Serenity Hiraya
I shut the door quickly before resting my back on the wood surface. I mentally face palmed as I heard them bickering outside my room.
"Aray ko, puta! Paa ko 'yan!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Alvarez bago ako makarinig ng parang nahulog.
"Gago kasi 'yung gitara ko mahuhulog!" Sigaw nung isa at maya-maya lang ay nakarinig na ako ng kalampag ng gitara. "AAAHH!" Matinis na tili ni Cameron.
Wow, I never thought I could hear him reach a note that high.
Nang makahinga ako nang malalim ay muli kong binuksan ang pinto. Nakasuot na ang salamin sa mata ko at mas maayos na rin ang buhok ko compared kanina. Kaya lang, hindi pa rin ako nakakapag hilamos dahil nasa labas ng kuwarto ko ang C.R. namin.
Naabutan kong nakasalampak si Cameron sa lapag habang tila hinehele ang gitara niya. Si Alvarez na nasa likod niya ay nakaupo sa couch habang may hawak ding electric guitar habang isang gitara rin ang hawak ni Josiah.
Bakit ang daming gitara?
"Uy, Raya! Good morning!" Malaki ang ngiti ni Cameron sa akin. "Kumusta tulog mo?"
I rolled my eyes jokingly. "Anong good sa morning? E, ang ingay-ingay niyo? Istorbo sa tulog."
Dumiretso ako sa kitchen para magsalin ng tubig sa isang baso pero ramdam kong nakasunod sila ng tingin.
"Sorry, Raya. Ang sabi kasi ni Ken siya lang daw tao rito, e," sagot ni Josiah.
I looked at Alvarez, shocked. "Hindi nila alam?"
Tumayo siya at nag-iwas ng tingin. "Hindi nila alam kasi sabi mo huwag ko i-chismis kahit kanino. Now they know... kasi itong tanginang 'to..." binato niya ng throw pillow si Cameron, "pinilit talaga na rito na lang daw mag-practice."
I chuckled when I heard him cussed.
"Gago! Malay ko ba kasing may kasama ka pala rito? Matindi ka at 'yung—"
Bago niya pa matapos ang sasabihin niya ay sinubuan na siya ni Alvarez ng tinapay na hindi ko alam kung saan galing.
"You're hungry? Daldal mo na, e. Kung ano-anong pinagsasabi mo."
Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Cameron. Nilunok niya 'yung malaking tinapay bago muling ibinuka ang bibig, "ay hindi ka pa—"
"Oh, kain ka pa. Gutom ka pa yata, e." Hindi pinaglagpas ni Alvarez ang pagkakataon na 'yon upang muling subuan si Cameron ng tinapay. Parang ayaw niyang matapos 'yung sinasabi nung isa.
"Have you eaten?" Napalingon ako sa kabilang sulok nang magsalita si Iñigo. "May binili kaming tinapay."
"Thank you, mamaya na lang pagkatapos ko maghilamos." I turned my back to them before going to the bathroom.
Kahit nasa loob na ako ay naririnig ko pa rin ang usapan nila.
"Ang hina mo, par! Sabi mo nung nakaraan pagkatapos ng contest." Guess who? Syempre si Cameron.
"Shut up. It's not funny."
"Tigil na, bro. Baka hampasin ka na lang bigla niyan ni Ken ng gitara. Yari ka," natatawang kantyaw ni Josiah sa dalawa.
"Gitara niya pa gagamitin ko pag hindi niya tinikom bibig niya. Sasabihin ko pa kay Antonette kung sino crush niya."
"Ah, ganyanan pala, ha."
Paglabas ko ng C.R. ay nagtimpla agad ako ng matcha latte bago nakahingi ng tinapay nila. Habang kumakain ako ay nagp-practice sila. Napansin ko ring wala 'yung keyboard ni Josiah kaya siya ang isa sa nag gigitara. Bali, si Iñigo lang ang naiiba ang instruments.
"Bakit hindi kayo nag practice sa studio?" I asked them, curiously. "Nasaan si Antonette?"
"Malayo kasi sa gig namin mamayang tanghali. Medyo mas malapit siya rito sa apartment niyo. Akala rin kasi namin mag-isa lang talaga si Ken," si Josiah ang nagpaliwanag. "Susunod daw si Ann."
I glanced at Alvarez and raised my brow. "Anong excuse mo?"
"I left early kanina. Akala ko kasi nakaalis ka na kasi sabi ni Vi kahapon aalis daw kayo nang maaga kaya confident ako na ako lang tao rito. I didn't know you were still here."
Hm, valid. Pero nagising na ako kaninang umaga at saktong tumatawag sa Vi. Kaya lang naman tuloy-tuloy ang tulog ko ay dahil nag cancel ng lakad ang kaibigan ko.
"Sama ka na sa gig namin, 'di naman pala kayo aalis ni Vi." Yaya sa akin ni Cameron.
Umiling ako. "Pass muna, maraming gagawin, e," I lied. I don't want to go out. Gusto ko lang muna rito sa unit mag-isa.
I need time to reflect on why the hell I am dreaming about Alvarez.
I decided to cook lunch when the clock hits 11:30. I chose to cook creamy chicken mushroom for a quick lunch.
Alvarez and I already compromised when it comes to cooking and buying the groceries, he'll buy the ingredients and I will cook our food during weekends. Tuwing weekdays naman ay kanya-kanya kaming pagkain, it's either o-order kami or magluluto ako ng pagkain na para lang sa akin.
"Kumain na muna kayo bago umalis," bilin ko sa kanila. Mas maraming serving ang niluto ko dahil lima na kami. Si Alvarez naman ang bumibili kaya walang problema sa akin.
"Wow, it smells good. Is this free?"
Tumango ako sa tanong ni Iñigo. "Siya naman ang bumili, e. Ako lang ang nagluto," sagot ko pagkatapos ituro si Alvarez.
"Kumain na lang kayo, baka mamaya magbago pa isip niyan," singit ni Alvarez sa usapan namim.
I rolled my eyes at him before sitting down on the couch. Sa sala kami lahat kumain dahil pang-apat tao lang naman ang dining table namin ni Alvarez
Habang kumakain kami ay nag-uusap lang sila tungkol sa ibat't ibang bagay. Tahimik lang akong sumusubo sa gilid hanggang sa napunta ang usapan nila sa babaeng crush daw ng roommate ko.
"Raya, alam mo ba? Naniniwala 'yan si Steb na kapag daw ginawang wallpaper 'yung crush, tapos hindi makikita ng ibang tao ay magiging sila?"
"Really?" I asked, more interested now. "Anong nangyari?"
"Nagalit siya sa akin kasi hindi ko naman sinasadyang makita 'yung iPad niya," natatawang sagot ni Cameron. "Doon niya pala ginawang lockscreen 'yung crush niya." He even wiggled his brows.
That caught my attention. It felt like my ears grew larger than normal.
"Sinong nakita mo?"
"Si–ouch! Sakit putangina mo!" Mula sa akin ay lumipat ang tingin niya kay Alvarez.
"What happened?" Takang tanong ko bago sinilip ang ilalim ng mesa.
"A–Ano, wala. Bumangga 'yung hinliliit ko sa upuan."
"That sucks," I replied before wiping my mouth with the tissue. "Ano na nangyari?"
Hindi pa siya nakasasagot nang batuhin siya ni Alvarez ng crumpled tissue. "Kumain ka na nga lang. Ang daldal mo masyado."
Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya dahil nanatili ang titig ko kay Cameron.
"Wala ayon, galit na galit kasi uulit na naman daw siya ng isang buwan. Fifteen days na lang daw dapat, naging isang buwan pa," natatawang kwento niya kahit binato na siya ng kaibigan niya.
Napatango ako sa kwento niya. Wow, it seems like Alvarez is already interested on someone.
I felt a pang on my chest that I immediately wiped off my system. So what? I can find a new crush naman.
After they left, I cleaned the whole unit. Yes, even the bathroom. Wala naman kasi akong ibang gagawin dahil hindi naman na ako mag-aaral ng panibagong lesson dahil alam kong wala pa namang gagawin ngayon week.
Pagdating ng Lunes ay nagpatuloy ang pag-rereview namin ni Alvarez. It became our routine. I would wake up early to do a review, attend my classes, then review after school. Minsan sa library kami nag rereview at kung maraming tao roon ay sa labas kaming dalawa ni Alvarez.
I could say that I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoyed every time we would laugh about dumb things, or when we would stop talking to each other for minutes just because I am annoyed with his jokes. On top of that, I get to spend time with my crush.
Wow, crush. Who would've thought that a time will come where I would call my greatest rival, my crush?
Okay, fine. Happy crush lang. Simple crush na lilipas lang gano'n. I'm just crushing on him because he's literally the definition of my standard. Kung hindi ko lang sana siya kaagaw sa pagiging valedictorian ay nababaliw na siguro ako sa kanya.
And, is it possible that I am crushing on him more whenever he wears his glasses? Especially when he's reading a book while biting a pencil, just like now.
"Ang pogi ko 'di ba?" Pang-aasar niya sa akin nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako sa kanya.
I scoffed. Ang hangin niya na, ah? But, I agree. Pogi nga siya.
He was wearing a black polo shirt and white pants. He was wearing his glasses and his hair was in a mess. His eyes have a playful glint that contradicts his thick lashes. One strap of his backpack was on his right shoulder while he was holding his iPad on his left hand.
"T–Tanga, tinitingan kita kasi late ka," reklamo ko. Alam kong galing pa siya sa practice ng banda nila dahil Friday ngayon.
He pouted. "Ngayon lang naman ako na late."
Tangina, ang cute niya ngumuso.
Woah, Hiraya! Chill, girl! Sobrang lakas na ba ng tama mo?
Umupo siya sa tapat ko bago naglabas ng laptop. It was his turn to bring a laptop now. Maybe that was the reason why he wore his glasses.
After a series of reviewing, we finally came to the day of the quiz bee.
Medyo malayo ang school na pupuntahan kaya nakatulog ako sa service car na naghatid sa amin ni Alvarez doon. Nakasandal ako sa binatana nang marinig ko ang boses niya na nagpagising sa akin.
"Añasco, tulog ka na?" Tanong niya matapos niyang tapikin ang balikat ko para gisingin ako.
"What?!" I asked groggily. Panira ng tulog. "Why?"
"Ay, gising ka pa? Tara, tulog muna tayo."
Sa sobrang inis ko ay hinampas ko siya ng bag ko. "Fuck you, Alvarez! I hate you so much!"
"Ay, 'wag, bastos ka."
I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs because of how annoyed I was. However, I cannot do that because we're inside the car.
I was glaring at him all the way to the school but when we got there, it was replaced with agitation. There were a lot of schools competing for the division, and I am so anxious.
"Hey, we can do this," he cheered me up as we went to our designated seats.
The quiz bee started with an easy round. The good thing was we perfect our scores in the easy round.
For the first time, Alvarez and I worked as a team and not as rivals. I didn't know that it felt good to work with him, without being pressured on being on top; without competing with him.
Some schools were eliminated after the difficult round and the next thing I knew, kasama kami sa mga lalaban pa dahil nagkaroon ng tie. Bali, tatlong school pa ang sasagot sa mga sunod na katanungan dahil pare-parehas kami ng score.
"Choose one representative from the pair that will continue to the clincher. There will be 3 questions to be asked. Each question is assigned five points. The contestant who will get 15 points first will be declared as the champion. Good luck," announced by the Quizmaster.
Tumingala ako kay Alvarez. "Ikaw na ba?"
"Do you want to?" He asked instead.
"I mean..." I hesitated. "I want to try, kaso paano kung hindi tayo manalo?"
He smiled. "At least we tried. You tried. That's all that matters. Besides, we're basically a runner up now."
I inhaled a huge breath before closing my fist. "Okay, I'll do my best."
He chuckled before messing my hair. "That's better. I am counting on you."
The questions were hard, but good thing I managed to answer the first one. As for the second question, I got a bit confused so I mixed up the answer. I am so bad when it comes to Chemistry.
The standing was; 10-5-0
Our school has five points, meaning if the leading school will get the right answer next question, they will be the champion.
Nang marinig ko ang panghuling tanong ay lumaki ang ngiti ko. Buti na lang ay tinulungan akong aralin ni Alvarez ang topic na 'yon.
And I was right. I got the correct answer, like everyone else.
We were declared as the first runner up. Even though hindi kami ang panalo ay ang saya-saya ko.
The moment I came down from the stage, my eyes quickly searched for my partner. When we locked our gaze, I ran to his direction blissfully before throwing a big hug.
"I made it! I answered the last question!" I cheered.
He was taken aback with my sudden gesture yet I felt him snaked his hand on my waist to support me.
"Yes, congrats!"
I squealed cheerily. "Ang galing-galing ko!"
"Ang galing-galing mo," pag-ulit niya.
When I came down from my high, I cleared my throat when I noticed our position. I removed my arms from his shoulder before scratching my neck.
"Sorry, nadala lang."
He laughed, his white set of teeths showing. "It's okay. Ang galing mo, congrats."
"Siguro kung ikaw 'yon, champion tayo, 'no?" I mentioned when a sudden guilt passed my chest.
"Nope, hindi rin..." sagot niya bago inilagay sa bulsa ang kamay.
"Hindi ko nga alam sagot doon sa first two questions. Mas magaling ka kaysa sa akin."
"Thank you," I smiled. "For your support."
"Always."
Linapitan kami ni Sir para sa awarding. We took a lot of pictures in the school and with the medal awarded to us.
Naghiwalay kaming dalawa ni Alvarez dahil gusto ni sir na mag solo picture ako dahil ako ang representative ng school para sa clincher round.
It was fine at first, I was ecstatic taking pictures and representing our school.
Pero nang magsimulang dumami ang tao ay hindi na ako mapakali. Bigla akong nataranta nang hindi ko mahagilap si sir o kaya ay si Alvarez.
Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko kasabay ng paghigpit ng dibdib ko. Parang bigla akong hindi makahinga kahit may space pa naman sa paligid ko.
I knew that I was hyperventilating. I cannot seem to calm down with the idea of being lost in the wave of people.
I looked around, trying to look for salvation.
Then, my eyes stopped when I saw Alvarez amidst the crowd. I quickly ran to his direction, hoping that his presence would calm me down.
Nang makita niya akong tumatakbo ay sinalubong niya ako. Tumigil siya sa harap ko nang ilang pulgada ang layo mula sa akin.
He noticed my uneasy face.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded. "I–I'm fine now."
"Let's go. Kanina pa kita hinahanap, nandoon na si sir..." he extended his hand before staring at me softly. "Tara?"
I was hesitant at first. I took a deep breath before accepting his hand.
It felt like a thousand volts of electricity flowed into my system when our hands touched. I was then lost for words when he intertwined our fingers.
Mas aatakihin yata ako sa puso dahil dito kumpara sa nangyari sa akin kanina.
Then, we ran and pushed our way through the horde—without minding the people around us.
Pagbalik namin sa school ay hindi na kami pumasok sa natitirang subject dahil excuse naman na kami the whole day. Nanatili kaming dalawa sa library.
Walang nagsalita o nag-open ng topic tungkol sa kanina.
Wala rin naman kasi akong masasabi. I don't know how to explain what I felt earlier; one thing's for sure, though, I liked it.
I felt because of his mere touch and presence. It made me forget that I was even in the middle of a throng of strangers.
Maybe... I'm starting to like him.
I shook my head. Nope, not gonna happen.
Baka kaya lang ang kumalma kasi nakahanap ako ng kakilala ko kanina.
Yes, 'yon lang 'yon, walang ibang reason.
Sa mga sumunod na araw ay kasama kami sa culminating activity para sa closing ng Science Month.
Ang bilis, parang noong nakaraan lang ay closing ng Buwan ng Wika tapos ngayon ay patapos na naman ang September.
"For winning the school level science quiz bee and for the division level first runner up, let us call Steven Alvarez and Hiraya Añasco from HUMSS A! A round of applause, everyone!"
That was our cue to get on the stage. The emcee called our names as the Science Department Head held the medal for the both of us.
Sabay kami ni Steven na umakyat sa stage habang nagpapalakpakan ang mga tao.
Sinabit sa amin ang dalawang medal; isang gold at isang silver. Pagkatapos ay lumapit sa amin ang principal at department head para hawakan ang kamay namin at itaas ito sa ere. Sinenyasan kami ng dalawang teacher na maghawak din ng kamay para sa picture.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Alvarez.
Fuck, bakit kasi kailangan maghawak ng kamay?
Nag-init ang pisngi ko bago nag-iwas ng tingin at hawakan ang kamay ni Alvarez.
He intertwined our fingers again like nothing before smiling in the camera in front of us.
Pagkatapos naman mag-picture ay sabay kaming bumaba ng stage.
"YEHEY! CONGRAAATS!" Bungad sa amin ni Violet na patakbo pa kaming sinalubong.
She stopped on her tracks and looked down. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang mata niya at napatigil nang makita kong magkahawak pa rin kami ng kamay ni Alvarez.
"OMG?! Bakit magka-holding hands ang mga beshy ko?!"
"K–Kailangan para sa picture kanina. Ang issue mo naman," depensa ko.
Nang-aasar siyang ngumiti. "Weh? Para sa picture nga lang ba? E BAKIT MAGKAHAWAK PA RIN KAYO KAHIT WALA NA KAYO SA STAGE?" Nagulat ako sa pagsigaw niya.
Tila napapaso kong binatawan ang kamay ni Alvarez bago iniwas sa tingin nila ang namumula kong mukha.
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elluneily 🌷🍰🎫