Chapter 17:
Enjoying the ride
It was so unusual to see Isla being serious with her work. She's busy planning their project for the upcoming cheering, volleyball and basketball final tournament between High School division.
Kasali ako sa meeting nila ngayon dito sa SC conference room or mini office nila kasi ginawa ba naman akong personal secretary niya. Nakakahiya sakanya ha!
"So it'll be different schools from each sport then?" tanong ni Isla. "Yes, we got the cheering competition here though." sabi naman ni Jasmine. So basically the cheering competition will start the game. Mauuna sila, kinabukan ang basketball at last kaming volleyball.
Atleast Ali and I can watch each other's game.
And after a long boring 30 minutes, they finally dismissed the meeting. "After the sports game, what's next?" I asked with curiousity. "Valentines week, graduation ball and graduation." ohhh, that's a lot. Mabuti na lang pala hindi ako nanalo.
"And your plan after graduation?" dagdag kong tanong ng patayin niya ang laptop niya. "It depends on the result of our mission. If it's a success, I might stay here for college but if we failed, I will go back home." I slowly nodded.
Her words at the end made me realize that our friendship is just temporary and it'll end as soon as we graduate.
Why did I felt a bit sad there?
Am I having separation anxiety with her? Well, this is life. People come and go.
"It's crazy how everything's going fast right now and in two months, we'll finally end our high school life." I can't help but get a little bit emotional. I'm gonna miss everything.
"Did you enjoyed it?" napatingin ako sa tanong niya. "I... had a great time and to be honest I hate to admit most specially to people like you." she raised her eyebrows at me. "People like me??!"
"Yes, people like you who seem to have all the fun in life. I hate to admit that I feel like I'm missing something big. I mean I was stuck with high school juggling a lot of responsibilities." seryosong sabi ko.
"Ano bang gusto mong gawin?" napaisip ako. Ano nga ba?
"I... wanna have fun too. I had fun studying and playing sports but I want the different kind of fun... To experience the rebel side of being a teenager. I wanna let go and myself." tahimik lang naman siyang nakikinig.
"Just like you said before drowning myself with alcohol, dancing like crazy, getting high and laughing at everything, breaking things, getting suspension, making mistakes, falling in love, and having sex... just having fun." medyo nahihiyang sabi ko.
I know my definition of fun is opposite from the things I've said but I wanna experience everything. I don't just wanna sit down there and watch people my age do or experience everything.
"Well maybe two months is not enough for you to experience everything but why don't you make your two months the most of it starting right now." she said while grinning.
"What do you mean?" naguhuluhang tanong ko. "We can't use our car right now unless we have a slip to exit through the gate so we'll have to climb over the wall at the back." sabi niya sa akin at bago pa ako makasagot hinila na niya ako.
"Hindi tayo papasok?" my eyes widened when I realized what we were doing. Kaya ko naman mag absent pero yung tatakas ka mula sa loob ng campus niyo? That's a whole lot different.
"Use your hoodie para walang makakikala sa atin pag mahuli man tayo." she said while trying to cover me and zipping my whole jacket.
Mahuli??!
That's kinda embarrassing to other students.
"Do we have to do this? We can just excuse ourselves like emergencies or pretend we're sick." suggestion ko sakanya.
This scale is a bit too big for a first timer like me.
"Where's the fun there?" napatigil ako sa ngiti niya ng makita ko na lang ang sarili kong nakasabit sa may malaking wall. "HOY!!!" may tumawag sa amin, lilingon sana ako ng hatakin ako ni Isla pababa kaya napasubsob onti ang kanang tuhod ko sa damuhan.
Shit.
That fucking hurts.
"Rule number 1! Don't ever look back." she smiled at me and pulled me up again. "Bumalik kayo dito!!!" rinig pa namin ang sigaw ng guard hanggang sa tumakbo kami paalis.
Until I found myself laughing while we were running crazily as if someone was chasing us to death. Pareho kaming napatigil sa isang iskinita habang hinahabol ang mga hininga namin.
"You... sly fox! At least... give me some head... ups." I said trying to catch my breath. "Kirsten... Oh my Kirsten!! I mean... where is the... fun there?" pag ulit niyang tanong ng pareho kaming natawa.
"So, what do we do now?" when she just shrugged at me. "What do you want to do?" she said emphasizing me as if she's saying this day's all mine and mine alone.
"Anything and everything." I don't know where to start or what should I do. I just want to enjoy every moment.
May tinawagan siya saka kami naghintay ng ilang minuto. My jaw dropped when a cool motorcycle bike stopped in front of us. Isla gave him some money and he gave us his motorcycle.
"Isla— I know this is cool but it's too dangerous for me..." medyo humina boses ko nung binigyan niya ako ng helmet. Shit! There's no stepping back from this girl.
"Come on! I've been riding different types of big bikes like this since I was 14. This won't kill us but uh— maybe it can break our bones." ng hampasin ko siya. Nakaya pa talaga magbiro.
"It's fine. Trust me! You can feel the freedom from riding this." saka siya sumakay at inilahad niya ang kanyang kamay sa akin. "Pag tayo... kahit onting dalos lang. I would really kill you!" kahit alam kong silbi ang pananakot ko sa sobrang tigas ng ulo niya!
I can feel this whole shit being unsteady as soon as I ride it. Humawak ako agad kay Isla na akala mo linta. I can't risk my life here.
"Kirsten, Can you hear me?" napahiyaw ako ng marinig ko ang boses niya sa loob mismo ng helmet. It's like there's a bluetooth ish something between the two helmet.
She laughed at my reaction when I tried to pinch her stomach. "Aw! My perfectly toned abs!" reklamo niya pero mas lalong humigpit ang hawak ko ng bilisan pa niya.
"Slowdown, you shithead!" hindi ko maiwasang pagmumura sa takot.
"Kirsten, relax! Control your body. Put your weight at your lower part and try to release your hands slowly. Open it! Feel the air touching every inch of you. Embrace the freedom and sway your body with my every direction." I can feel my heart beating so fast because of anxiety when I tried loosen up myself.
It's fine.
It'll be fine.
Sinubukan kong tinanggal ang isa kong kamay para gawin ang sinabi niya and when I felt ready the most I raised both of my arms. "Woooh!" I can't help but shout due to thrill, excitement and joy.
Ang saya!!!
We were just riding the motorcycle the entire hour when she suggested me to drive it too. "Trust me, I'll guide you. This is easy peasy from a person who knows how to ride a bike and car. Try it." nakatingin kami pareho sa motorcycle bike na to.
I tried it. I had a hard time for the first few minutes until I get the hang of it. Isla was so good at guiding me throughout our entire ride.
Tama siya, mas masaya pag ikaw mismo ang nagmamaneho.
We stop at a central park when we saw the sun was about to set. Nasa likod namin yung bike habang naka upo kami sa stairs pababa kung saan makikita mo yung biggest dancing light fountain ng buong city.
Isla came back holding a two can of beer as if it's just some sort of coke or any kinds of non alcoholic beverages. "Really? Drinking in public space?" ng abutan niya ako.
"Who told you this is alcohol? This tastes just like juice so this is juice." wow! What a logic, Miss President.
Pagkatapos ng sunset ang pagbukas naman ng dancing light fountain. I was amazed with the lights and the water na kahit parepareho ang nangyayari hindi ko parin maiwasang titigan.
"Gusto mo sa mas malapit?" tanong sa akin ni Isla kaya lumapit kami. "Isla, we can just stay here..." sabi ko pero mukhang wala siyang pinapakinggan at dirediretso ang lakad niya sa may fountain.
"Come here!" sigaw niya sa akin at napatingin ako sa paligid ng binasa niya ako onti gamit nung beer. Sinubukan ko siyang habulin. Sa totoo lang kating kati kamay ko kumuha ng isang baldeng timba para buhusan siya ng tubig.
Since I was able to memorize the timing of the water I tried leading her into the space where a lot of water would suddenly splash out.
Got ya!
Ngumisi ako sakanya ng makitang basang basa siya sabay labas dila pa ng hatakin ba naman ako papalapit sa tubig at bago pa ako tuluyang mabasa may pumito sa amin.
"RAN!! RAN!!! START THE BIKE NOW!!!" sigaw niya sa akin at nagmadali akong tumakbo. Gosh! I loved the adventures we did but I hate the running part.
Hanggang kailan ba kami paghahabulin ng mga guard sa mga pasimuno ng babaeng to?
In the end the guard wasn't able to catch us up because I was fast enough to start the bike. Damn! I can't believe I am riding this bad boy damn fast. It makes me wanna have my own ride too.
And we just laugh it off.
Tinawa na lang namin ang mga bagay bagay!
"You're what? 2 out 20?" hindi makapinawalang tanong sa akin ni Sam sa quiz namin at nakapout naman na humarap sa akin si Isla para ipakita ang zero score niya na akala mo malungkot talaga pero mas lalo naming ikinatawa.
"These two are losing their shit." pailing iling na sabi ni Jasmine.
We just shrugged and laughed again.
"Sila lang ata ang itlog at lowest na nga, masaya pa!" dagdag ni Sam.
Hindi naman sa pinapabayaan namin ang grades namin. We only wanted to try being the lowest too but honestly we didn't listen to the lesson and we also didn't review. We were busy talking to each other and playing around. That was one time only.
"Ako mauuna!" sabi ko sakanya habang nag uunahan kami sa pagtakbo. Damn, I said I hate running but this girl is making me run for my life.
"I'd win that bet!" sabat niya sa akin ng maunahan niya ako pero halos mapunta na siya sa may basurahan. Masyadong ginalingan ng Presidente dahil ayaw magpatalo.
Everyone came out of the room to check us out. Shit. This is big. I keep biting my lips to stop from laughing when I couldn't keep it in already. I burst out laughing while everyone's looking at us cluelessly.
I covered my whole mouth when I saw Sir Castro's angry face.
Lagot na!
"Miss Jones and Miss Andrada, you both are 20 minutes late yet you came with a grand entrance." galit na sigaw ni Sir Castro yung strict PE teacher pa naman namin.
Ang pa-major na subject!
"Both of you, outside field now! Walang aalis dun hanggat hindi ko sinasabi. Ran the whole oval without stopping." galit niyang sabi ng ayusin ni Isla ang basurahan.
Agad kaming tumakbo papunta don habang tumatawa. "QUIETTTT!!" sigaw niya sa amin pero mas binilisan lang namin ang pagtakbo.
"This is freedom!" sigaw ni Isla at napahiga. Nandito kami sa open field na walang katao tao saka ako tumabi sakanya at kitang kita ang malakas na sinag ng araw.
It is 1 ish in the afternoon, we had our lunch outside the campus that's why we were late.
Lumapit sa akin si Isla ng sinandal niya ang ulo niya sa kamay ko. "Perfect." binawi ko naman agad yon at ginawa kong unan ang tiyan niya. "Nah, babe. This is perfect." mapangasar kong sabi pero ayaw magpatalo.
Naguunahan kami sa pagsandal ng katawan namin sa isa't isa.
"AHEM!!!" pareho kaming nagulat nung dumating si Sir Castro at agad kaming napatakbo.
Akala namin aalis na siya pero talagang binantayan kami hanggang limang ikot at narinig namin ang bell. "That's it. After class both of you will clean the woman's bathroom." he said with cross arms standing still position.
What?
"Pero Sir... tumakbo kami." reklamo ni Isla. "And men's bathroom. Any more violent reaction?" masungit niyang tanong. Magsasalita pa sana si Isla pero agad kong tinakpan ang bunganga niya hanggang nakaalis na si Sir.
I looked at Isla who got a biggest smile on her face. "What's with that evil face?" nagtatakang tanong ko.
"What? We'll just go back to class, finish it and go home." ngising sabi niya. "And what about the CR?" tanong ko sakanya.
"Magkalat lang tayo sa loob ng downy para mukhang mabango. And that's it. Smart mind. Easy work." sabay turo sa utak niya.
Easy work? More like hard punishment. And that's what literally happened.
Kinabukasan, Sir Castro reported us to the Students Affairs Office. Mamaya hindi na ako magugulat kung naka tambay na kami sa School Dean's office.
We got 1 day suspension but we still needed to attend for our punishment. One day cleaning the whole campus.
Wow! Smart mind, easy work huh?
"Alam mo? Bored lang yun sa buhay niya. Gusto tayong pahirapan—" "Shut up." sabat ko agad sakanya.
"Sabi ko nga, maglinis na lang tayo baka mamaya buong Pilipinas pa ipalinis sa atin—" I glared at her and then she nodded.
"Eto na... eto na po. Cleaning na po, Madam." paatras niyang sabi habang nagwawalis.
Ang sarap niyang batuhin ng dust pan!