Ears and Rhymes

Chapter 9- KAMI NA

Michelle

"Girls, hi."

"Saya mo, ano balita sa date mo?" asked Rose.

"Oh, you had a date yesterday?" Star asked happily.

"Yeah. Kami na nga ni Brix."

Napatingin sa akin sila Star at Rose like I was kinda crazy na.

"What? Parang ang bilis naman."

"Yup. Ang mga ganyang bagay ay hindi naman pinapatagal. Pwede naman kayong mag-getting to know each other ng kayo, 'di ba?" I explained to Star who looked like she's not convinced.

"Teka, si Brix as in si Brix ng Overdrive ang boylet mo ngayon?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Rose.

I eagerly nod at her.

"Gusto mong pakilala kita kay Ryker?"

"Hindi ko type ang mga rakista."

Luh, taray.

"Ano ang type mo, k-pop?" tukso ko.

"Nu ka... wala akong type. Gusto kong makatapos ng pag-aaral. Magiging Clinical Psychologist ako." Ganyan si Rose, super focus sa pangarap niya. Nakakatuwa talaga siya.

"Oppa—" tukso ko. Kailangan din kasi minsan ng kilig ng isa na ito.

"Tumigil ka nga," Rose replied irritated.

"What will your dad say, Mitch?"

My smile vanished when Star asked that.

"You know my dad?" nahihiyang tanong ko.

Tumango si Star. "Kinda," she replied.

"Father issue. Ano ang drama natin kay papa?" Hindi kilala ni Rose ang pamilya ko. Bless her heart.

Napabuntong hininga ako. "He is not cool."

"Uh, parent mo kasi siya so..." Rose shrugged.

"No, I don't mean 'that cool'... I mean cooollll."

"Hindi ko maintindihan ang pinakaiba ng that cool at cooollll." Rose looked confused about what I said. Lumingon ako kay Star to ask for help.

"Medyo ano kasi ang daddy niya... teka, paano ba?" Even Star can't find the right word to describe him.

"Matapobre?" nagtatanong na sagot ni Rose.

Tumango kami ni Star that made Rose eyes rolled. "Figured... Mayaman e."

"E why Star's parents are not like that?" Napatanong tuloy ako.

"Ewan ko, Mitch. Baka sa genes," Rose replied.

"E why I'm not like that?" I asked again.

"Baka mana ka sa mommy mo." Rose is trying hard to make sense.

Umiling kami ni Star. Napabuntong hininga si Rose na nahihirapan na sa mga questions ko.

"Anyways, I won't make pakilala muna si Brix since daddy is too busy to even ask me if I'm still okay."

"E 'yong mom mo?" tanong ni Rose.

"She has different a family," I replied. "So, I am basically on my own with father's money."

"Are you okay with that?" Star asked that made me think.

"Yeah, I guess so. Hindi naman ako nag-complain," I murmured.

Rose became silent and she looks like we lost her in my family drama.

"Kailangan ko bang bantaan si Brix kung sakaling saktan ka?"

"Oh, Rose, you don't need to make banta. He is malambing naman."

Rose snorted. "Hindi dahil malambing sayo ay tapat na. Magkaibang magkaiba 'yon."

"I know, I know... I have a list of exes to show proof. Pero kasi—"

"Ikaw na ang maraming ex," Rose cut me which made me and Star laugh. "Apakayabang mo girl sa part na 'I have a list'."

Natatawa akong pinalo si Rose sa braso.

"Mag-ingat kayong dalawa sa mga napupusuan n'yo."

"Opo, Ganny," I joked at Rose.

"Benta talaga sa akin si Mitch. Ang conyo ng 'Opo Ganny'." Tuluyan ng tumawa si Rose. Wala siyang pakialam kahit tingnan pa siya ng ibang student. I sometimes envy her.

So that's how I and Brix started to get to know each other. Every now and then, he visits me either at school or in the mall. We are okay as in okay talaga. He has long patience with me. But one of the traits I like about him is his mind... he is creative and smart. He also sends me beautiful candid photos of me that made my IG more likable.

One issue that we argued is our relationship to go in public. I wanted to... you know... shout to the whole world that he is mine. I want to take my claim but he said, the public will ruin our beautiful start.

"Simangot ka?"

"Rose— thank you you're here. Where's Star?"

"Alam mo na..." Nagkibit balikat si Rose at umupo sa tabi ko.

Napa-exhale ako. "You are not tampo sa amin that sometimes we just disappeared na lang ang leave you alone?"

"I'm not tampo 'cause I make tulog when I'm alone," she replied mimicking my accent. "Anong problema mo, Mitch?"

"Si Brix kasi."

"Ano na naman?"

"He doesn't want me to post our picture on my IG."

Rose rolled her eyes on me. "Ano ang kinaiinis mo doon?" tanong ni Rose.

"Eh how will the world know that he is my bf if he is not proud?"

"Hoy, teka lang. Sa pagkakaalam ko never nag-deny si Brix na may gf siya. Need ba talagang mag-public kayo, Mitch?" she asked back. "He is a public figure, and you are an heir. The public will just throw garbage on your relationship, alam mo 'yon?"

I exhale loudly again.

"Learn your priorities. Life is not about how many likes you've got on social media. Hindi iyon sukatan, Mitch. Mas piliin mo ang tahimik na buhay kaysa sa maraming nakikisawsaw."

"You have a point." Para akong sinampal ng katotohanan ni Rose.

Tumango si Rose. Kinuha niya ang phone niya at tiningnan ang nagme-message sa kanya.

"Ayan na ang jowa mo, nag-aalala na sa'yo. Kausapin mo na. Naging tanungan ako ni Brix at no'ng isa kung nasaan kayo. Aksayado kayo sa load."

"Thanks, Rose." I smiled at her.

"Malapit ko na kayong pagbayarin sa mga payo na binibigay ko" Rose gave a small smile at me.