.

"What time's your game?" Tanong ko sa kanya pakapasok niya sa sasakyan.

"Six." He replied while turning on me.

I bit my lower lip. Sana lang ay makaabot ako sa kanyang laro ngayon. May meeting pa kasi sa school publication.

"I don't know if I can watch your game tonight." Nahihiya kong saad sa kanya.

Shoot! I even told him that we'll be having our picture together! At mamaya iyon!

His face was now painted with worried. "We have a meeting after class. Supposedly, it's around five kaya lang I have my class until five thirty." I trailed off. Kaya ko naman sigurong humabol mamaya. "Hahabol na lang ako! I promise!"

Saglit na natahimik si Joe. I think he's thinking about something. He played with his lips and my eyes kept looking at it.

Nakakahiya! Baka isipin ng tao ay pinagnanasahan ko siya!

"I'll fetch you after the game. What time will your meeting end?"

Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako sa kanya. "Hindi ko alam e."

Binalot kami ng katahimikan. Hindi niya rin kasi ako pwedeng sunduin dahil baka mas mauna pang matapos ang aming meeting kaysa sa laro nila.

"We're here." I sounded too sad because we already got at my school.

Mabuti na lang dahil lunch break. Kung mayroon mang makakakita sa amin ay medyo kaunti lamang iyon.

Binuksan na ni Joe ang pinto para sa akin. He went out. As usual, may iilang mata ang agad na tumingin sa amin.

I think our height were attracting too much attention. Joe sighed. Mukhang hindi niya rin alam ang kanyang gagawin.

My goodness! Why are we even making such basic things into complicated ones?

"I'll just message you." I said to calmed our minds.

Joe looked surprised. He even clenched his jaw. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung anong nakakasorpresa roon sa sinabi ko.

Dahan-dahan itong tumango sa akin. "You really should message me."

Lihim akong napangiti dahil sa sinabi niya. Laki-laki nitong tao pero kung umasta sa harap ko parang bata.

"Okay, baby." I said, teasing him.

Joe squinted his eyes on me as a smirk appeared on his lips.

Fuck! Huli na ng marealize ko ang aking sinabi.

"Baby...as in bata." I explained, trying to sound too innocent.

He pursed his lips, trying hard to not to show his smile. He's having a hard time suppressing it.

He slowly nod his head. "O-kay...baby...bata." He lazily said then played with my hair.

"Study well...bata." Pang-aasar niya sa akin bago muling sumakay sa kanyang sasakyan.

Napapikit na lamang ako dahil sa kahihiyan. Ramdam ko rin ang pamunula ng aking mukha.

Baby pa nga. Baby pa nga, Jam!

"Balita ko...hinatid ka raw dito ni curly loverboy!" Nangingiting pang-aasar sa akin ni Carly.

Mabilis din kaming tinabihan ni John. Ang mga kaibigan kong 'to talaga. Basta tsismis, ang bibilis makasagap, ang lalakas ng signal. Samantala, kapag discussions, dinaig pa ang pagong at globe sa sobrang bagal.

"Nagkataon lang." Palusot sa kanila na alam ko rin namang hindi nila kakagatin.

Carly jokingly tapped my shoulder. "Sige ka. Palusot lang din na makakamove on ka pa diyan."

They both raised their eyebrows at me. Nasaan na ba ang prof namin? Hindi ba niya alam na pwede naman siyang pumasok ng maaga? Like advance ng thirty minutes?

"Jam." John said with warning. "Aalis din naman yan." He added.

Napatingin na lamang ako sa aking cellphone. Truth is, I know. I carved ig on my mind.

"Isang linggong landian nga lang 'to." Pangungumbinsi ko sa kanila.

Ngunit alam ko sa aking sarili, na para iyon sa akin. Jam, isang linggo lang tapos maghanap ka na lang ng bagong kalandian.

Paulit-ulit ko iyong itinatak sa aking isipan. Paulit-ulit din akong nasasaktan.

Is it really possible to have that strong attachment to someone...you just met for days?

Niyakap ako ni Carly sa aking tagiliran. "I know how Joe is making me you happy." She sincerely said.

Alam ko rin. Ibang saya ang naibigay niya sa akin. He's just too genuine, too soft for his side. He has his own may of sweeping me off from my feet.

Iyong tipong kahit wala siyang gawin, kaya niyang patibukin ang aking puso. Not that, he's not giving the same impact to his fans...it's just that...  I know, I am making him feel the same.

And it's just lonely to realized that by the moment he came back to his place...I would just be...another girl from the crowd.

The worst part is...I'll have to gladly accept it. Because that is how life and love works.

You met. Sooner, you'll become strangers.