"So, you like painting?" My hands stopped drawing something on the paper when I heard that question from my classmate. Napatuwid ang upo ko dahil sa hindi inaasahan iyon.
Inilagay ko ang lapis saka binalingan siya ng tingin. Her face is in deep questioning as her eyes examines my drawing. Tumatango-tango ito sa nakikita habang ako ay napakurap, binalik ang tingin sa ginawa ko.
Maya-maya pa ang klase kung kaya't may kaunting ingay dito sa loob. Some are chit chatting while I used the time for drawing.
"That looks cool. Nag e-exist naman siguro ang dinrawing mo? Or do you like fictional characters?" Huli ko nang natanto na mukha na ni Jaeden ang dinrawing ko. I won't feel the adrenaline rush inside me now if I know that I am somewhere private, somewhere I am sure that no one knows him.
Pasimple kong sinara ang notebook nang tumitig ito roon ng mariin. His features are too perfect and there is a chance that she knows him! Well, there is a big possibility.
"I love painting. Saka, pamilyar ka ba sa taong ito?" I referred my drawing. She is rich based on her physical appearance.
She got the wavy long hair and wearing a slight make up. There is a bit of shining something on her face. Her lip's also in a red tone, giving her a natural look through the make up she's wearing. Hapit sa katawan ang suot pero hindi revealing. That's prohibited inside the university.
Yumuyuko siya ng kaunti sa akin. When I closed my notebook, she went back standing beside me wearing her calm expression.
"Hindi naman. I was just asking since you look like into painting. Nakita kita sa plaza noon, nagpi-paint. I've been seeing you there every weekend. Your works are very good."
Nagningning yata ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. There is a piece inside of me that's expecting for someone that would accept me of who I am. Of where I am from.
Ramdam ko rin ang sinseridad sa boses niya kaya umaasa akong kahit papaano ay may nakakausap kahit sino rito.
"Salamat. Para rin naman sa allowance ko iyon," sagot ko na parang sobrang close na namin. She shrugged her shoulders and gave me a smile after.
"Can you paint me too? I mean, I will pay you."
"Sorry, I don't paint people's faces. Medyo nangangapa pa ako roon," dahilan ko kung bakit nagulat ito. Una ay parang hindi nito alam kung babawiin ba ang sinabi o ano. But then, she just gave a nod at me.
"It's okay. I like your work. You can paint me anything. Babayaran na lang kita, ha? Keep up the good work, Eliazar." She mentioned my surname. Didn't know how she memorized all of us inside here.
"Sige, salamat. I'll give it to you if natapos ko na," tugon ko saka ito bumalik sa upuan niya.
She's with our other classmates, probably boys. Maganda siya, maputi saka ang kinis ng balat. Katamtaman din ang taas kaya lamang na lamang ang kagandahan niya rito sa loob ng room.
Pwede rin siyang maging tourism student. Pasok na pasok siya roon kasi halos lahat ng requirement ay nasa kanya na. She can enter it without thinking any impossibilities.
As a newbie here, especially in this city, I do not see the possibility of having someone to rely on aside from Jaeden himself. He's guiding and almost doing everything for me. Kahit ayoko ay tinatanggap ko na lang. Besides, I don't really know how to do something sometimes.
I gave an assuring and mild expression to the guys she's with. They've been smiling at me the whole time so I thought of returning them the favor. Isa pa, I think they're just being friendly to me.
That single interaction with the beautiful girl I've met gave another times of giving us chances to talk, to know each other more. Pansin kong nagiging mabait siya sa akin. I think the guys she's with are her friends, really close friends.
"Break time ko, sir. Sinisimulan lang iyong pinagawa sa akin. Ang haba kaya ng free time ko." Like the scenario as always, Jaeden's video calling me and he told me that he's here in Manila.
We've been talking for long now since I informed him that. He is driving somewhere.
"Anong oras ba matatapos ang klase niyo?" he asks as he gave me a quick glance while driving. Sanay na ako sa paminsang pagtawag niya sa akin kaya ayos lang. He's not disturbing me anyway.
"Hindi ko pa sure. Tatapusin ko lang ito siguro para may pambili ako ng pagkain mamaya," saad ko habang malayang nakapagpipinta sa isang sementong table.
Mag-isa lang ako rito dahil sa break nga pero iyong iba ay may kani-kanilang agenda. I chose to stay here and finish the painting. Papatuyuin lang saka ibibigay na mamaya roon sa kaklase ko.
"I can give you the stocks later. I'll drop it off to your landlady so that you don't need to buy anymore. Ano bang gusto mo?" Palihim lang akong umirap ng bahagya sa kanya. I dipped the paintbrush to the gouache paint that I have.
He's being a good samaritan now. Hindi naman ako nagparinig sa kanya kaya bakit siya na naman ang sasagot? Isa pa, sakto iyong perang kikitain ko rito. I like his idea, so much, and I am planning to buy anything using my own money.
"Ako na ang bibili, ano! Do your own thing, okay? Kaunti lang naman ang kailangan ko at okay naman ang perang makukuha ko rito."
"Are you dictating me? I will give you the stocks later. No need to—"
I sighed heavily, enough for him to hear it out loud so that he'll know that I am not going to let him pay everything for me. Kaya nga ako nag-iipon dito, eh.
"Sir, ako na. Kaya ko na 'no. Natuto na ako rito," dahilan ko sa kanya, hindi na tumitingin dahil alam kong masasalubong ko lang ang seryoso niyang mukha.
He's intimidating sometimes to the point that I am torn between angry or he's just being serious on describing his look. It's confusing to understand him.
Ilang sandali pa ay napunta ang ingay sa gawi ko, dahilan kung bakit napalingon ako sa likuran at nadatnang papalapit sa pwesto ko iyong kaklase kong maganda. Her name is Chantal, the one who made me paint something and she's with her guy friends.
Mabilis siyang naupo sa tabi ko kung kaya't madalian akong umusog. His other friends sat in front of me, their eyes are now scanning what I am doing.
"See? Sabi ko sa inyo, maganda siyang mag-paint! Wait, is he your boyfriend?" My heart skipped a beat knowing that Jaeden heard her. Nakaharap kasi sa akin ang phone, pinatayo ko at ginawang sandalan iyong punong bottled water.
Nagpanic ako kaagad nang kumaway ito kay Jaeden. I am sure that she'll be familiar now with what I've drawn! At ano raw? Si Jaeden boyfriend ko?
Mabilis kong pinatay ang tawag sa kanya saka binalik sa bag ang phone. She smirked at my sudden movement and her eyes went to her friends. Isinawalang bahala ko na lang ang pangyayaring iyon at nagpatuloy.
"Ano ka ba. Bakit mo pinatay? He's your boyfriend, right? Siya iyong dinrawing mo?"
"H-hindi. I mean, hindi ko siya boyfriend." She gave me a look of disapproving. Hindi ko na tuloy alam ang gagawin sa pagkabigla sa tanong niya.
"Weh? There's nothing to hide in here. By the way, mga kaibigan ko pala sila. I've told them about your painting. Hindi naniwala kaya dinala ko na rito."
I stopped for a while and then let them introduce themselves on me. Tatlo silang isa-isang nakipagkamay sa akin na malugod kong tinanggap. There's this unending smile with them as always. I also introduced my name to them.
"You know, we're planning to go somewhere later after the class. Mind joining us?" she asked me as I went back painting. Nakatingin ito ngayon sa ginagawa ko.
Honestly, no one dared to invite me somewhere. It seems okay since I don't want to go out if it's not really important.
Nakakagulat din iyong katotohanan na halos lahat aa kanila ay sanay na sanay sa gabi-gabing paggala. I was wondering if their allowances are going to what they are doing every night.
Nalaman kong masyadong malayo ang agwat ko sa kanila sa ganoong bagay. The way they defined the happiness, it is something not worth it for me.
"Saan ba?" I curiosly asked her. Naging interesado kaagad siya sa akin.
"Malapit lang. You'll enjoy it later," her friend answered me instead.
"Saan? Sa beer house ba? Iyong malapit dito?" I became familiar with that now since almost of them are going there every after classes. Sikat na sikat iyon dito sa mga estudyante. It's their number one hangout place.
"Oo naman! We need spice sometimes! Saka, mukhang hindi ka pa naman nakakapunta roon. You should try it, Diana. Sigurado akong mae-enjoy mo," her other friend suggested me.
Tanging pilit na ngiti lang ang iginawad ko saka tinapos iyong ginagawa. Habang pinapatuyo iyon ay inabot ni Chantal sa akin ang bayad. Nililigpit ko na rin ang mga gamit saka ang kalat.
"Sama ka na sa amin. We won't do anything there."
"Hanggang anong oras ba kayo? Hindi kasi ako masyadong nagpupuyat, eh."
Sabay-sabay silang tumingin sa bawat isa, kinakagat ang labi hanggang sa napahagalpak sa tawa sa sinabi ko.
I creased my forehead, not knowing what's funny with what I've said. Iyon naman ang totoo. I am old enough to know about that thing but I've never been there, even once.
Pamilyar ako pero hindi ako tumatapak doon. I've seen how wasted people everytime they're going out of that place. Kung gaano kaganda ang kalagayan nila nang pumasok ay baliktad naman ang nangyayari kapag lumalabas na.
"Gagi, anong expect mo, doon tayo matutulog? You're being funny, Diana!" They are still laughing like there's no end at all. Napapahagalpak pa sa simpleng sinabi kong iyon kahit para sa akin ay wala namang nakakatawa.
"So, let's just say that you have no experience at all?" Umiling ako. Chantal's eyes widened. "As in hindi talaga?" I shook my head again.
"That explains it. Anyway, are you up later? Hindi tayo magpupuyat doon." Her other friend smirked and I've made a decision for myself. I agreed with them and they all gave a high five to each other.
Malapit lang ang dorm ko rito. I won't drink if they are expecting me to do that. Hindi ako umiinom at mas lalong ayokong ma-expose ang sarili sa ganoon. Alcohol is not good for me.
Hinatak nila ako kaagad pagkatapos ng klase, tila nasasabik nang dalhin ako roon sa unang pagkakataon. I have still my bag with me and we have some activities given by our teachers. Hindi ko lang alam kung kailan ba balak gumawa nitong mga kasama ko.
Saglit lang kaming huminto sa isang milktea shop. Bumili sila ng isang malaking size no'n saka ibinigay sa akin. Chantal paid for it while her friend is giving the big sized cup to me.
Kunot na kunot ang noo ko habang nakatingin sa inaabot sa akin. Hindi naman ako nagpabili.
"That's for you. We know that you won't like drinking drinks inside so we thought of buying you that. Don't worry, walang bayad 'yan. Parang ang sama naman kasi ng tingin mo sa amin, eh." Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. Chantal's holding my arm as if guiding me.
"Grabe ka naman sa akin. Pero, iyon nga ang tingin ko sa'yo kanina. Sorry, ah?" pag-amin ko.
"Hay naku. Tama na ang tsismis. We'll go inside." Hinatak na ako ng marahan ni Chantal. Her lips landed on my ear and whispered, "Don't worry, mababait ang mga 'yan. I am saying this to assure you that we mean no harm," and winked at me.
I gripped tightly my shoulder bag as we stepped in. Maraming tables saka syempre, iyong nangunguna sa paningin ko ay iyong mga inumin. We're at the legal age now so the guard let us in. Ewan ko nga kung bakit ang lapit ng location nito sa university. They're teaching students to go straight here instead of going home. Grabeng temptasyon. Hindi matatanggihan.
"Dito lagi ang pwesto namin. Minsan, we're hunting chics and handsome university guys. Kitang-kita ang mga customers dito. That means we'll have a glimpse of their faces. Jackpot na kami sa maganda minsan, alam mo 'yon?" I sat beside Chantal while sipping the milktea. Bumili na rin sila ng kanilang iinumin, having the big difference from mine.
Kinalabit ako ng kaibigan nito saka tinuro iyong isang babae sa malayuan. As my eyes landed on that place, I now know why this guy is interested.
Maganda rin katulad ni Chantal. Unlike us, she's studying to other university. Nakatagilid ito sa gawi namin kaya malaya ang mga mata naming napagmamasdan siya. She's like a fallen angel from above. Not that she kicked because of her sin, but because she chose to live here instead of watching people from above.
"Crush ko 'yan. She's gorgeous. Hindi nakakaumay ang ganda kaya lagi kaming nandito. To think na matalino 'yan, hindi mo aakalaing nanglalampaso ng kaklase pagdating sa academics kapag nakikita mo siya rito," he said like he's really in love. So in love since his voice became softer while describing her.
"Tss. Bobo ka lang. Kaya gayahin mo kaya 'yan nang matuto ka naman. Hindi kayo bagay. Bobo saka matalino? Ang unfair kapag ikaw boyfriend niya!"
"Oh? Makalait ka, ah? Tsk. Nothing's wrong about crushing someone. Mabuti na rin iyong nagkakagusto ako sa matalino, ano! Huwag ka na ngang kumontra! Panira ka ng moment, eh!"
"You guys are really something. Anyway, our drinks are here na. Why don't you just shut your mouth? Kahit ilang minuto lang, pwede?"
Inalis ko ang tingin sa babaeng iyon habang paunti-unting iniinom iyong milktea na hawak. Gumuhit sa lalamunan ko ang sobrang tamis no'n. Para akong lumunok ng sandamakmak na asukal.
I noticed how they all celebrated upon receiving their drinks as the loud music started, adding the party vibes that every customers want. Mas nag-ingay na rin ang ibang customers habang ako ay tahimik lang.
Patuloy lang ako sa pagsipsip ng straw, nakikisabay sa kanila kahit papaano. I chose to be with them, to be part of them and I think I will not have regrets later.