Chapter 18-I
"Gusto mo subukan?" Turo ko kay Ronald sa mga luma kong instruments na nahanap ko. I am expectant for his answer but he just shook his head." Sige na please?"
Ronald repeated."Dati ako marunong."
He told me he was encourage to do play instruments and dance when he was between 9-12. But then he stop school.Trabaho na lang. May libangan lang siya pag magkasama kami. That's when I realized as the two weeks passed by of us being friends again." It wouldn't hurt to try again."
"Marami na akong inaasikaso." Rason ni Ronald habang kasama ko siya sinisimulan ang DIY projects na gusto kong gawin. I'm starting the layout sketch, he's looking at the materials we can use. " Tas magpaptulong ka pa sa props niyo."
I chuckled." Gumagawa pa sila script."
Ronad stroked his hair. " Baka gusto mo akuin pati yan?"
"Eh, maybe I should to spend more time with you? Syempre hindi, hindi ko naman block yun." Pang-aasar ko. Yun kasi ang unang yaya ko para makampante siyang makasama ako. Percival is just downstairds really, but perhaps male friendship might be different." Aside from making sketches and design for them. Iuuwi ko din yung light props baka mga mask tas prosthetics."
"Prosthetic? Related sa course mo?"
"Ah, not exactly, but its my specialty. It comes pre-prepared. Prosthetic makeup. Alam mo yung mga monsters at supernatural sa pelikula? Yung suot-suot nilang makeup at nilalagay sa kanila para mag-iba hulma ng mukha ng katawan at mukha nila? Ganun."
"Sheena love myths, fairy tales, and stories." Percival's voice startled us when he spoke at his usual sweet tone. Hindi na naman namin siya naramdaman or narinig. Even Ronald was startled. So my boyfriend pat his head teasingly." Ah! Nood kaya tayo ng movie tungkol dun? Horror? Gusto niyo?"
Itinaas ni Ronald ang kamay niya." Dito ka ba nakatingin?"
Percival nodded." Yup, ang ganda kasi."
Ronald raised his brow, then he snickered." Nakita mo to tas horror?"
When I look at it closer I realized that his bead of bracelet has a small crucifix at the end and that his necklace is actually a medallion. Ah.It's from church. Religious ba siya? Halos lahat naman at lalo na mga Pilipino religious diba? Percival chuckled." I'm didn't think that! Nagandahan lang ako kasi mukang customize, hindi ako basta-basta nakakita ng ganyan."
"Oh. Did you make it, Ron?" Nasasabik kong tanong.
Percival sat in between us, giving me and Ronald a I-just-know-it-all smile. He's making the kid uncomfortable for sure. I tried to glare at Percival and make him realize it, but he evaded my cues. "Gawan mo din kaya si Sheena?"
I would be happy to. But."Ah, pero di ako catho------"
Ronald just shrug. "Tinuruan lang ako ng kamag-anak ko..."
Ronald seem to have lose his mood when he asked that question.
Lumipas lang oras na halos kami na lang ni Percival ang nag-uusap dahil naging tahimik na si Ronald. I was worried there's something about him I'm too insensitive to realize, but its not like I can do anything. Yet. Hindi ako pwede magmadali, kung gusto kong wala ulit masira.
I should just be happy my life that is filled with lies is starting to feel normal.
During vacant period at school I spotted Ralph at the farthest corner of the library. Mukang nakatulog siya at nagising lang ng tinabihan ko siya. Pagkaangat niya ng ulo niya napansin ko na gusot na ang suot niyang long sleeves." Oh---Good Morning...Its Me?"
"Yeah? It's you? Hindi ba kita makilala?"
"Damn, I fell asleep. It's just so cozy here. But of course you won't ever got this handsome face, wont you? Huy! Biro lang. Nag-r-review lang dito yung tao ang sama makatingin. Baka matalo ngayon pa lang isinumpa mo na ako na matalo sa debate next month?"
I purse my lips." Sasali ka talaga?"
He beamed and gathered his reviewers on the table." Yup, but on the group debate. Kailangan pa rin namin mag-aral individually. Kahit intraschool event lang ito, mahirap din kalaban ang other courses, kung may criminology lang dito dodoble kaba namin. "
Napaisip ako at tinuro ang piercing niya." Are you gonna wear those?"
Napangisi siya." Nope, I want to avoid ad hominem. Mas mabuti nang manigurado na hindi mapupunta sa iba ang argument namin. Hahit na wala namang talagang masamang implication ang ganto."
"That's too calculating, Attorney."
"Remember when I lose a competition back then because of how I speak and look? You did say it was my fault. Mas napalala pa nung hindi ko napansin agad kung bakit at ako pa yung halos ang nagalit. Ang gago ko nung bata ako. Ikaw naman mahiyain."
"I-I'm just an artist since elementary okay? I wasn't a shy kid, I was just introverted--- na mahilig hingan ng advice ng lahat." I replied twirling my shorter hair." A-and you were so rebellious and full of dreams. Isang beses lang tayo nagkapareho ng adviser."
"We knew each other for ten years, huh? Pailing-iling na bulong ni Ralph. He was melancholic. " You change a lot and got a boyfriend now."
I knew him for thirteen years. Grade 3. Grade 6 kami naging classmates. And only if I didn't stop school the next year we would been together.Si Percival na naman, at angsentimental mo. It's okay if things have changes. Tayo naman hindi diba?"
His expression became grim."Oo, halos wala..."
"Ang sisipag naman. Sali ako ha?" Ellie arrive which surprise us, pulling us out of the enveloping tense athmospthere" May test ba kayo? Ang seryoso niyo tingnan."
"This is a novel." Paliwanag ko." Pampalipas oras lang."
"Just slight research for debate next month." Turo naman ni Ralph sa papel niya.
Napamewang si Ellie, she's so full of energy in the middle of noon." Pweda pa yan sa susunod! Bitawan niyo na yan kung mas-stress lang kayo. Nagsisimula pa lang araw. Busangot na ang mga mukha niyo. Just put all your energy into a smile! Ganto oh!"