Copyright 2015 © Diana Aranda
Code of Hammurabbi
Warning: Dry convo ahead.
"Everything is about to change." seryoso at may sinasabi sakin ang mga mata ni Adam ng banggitin nya iyon. Inihatid nya ako sa bahay dahil si Ice ay may shooting na ng short film nya with Blue.
Isang linggo na rin ang nakararaan ng makauwi kami galing sa Palawan. That trip was a blast. Marami kaming pinuntahan at pinaka favorite ko ang Kayangan Lake. Gustong gusto ko kung gaano sya ka kalma tingnan at kung gaano sya kaganda. How I wish araw araw kong nakikita ang scene na iyon. I would trade anything for that scene.
"What do you mean? Your tone is scaring me Adam." Medyo inis kong sabi. No. Erase that. Inis talaga ako nung sinabi ko iyon. What's with him today? He seems off. Kanina pa syang umaga ganyan. I thought he was just having a bad day but this is unbearable!
His lips turned to a very small smile. Ni hindi iyon umabot sa mga mata nya katulad ng mga ngiti nya dati. His smile was..sad. Wala na sa ngiting iyon ang kulay ni Adam dati.
He leaned closer to me and whispered. "Everything will be alright. I'll protect you okay?" He kissed me goodbye. Lumabas ako sa kotse nya still curious about the way Adam is acting right now. Hindi naman sila nag away ni Kendy sa pagkaka alam ko. Nag uusap pa nga sila kanina sa phone ng maabutan ko sya sa kotse.
Nag decide ako na magreview ng notes ko habang di pa ako dinadalaw ng antok. Nung mapagod, humiga ako sa kama. Iniisip ko pa din ang sinasabi ni Adam. What's behind those words? Anong magbabago? Bakit nya ako poprotektahan? Kanino nya ako poprotektahan?
My thoughts easily went off the hook when I heard my phone ringing. I know who owns that tone. "Hey baby!" Bati ko kay Ice.
"Hey! Sorry di kita nasundo. Overtime sa shooting."
"It's okay. Sinundo naman ako ni Adam. Good thing your brother is my bestfriend." natatawa kong sabi.
"Yeah. A good thing." Mahina nyang sabi.
"Okay. Magka away ba kayo ni Adam? He seems off today. Anong pinag awayan nyo?"
"Its...boys stuff Cream. I'll tell you pag okay na kami."
"You sure its not serious?"
"Yep. I need to go. I just called to check on you. Take care okay? Good night. Sweet dreams."
Before I can even respond to that, he killed the call.
Ngayon, bukod sa sinabi ni Adam kanina, madadagdagan pa ang pag iisip ko sa rason ng biglaang pagbaba ni Ice ng tawag nya. He knows I hate it kapag binababaan ako ng tawag. And he didnt even say I love.
Dahil di ako makatulog, I decided to call Trisha. I hope she's still awake. She's nocturnal like me kaya walang kaso iyon. Except pagod na pagod sya at di na kayang magpaka nocturnal ngayon.
I dialled her cell and with just three rings, sinagot nya ang tawag.
"Girly! Miss na kita! Tatlong araw na tayong di nagkikita!" salubong nya sakin.
"Naman! Saan ka ba kasi nagsususuot?" Narinig ko ang hagikhik nya bago sumagot.
"Duh. Shooting and stuffs."
"Naks naman! Lakas makaartista ah!"
"Sinabi mo pa! Kamusta pala? Nag shoot na ba kayo?"
"Not yet. Sa Sunday pa ang start."
"Oh. Buti pa kayo. Hirap nga ako. May reaction paper pa kasi akong kailangang i submit a week from now! Imagine, yung prof ko nagdedemand ng 50 pages reaction paper about books turned movies ni Jane Austen! Kamusta naman kaya yun?"
"Wow. So, kaya ka gising kasi ginagawa mo yun?"
"Yep." I heard clicked something. Must be her laptop.
"Baka naabala kita. Gusto mo ibaba ko na ang tawag?"
"Nope. I need a diversion actually." Mabilis na sagot nya.
"Oh. So, ikaw kamusta?"
"Im good. Ivan is good. We are good." Monotonous ang sagot nyang iyon.
"That good doesnt sound good to me."
"Nah. Lately lang kasi medyo wala kaming time sa isat isa. Nagkakatampuhan but that's normal. I actually miss him. Tatlong araw ko na ding di nakikita ang gagong yun."
"Aww naman. Sweet ah!"
"Anong sweet ka dyan! Kung sweet yun, ano pa kayo ni Ice? Grabe kayong dalawa sa Palawan! Di ko kinaya!" What happens in Palawan, stays in Palawan.
"Mag move on ka na nga! That was more than a week ago!"
"Yeah right. As if ganun kabilis mag move on." Naimagine ko tuloy si Trisha na umiirap ngayon. "By the way, kasama mo kanina si Adam?"
"Oo. Bat mo natanong?"
"Is he okay?"
"What? Bakit naman sya di magiging okay?" Well, he's off today but hindi naman siguro aabot yun hanggang bukas.
"Di mo alam gurl?"
"Di alam ang alin?"
"Adam and Kendy broke up. Actually, nalungkot ako nung sinabi sakin yun ni Ivan. They look good kaya!"
"They...broke up?"
"Oo. The day we left Palawan, nag break sila. I dont know the exact reason but Ivan told me maybe incompatible yung dalawa. Its sad talaga. Wait, walang sinabi sayo si Adam?"
"I know nothing." Sabi ko, halos pabulong na.
"OMG. Sorry. Akala ko kasi alam mo."
"No its okay. Nabigla lang ako. What do you think...happened?" Now, curiosity bugs me more. What could have happened? Sobrang okay sila sa Palawan. Trisha even put the effort na makasama samin even if she has tight scheds. I even heard she missed a family gathering because of that Palawan trip.
"I dont know." Trisha answered. After seconds of silence, she spoke again. "But my theory is, Kendy hates you. Swear girl. Mabait si Kendy but she dislikes you. Ewan ko kung bakit. Remember nung lumubog sa tubig sila Ice at Adam, you talked to her right? She seemed like a bitch that night. Sorry, I overheard your convo. Gusto ko syang sabunutan nun. I think they broke up because Kendy made Adam choose. And I think, Adam chose you."
"What?"
"Thats just a theory okay? Besides, maybe sobrang important mo lang talaga kay Adam to the point na he'll give up Kendy for you."
"Why would he do that?"
"I dont know Cream. I think you should ask him. Hindi ko alam ang sagot sa mga tanong mo."
"Trisha, he didnt tell me about the break up. Isang linggo na kami araw araw magkasama, not once dis he attempt to tell it to me. Kanina, magkausap pa sila sa phone. Maybe they are fixing things. Ayaw lang sabihin sakin ni Adam kasi he's fixing it pa."
"Hindi ko alam girl. Sorry talaga sakin mo pa nalaman. Me and my stupid mouth."
"Hey, okay lang. I will eventually know. Let's talk about other things na lang. How's shooting?"
"Okay naman. Bearable pa naman si Blue. Ice is a great actor. Swear pede syang mag artista. And well, Kendy is our scriptwriter so kasama sya sa shooting lagi and well, she seems okay, I guess."
"That's good."
"Ummm...Cream."
"Yes?"
"Whatever you see, always trust Ice okay?" Where did that came from? Kanina si Adam sinabi sakin na everything will be alright. Si Ice binabaan ako ng tawag, si Trisha naman, eto. Saying stipid things like Adam. Seriously? May nangyayari ba na di ko alam?
"Everything is getting weird today. Anong meron?"
"I'll get going. Bye Cream." And with that, she ended the call.
I can safely say that five weird stuffs happened to me today. All of them happened, within the last five hours of my day. What a great way to end my day, right? (sarcastic tone)
Late akong nagising kinabukasan. I decided not to attend class. Tinatamad ako. Although nanghinayang din ako kasi classmate ko si Ice sa subject na iyon. But its okay na din. Binabaan nya ako ng phone kagabi. No I love you's heard too.
I checked my phone and saw messages from Ice asking why I'm absent. Adam also texted asking if I'm sick. Trisha asked if I'm okay since marami akong nalaman sa kanya kagabi.
I decided to reply kay Adam at Trisha. Let Ice wonder.
Cream to Adam:
Hey, late ako nagising. See u later.
Cream to Trisha:
Woke up late. I'll attend the next class. See u.
Tinatamad akong bumangon sa kama at lumabas ng kwarto. Nakasalubong ko Dad sa labas na may hawak na flower vase.
"Good morning Cream Jersey." bati nya sakin.
"Good mirning dad." tamad kong bati aabay halik sa pisngi nya.
"You look tired."
"Nah. I just feel lazy today. What's with the vase?" I asked.
"Oh. Nanguha ako sa garden ng sunflowers. Ilalagay ko sa kwarto mo. Favorite mo yun diba?"
"Really? Di ko nakita na meron na." Medyo napangiti pa ako. I really love sunflowers. Nakaka inlove ang pagka yellow nya. At napaka amazing kasi sumusunod sya sa araw. That's why its called sunflower. I think, that was named sunflower partly because it looks like a sun. Haha. Weird theory though.
"Paano mo makikita eh lagi ka namang wala? Sige na. Bumaba ka na. We'll have breakfast. Your mom is waiting downstairs."
"Okay. Sunod ka na lang dad."
The breakfast today is one of those na maalala ko. It feels alm and light and happy. Tamad man akong nagising, I think today will be great. Mabawi man lang sa nangyari kahapon.
"What happened to you?" taas kilay na tanong ni Trisha. Shes with Ivan right now. Nagkasalubong kami sa hallway. Pupunta sana ako kay Miss Santibanez dahil may ibibigay daw syang letter sa akin. Si Trisha naman, papunta na sa next class namin.
"Male late na tayo! Mamaya mo na puntahan!" hinigit ako ni Trisha papunta sa room. I have no choice then. Hindi ko kaklase si Adam at Ice na klase na to. That's a good thing. Saglit akong malalayo sa naghahatid ng bad vibes sa akin. Its a good thing din na si Trisha ang nakasalubong ko. Pag si Ice, papacute na naman yun or maybe, he'll act normal. Ganun yun eh. Minsan nga iniisip ko paano ba ako napa oo ng gago na yun. Okay he's got the looks but sobrang hirap nya talagang intindihin. One moment he's sad then he'll get mad then minutes later, okay na sya. He's like a code hard to decipher. Siguro, nakasanayan ko na rin na ganun sya. He looks charming din kasi whatever emotion he is trying to portray. I just hope magkaroon ng space si Ice to understand na hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay maiintindihan ko lahat ng kinikilos nya. Im not yet his other half, I'm just the temporary half.
We had a surprise quiz. Good thing iyon yung ni review ko kagabi. Again, like other times. Trisha shouted at me for getting a perfect score. She barely passed. Ivan passed to pero sinuwerte lang kasi nakinig sya last discussion. Sinamangutan kami ni Trisha paglabas ng room.
"Tara tambay sa canteen. Nagugutom ako." Aya ni Trisha.
"Una na kayo. Kukunin ko lang yung letter kay Miss Santibanez." Trisha said okay. Hindi na daw nya ako sasamahan dahil kayang kaya ko na naman daw iyon at gutom na gutom na daw sya.
Nagpalsak ako ng headset sa tenga ko since feel ko makinig ng music. Taylor Swift's How to get the girl blasted on my headset. May ibang bumabati sakin habang naglalakbay ako sa hallway. Ngumingiti na lang ako kahit di ko naman kilala yung iba. Baka mga kaklase ko na di ko alam na nag eexist pala sa dami naman kasi ng mga kaklase ko.
Nang tumigil ako sa harapan ng office, tatakbo akong nilapitan ni Adam. "Buti naabutan kita! Eto na yung letter mo. Binigay yan sakin ni Miss Santibanez kanina kasi di nakapunta. Sabi naman nila Trisha, papunta ka na kaya hinabol kita." Inabot nya sakin ang letter at tinitigan ko iyon.
"Bakit ka may letter from Children of Hope?" tinanggal ko ang headset ko.
"Hindi ko alam. Ano ba to?" Binuksan ko yung letter. It was an invitation from Children of Hope.
Good day!
We, the children of hope is an accredited non profit irganization built to raised children who suffered from abuse and other alarming incidents that cause them to lose confidence and strength to live. Due to your donation worth 4.5 million months ago, we were able to built a new building where the kids can enjoy different activities.
In line with this, may we request you to conduct the ribbon cutting ceremony on the ** of December, year of our Lord, 2015.
We are hoping for your participation.
Thank you and God bless.
Truly yours,
Maria Toleda
Officer in charge
"I didnt know na nagdonate na pala ako sa kanila." sabi ko at takang napatingin kay Adam. "4.5 million at a note. Wow. I dont remember doing anything. Baka nagkamali sila." Naglakad kami ni Adam papunta ng cafetetia.
"I dont think so. Ikaw lang naman ang Cream Santiago dito sa SLU." Napatigil at napatingin ako sa kanya. He's right. So, I did donate something? When? And, how?
Naglakad ulit ako at ilang minuto lang ay narating na namin ang cafeteria. Nakita kami ni Ivan at kumaway naman sya para makita namin sila. Kumakain na si Trisha ng inorder nya na spag at fries. Burger naman ang kay Ivan. Naupo ako sa tabi ni Trisha at nilagay ang letter sa lamesa.
"Oh, Children of Hope nga pala yung tinutulungan na org ni Ice. Ask him. Baka sya may pakana nyan." sabi ni Adam.
"Children if hope? You got a letter too? We're also invited sa ribbon cutting! Madalas magvolunteer dun si Mama. Ako na lang ang papupuntahin nya kasi may nauna na syang commitment before that. I'm bringing Ivan!" imik ni Trisha.
"May invites ka din?" I asked Adam. Tumungo sya at tumayo sabay tanong sakin kung anong gusto ko. Sabi ko yung katulad ng kay Trisha saka four seasons juice.
"Gosh. Ngayon pa ko naihi. Wait lang!" nagmamadaling kumuha ng tissue si Trisha sa bag nya at umalis papuntang CR.
Naiwanan kami ni Ivan sa table. Was it awkward? I dont really know kung paano idescribe ang sitwasyon. Hindi sya awkward pero parang awkward. We disnt have time to talked again kasi naging busy na din sya sa shoot. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit di pa kami nag start. Halos lahat ata sila nag start na.
"Kamusta?" He asked.
"I'm okay. Tinamad ako kanina kaya di ako pumasok."
"Wow. Is that really you Cream Jersey Sandoval? Tinamad kang pumasok? Late oo pero tinamad pumasok?" natawa ako dun.
"Yeah. Tinamad ako. Buti walang importante na naganap."
"Meron kaya. Nagsuntukan si Ice at Adam." Napatigil naman ako at tiningnan ko si Ivan kung nagloloko ba o ano.
"Are you serious?" Bigla dyang tumawa.
"Joke lang! Edi sana may pasa na sa mukha yang si Adam no? Eto naman!"
"That's not a funny joke!"
Nag peace sign lang sya sakin. After ilang seconds, sumeryoso sya.
"Trisha told me na hindi mo daw alam yung tungkol sa break uo ni Adam at Kendy?" dahan dahan akong tumungo.
"Tsk tsk."
"What's that?" napakunot ang noo ko. Tumingin si Ivan sa may counter saka tumingin sakin at nag lean sa lamesa. Inutusan nya ako na lumapit at ginawa ko naman.
"They broke up because of you."
"Me? Bat ako? Hoy Ivan ha! Siguro ikaw nagsabi kay Trisha kaya-"
"Hindi no! I heard them.fighting the day before we left. Tje day na nakatulog ka sa kwarto ni Adam."
"OMG. Dont tell me..."
"Yep. Alam ni Kendy na sa kwarto ni Adam ka natulog."
"Shit!"
"Yes, bullshit talaga. That's why I asked you. Yun din ang dahilan kung bakit sinabi ko sayo na wag mong sabihin kay Ice ang totoo. You're lucky hindi nagsasalita si Kendy and dont provoke her. Mahirao magalit ang taong mabait."
"Shit Ivan. Oh my God. Anong gagawin ko? I've completely forgot about that! Adam and I are completely cool and Ice and I are good. Nagngingitian pa kami ni Kendy whenever makakasalubong namin ang isat isa. Gosh!"
"Just continue what you're doing. Pretend you know nothing. Adam is coming. Pretend to laugh at my joke." mabilis nyang sabi. Tumawa naman ako at hinampas pa sya. Oh my God. I am really getting a lot of secrets and this is not good. Karma is really looking at me right now. Alam kong babalikan nya ako na may interes pang kasama.
"Anong pinagtatawanan nyong dalawa?" Nilapag ni Adam sa harap ko ang pagkain ko at tumabi kay Ivan. "San si Trish?"
"Nag CR lang." Ivan answered. Ni hindi na nga nasagot yung unang tanong.
Dumating din si Trisha galing sa cr.
"Kala ko na flush ka na ng inodoro." natatawa na sabi ni Ivan. Binato naman ni Trisha ng tissue roll si Ivan. Gusto ko mqng matawa dahil sa cute na scene nila, di ko magawa. God. What is happening?