JOVIE TASTED something new. Sa araw na iyon ay may taong nagligtas sa kan'ya. In a moment she didn't plead, she didn't wish, and she didn't expect.
Kaya naman sa mga sumunod na araw ay palagi siyang nag-aabang sa Teacups Deluxe. Iyon iyong pangmayaman na restaurant malapit sa school nila. Mula nang makita niya ulit doon si Daniel ay palagi na siyang nandoon. Kaya lang.. nang subukan niyang pumasok.. mahal pala.
So she opened her piggy bank and took an exact amount of money. Nangunguso pa siya habang binibilang ang pera pero ayos lang. Maraming taon pa naman ang meron siya. Makakaipon pa siya!
Jovie likes Daniel. Alam niyang masyadong mabilis pero gusto talaga niya ang lalaki! He saved her!
So holding a small letter in her hand, she went inside the restaurant. Sigurado siyang nandoon sa loob ang lalaki dahil nakita niya ang kotse nitong nakaparada. She memorized his plate number. Napangisi siya doon.
Jovie's still in her uniform. May suot pa siyang maliit na bagpack. Ayos lang naman iyon. Estudyante naman siya kaya't malamang hindi naman big deal na nakauniform siya.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw that he isn't alone. May kasama itong dalawang lalaki na parehas hindi pamilyar sa kan'ya. Nag-isip siya sandali. It is fine to disturb them for a while, right? Maybe. Hindi naman sila mukhang busy.
Tumigil si Jovie sa harapan ng table nila. The two guys looked at her confused but she didn't mind them. Hindi naman ang mga iyon ang kakausapin niya. Kaya't ngumiti lang siya nang umangat ang tingin sa kan'ya ni Daniel.
"Hello!" maligaya niyang sabi dito.
Hindi niya inaalis ang ngiti sa labi. Daniel stared at her differently before she finally saw the recognition in his eyes. Siguro naalala na siya.
"You know her?" baling ng hindi niya kilalang lalaki kay Daniel.
Daniel nodded, still didn't leave his eyes off her.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Sasagot na sana siya pero biglang sumingit ang isa pang lalaki.
"Let the kid sit first, Daniel. Don't be rude. "
Kid? Pero sige, tama naman. She need to sit. Isa pa, hindi naman siya magpapalibre! Hey, she have money!
Umupo agad si Jovie, hindi pa man tumatango si Daniel. Ayos lang iyon. Magbabayad naman siya.
"What's your name? I'll order for you. " Tanong ng isa.
"Jovie.. " she answered. "Katulad na lang ng kinakain niyo.. " aniya habang inilalagay ang bag sa hita niya para maabot ang wallet. She took a 1k bill and handed it to the guy who asked her. She even smiled sweetly.
Nalaglag ang panga ng lalaki. Nagtaka siya at hinabaan pa ang kamay para mas maabot ng lalaki ang bayad niya.
"You don't have to, Jovie. This is my treat. " Tumango sa kan'ya ang kasama nitong lalaki na para bang sinasabing libre nga iyon.
Nagbikit balikat siya at inilapag ang pera mismo sa may harap nito.
"I smashed my piggy bank for this. Kung hindi mo tatanggapin, parang wala palang halaga ang pagbasag ko sa kanya. I even teared up earlier while smashing it with hammer. "
Tumawa ito at tuluyan nang kinuha ang bayad.
"Alright. I didn't took the money for you. I took it as my condolences to your piggy bank. "
While the guy was ordering, panay lang ang tingin niya kay Daniel na kumakain lang at hindi naman siya pinapansin. He's snob but it's okay! Ganoon naman kapag una pa lang! I bet he's not feeling close that's why!
"I'm Lucas and the one who ordered is Phoenix. " Pakilala ng lalaki na nasa tabi niya.
Tumango siya at binalik ulit ang tingin kay Daniel hanggang sa dumating na ang steak niya. She's salivating with the food in front of her. Tama talaga ang desisyon niya na basagin ang alkansiya niya!
"Why are you here again?" Daniel asked her again. Napatingin din sa kan'ya si Lucas at Phoenix.
Linunok niya ang kinakain nang maalala ang sadya niya. Jovie took the letter from her bag and handed it to Daniel. Taka naman iyong tiningnan ng lalaki.
"I like you, Daniel. I hope you'll read my letter!" matamis siyang ngumiti.
Bumagsak ang kutsilyong hawak ni Phoenix at napaubo naman si Lucas. Daniel eyed her ridiculously but she still smiled. Hindi naman siya nahihiya, e. Kapag ayaw sa kan'ya ng lalaki, edi ayaw. Kaya nga aamin siya. To see if there's something to work on.
"H-How old are you again?" Lucas asked.
"17.. But I'll turn 18 next month!" sabi niya dahil baka ayaw nito ng minor pa.
Humarap siya kay Daniel. "Ano na? Gusto mo rin ba ako o hindi?"
Halos mapabuga ito sa kinakain. Inisip niya kung may mali sa tanong niya pero wala naman yata.
"You don't ask it like that, Via. " Daniel replied.
"Jovie. My name's Jovie. Kung hindi mo natatandaan. "
Pero sandali, dapat hindi na siya nagreklamo! Maybe it's his endearment for her! Narinig niyang dapat may ganoon ang mga couple! Pero hindi naman sila couple?
"Do you ask your past boyfriends like that?"
She pouted. "Hindi pa naman ako nagkakaboyfriend, e. Kaya nga ako umamin sayo. Kasi kapag gusto mo rin ako, edi tayo na! Boyfriend na kita!"
Tumawa nang sabay si Lucas at Phoenix. Tumikhim naman si Daniel at tumingin sa inabot niyang letter.
"A-Alright, I'll read this. " Sinagot nito kaya't malawak siyang napangiti. "But how can I answer you right now if I also have the same feelings for you? I just met you once. I'm sorry, but do you really expect that with the span of that, I did develop feelings for you?"
Okay, she was hurt. Pero masaya parin siya na hindi naman siya nireject ng lalaki sa paraang nakakahiya at di-kaaya-aya.
"Naiintindihan ko.. " sagot niya. Tumingin si Lucas at Phoenix sa kan'ya na parang naaawa. "Pero.. we are both given the same amount of time. Iyon din naman ang unang beses na nakita kita. Well, obviously, today is the second time I see you close. Naiintindihan ko na hindi nga naman posibleng magustuhan mo ako agad dahil lang sa isang beses nating pagkikita pero.. pero nangyari sa akin iyon at iyon ang nararamdaman ko. So also please understand that it might impossible for you but can be a series of possibilities to others. "
Phoenix nodded at her. He looked proud. Buti na lang may kakampi siya!
"Don't worry. Aalis naman ako pagkatapos kong kumain. Hindi naman ako tipong naghahabol, e. I won't disturb you again. Promise!" Tinaas pa niya ang isang kamay.
Matagal tumingin si Daniel sa kan'ya bago tumango.
So when night the comes, in Jovianna's diary, she wrote:
At the age 17, I got my first rejection. It's fine! It won't change that he's my first savior!
Well, it was kind of embarassing for Jovie to reminisce it. She was really aggressive as a teen. Maybe because it was the first time she liked someone. At para sa katulad niyang kahit kailan hindi naman napagbigyan sa mga gusto, natuto siya kung paano magkusa na makuha ang mga gusto niya.
Jovie wanted to finish her studies, kaya't kahit wala namang sumusustento sa kan'ya, she tried everything until she got a full scholarship. At ganoon din pagdating sa tao. She liked Daniel. Indeed, she got him. For a while, though.
But go back to your senses, Jovie. Today's not the right time for your thoughts!
Hilaw siyang ngumiti sa mga estudyante niya at napainom ulit ng tubig. Hindi naman siguro ihahatid ni Daniel hanggang classroom si Rania diba?
Pero kung oo? Jovie, mag-isip ka!
Should she excuse herself for a while? Kunwari sa restroom muna siya? But it would be bad! There's only one way to the restroom. Kung pupunta siya doon, mas magkakaabutan sila!
Nanlaki ang mata niya nang matanaw na nasa may bintana na ito. Hindi naman ito nakatingin sa loob pero sigurado siyang isang tingin lang, makikita na siya!
Agad siyang tumalikod. Nagmamadali niyang kinuha ang water spray at winisik-wisikan ang cactus habang nakatalikod parin. It was kind of dumb but well, that's the only thing she can do.
Naririnig niyang nagpapaalam si Rania kaya medyo nakahinga siya nang maluwag. Ibig-sabihin ay aalis na ito, diba?
Please go home already. This is now getting her anxious.
"Daddy mo, Rania?" rinig niyang tanong ni Camille kay Rania.
Nakatalikod parin siya. Naaawa na siya sa cactus at baka lunod na kaya tinigilan niya iyon. Kunwari nag-aayos na lang siya ng folders.
"Yes, " rinig niyang sumagot ang bata.
"You should have introduce him to Teacher Jovie! Ganoon din ako, e. When my mommy first went here, nagtalk sila ni teacher. Dapat si daddy mo din!"
Halos mapaiyak siya sa sinabi ni Camille. Ginatungan pa ni Mika.
"Oo, gano'n dapat, Rania. Kasi first time Papa mo dito, diba? Dapat friends sila ni teacher para picture picture sila sa family day. "
Ha? Ano?
May family day nga pala! Oh god, Jovie.
Medyo lumingon siya saglit at wala naman na si Daniel doon. Kumalma siya at humarap na. Okay. That was so close again.
It was the second period and it was their art class. She told them to bring art materials for today's class.
"Teacher, Rania forgot to bring her art materials. " Si Josiah iyon, sa mahinang boses.
Napatingin siya kay Rania na namumula nanaman ang ilong, tanda na paiyak na.
"It's okay, Rania. We have materials here. You can use it, " pag-aalo niya at pumunta sa likod para kunin ang art kit.
Ngunit tatalikod palang sana siya nang mag-ingayan ang mga bata at tumingin sa may bandang pinto. Tumakbo si Rania papuntang pinto na agad niyang sinundan ng tingin.
Her lips parted. She was unable to move. Iwas siya nang iwas tapos...
It was Daniel. He was holding a small bag. At sa tingin niya ay art materials ni Rania iyon!
Kung puwede lang umiyak ay ginawa na niya. Lalo na nang magtama ang paningin nila. Nasa unahan lang siya. Imposibleng hindi sila magkita. Shit. Jovie, you caused your own trouble.
Imagine a crocodile chasing you while you're riding a small boat. It was the same feeling. It feels like it's a matter between life and death. It was a mixture of worry, embarrassment and fear. And probably longing. It's been years since their eyes met.
"Teacher, he's my Papa! I forgot my art materials in the car kaya dinala ni Papa ko dito!" Rania was enthusiastic while telling it. Siguro naaalala ang pinagsasabi ni Camille at Mika.
Jovie quietly glanced at him. Nakakunot ang noo nito. Gulat.. siguro. Pero hindi naman galit.. yata.
She composed herself. Jovie, in front of you is your students. Always remember that.
With her shaking knees, she smiled at him. "Rania's father, right? I'm Raninya's teacher.. " This is supposed to happen, anyway. "..T-Teacher Jovie.. "
Daniel didn't say anything. Nakatingin lang ito sa kan'ya.. kalaunan ay tumango.
I always felt bad for him. I was his fiance. We're almost getting married that time.. that exact year. It was just a month to wait. I got pregnant. We had a child. And I left.. while he's trying to fight for his life.
Jovie didn't had it easy. But she's sure that so he is. It was not a matter whether who between them got hurt the most. It was just.. probably a pain.. both extreme.. both untold.
So seeing him now, he looks well. Probaby the opposite of her. She will never get it over.
"Atty. Lozales. It's nice to meet you. I'll trust you with my daughter, " he said. He was indeed.. fine. And over.
She smiled again. A smiling indicating that she won't fail.