"T-This is the girl?" the woman asked, looking just as surprised as I am. By the looks of it, she seemed to remember me from before as well.
Juancho nodded. "Yes, Kane. This is Sharina. I'm courting her... at least, not yet legal."
I gulped hard as I stare at the familiar beautiful woman. Our interaction last time wasn't really good because she got mad at me for intervening in her business which I thought was wrong. But I did not expect that I'll see her again. And of all places, in Juancho's car, really?
Sino siya at anong koneksyon niya kay Juancho?
"Sharina," Juancho called me. Napakurap-kurap pa ako bago nagawang bumaling sa kanya.
"H-Ha?"
He smiled. "This is Kanaffer, my sister."
"It's Kane," the girl stated rather firmly. Nakaangat na ang isang kilay at mukhang nakabawi na sa pagkakabigla.
Ako na lamang ang naiwang gulat pa rin sa nalaman. Noong nakaraan, gandang-ganda ako sa babaeng ito at aaminin kong hanggang ngayon naman ay hindi pa rin nagbabago 'yon. She has sharp features which I cannot deny that looks familiar. That enthralling dark eyes and proud nose...
Iyon pala ay dahil kapatid niya si Juancho! No wonder they share the same eye color.
At... ano? Kapatid niya ang babaeng ito? Iyong... pinakialaman ko noong nakaraan?
"S-Sister?"
"Yes," he answered and examined me. Napakunot ang noo niya nang makita ang itsura ko. "Are you okay? You look flabbergasted. Do you know my sister?"
I felt nervousness arising inside my chest. Heck, I don't know if I should tell him that I know her sister and tell him what she did or not. Hindi ko gustong magsinungaling kay Juancho subalit ayaw ko rin namang ilaglag ang ginawa ng kapatid niya.
Kapatid niya 'to! Baka kapag sinumbong ko siya, mas magalit siya sa akin. Kung ibang tao lang siguro siya ay puwede pa subalit ngayong natuklasan ko na magkapamilya sila ay ibang usapan na. Hatred from any member of his family would be the last thing I want.
Ibubuka ko na sana ang aking bibig upang magsalita nang maunahan ako.
"No, Juan. This is the first time I saw her."
Her voice was stern and firm. For a moment, I thought I heard Juancho speaking. Lalo na noong mga panahong hindi pa kami ganoon kalapit ni Juancho. Napaisip tuloy ako kung ganito rin ba ang mga magulang nila.
Tingin ko naman ay hindi. Nakita ko na si Kap at ang ina nila at palabati naman, hindi gaya ng dalawang ito. May kapatid pa kaya silang iba?
Tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon. "Oo, Juancho. Nagulat lang ako kasi... ang ganda ng kapatid mo."
I immediately felt bad for lying to this good boy. But then, I have no choice for my goal to establish a good relationship with his family weighs more. And I don't think it's my position to say things such as what her sister did. Sapat na iyong nakialam ako noon nang ipinabalik ko ang kinuha niyang mansanas.
It was a dead silence the whole ride. I could even hear the loud beating of that tensed organ resting inside my ribcage. I only got to release all the tension through an ocean-deep sigh the moment Juancho's sister, Kane, got off the car.
She was emotionless when I watched her walk towards a restaurant nearby. Even though I didn't tell Juancho our bad interaction back in the marketplace weeks ago, I am sure as hell that she doesn't really like me. I could feel it through the darting stares she threw from the rearview earlier.
It's sad and irritating at the same time. But what can I do? It already happened. And I didn't do anything wrong in my defense. Kahit isang mansanas lamang ang ninakaw niya, pagnanakaw pa rin 'yon. Hanggang ngayon nga ay hindi ko pa rin batid kung bakit niya 'yon nagawa.
I just hope that her impression of me wouldn't last otherwise I will be doomed. I know I shouldn't think that much but I cannot help but worry. Ganoon ata katindi ang pagkagusto ko kay Juancho na pati ang magiging tingin ng pamilya niya sa akin ay labis ko nang ikinakabahala.
"I'm sorry about my sister. She's just... really like that. She's rude sometimes and irritating most of the time," Juancho said a few seconds after her sister disappeared from our view.
Napangiti ako. "Irritating?"
"Yes. Very irritating," mariin niyang tugon at nagsimula na ulit magmaneho patungo naman ngayon sa paaralang pinagdadausan ng session.
"Nairita ka pa, e, magkamukha at parang magka-ugali lang kayo."
From the side, Juancho's eyebrows almost met in the middle. "No, we're not."
"Oo kaya! Parehong parang nangangain ng tao, e. Ikaw nga lang nakaka-intimidate na, tapos dadagdagan pa ng kapatid mo."
Noong una pa lang, isa na 'yon sa mga naramdaman ko. Nangibabaw lamang ang kagustuhan kong mapalapit kay Juancho kaya't kinapalan ko ang mukha ko kahit sobrang intimidated ako. Pero sa totoo lang, lalo na sa nasaksihan ko kanina lang, sigurado akong kung ibang tao lang ako kanina ay hindi makakatagal ng gano'n.
Ni hindi ko nga nagawang hawakan ang kamay niya kasi and'yan ang kapatid niya!
"Hindi kami nangangain ng tao. That's cannibalism, Sharina. Very... very immoral," aniya at mabilis akong sinulyapan nang may pagngisi bago nagpokus muli sa daan.
Annoyed and surprised, I snorted. "Hindi 'yon literal!"
When Juancho laughed, that's when it dawned on me that he was just teasing me. But if the reward is that I'll get to see his smiles and hear his laughs, I wouldn't mind being teased for a lifetime. He's too gorgeous and too cute when he's happy.
I asked things about her family on our way and while waiting for the session to start in the waiting shed of the school ground. Nalaman ko na mas matanda pa pala iyong kapatid niya kaysa sa kanya, na labis kong ikinagulat. Though, isang taon lang naman.
"She hates being addressed as Ate by me since we were kids. Especially because we were classmates. I think she finds it awkward or whatever."
Namilog ang mga mata ko. "Magkaklase kayo?"
"Yes. In our kindergarten and preschool years. Although we separated because our parents enrolled us in exclusive schools starting grade school. Ngayong senior high na lang kami ulit naging magkaklase."
Mukhang maaga siyang nag-aral kaya't naging magkaklase sila.
"Saan kayo nag-aral? At saka papaano 'yon? Akala ko exclusive schools? Buti... naging magkaklase kayo ulit?"
"She studied at St. Scholastica's Academy while I was at Don Bosco. Don Bosco was an exclusive school but the K-12 basic education program was implemented and soon after, our school started accepting incoming female senior high school students. That's when Kane transferred," he explained.
My mouth parted in awe. Exclusive schools, which are typically catholic ones, are not only known for their good quality education but also for their quite expensive tuition fees. Puwera na lang sa iba na nagbibigay ng grants and scholarships. Kung sabagay, afford naman ng kagaya nila.
"Ang layo pala ng school n'yo! Araw-araw kayong bumibiyahe?" may kalakasan kong tanong. Napatingin tuloy ang ilan sa mga malalapit na tao na naroon sa waiting shed.
Juancho nodded.
"Grabe, hindi ba nakakapagod?" I asked again with my now toned down voice.
Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi, ang paaralan na 'yon ay malayo rito sa amin. Alam ko dahil kilala 'yon at karaniwang may mga kaya sa buhay ang nakakapasok dahil may kamahalan. Kung ako nga'ng naglalakad lamang dahil malapit lang ang school ay napapagod na. Paano pa kaya siya o sila na kailangang gumising nang higit na maaga dahil kailangan pang bumiyahe?
Naalala ko tuloy no'ng nakaraan, nakita ko siya na papasok sa loob ng sasakyan nila. Sigurado ay iyon ang service nila papasok at pauwi ng paaralan.
"I've been doing that for more than a decade already, Sharina," he replied with a hint of sarcasm.
Gusto kong umirap subalit pinigilan ko. "Alam ko. Marunong akong magbilang, Juancho," tugon ko na mas sarkastiko.
Sumimangot siya. "What I meant is that, I've been doing that for a long time so I already got used to it."
Tinawanan ko lang ang nakasimangot niyang mukha. Hindi ako nagsalita kaagad sapagkat may bigla lamang naisip. Ano kaya ang pakiramdam na mag-aral sa isang paaralang halos lalaki ang nag-aaral? I am curious about what her sister felt but I think I am more curious about what Juancho felt since he was used to having male classmates until it changed.
"Anong feeling mo no'ng nagkaroon ka ng babaeng kaklase? Kasi 'di ba nasanay ka na lalaki mga kaklase?"
"Nothing," he answered in one word.
"Nothing? As in... wala talaga?"
Puwede ba 'yon? Nasanay kang lalaki ang kaklase mo tapos magkakaroon ng babae? Siyempre kahit papaano, mararamdaman mo 'yong pagbabago.
His right eyebrow raised. "Why? It was all the same to me. Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses na makakita at makasalamuha ako ng mga babae."
Hindi ako nakaimik. Mukhang sanay talaga siya sa ganoon, iyong walang pakialam. Nakakapagtaka tuloy kung bakit naging interesado siya sa akin. Sa mga kuwento lang kasi nangyayari ang nga gano'n.
Reality is very different from fiction. So for something like this to happen really surprises me.
"Besides, I was there to study," he added. "Not to deal with people. Kane also doesn't seem to care."
"Introvert ka?" he asked.
He shrugged. "I guess... you can say that. But I'm not really shy, I just like being alone."
"Magkaiba tayo..." halos bulong ko subalit mukhang narinig niya dahil sumagot siya ng tango.
"I know."
He's somehow introverted while I'm not. I am often loud and expressive while he's silent and snob. But just like what they say, the opposites do attract.
"But no one has to change for us to work, despite the differences," he said. "There will be moments better spent in silence."
"At mayroon din namang mas mainam kung hindi tahimik," segunda ko.
He nodded, a slight beam passed his lips. "It's called balance."
I think through this, I will slowly learn to appreciate silence even more while he, on the other hand, will also learn that sometimes, having someone to talk to about lots of things is actually fun. We will influence one another... in a good way.
After all, life is about learning new things and embracing diversity. Like how different black from white is, but when combined can produce something beautiful. Sometimes, the most contrasting things end up being a great pair.
Like me and him.
I would hold on to that belief as long as I can. Or maybe, we both will.
Sa tuwing may mga tanong ako, sinasagot n'ya kaagad, at ganoon din ako sa kanya hanggang sa magsimulang muli ang ikalawa at huling session sa araw na 'yon.
Wala naman itong pinagkaiba sa nauna. Nadagdagan lamang ang mga natutuhan ko. Datapwat saad ni Juancho na kakailanganin naming magkita madalas bago tuluyang magsimula ang pagbibigay ng catechetical instructions sapagkat kanya-kanya kami ng mismong ituturo.
May binigay nga lang na maikli at vague guide kung ano ang mga dapat na ituturo. Aside from that, we will get to decide what to teach specifically, from the songs to biblical stories and more.
Bandang hapon ay nagkaroon nga ng send-off mass para sa lahat ng katekista. I got to finally see the inside of the chapel that caught my attention from yesterday.
It was magnificent inside and out. The chapel was spacious and it even has a second floor, which is open and accessible through the two sets of stairs located at the two sides in front, a few meters from the altar. Mayroong mga ilang halaman at mga rebulto pa. Hindi rin mainit dahil may malaking ceiling fan sa dingding.
During the send-off, we were given a silver necklace. Iyong pendant niya ay imahe ni Kristo na nakapako sa krus. Hindi sobrang detalyado ng details pero maganda ang kabuoan ng kwintas.
This is my first ever cross necklace. Even after the catechetical program ended, I would keep this.
"Can we eat something first?" Juancho asked upon entering Santa Maria, our track on the way home.
"Sige. Medyo gutom din ako," sang-ayon ko.
Nagkasundo kaming sa mismong barangay na lamang namin kumain. May Mang Cha-a roon at Barneys Burger, magkasama na sa iisang establishment malapit sa plaza. Ang alam ko ay bagong tayo lamang ito rito kaya't hindi pa ako nakakapasok.
"What do you want?"
"Uh... k-kahit ano na lang. I-Ikaw na bahala," alanganin kong sagot sapagkat nahihiya akong mag-request ng kung ano. Isa pa, hindi ko rin alam anong masarap dahil ngayon pa lamang ako kakain dito.
Sinubukan kong maglabas ng pera at iniabot sa kanya subalit hindi niya pinansin at dumiretso sa counter. Walang nagawang sumimangot na lamang ako at ibinalik sa wallet ang pera. Mamaya na lang siguro.
"Ang guwapo talaga ng anak ni Kap 'no?"
"Oo! Amoy hindi tayo papansinin!"
"Correct! 'Yung nanalo nga raw na Ms. Santa Maria no'ng december hindi rin pinansin, e! Ganda pa no'ng si MJ!"
"Hindi kaya... bakla, sis? Ang dami kong kilala na guwapo pero hindi straight!"
"Puwede rin!"
Those audible murmurs blended with the thoughts going on inside my head. I presumed they didn't see me with him for them to conclude such things. Gusto kong isigaw na hindi bakla si Juancho dahil may gusto sa akin pero hindi ko magawa!
Kasi naman, bakit ko ia-announce na gusto niya 'ko? Ano 'yon? Pabibo lang?
I stared at Juancho, who was staring at the hanging menu on the counter. He's really god-like and nothing could come close. From his stance, built, aura, and everything. Hindi ko mapigilang makaramdam ng paro-paro sa aking tiyan tuwing naaalala na nag-confess din siya sa akin.
Totoo talaga na minsan, worth it ang pagfi-first move.
My phone suddenly rang. I stared at my screen and saw my father's incoming call. Sinagot ko 'yon.
"Hello po?"
Sumagot din si Papa subalit halos hindi ko maintindihan sapagkat putol-putol. Tinignan ko ang cellphone ko at nakitang medyo mahina ang signal sa loob. Napagdesisyunan kong lumabas sapagkat nakapila pa naman din si Juancho.
Sa labas ay mas matiwasay kong nakausap si Papa. Nagbilin lang ng maraming bagay dahil paalis na pala sila ni Mama patungo sa lakad na pinag-awayan pa nila noong nakaraan. Sabi nila'y baka madaling araw o umaga na sila makauwi at nag-iwan ng pera kay Ate Gia.
Saktong pag-end call ay may huminto sa aking harapan at tumawag ng aking ngalan. Si Micko iyon na nakasakay sa kolong-kolong, mukhang nag-de-deliver pa ng mga galon ng mineral water.
"Okay na ulo mo?" pauna kong tanong matapos bumati nang nakangiti. Bumaba siya ng kolong-kolong at lumapit sa akin.
"Oo. Ginagawa mo rito? May kasama ka?"
"Uh... oo. Kakain kami ni Juancho. Sinagot ko lang tawag ni Papa kaya lumabas" sagot ko at mabilis pang itinuro ang establisyemento.
"Ahh," aniya at tumango-tango.
"Ikaw? Hindi pa tapos mag-deliver?"
Umiling siya. "Last na."
Micko's eyes landed behind me. Curious at what he was looking at, I brought my eyes in that direction as well. There we saw Juancho, wearing his usual scowl, approaching our location. That hostile gaze softened when his eyes darted on me.
"Hi," he greeted and stared at Micko next who was oozing with curiosity on his face. "Is this your best friend, Sharina?" he asked, emphasizing that specific title.
Still quite surprised that he greeted first, I nodded. "O-Oo. Si Micko, best friend ko." Bumaling naman ako sa ipinapapakilala. "Micko, si Juancho, 'yong na-kuwento ko sa'yo."
I smiled when my best friend offered his hand. Juancho took it after two seconds and they formally introduced themselves.
I felt a little awkward because no smiles were painted on their faces. It was usual for Juancho but for Micko, it's not. Maybe because he's being protective of me again like he always does.
"The milk teas arrived, Sharina," saad ni Juancho matapos nilang magkamayan. "The food is still being prepared though."
I almost forgot that we are here to eat because of the sudden tension and awkwardness I felt. But then, I had to get over it quick so I nodded and was about to bid goodbye to Micko so we can go back inside when he suddenly spoke.
"Hindi umiinom ng milk tea si Sharik," aniya sa malamig na tinig. "Hindi mo ba alam?"
Natigilan ako at mabilis na napatingin kay Juancho na kumunot ang noo. I was too preoccupied by embarrassment and nervousness that I've forgotten that it was actually a milk tea shop! And I don't like milk teas!
I wasn't able to utter anything when Juancho's eyes found mine. Mabilis na gumapang ang kaba sa aking dibdib.
"Una na ako, Sharik... Juancho," paalam ni Micko na kaagad sumakay sa kolong-kolong at hindi na hinintay ang sagot ko.