ー❝❞ Unprecedented
Kahel and Arya
Have you ever experienced being taken away by someone unprecedentedly?
When you never look at that certain person intimately but then he suddenly appeared in your dream one night and just like that— you started to notice his every move and how beautiful his existence and it does affects you.
❝ Superintend these few lawbreakers for half a month, Arya. I’m giving you the authority to punish them if ever some of them violate the decalogue during their school service. If they are eager to finish this school year they will obey everything as told. ❞
Ma’am Ramos anxiously articulated as we walk along the corridor.
❝ I understand ma’am. ❞
❝ Here are the listing of the students who are obliged to do school service. One of them is required to participate for a whole month. ❞
Mahina nitong tinapik ang likod ko saka ibinigay sa’kin ang isang notebook.
❝ I will do my best to supervise them, Ma’am Ramos.❞
❝ Thank you, Arya. I’ll go ahead now. ❞
Nang maka-alis ito ay marahan kong inayos ang salamin ko saka mabilis na sinipat ng tingin ang mga nakalistang pangalan. Kumunot nang husto ang noo ko nang mahagip ng tingin ang unang pangalan na nakasulat sa papel.
Kahel Sy
Violations: Periodically cutting classes. Several counts of Initiated brawls.
Penalty: Points will be deducted. I month of school service.
He literally got the the backbone to acquire these violations.
I can clearly remember how horrible his first impression was to me. It was last year, he interrupted the whole entrance ceremony after pioneering a dispute towards our seniors.
Sometimes I would see him walking on the corridor with patches of band-aids on his face. That was the reason why I never saw myself admiring him. Aside from his face and body. There is nothing to be loved about.
But of course I swallowed all that.
---
❝ Ryzel, Zion, Zorel, Pierre, Kyrie, Baron, Aron, Zayn--
Napatalon ako nang dumagundong ang pinto dahil sa malakas na pagkakabukas at sarado nito. Iniluwa nito ang pagod at nakasimangot na mukha ng lalaking kanina pa pilit na hinahanap ng mga mata ko.
His eyes met mine but I couldn’t help it but to divert my stares away from that intimidating gazes of him.
Siya ang pinakahuling pumasok sa loob ng guidance room.
❝ Ehem. K-Kahel. Everybody is here, right? ❞
It’s easier that they all managed to be here or else it will be a drag to gather all of them.
❝ Who are you? ❞
Rinig kong kuwestiyon ni Ryzel.
❝ I am Arya Celestine Xavier, your Student council president. I will be supervising all of you until you get to meet the consequences of every violations that you all did. ❞
Umarko ang kilay ko nang magtawanan ang mga ito. Hindi nakalusot sa paningin ko ang pag-angat ng sulok ng labi ni Kahel na siyang naka-upo sa pinaka likod na bahagi ng silid.
❝ Everyone who cackled, 1 day of school service will be added to your penalty, ❞
Seryosong turan ko na nag-pa-ugong nang reklamo mula sakanila.
❝ Can you identify those who did? I bet you can’t. Parang malabo ata ‘yang mga mata mo. ❞
Nang-a-asar na turan ni Zion.
Itinaas ko sa tungkil ng ilong ang salamin ko. Pagak akong napatawa dahil sa ugali ng mga ito.
❝ No, Mr. Angeles. My eyes are fine, I can even see why you deserve to be here. ❞
I bit my lip when Kahel grimaced.
❝ You can leave your bags here temporarily and get it back after the school service. It’ll be for 1 and half hour. Don’t worry you will be okay. ❞
Malakas kong ipinatong ang sarili kong backpack sa lamesa.
❝ Follow me, ❞
Ma-awtoridad na sambit ko saka naunang maglakad palabas ng silid.
I can hear their complaints through the door but after a second they also came out one by one.
❝ Hey, your penalty won’t be gone by simply standing there like an idiot. Move the flowerpots to the wall. ❞
Madalas na gamitin ang pader sa likod na bahagi ng eskuwelahan para mag cutting. Sila rin kasi ang gumagawa no’n kaya sila rin ang pinagawa ng solusyon para hindi na ulit ito magamit.
Hindi na ako nahirapan pang pasunurin sila. Hindi ko nga lubos maisip na mahilig sa gulo ang mga estudyanteng ‘to.
❝ Kahel. You’re not an exemption, move, ❞
Umismid ito at ilang segundo akong tinitigan saka lumayo sa pader kung saan siya nakasandal. Tahimik ko siyang hinabol ng tingin nang magsimula na rin itong tumulong sa paglilipat ng mga paso.
The exact moment when I started to watch him from a distance was vivid. It was the day after he appeared in my very own dreamland. He was smiling there while holding my hand. Dream is only a seed of our imagination and desires but I never expected that it would lead as a trigger for an admiration to grow without inhibition.
And perhaps, what genuinely bothers me the most is the idea of him—who just doesn’t give a fuck to anyone.
He seems unbothered all the time—as if the world is solely revolving for him.
❝ Good work. Let’s meet again tomorrow, ❞
Nakangiting sambit ko.
Para namang nakarinig ang mga ito ng kung anong himala dahil mabilis silang nag-si-alis pagbalik sa guidance room.
Binuklat ko ang pahina ng memo at isa-isang minarkahan ang mga pangalan nila.
❝ I remember now. ❞
Kusang napako ang mga paa ko sa semento nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ng lalaki na siyang nakatayo sa harapan ko. Akala ko ay umalis na siya katulad ng iba.
❝ It was you, right? You puked on my coat during our prom last year. I almost forgot that it was really you because you weren’t wearing your glasses that day. ❞
Nalukot ang mukha ko. I remembered accidentally puking to a stranger last year because I was drunk. But the face of that stranger is vague.
❝ That was embarrassing. If I were you I wouldn’t want to remember it either.❞
Nakangising usal nito at nakapamulsang tumalikod.
❝ You still owe me for ruining my tuxedo,❞
Dagdag na sambit niya bago tuluyang maglakad palayo sa’kin.
Gumapang ang init sa magkabilang pisngi ko. Hindi ko halos maigalaw ang mga paa ko upang maglakad.
I never imagined that it would be you of all people.
---
❝ Where is Arya Celestine Xavier? ❞
Malakas akong napadaing nang malakas na tumama ang ulo ko sa ilalim ng sarili kong arm rest. Halos hindi ko na nailagay nang maayos ang mga aklat sa ilalim ng upuan ko.
Kahit pa dinadamdam ko ang kirot ay pilit kong nilingon ang lalaking prenteng nakasandal sa pinto ng classroom namin. He is grinning while looking at me.
❝ What do you need, Kahel? ❞
I questioned hastily. I barely even managed to talk for my heart is currently racing just by simply having his presence near me.
Itinaas nito ang kaliwang kamay at bahagyang iwinagayway ang libro at notebook na dala.
❝ I need the payment for my ruined coat now.❞
Malalim akong humugot ng hininga. Binasa ko ang ibaba ng labi ko saka pilit na tumango.
❝ Alright. Let’s do it after class. ❞
Pilit kong binubura ang bakas ng tuwa sa boses ko. I should be annoyed but I am even more tickled that he chose to ask for my help.
❝ No. I want to do it now. Where is your seat? I’ll sit next to you. ❞
I immediately erased the smile that escaped from my lips when he walked past me.
❝ Close kayo? Kainggit, gusto ko rin. ❞
Pagbibiro ng isa sa mga kaklase ko na itinawa ko nalang. They are all aware of Kahel’s reputation and his rude behavior can be discern easily so they simply chose to be quiet.
❝ I’ll sit there. Get off. ❞
Napatakbo ako patungo sakanya nang marinig ang mayabang na usal nito.
❝ Pasensya na, Ashley. ❞
Marahan kong pinisil ang braso ni Kahel upang patigilin ito.
❝ What? ❞
Inis na kuwestiyon niya.
❝ Doon tayo sa likod. Bakante doon, ‘wag mo silang guluhin.❞
Inismiran niya lamang ako ngunit nagpahila naman ito sa’kin patungo sa bakanteng upuan sa likod na bahagi na silid. Ramdam ko ang nanunudyo at nalilitong titig ng mga kaklase ko sa’kin.
❝ Alright. Stay there and don’t say a word. ❞
I’m terrified to the fact that he can start a fight anytime. He has no filter when it comes to talking. The way he look at people can even cause a scuffle.
❝ Ha. What do you think of me? a toddler? ❞
Mariin ko siyang tinitigan.
❝ Yes.❞
Kumunot ang noo niya ngunit hindi ko na ito pinansin saka tumakbo pabalik sa orihinal kong puwesto upang kunin ang bag at libro ko.
❝ Look at them. It’s as if they want to fight me right here.❞
Nasapo ko ang mukha ko nang marinig ang ibinulong niya habang isa-isang pinupukol ng masamang tingin ang mga kaklase kong lalaki. Walang pagda-dalalawang-isip akong tumayo sa harapan niya at hinawakan ang baba nito.
Halos manlambot ang tuhod ko nang naguguluhan niya akong tiningala.
He looks like a cat. I am whipped.
❝ Hmm? ❞
❝ It’s you who wants to fight, not them,❞
Paos kong sambit.
He faked a laugh.
❝ It was them who provoke me. I never initiated a brawl. But because they knew me as what the majority says about my name. How can I even defend myself and say that it wasn’t entirely my fault? ❞
May kung anong bumara sa lalamunan ko. Tahimik akong naupo sa tabi niya. What he said keeps lingering in my mind. I cannot say that I wasn’t guilty. I also judged him based on what people says about him.
❝ Let’s do this after the school service. This won’t do, if I stay a little longer there will be a dispute. ❞
Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa hanggang sa makalabas ito ng classroom.
Kahel is really unpredictable.
---
❝ Ah finally. I almost fell asleep while waiting.❞
Sarkastikong bungad sa’kin ni Kahel nang makarating ako sa library. Narinig ko pa ang pagkagat niya sa lollipop na kinakain at ipinakita sa’kin ang stick nito.
❝ See? I even finished it. ❞
❝ Pasensya na. Kinausap pa kasi ako ni Ma’am Ramos. ❞
Inarkuhan niya lamang ako ng kilay at sumenyas na maupo na ako.
❝ Sit here.❞
Itinuro nito ang bakanteng upuan sa tabi niya.
❝ Sige po kamahalan.❞
Pagod akong naupo sa tabi niya saka isa-isang ipinatong sa lamesa ang mga gamit na bitbit ko.
❝ So tell me. Which lesson do you find hard to deal with? ❞
Muntik na akong matawa nang makita itong nagbubukas nanaman ng panibagong lollipop habang tinatabig ang isang aklat gamit ang siko niya.
❝ I marked everything.❞
❝ Alright. Tell me if you’re done opening your lollipop so we can start right away. ❞
Mahina akong natawa nang mabilis niya itong inilagay sa loob ng bibig niya.
❝ Start, ❞
Simpleng utos nito.
❝ Wow what a surprised. Haha. You marked the whole book.❞
Instead of being offended he just smiled at me proudly and nodded. He rested his face on his hand as he watches me flipping random pages of his book.
I started teaching him the basic lessons initially. I am amazed that he can pick up my pace, for a short period of time he can even answer some quizzes by himself.
I remain utterly silent. I’ve become fond of quietly appreciating the man who’s sitting beside me. The way he plays the lollipop inside his mouth, the way he uses the tip of his pen to scratch his temple, the way he moves a page using his little finger.
It was all beautiful.
❝ Is this right? ❞
I blinked a few times, realizing that our face are just few centimeters away. But he didn’t faze, it was just me who felt perturbed for a moment.
❝ T-That’s correct. ❞
His lips formed a thin line.
❝ Thanks for today. Let’s pack up, it’s getting late.❞
Mabilis akong tumango at hinablot ang backpack ko.
Akala ko ay lilihis siya ng direksyon nang makalabas na kami sa school ngunit hanggang sa makarating ako sa bukana ng eskinita kung saan ako dumadaan sa t’wing umuuwi ay nakasunod pa rin siya sa likod ko. Ilang bahay na lamang ang layo ng bahay namin ngunit hindi pa rin siya umaalis.
❝ Is this also your way home? ❞
I cursorily turn my head to look at him. His both hands are clasped, lounging on the back of his head as he continually slugs his new lollipop from the left and right side of his mouth.
He raised his eyebrows, looking confused.
❝ What? Is this your house? ❞
I bobbled my head subconsciously when he asked me with an innocent expression written on his face.
❝ Oh. Goodnight then. ❞
All I could do is to raise my hand when he cutely waves his hand before walking back to where we left a trail.
Both my cheeks are flushed with red, my heartbeat is bizarrely rapid and it’s pounding inside my chest.
I guess, it could even ruin his ears if he hears how loud it is.
---
❝ Do we have to fetch all these chairs? ❞
Tila problemadong tanong ni Ryzel habang tinutunton ng tingin ang patong-patong na upuan sa bodega ng school.
They need to move these seats to the auditorium for the upcoming foundation day the day after tomorrow. It’s more than 250 chairs but we are not obligated to finish it today.
❝ Oo, Ryzel. Can you carry five to six chairs? Para sana matapos tayo agad.❞
Napangiti ako nang ngumisi ito at itinaas ang dalawang braso niya. I’m glad that I can now talk to them comfortably.
❝ Move. You’re on the way. ❞
Napa-igtad ako nang biglang sumulpot si Kahel sa gitna naming dalawa at pasimpleng tinabig si Ryzel.
❝ Hey, be careful. ❞
Paalala ko rito.
Mabuti nalang at hindi na ginawang big deal ni Ryzel ang ginawa nito at lumipat nalang ng puwesto.
❝ Five to six? I can carry ten chairs. ❞
I chuckled when I heard him whispered to himself while counting the seats with his finger.
❝ Tingin mo ba ikaw si Superman? ❞
Seryoso niya akong tinignan na para bang mali ang sinabi ko.
❝ Carrying ten chairs is a bare minimum. Superman? Are you a toddler? ❞
Rinig na rinig ko ang tono ng pang-a-asar sa boses niya. Tatawa-tawa itong nagbuhat ng mga upuan at sumunod sa iba na lumabas ng bodega.
Observing him this close has brought me to a few realizations about Kahel. He is not as defiant and crude as what I thought he was.
Candidly, he is adorably childish who loves lollipops.
I don’t want anyone else to witness this cute side of him. If possible, I want to keep him inside my pocket.
---
❝ Kahel, napansin ko lang. You like sweets? ❞
Agad na gumuhit ang iritasyon sa mukha ko nang matanaw mula sa hallway ang magkatabing si Kahel at Keshi sa harap ng classroom namin.
She’s all over him.
❝ Sort of, why? ❞
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang isang pakete ng candies na hinatak ni Keshi mula sa bulsa ng bag niya.
❝ Here. You can have this. ❞
Kusang gumalaw ang mga paa ko at malalaking hakbang na tumakbo palapit sakanila. Walang inhibisyon kong hinablot ang binibigay nitong candies.
❝ He don’t like candies. Pero ako gusto ko. Salamat, Keshi.❞
Hindi ko lubos pansin ang nanlilisik nitong mata. I grabbed Kahel’s hand and dragged him inside the room. It was too late when I realized what I have done.
❝ Adik ka ba sa candy? Tell me, are you Willy Wonka? ❞
Kuwestiyon nito nang makaupo kaming dalawa.
I tried to refrain myself from smiling. Para akong nasa roller coaster dahil sakanya. My emotions are always mixing.
❝ At ikaw naman. Oomfa loompa ka ba? Bigyan ka lang ng tsokolate tuwang-tuwa na? ❞
❝ She was giving me something for free. Why would I not accept it? and that wasn’t a chocolate tho.❞
Natahimik ako. I am not a petty person but why am I making a fuss about this?
Ah. Because I thought I was the only one who noticed those small things that he liked.
❝ Yeah. Whatever. ❞
I uttered weakly.
Inilagay ko sa arm rest niya ang candies na ibinibigay ni Keshi.
❝ Why? You want this. ❞
Nagtatakang tanong niya.
❝ No. I don’t have a sweet tooth. ❞
❝ Then why did you get it? ❞
Mariin akong pumikit.
❝ Wala. ❞
Mahina kong hinilot ang sintido ko. Pakiramdam ko ay sasabog na ang ulo ko.
❝ I thought you’re also into sweets. I saw you eating an ice cream a few times during breaks. You like ice-cream, right? ❞
Itinakip ko ang mga palad ko sa mukha ko nang marinig ang mahinang winika niya.
Kahel, what should I do with you?
---
❝ Hindi niyo ba nakita si Kahel? ❞
Puno ng pagtatakang tanong ko. Some of them instinctively began to fetch the chairs as soon as they got here.
❝ I saw him on the way here. He was talking to a woman. Guess, she was giving him sweets? ❞
Pahabol na sagot ni Ryzel bago nagpatuloy sa paglabas ng bodega.
Has he always been this prominent to girls?
❝ Sorry, i’m late. Better work quickly. ❞
Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata nang pasimple siyang pumasok habang bitbit ang isang kulay pink na box.
❝ Buti alam mo.❞
Nagkibit balikat lamang siya.
❝ What’s that? ❞
Mariin kong kinagat ang dila ko.
❝ Ah. Cupcakes, it was given by Keshi. ❞
Napa-ismid ko dahil sa tinuran niya.
❝ I wasn’t asking who gave it, ❞
Nakasimangot na sagot ko.
❝ Woah. Are you acting jealous now? ❞
Pang-a-alaska niya na lalong nagpakulo sa dugo ko.
❝ Start doing your penalty, Kahel,❞
Striktong utos ko na ikinatawa niya lang.
❝ You can have the cupcakes if you want it. You should’ve just told me. Why are you so annoyed? ❞
Bungisngis nito nang talikuran ako. Nagtagis ang bagang ko dahil sa labis na iritasyon. Why the hell he is so dense when it comes to this kind of thing?
I fiercely gulped for a few times as I let my hand moved to held his arms. He is appalled that his back slammed the heap of chairs standing on his back.
❝ Hey--
❝ Oy Kahel.❞
Even without a mirror I knew that my whole face is solemnly florid. My heart is rhythmically pounding. His eyes are piercing me.
❝ What? Is this the time when you would profess your love to me? ❞
Malawak ang ngisi nitong usal na siyang nakapag panginig sa tuhod ko. Nagbago ang timpla ng mukha niya nang bawiin ko ang kamay kong nakahawak sa braso niya.
I shifted my gaze.
❝ Douche bag, ❞
I mouthed hastily.
❝ Oh? Is this the scene where I should say something instead because my woman is too afraid to speak up? ❞
He uttered distinctively.
It caused me to lift my face just to see him snickering.
Itinaas ko ang gitnang daliri sa harap ng mukha niya na mas lalo nitong ikinatuwa.
❝ Nah, baby. That’s not appropriate.❞
I’ve become susceptible when he tightly grasped my hand. He swiftly switched our position, he is now pinning me on the pile of chairs where he was standing awhile ago.
❝ T-This is a violation. Penalty will be added. ❞
He simpered as he moved his face on my left ear.
❝ I love you, I’m fond of you, I am enamored. You should have said it sooner. If only I knew this earlier, I wouldn’t have wasted a year. ❞
He whispered underneath his breath.
I bit my lip.
❝ How did you know? ❞
❝ Your heart is always loud. It’s disturbing. Your face is always red. It’s attractive. ❞
Muntik na akong matumba dahil sa panlalambot ng mga tuhod ko ngunit awtomatiko niyang ipinulupot ang isang braso niya sa baywang ko.
❝ I let you off the hook for one year, Arya. I thought of my bad reputation. Because It’s something that you will never like but you have quite a unique taste.❞
I laughed.
For a moment I felt how submissive I am for this man.
❝ I thought you just remembered my face during your first school service? ❞
❝ Do you really think i’m a child, Arya? That was a lame excuse and you believed it? ❞
Parang may kung anong kumakalikot sa loob ng tiyan ko.
I pushed him lightly when we started to hear voices a meter away from the storehouse. He arched his left eye brow, frowning like a defeated child.
❝ Why? Let them see. I want to brag. ❞
I tried to pry his hands off me but he wrapped it even more tightly on my waist.
❝ You are wicked,❞
I hissed, concealing the warm fuzzies that I’ve been continuously having.
❝ I know. And you’re the only one who can punish me. Today, my penalty has increased severely, you say? ❞
I giggled before jouncing my head.
❝ I love that. ❞
The way I fell in love with Kahel was unprecedented. It is something that I never imagined before. It was trivial and undeniably foolish. But it was exceptional.
FICTION