JESSA
Binuksan ko ang cellphone ko at umasang makikita ang isang bilugan na chathead na muling lumitaw sa aking screen, ngunit nanatiling blanko ang screen at notification center nito. Goddamnit, I thought. Fifteen minutes na simula noong last nilang message. Makakapunta ba sila?
Normally, I would not be worried about this. This is research, our baby thesis, just what our English teacher had called. It's not that complicated yet than it was supposed to be.This baby research is our last and probably the biggest activity we would do in her subject. Malaki ang ambag ng baby research na ito sa grades namin kaya alam kong hinding hindi papayag ang grupo ko na walang magawa dito.
But for heaven's sake, as if the universe hates me, the sky decided to be in a bad mood. Very perfect, thank you so much. Dark clouds are outstretching across the horizon and I can tell the strong blowing wind from the outside just by the way it aggressively hits the closed windows of my room. A low, growling sound booms from the sky and it almost shake the ground.
Oo naman pupunta ang mga kagrupo ko. My one remaining brain-cell answered me back. Yes, they would come. My group mates will come and we will start this research.
Pero pa-ulan na, paano kung hindi nga? At wala akong choice kundi ikansela ang gawaan, at mahuli kami sa ibang grupo?
"Shit shit." Tumayo at muling binuksan ang phone ko, ngunit wala pa ring lumalabas na chat head o kung ano.
Kailangan na talaga namin masimulan ito dahil kung hindi, mahuhuli kami sa mga ibang grupo. Kami kasi ang huling in-approve ng title ni Ma'am kaya medyo late talaga kami kung tutuusin. Sinusubukan kong 'wag isipin na unfair ang distribution ng members, pero doon at doon lang din talaga napupunta isip ko. Kasi ba naman, may isang grupo na may tatlong honor students! May isang grupo na magagaling sa english at masisipag din mag-aral. Ayaw ko sabihin na hindi maasahan ang mga kagrupo ko, but if you compare us to the groups, we're the weakest.
Worried thoughts flood my brain, making the cold sensation cover my hands that are hugging my own arms. The bad weather is not helping at all with my worries. The sky darkens more with thick black clouds covering the sky with trees swaying from the threatening whoosh of the wind. My room is getting dimmer due to the lack of sunlight. Oh my God, it's going to rain. Where the hell are my groupmates?
"'Wag kang uulan, please. Papuntahin mo muna mga kagrupo ko dito." I touch the frigid window as I gaze up in the sky as though it would answer me.
And the sky seems to answer me, because a small bead of rain loudly tapped on the window in front of me. Then followed by another, and another, and another, until the sky finally gave in and showered everything in a loud and heavy rainfall. Pupunta 'nga ba mga kagrupo mo? It seemed to mock me as the thunderous growl resounded. Or you'll just worry about it the entire day?
Para namang tuluyan nang bumagsak ang puso ko. Paano kung mag-brownout pa? Kailangan pa naman namin ng internet para makapagsimula. Goddamnit.. Napalayo nalang ako sa bintana. Binuksan ko muli ang phone ko at tumungo na sa GC ng research group ko.
RESEARCH MUNA BAGO JOWA
1:49 AM
Jessa
Guys, nasaan na kayo?
Ang sectioning sa aming school ay nakabase sa grades namin. Out of twenty one sections, kami ay nasa pang-apat na section. So kung tutuusin kaming magkaklase ay nasa average lamang kumpara sa mga henyo sa section one. Pareparehas lang kami ng level of intelligence, which is both a good and bad thing. Good, kasi hindi ako nakakaramdam ng matinding inferiority sa seksyon ko. Bad, kasi pagdating sa mga mahirap na gawain na kagaya nito, mahirap makuha ang standards na gusto ko.
Hindi na 'nga rin ako sigurado kung magiging kasing-husay ng gusto itong magagawa naming research, kaya the best thing we can do is to keep up with the other groups.
Nakikisabay naman ang langit sa nararamdaman ko. Patuloy pa rin sa pagdilim ang langit at hindi rin tumitigil ang malakas na kulog. Ilang kidlat ang lumilinya sa langit na siyang nagpapaliwanag sa langit ng ilang segundo.
My spine tingles when a bolt of lightning illuminated my room for a split second. God, pakiramdam ko matatamaan ang bahay namin, or worse, ang ilang linya ng kuryente. Freaking lightnings, may pakiramdam pa akong mawawalan ng kuryente.
I shook my head then gulped down my worried judgments. Pupunta sila. I trust my groupmates.
I was about to leave my room to check on my mother, whose frantic footsteps I heard below, when I heard a loud CRACK! snapped at the sky, and a vibrant light of silver flashed across my room.
I readied myself for the mild trembling of the ground after the loud thunder, but all I felt was the unusual shaking of my bookshelf, which was positioned in the far corner of my room.
Umikot ako at tinitigan ang bookshelf ko. Umaabot hanggang sa kisame ang taas nito at halos hindi ko na ito matanaw dahil sa dilim. Another lightning flashed and it illuminated my shelf.. Hindi, isang libro lamang ang halos umilaw sa gitna ng madilim na shelf.
I stood there, in the middle of my room, staring at that book. May libro ba akong may makinang na book cover? Sobrang kinang na sapat na iyon umilaw ng kusa sa konting ilaw lang sa labas? No, I do not own a shiny book.
I gulped, feeling weirded out by the strange light that occurred. The cold sensation in my hands intensifies more, sending my guts into a swirling mess. I silently took one small step, watched the black center of my shelf and waited for another gleam, yet nothing happened. Even the sky stopped sending out violent thunders and lightning, but the rain still goes on.
I took another step and finally regained my senses to walk towards the shelf. My heart beats loudly as I walk, with eyes fixating on that space of my shelf, then slowly, the book reveals itself from the shadows. I stopped and stared at it for a few moments.
It's The Blood of the Dragon, the one I just bought last sunday.
Pinagmasdan ko ang red leather na cover nito, hindi ito nakalinya kagaya sa ibang libro dahil hindi na ito kasya, kaya hinayaan ko lang itong nakatayo sa gitna habang nakaharap ang mismong cover. Ang title ay nakasulat sa makinang na font, pero alam kong hindi ito sapat para umilaw ito kagaya nang nakita ko kanina.
Pinangako ko sa sarili ko noong nakaraang Linggo na babasahin ko ito. Pero tila ba bigla na lang nawala ang gana ko napagdesisyunan na matulog nung hapon na binili ko ito. Ewan ko ba, excited ako nung nasa loob ako ng munting bookshop na iyon at nung naglalakas ako pa-uwi, pero nung tuluyan na nga akong nakapag-bihis ng pambahay noon at nakahiga sa higaan ko, nawala nalang bigla 'yung excitement ko sa pagbabasa.
Tinitigan ko lamang noon ang libro na nilagay ko na dito sa pwesto niya ngayon. Blood of the Dragon, a story about a princess and a dragon. A book that was recommended by an old man who owns a small, humble bookshop. It's thrilling enough for me to shut the whole world out and just read the entire thing, just like what I used to do with my other books.
But that afternoon, I felt nothing. As if my enthusiasm were drifted away by the strong breeze that happened that afternoon. The magic that seemed to slip away from the tightly closed pages of the book disappeared, even the golden lettering of the title wasn't as bright as it was when I first saw it. The whole thing became nothing.
It affected me more than I was expecting. A part of me wants to go back to the bookshop and return it to the old man, just for the sake of seeing it turn back into magic again. But the bigger, louder part of me tells me to stop. It tells me that I just haven't the right time and right mood to open the book and emerge myself in its universe. The book is now mine, and it's just waiting for me.
Nangako ulit ako sa sarili ko noong nag-lunes na pag-uwi ko galing school ay sisimulan ko na ito. Baka sakaling mahanap ko ang right time at right mood. Pero sakto nga rin naman na nagsimula na ang cheerdance practice namin. Hanggang 6:00 ng hapon ang practice, at ang natirang oras ko dito sa bahay ay ginugol ko sa mga activities at assignments. Naging ganoon ang ganap sa akin hanggang ngayong araw. Wala na talaga akong maayos na free or 'self time'.
Umaasa ako na malaya na ako ngayong sabado. Pero sakto rin naman na ina-approve na ng Teacher namin ang title namin for research. So no choice na naman ako kundi mag-set na ng araw para sa gawaan.
Isang linggo na ang lumipas noong nabili ko ito, isang linggo ko na rin itong hindi ginalaw kaya hanggang ngayon ay nakabalot pa rin ito sa manipis na plastic.I lift my hand to touch the chilly plastic cover and carefully run my fingertips around its spine. Then I return my finger to the front cover and caress the title's flawless sealing in the red leather cover.
I carefully use both of my hands and grip the entire book, the same way I grasped it when I first saw it. Warmth and thrill bubble up inside my chest, lifting my mouth into a small smile. Books are such a beautiful thing, isn't it? It amazes me how books like this have the power to take me to a whole new world.
I rip the plastic off and toss it somewhere behind me. The golden font glitters so brightly despite the lack of sunlight. The leather cover feels so warm underneath my freezing fingertips. The scene of the woman and the dragon plays in mind, as vibrant and detailed as it was last sunday.
Right time and right mood.. Ngayon pa talaga? Ngayong hindi ko malaman kung may pupunta 'bang kagrupo ko, ngayon pa talaga na may kailangan akong tapusin sa gawain?
The shining font of the title glitters even more, I don't even know if it's real or just my hallucination. It is the right time, it appears to tell me. Open it, and let yourself emerge to the magic.
Hinawakan ko ang dulo ng cover at dahan dahan na binuklat ito— Pero bago ko pa makita ang laman, narinig ko ang boses ni Mama mula sa baba.
"JESSA!" She yells, voice sounding muffled from the aggressive rain outside. "ANDITO NA KAKLASE MO!"
Para 'bang may pinutol na manipis at mahabang tali sa harapan ng mga mata ko na siyang muling nagpagising sa akin. Ilang minuto na 'ba akong nakatayo lamang dito? Umiling nalang ako at hinagis ang libro na tumalbog naman sa kama ko.
Tumakbo ako pababa at kinuha muna ang payong ko bago lumabas. Inaasahan ko na may limang dugyutin sa labas, pero isang pigura lamang ang nakita ko. The rain is so loud and aggressive that I have to squeeze my eyes to see the person standing.
Lumakad ako palabas at nakitang si Selene Castillo pala ito. Her shoulders are crouching, both of her hands are gripping on her umbrella as if her life depended on it. Her head is also ducking down like a big bomb would drop in any second now.
"Ayos ka lang?" Tanong at binuksan ko ang gate.
Another CRACK! snapped in the sky. Castillo let out a shrill scream and immediately entered the gate.
When she finally set her umbrella down, I grabbed her arms, "Huy? Takot ka sa kidlat?"
Naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng mga braso niya at ang mabilis na paghinga niya. She looked at me in the eye, and I saw the discomfort in it. The black lines of her eyeliner are almost fading and her glittering sweat is racing down on her forehead.
Hindi pa rin nawawala ang takot sa mga mata niya, ngunit tinaasan niya muna ako ng kilay. "Pwede 'bang pumasok na lang tayo?" Tanong niya.
Isa na namang kidlat ang luminya sa langit. Castillo flinched, but I managed to grab her arms and dragged her inside the house. Nang tuluyan na nga kaming nakapasok ay tinabi ko ang payong naming dalawa sa tabi lang ng pintuan.
Naghahabol pa rin ng hininga si Castillo at napansin ko ang mga talsik ng putik sa bandang ibaba ng hita niya. Kahit na malayo na ako sa kanya ay nararamdaman ko pa rin ang panginginig niya. It made me feel worried and guilty at the same time. The rain is getting stronger, I wonder if the rest of my group mates are managing well in the storm?
"May mga tissue naman kayo 'no?" Castillo asks, obviously fighting the shakiness in her voice.
Hindi ko nalang iyon pinansin at tumango nalang. Tumungo na rin ako at kinuha ang isang box namin ng tissue at inabot sa kanya. "Ayos ka pa ba? Parang kang in-ano pagpunta dito," Tanong ko.
She sighs first before taking the box of tissues from my hand. She immediately took three pieces of tissues and proceeded to wipe the small splashes of mud in her thighs. "Maaga kasi talaga ako umalis ng bahay. Kaso biglang umulan nga tapos may mga kidlat, nagstay muna ako sa 7/11 ng ilang minuto kasi baka sakaling tumigil kahit yung kidlat man lang. Kaso hindi tumigil eh. Lumusong nalang ako sa ulan."
"So you literally faced your fears," I stated without actually thinking.
Castillo gives me a murderous glare, then laughs, kaso mukhang pinilit lang. Which made the conversation awkward.
"Oo, Rosales. Lumusong ako sa ulan kahit takot na ako parang lang sa research na 'to. Sana naman hindi ako bumagsak, 'no?" She said.
Hindi naman ako sumagot at napatingin nalang sa baba. Inabot niya sa akin ang kahon namin ng tissue. Kung tutuusin, mabait naman itong si Castillo, pero madalas talaga siya ay mataray kung sumagot. Something that I'll never get used to, since hindi naman kami ganoong nag-uusap.. Hell, I don't even know if we're friends at all. We're just classmates. We're just groupmates. It's not our choice to see each other everyday.
Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa sala. None of us decides to talk again, only the heavy rainfall and the grumbling of the sky fills the silence between us as we make our way to the second floor, to my room.
Nagulat naman ako pagbalik ko sa kwarto ko, sobrang dilim na pala na akala mo ay gabi na. Palala nang palala na ang ulan, baka mawalan pa ng kuryente. 'Wag naman sana. Binuksan ko nalang ang ilaw.
"Sorry sa gulo," sabi ko kay Castillo na ginagala ang mata sa paligid. "Hindi ko pa naayos ng bongga itong kwarto ko. Busy kasi tayo."
"Magulo na 'to sa'yo?" She exclaimed. "Ewan ko sa iyo, Rosales. Ang ganda ng kwarto mo. Ang cozy cozy."
Hindi ako sumagot at tumungo sa bintana. Hinawi ko ang makapal na kurtina para sana medyo lumiwanag, kaso sobrang dilim na pala sa labas. Pinagmasdan ko muna ang madidilim na ulap na bumabalot sa kalangitan, mukhang hindi pa agad titigil ang malakas na ulan.
"Makakarating naman siguro 'yung iba, di'ba?" I asked.
Castillo chuckles first before answering. "Oo pupunta 'yung mga 'yon. Kahit loko loko sila, takot pa rin mga iyon bumagsak."
Despite Castillo's slight sarcastic tone, those words calmed me down. Tama nga naman siya. Hindi man sila sobrang talino, alam ko na sila ang mga klase ng estudyante na hindi papabayaan na may bagsak sila.
Which led me to think about another heavy weight in my worries, the tall and troublemaker member of our group. Ang lalaking dapat sana ay nasa Grade Twelve na ngunit hindi makagraduate dahil ilang beses itong nada-drop out ng Grade Ten. Siya rin ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit naiisip ko nalang na napaka-unfair ng grupo namin. Ano kayang balak ni Ma'am sa amin? Sa dinami rami ng groups na kayang kaya siyang buhatin, sa amin pa talaga? Ni hindi ko 'nga alam kung makakapunta ba 'yon ngayon.
"Libro mo lahat 'to?" Castillo suddenly asked.
Nilingon ko siya. Nakatayo na pala siya sa harapan ng bookshelf ko at seryoso itong tinitigan.. "Oo, bakit?"
Binalik niya ang tingin sa akin. Halos lumuwa na ang mga mata niya sa gulat at sabay din niyang tinaas ang dalawang kamay at itinuro ang shelf ko na nasa harapan lang naman niya. I let out a small puff of air, just to control myself from laughing.
"As ing lahat 'to?" Tanong niya muli. Tumango naman ulit ako.
"No way!" She exclaimed at tinignan ang bookshelf ko pataas at pababa. "Nabasa mo na lahat?"
"Hindi pa naman. Pero mostly dyan tapos ko na."
"'Yun lang ba ginagawa mo dito sa bahay mo? Ang dami kaya nito! Hindi ba parang ang boring naman?"
I smirked at her question and put my fist on my mouth to control the laugh trying to escape from my lips. I never saw Castillo as surprised as this before, everyone in the class would find this fascinating. And her question is not even new to me, even my own parents ask me the same questions.
"Never ako na-boring-an. Except nalang kapag boring talaga 'yung libro."
"Wow," she said. The corner of her lips smiles at me. From the bright light of the bulb above us, kitang kita ko lalo ang ganda niya. Her perfect white teeth, her flawlessly shaped eyebrow, her glassy skin. Hindi nakakapag-taka na maraming lalaki ang nagagandahan sa kanya. The slightly smeared eye liners were supposed to look awful, but it only pointed out the beautiful shape of her eyes and her natural brown irises.
"Hindi tayo magkakasundo, girl." She chuckled and her long eyelashes swiftly moved as she closed her eyes for one moment.
"Ha ha, yeah." I tried to laugh. I mean, wala rin naman kasi akong balak makipagsundo sa kanya. Just the thought of me and Castillo being best of besties is weirding me out. I cannot see any compatibility between us.
Mukhang napansin niya ang awkwardness sa pinilit kong tawa. "So alin alin dito hindi mo pa nababasa?" She suddenly asked.
"'Eto." Tinuro ko 'yung libro sa gilid. "Ang boring kasi. Ang bagal ng pacing."
"'Tsaka iyon pa." Tinuro ko naman ang mga libro sa pinakababa. "Karamihan diyan sa pinakababang shelf. It either masyadong dark sa akin or hindi ko talaga bet 'yung story. "
Tumango tango lang si Castillo habang sinusundan ang mga tinuturo ko. Then all of a sudden, a small glint of golden light flashed in the corner of my eyes. It's The Blood of the Dragon, resting untouched on my bed. The lettering of the title is still glowing from the leather cover.
"'Tsaka iyon pa." Tinuro ko iyon at sinundan naman ni Castillo. "Kakabili ko lang nyan last Sunday."
Kinuha ko ang libro mula sa higaan at pinakita sa kanya ang cover. Ilang segundo niya itong tinitigan. I watched her, and wondered, do I look as fascinated as her when I first saw this book? Probably.
"Hindi ko pa nasisimulan 'yan haha. Wala pa ako nababasa dyan kahit isang word. Fantasy Adventure ang genre." Kahit hindi ko sigurado kung may pakialam ba si Castillo dito, tuloy tuloy lang ako sa pagsasalita.
Hanggang sa marahan niyang kinuha ang libro mula sa kamay ko. Something in her bright brown eyes seemed to dance excitedly as her thumb traced the title pushed against the leather.
Pinagmasdan ko lang siya. Hindi na niya ako muling tinignan at nakatitig pa rin ito sa libro ko. Her glittering eyes roamed around the book with mouth slightly parted open. Then her fingers found the edge of the book cover, and slowly lifted it open.
My guts suddenly swirled into a hurling mess, sending out prickles of cold sensation that climbed up my spine. I want to tell her to close it again. Pakiramdam ko may mali na siya at sa ganitong panahon niya ito binuksan.
"I have this weird habit when reading novels," Castillo said. Hindi niya inalis ang tingin sa libro. "Binabasa ko muna 'yung ending para malaman kung happy ending ba o hindi."
"Ha?" I said. "Hindi ba parang spoiler 'yon?"
"Para sa akin kasi, worth it na basahin ang libro kung masaya yung ending." She looks at me. "Pero hindi ko na babalakin na basahin pa ang libro, kung mababasa kong tragic ending."
"Ah.." Sabi ko nalang at napakamot sa ulo. Ang weird naman na habit 'yon. "Wala naman kaso sa akin if tragic o happy ending. Basta nasa development 'yon sa gitna ng story."
"JESSA!!"
Castillo was about to answer, when my mom shouted from downstairs. There is it again, the strange feeling of a thin and outstretched cord being loudly snapped away. I gasped, then shook my head and regained my focus.
"Andito ata sila," I told Castillo, her eyes sare now glued to the book. "Puntahan ko lang sila."
"Sige magbabasa lang ako dito," Castillo said.
I waited for a moment, maybe for her to look me in the eye. But I just shrugged then sprinted downstairs. "Bahala ka, no spoilers!" I yelled.
Tumakbo ako palabas at muling kinuha ang payong ko. Hindi pa rin tumitila ang ulan, in fact, lumakas pa nga ito lalo.
Through the heavy rainfall, I can see three figures standing in front of our gate. I can recognize the taller figure, Christopher Salazar, and his younger sister, Jonah Salazar. A smaller figure was also standing beside them, Liam Dela Cruz.
Hindi na muna kami nagbatian at dali dali kong binuksan ang gate at dali dali naman silang pumasok.
"Oh my God." Rinig kong bulong ni Jonah habang tinitiklop ang payong niya. Spatters of rain are drenching her white shirt and brown pants. Her short hair is all tangled up, obviously tangled up by the strong wind.
She first settled her wet umbrella on the ground then looked at me with her big innocent eyes. Slowly, her mouth lifts into a big, bright smile before saying, "Sorry Ate Jessa! Kung natagalan kami."
I just smile at tinitigan nalang muna ang katabi niya, ang kuya niyang si Christopher. Pinupunasan niya ang kanyang braso at leeg na basa ng ulan. Wow, so Jonah managed to convince his older brother to come here. After all those meetings and brainstorming na ginawa namin these past few days, ngayon lang siya magpapakita?
Then I realized, this is the first time when I finally stood close in front of him, close enough for me to recognize how tall this guy is. I am considered as the tallest girl in the class, and this guy is literally one head taller than me. In this distance between us, I can see the tiny slit in one of his eyebrows, the little messy stubble on his jawline that doesn't do well with his hair almost touching his neck.
I frowned. This giant looks so bad, like a homeless person. Mukha talaga siyang hindi pagkaka-tiwalaan. Ang hirap isipin na magkapatid sila Jonah. Si Jonah na hanggang balikat ko lamang ang taas na laging inosente kung magsalita palagi. They're so opposite and I can't comprehend that they share the same bloodline.
But right now that they are right in front of me, I immediately recognized the obvious and only similarity between the siblings. It's their big, glassy eyes. Both have the same circular shape of the eyes, their eyelashes are curved in the same way. Even the shape of their eyebrows, even the shade of black are the same. Mga mata na parang konting maling galaw lang ay iiyak nang todo. Mga matang tila ba'y nagtatago ng mga matinding emosyon.
I blinked my own eyes when I realized how much I've been staring. Then turn my attention to Christopher and cross my arms. "Buti naman at pumunta ka," bulalas ko.
Christopher stops from wiping his wet arms then lowers his gaze at me. The muscles on his neck tightens and his jaw tenses.
"Ilang beses na kami nag-meeting sa school never kang pumunta," dagdag ko.
"Fuck you," He answers then continues wiping his arms. "Andito ako para tapusin itong punyetang research na walang tigil na sinasabi sa akin ni Jonah. Wala akong panahong makipagtalo sa iyo."
"Kuya!" Jonah exclaims. "She's just concerned, kagrupo ka namin, kailangan mong may magawa dito kasi kung hindi babagsak ka na naman!" She turned to me and gave me an apologetic smile. "Sorry talaga Ate Jessa."
Hindi na ako muling tinignan ni Christopher. Rush of anger tried to boil inside me but I just took a deep breath. Punyeta siya, siya na nga ang binubuhat namin sa research na ito, siya pa ang may balak makipagtalo?
Napapikit nalang ako and gestured at Jonah. "Sige na. Pumasok na kayo."
Nilingon ko naman si Dela Cruz na abala sa pagtitiklop ng payong. My rising anger immediately melted away when I watched him struggling to close his umbrella, his umbrella that is ten times bigger than him.
"Kaya pa ba?" I asked him. He let out a soft chuckle.
"Ewan ko Ate Jessa. Bahala na si Batman," he said. Finally, nasarado na niya nang maayos ang kanyang payong at magalang itong tinabi sa payong ni Jonah. His neatly cut hair is glistening from wetness. He takes off his moist glasses then uses the ends of his shirt to carefully wipe the water off.
"'Yan ang isa sa mga struggle sa mga may salamin, 'no?" I asked.
Dela Cruz smiled in agreement, which I found cute. He's a foot shorter than me with thick curly hair. Naalala ko lagi sa kanya 'yung mga characters sa movies or books na nerd na mahiyain, kasi for me, he is the literal embodiment of that character trope.
"Pasok na," I told him.
I walked them to our front door, but then I halted. Hindi pa pala kami kumpleto, may isa pa palang kulang sa grupo namin na ito.
"Si Navarro?" Tanong ko kay Liam.
Liam shrugged. "Ewan ko lang, papunta na siguro 'yon," he answered.
A faint sound of screeching tires swiftly echoes along with the rumbling of the rain. The sound that feels familiar, because I used to hear that every morning at school. The noise seems to send electric current all over my body that I almost vibrated in excitement. Dali dali akong bumalik sa may gate at sinimulan nang buksan ang gate namin na malaki.
And there I saw him at the end of the street, cycling as fast as he could as his transparent coat sways around him. Kahit na ang layo layo niya pa, natatanaw ko na ang malaking ngiti niya na bumabati sa akin.
Tuluyan ko nang binuksan ko ang malaking gate at swabe niyang pinasok ang bike sa loob.
I stand there, frozen for whatever reasons and just watch him place his bike against the wall. I wait for him while he takes off the transparent raincoat and gently combs his glistening hair with his fingers. Despite the heavy rain beating loudly at the roof above us, I could still hear the pathetic fast racing of my heart against my chest.
This is always my everyday question, why oh why Stefan's Navarro's presence always affects me this way?
He finally turns around and gives me the brightest smile that could probably wipe away the storm right now. "Lakas ng ulan!" He exclaims.
Medyo basa pa ang damit niya and I am definitely not seeing his slightly exposed collarbone and the way his somewhat wet shirt hugging the slim outline of his waist. Nope, I am not looking, yet the gooeyness inside me intensifies, making my ears burn. This is so, so, unfair. He is drenched from the aggressive rain, he is supposed to look ridiculous but damn, why does he have to look good?
"Ano na, Rosales? Natulala ka na," He suddenly says and snaps his fingers right in front of my face.
Napapikit ako. Okay, natulala na naman ba ako? Oh my God, pero sinimangutan ko nalang siya, baka sakaling kumalma kalma ako. "Wa-wala. Ang ano kasi.. Ang tagal mo."
"Andyan na ba 'yung iba?" He asked. Pinagmasdan niya ang bahay namin. "May second floor kayo? Sana all."
"Halika na nga, pumasok na tayo." Sabi ko nalang at sumunod naman siya sa akin.
Hindi ko na muling binalak na tignan siya muli at tahimik na lumakad sa pintuan namin. Navarro is in my house, my house. Oh my God, I was so preoccupied with other stuffs na ngayon ko lang narealize. But why the hell am I panicking? He is here as my research groupmate. We have a work to do here. Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary. Napailing nalang ako sa mga iniisip ko at tuluyan na nga kaming pumasok sa bahay.
Pagpasok ko ay naghihintay pa rin pala ang tatlo sa may pintuan. Stefan immediately noticed Christopher and raised an arm to wrap it around the taller guy's neck.
"Uy pre! Andito ka pala!" Sabi niya. Halos dumagan naman si Christopher kay Stefan ngunit agad na napasimangot si Christopher at madaliang inalis ang akbay sa kanya. He glowers at him, the same way Christopher looked at me earlier and mutters a loud, "Tangina mo, 'wag mo akong basta basta hahawakan."
"Kuya, tigilan mo 'nga 'yang pagmumura mo kahit ngayon lang. Nasa ibang bahay tayo." Jonah said then turned at me. "Andyan na ba si Castillo, Ate Jessa?"
"Oo. Kumpleto na tayo. Akyat na tayo," I told them.
Hinayaan ko muna silang umakyat at pinagmasdan ko naman ang mga kagrupo ko galing dito sa baba. Definitely not a strong group, a bit weak, but heck. Just finish this goddamn research, then we're done here. Basta makatapos lang talaga ako dito at makabalik na sa dati kong gawi.
It's going to be a hell of a time to deal with them, I can't wait for this to be over. Kagaya nga ng sinabi ni Dela Cruz kanina, bahala na si Batman. I'll let the universe decide what the heck would happen next.
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NOTE: You know the thing we do in school, calling classmates by their surnames, out of habit? Despite the existence of their first names? Like we can't call them by their first names kasi nasanay na tayo, and it feels weird in the mouth? It's a very normal thing kasi na nangyayari ito in schools so I decided to input it here in my story HAHAHA. 'Yun lang, except sa magkapatid, kasi they have the same surnames and our girl Jessa needs to always address the other individually. And Jonah is a sweetheart and calls everyone in 'kuya/ate.' <3