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Unedited.
Enjoy reading!
EUNICE GRACE TAN
I looked at my reflection in my six-feet tall mirror once more to check myself. Today is the enrollment day for the second semester, so I need to go to school. At dahil alam ko na magiging hassle tong araw na 'to, I have decided to just wear leggings topped with a pink crop-top pullover sweater with IDGAF printed in the middle.
Coz I really don't give a fuck, now.
Dinampot ko yung sling bag ko at lumabas na ng kwarto. But I didn't forget to take a selfie before going out! Selfie muna syempre.
"Kuya, I'll drive." I smiled at kuya Frank, then he threw the keys to me.
May student license ako, so okay lang na ako ang mag drive. Besides, nandyan si kuya na isang pro driver. Hindi namana kami mahuhuli nito unless may ma-disgrasya kami which I doubt that will happen.
I should practice driving more often. I feel like I will have to drive myself to school and other places. And yes, this will also be a part of the change I wanted to happen.
"Ibang-iba ka na ah." Kumento ni kuya na nasa passenger seat. Nginitian ko lang siya.
I was tapping the steering wheel by my fingers, waiting for the stop light turn green. And when the light turned green, I shifted the gear, and push the gas pedal.
When I saw a café, I went for a drive-thru. I want coffee. Hindi kasi ako nag-kape sa bahay, pero nag-breakfast naman ako.
"Ano sayo kuya?" Busy siya sa phone niya kaya mukhang hindi niya napansin na nag-drive thur kami.
Sumilip pa siya sa labas tapos tsaka niya narealize kung nasaan kami.
"Americano nalang."
"One americano, and one caramel latte please. Both tall."
Guess I was driving too fast, dahil nakarating agad kami sa school. And there was a couple of times na muntik atakihin sa puso si kuya Frank dahil muntik na kaming mabangga. Pati ako nga kinabahan eh. But it was fun! Thrilling!
I liked the adrenaline, mixed with nervousness.
Dinampot ko yung sling bag ko oati yung kape ko.
"I'll text you kuya kung magpapasundo ako." Sabi ko bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng kotse at tumango lang siya.
Okay, time to face all these people!
Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o hindi, dahil halos lahat ng makakita sa akin, eh tinititigan ako. Ang awkward lang na nakakaagaw ako ng atensyon. Kaya nga ako nagpaganito para hindi na ako ang maging atensyon ng mga tao dito eh. Tapos ngayon, ako pa rin! Ano ba naman oh!
All these changes and still I have their attention! Jeez!
Bigla akong na-irita nung may narinig ako na sipol. Hinanap ko agad kung sino yun, and I found a a bunch of guys looking at me. Tapos ayun, sumipol pa yung isa sa kanila. That flared my nose. Bastos!
I raised my middle finger and showed it to them. "Fuck you, assholes!" I yelled at them.
Laglag yung panga nilang lahat tapos biglang may nagtawanan. Doon ko lang na-realize na marami palang tao at lahat sila mukhang narinig yung sinabi ko. Nakatingin sila dun sa grupo ng mga lalaki, at tinatawanan nila ito.
Buti nga! Serves them right!
And if they think that I will just let him cat-called me, well they are wrong. May purpose ang mga gitnang daliri ng mga kamay ko. I can raise both of them and point at those men who have bird brains.
And if I know, jutay naman!
Papunta ko sa registrar nung bigla nalang may pumalo sa pwet ko. Nagulat ako pero buti nalang hindi ako napamura dahil sa gulat.
"Taray naman. May pa-pwet ang bessy ko!" Sumulpot si Trisha sa tabi ko.
At sino pa nga ba ang maglalakas loob na pumalo sa pwet ko? Walang iba kundi ang manyak kong best friend!
"Gaga ka!" Inirapan ko siya.
"Wow naman! You've change! Hala, nakaka-inggit yung buhok mo girl! I want that one too!" Bahagya niyang sinabunutan yung buhok ko.
"Aray naman!" Daing ko. Umikot ako sa harapan niya para ipakita ang bagong ako. "Bagay ba?" I asked her.
"Bagay na bagay! I liked it! Dalagang-dalaga ka tignan sa look mo ngayon. At ikaw pala ang pinag-uusapan nung mga lalaki na nakasalubong ko! Akala ko naman kung sino." Oh, so I'm the talk of the town?
Mabuti nalang at hindi ganun karami ang tao ngayon. Mukhang nasa bakasyon pa ang karamihan, kasi konti palang yung mga nag-eenroll ngayon.
Tama yung desisyon ko na ngayon pumunta dito. And I think hindi hassle 'to dahil konti nga lang kami. This will be fast, for sure.
Nakapila kami sa registrar para sa records namin, nung biglang umingay ang paligid. Curious why, I looked around to check what's going on. Bakit biglang umingay, lalo na yung mga kababaihan.
And then, I found the reason. I found who was the reason behind all of these noises.
Naglalakad siya papunta dito sa direksyon namin. My Jaw dropped the moment I saw him with his new look, too.
Andrew, got a new look too, like me. Nagpakulay siya ng buhok kagaya ko. At talagang magkakulay pa kami ng buhok! What the hell is going on?!
"Oh my gosh. Don't tell me sabaay kayong nagpakulay?!" Komento ni Trisha.
Hell no! We did not! But I know, that he's up to something. Nung pumunta sila sa bahay, hindi pa ganyan ang kulay ng buhok niya. Itim na itim pa iyon!
Ginaya niya ba ako?! What the hell is this guy up to?
I froze when he stopped in front of me. Bahagya akong tumingala para magtama ang mga mata namin. But that was a wrong move. I didn't know that he was looking down on me, slightly bent. Gosh! Masyadong magkalapit yung mga mukha namin!
"Wh-What?!" Why the hell am I stammering!!!
He smiled at me, "Nothing. I think we're cute for having the same color," he paused and moved closer to my ear. "Love." He continued.
And I swear! Nagtayuan lahat ng balahibo ko nung binulong niya yon sa akin! Oh my! Maya-maya pa, nagwawala na ang puso ko at yung mga tuhod ko nanghihina na.
What the hell is he doing?
Naka-ngiti siya habang naka tingin sa akin. Magkalapit pa rin ang mga mukha namin at wala ata siyang balak na umalis sa harapan ko. People are starting to make buzzes. Most probably, they were all talking about us!
Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit nakikipagtitigan pa ako sakanya. Bakit hindi nalang ako tumingin sa iba at talikuran siya? Ano bang nangyayari sa akin.
All the heart aches and pain and still I have my eyes on him. Why?
He moved and raised his hand. Kinabahan ako, pero hindi ako gumalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. Nagwawala na talaga ang puso ko na parang drum na hinahampas ng malakas ngayon. Kumakabog, tumatambol! Traitors! My eyes and my heart, all of them were seemed to be betraying me right now.
I watched his hand slowly moved towards my face. Is he going to touch my face? Please tell me hindi! Wag niyang gagawin yun dahil sigurado ako na mararamdaman niya kung gaano kainit ang mukha ko ngayon!
Ayan na. Konti nalang and his fingers will meet the skin of my cheek!
"Eunice! Hey babe!" He stopped. His hand stopped from moving. And the noise, it was all gone!
Sabay kaming napatingin ni Andrew dun sa biglang sumigaw. At hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko dito. Sigurado ako na ako yung tinawag nung sumigaw. Walang duda.
And then I saw him, standing not far from us.
"Eugene." I muttered with surprise.