I watch the angry face of Zach in front of me while pouting. May kasalanan ako kaya hindi pwedeng makipag-away sa kaniya. But then, my eyes can't help but look at where the commotion is. Actually, kanina pa nag-iingay do'n sa tapat ng building ng mga STEM.
Hindi naman sa tsismosa ako pero gusto kong malaman kung ano ang pinagkakaguluhan nila. Kung nandito lang sana si Anais at Adi paniguradong naitakas na nila ako sa galit ng kakambal ko. Speaking of…
“Zephaniah!” he yelled that almost made me jump.
I heard Ivy cleared her throat kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya, nag-iwas siya ng tingin, gano’n din si Sofi pero nakikita ko pa rin ang multong ngiti sa mga labi nila. Ha! They’re enjoying my missery right now! Hindi man lang ako tulungan na maka-alis sa pang-aapi ni Zach.
“Zephaniah Lavinia.” I instantly looked at my twin.
Goodness! I hate it when he calls me by my complete name! Especially, that he calls me with so much authority in his voice. If he calls me by my complete name that means he's really annoyed with me right now. Hindi magandang sumabay sa galit niya.
“I’m sorry, alright?”
Hindi palaging nagagalit si Zach sa akin kahit ano pang kalokohan ang gawin ko basta ang importante ay hindi ako mapapahamak.
“You do know that drinking to much is not good for you, do you?” nagtitimpi niyang tanong.
I pouted. He’s OA about that part but I don't want to opposed whatever he'll say. I mean hindi naman talaga magandang uminom ng maraming alak lalo na pag hindi kaya. And also, I am still not 18. Hindi pa legal kaya bawal mag inom-inom ng marami.
“Do it again, Zephaniah. I am telling you.” he warned.
“I wont!”
“Enough of that, Zach, we need Zeph with us.” Ivy finally save me from this punishment! I must go buy her, her favorite food.
Tumayo silang dalawa ni Sofi kaya tumayo na rin ako at kinuha ang bag kong nakalapag sa lamesa. Nandito kami sa ilalim ng isang puno na may bench at table sa field. We often have our lunch here dahil madalas na crowded sa cafeteria. Halos two meters ang layo ng katabi naming isa pang puno na may table at bench.
“That would be the last you’ll do that, Zeph. You don’t want me to step up with this if you won't stop obsessing with him.”
He left us after saying those, he left me dumbfounded. I didn't actually make it a secret but I also didn't told him anything about that guy. I thought he doesn't know… but heck, he’s my brother. He knows me very well, I should've known.
And… stop obsessing with him? Goodness! I am not obssessed! I just like him too much! Hindi ko nga pinapangalandakan ang pagkaka-gusto ko sa kaniya kasi… naninikip na naman ang dibdib ko.
Hindi ko na alam kung maniniwala pa ba ako na magkaibigan lang sila… lalo na dahil sa nakita noong gabing ‘yon. Everyone here in the campus also think they're a thing. He'll graduate five months from now… I want to… make him know me.
But it is so hard to do that knowing fully well about that girl… and who she is in his life.
Should I just stop, then? Funny how I am not even starting yet but I am already thinking of giving up.
“I am not used to you being quite, Zeph." I heard a soft voice said.
I looked at Sofi who’s now clinging her arms on me. I smiled.
“Don’t mind me. My very kind brother just knock some senses in me.”
“He’s pretty straightforward, don’t you think?” Ivy said.
I shrugged, "He has always been like that.”
Sofi looked at me softly while we're still walking to the library, “What will you do now then, Zeph?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.
I looked in our way, some students are still outside their classroom dahil hindi pa naman tapos ang lunch break. Some are memorizing, some are playing, and some are doing anything to pass the time.
I heaved a deep breath before answering Sofi. “I guess, I should just wait for a sign to stop.”
I said that seriously but I heard Ivy’s laugh. I glared at her, she looked at me like I just say something ridiculous.
“Sino’ng niloko mo, girl?”
Sinaway siya ni Sofi pero wala lang iyon sa babae, panay pa rin ang tawa niya kaya umirap na lang ako. Kaugali 'yan ni Anais, ang lakas mang-asar, ang kaibihan lang ay mabilis siyang mapikon habang si Anais ay hindi papayag ng hindi nakaka-ganti.
Silang dalawa rin ang madalas napapa-away sa grupo. Well, minsan ay kasama ako pero minsan lang iyon, takot ko lang na pagalitan ni Zach.
I am a bitch too, you know? I am not hiding that fact. Snob pa nga ako sa description ng iba. I am not as soft as Sofi dahil hindi naman ako pinalaking gano’n ni Mommy.
Same as Zach na nakuha ang pagiging seryoso ni Mommy and Daddy. I only got my Mom’s bitchiness and Dad’s playful side. Reason why Zach and I are different from each other but doesn't mean we don't get along. We do, pero syempre siya ang madalas na nag papaubaya.
I am not really as studious as Zach but that doesn't mean I don't take my studies seriously. Sadyang wala sa acads ang focus ko dahil tamad akong mag-aral, yes, tamad ako pero hindi ko naman hinahayaan na hindi ako makapag-pass ng school works on time. Madalas nga ay nag ca-cram ako.
Nandito kami sa library dahil napag-usapan namin kanina na dito na lang tapusin ang ibang school works. Zach and Sofi are under the STEM strand, Ivy and Adi are in the GA strand, ayaw kasi mahiwalay ni Adi kay Ivy kaya kahit sa strand na pinili ay kung saan nag enroll si Ivy doon din siya. While me and Anais are under the HUMSS strand.
Naghiwa-hiwalay kami ngayong Senior High School, funny how we used to stick together before 'yong tipong may nahiwalay ng section sa amin pipilitin namin na lumipat ng section. We used to always be with each other but then Senior High School taught us to accept the changes and for once we need to be apart to achieve our own goals.
We are not totally apart, really. Pero naghiwa-hiwalay pa rin kami. At dahil Academic ang track namin ay hindi naman nagkakalayo ang ma building namin at sabay-sabay pa rin naman kaming nag la-lunch.
“Kapagod,” bumuntong-hininga ang katabi kong si Ivy at dinukdok ang ulo sa mesa.
Napatingin ako kay Sofi na abala pa rin sa pagbabasa sa librong binabasa about sa science. She has this habit of putting an earpods and listen ko calming music whenever she study, according to her it makes her relax and study effectively.
Among all of us it is Zach, Sofi, and Ivy who excel the most in acads. Ivy is leading the rankings in their grade level. There are four sections of the GA strand dahil ayaw ng president school na crowded masyado ang bawat classroom kaya kada isang section ay nasa 20 plus lang ang students.
Zach and Sofi are also leading their grade level. Samantalang kami nina Anais at Adi? We are the average student, hindi masyadong matalino pero hindi naman bobo. We may not top the class but we were one of those student who are always in the honor list.
Nakakapagtaka nga, eh, panay pag ca-cram naman ang ginagawa ko.
Biglang bumangon sa pagkakadukdok sa mesa si Ivy at tiningnan ang wrist watch niya saka siya nag-ayos ng mga gamit.
“Sa’n ka?” tanong ko.
“Oh, sunduin ko na si Adi, eh. Baka mag tantrums yun pag hindi ko pinuntahan sa meeting nila.” napapa-iling niyang sinabi.
Napatango ako. Mabuti iyon dahil ayokong makita ang nakakainis na mukha ni Adi pag nakasimangot at hindi maipinta ang mukha. Pagtatawanan lang din iyon ni Anais. Napansin kong binaba ni Sofi ang isang earpod niya. Nagtatanong ang matang tumingin siya kay Ivy na nag paliwanag kung ba’t aalis na siya.
Adi and Anais are part of the student council kahit mukha silang war freak. Pinanindigan talaga ang pagiging social butterfly. May meeting sila ngayon para sa darating na foundation day.
“Ikaw, Zeph?” I heard Sofi asked, I shook my head.
“Mamaya pang two ang sunod naming klase,”
Tumango siya at bumalik na ulit sa pag-aaral. Halos sabay lang din kaming lumabas ng library nung malapit ng mag-two. On my way to our building I accidentally step on something.
GAC
I read the familiar embedded initial on the handkerchief I am holding. I smirked. I guess, I won’t stop liking him, eh?
♡