Pabati Portion:
Hi, Regine Victorio Valerio. Godbless sa review mo and board exam for medtech. Kaya mo yan! Aja! Iloveyou! -From Ate Ish
Hello kina MC-joan Abling, Angela Marte Songcayauon, Vhalerie Gagaracruz, Carole Ann Clavo, Camil Dait Sagun,Bheshie Dumayan Coquilla, Rienz Marie, Armites Magbojos from Arjelyn Magbojos, Graxe Tamondong, Irish Pineda Pastor, Muriel Lagonoy, Patricia Maglaque, Jewel Christine De Sesto ,Daphnee Corpuz , Jove Mendoza , Elizabeth Brin Baldo , Judy Ann Olano, Bryan Olano, Jorgina Galit, Frances Noreen Niño, Mylyn Villawala Hindraya, Janeva Consad and Her classmatesJessica Consorte, Monica Munar and her bestfriend si AngeLica Moya, Angel Ica pati buong KSA, Jocely Madiam, Pearl Desiree Montes, Carmela Valenzuela, Corinne McGregor, Carole Ann Clavo and her friends Everlene Mari and Prince Kristoffer Reyes, Jessa Mae Cuenco, Irene R Quilong, Reinalie Shinyenn Aquino, Camille Olga Austero, Rizel Micah Gabay
Mary Joy Mayo kasama ang BEED 2A(D) ng Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa, tsaka sa Mahfrendz at kay Mariz Ann Sabadera
Janeva april Consad and her classmates na nagbabasa din ng TBND, Liezl Mascariña, Dalia Hornada, Mhark Busa, Shania Lawama-Delos Reyes, Marjorie Duya, Leslie Ann Busquit and Jamie Lee Peralta, Louise Lorraine Toledo, Jorgina Galit, Mary Anne.
Antonette Porca at pabati sa lahat ng III-Mendeleev at kay Christine Reyes at Rashia Andrea Lubuguin, Shere Miah Cardaño, Ia Ituralde and her friend Bryan De Lara, Clarice Anne, Jona Bartz, Reinalie Shinyenn, Veanne Pantig, Judelyn Tambagahan Saracanlao, Mamii Rosie, Eloi,Liezl Mascariña and her college friends Rosalie Donarber, Mary Grace Galang , Rica Cabrera and Jenny Figueroa
Janang Cabebe, Gianne Ü Dosd, Brenette Lea Bicaldo pabati sa "Mga Bi's" na sina Kweng, Marni, Karen, April, Bern, Juvic, Apple, Mina, Precious Mia Thalia Tamondong, Mae Jessa Frias, and Gellie June Carreon!
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While reading this scene, please play “Superman” by Five for Fighting for special effects. CHOS. Haha. Seryoso. Para mas feel. :)
Copyright © ScribblerMia, 2012
“Ang gay ba?” Natatawang tanong ni KJ habang nakatingala at nakapikit.
“Ng alin?” Ganting tanong ko. Gaya niya, nakatingala din ako sa langit at nakapikit habang nakaupo kami sa bench.
I heard him cleared this throat. “I cried.”
I smiled and opened my eyes. Ramdam kong nahihiya siya, bakas sa tono niya. Iniisip niya sigurong naturn-off ako sa kanya. Well, sorry to burst his bubble, pero dagdag pogi points kaya sa akin iyon. But I won't tell him that. Sa akin na lang iyon. Hehe.
Hinawakan ko ang kanyang magkabilang pisngi at iniharap ang mukha niya sa akin.
Awtomatiko naman siyang napamulat, halatang nagulat sa ginawa ko.
I looked at him seriously. “Crying may be a sign of one's weakness, but it can also mean a sign of one's strength. It is the acceptance of your weakness that makes you strong. Remember what Howie Day said? Even the best fall down sometimes. Kaya nga si Superman ka, 'di ba? May weakness ka rin.” I smiled.
He smiled back, a genuine smile. “And you’re my Kryptonite.”
Grabe. Kahit malamig ngayon dahil sa walang tigil na pag-ulan at basang-basa na kaming dalawa ay hindi napigilan mag-init ng mga pisngi ko. Why is he so gwapo? Bakit bumabanat siya ng ganyan? Kakaiyak ang pagka-charming niya.
I avoided his gaze, so he wouldn’t notice how flustered I was.
“I’m sorry...for everything,” he uttered.
I took a deep breath and turned back to him. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”
“I know. But before I explain everything, can we please take a shower first and change our clothes? ‘Cause I’m fucking freezing,” he said through gritted teeth.
--
Awtomatikong napangiti ako pagmulat ng aking mga mata.
"Good morning, world!" I shouted like a retarded.
Nagpagulong-gulong ako sa kama ko at niyapos ang unan ko ng mahigpit habang parang sira na nakangiti.
Maya-maya'y kinapa ko sa bed side table ang iTouch ko.
I scanned my playlist and looked for the album I bought on iTunes.
Pinasak ko sa mga tainga ko ang earphones.
I played “If It’s Love” by Train. Tinodo ko ang volume.
While everybody else is getting out of bed, I'm usually getting in it
I'm not in it to win it and there's a thousand ways you can skin it
My feet have been on the floor, flat like an idol singer
Remember winger, I digress, I confess you are the best thing in my life
Maganda ang gising ko ng umagang iyon. Pakiramdam ko ay punong-puno ako ng energy, na para akong lumaklak ng isang drum na Milo at kumain ng isang daang Tiger chocolates.
Naupo ako at nag-inat. Masiglang tumayo at tumungo sa bintana para buksan ito.
But I'm afraid when I hear stories 'bout a husband and wife
There's no happy endings, no Henry Lee, but you are the greatest thing about me
Pakiramdam ko ay kinakantahan ako ng mga ibon na humuhuni.
Pakiramdam ko ay kinakawayan ako ng mga sanga ng puno sa bakuran namin.
Pakiramdam ko ay dinuduyan ako ng hangin at inaakay patungo sa paraiso.
Oh, well. Pakiramdam ko lang naman iyon.
Did I even make sense? Ay basta. Whatever. Ang masasabi ko lang, ang saya-saya ko. Parang nitong mga nakaraang araw lang ay halos madurog ang puso ko sa sakit, pero ngayon halos tumalon naman ito sa tuwa. Ang weird.
If it's love
And we decide that it's forever, no one else could do it better
If it's love
And we're two birds of a feather then the rest is just whatever
Naalala ko bigla ang nangyari kagabi at hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti.
“Grabe. Para akong sira rito na kinikilig.” I giggled.
Is it possible to be this happy?
Para ba'ng lahat ng takot at hinanakit ko ay nawala ng parang bula. Para bang sa isang pitik ng kamay ay naglaho ang galit na nararamdaman ko.
And if I'm addicted to loving you and you're addicted to my love too
We can be them two birds of a feather that flock together
Love, love, got to have something to keep us together
Love, love, that's enough for me
Tumungo ako sa dressing table ko at kinuha ang suklay kong Hello Kitty para gawing microphone.
Bumalik ulit ako sa tapat ng bintana at tumalon-talon.
Dahil siguro sa masigla ang tugtog at masigla rin ako ngayon ay nagsimula akong sabayan ang singer at magsasayaw na parang sirang ulo.
Took a loan on a house I own, can't be a queen bee without a bee-throne
I wanna buy you everything except cologne 'cause it's poison
We can travel to Spain where the rain falls mainly on the plain side and sing
'Cause it is we can laugh, we can sing, have ten kids and give them everything
Hold our cell phones up in the air and just be glad that we made it here alive
On a spinning ball in the middle of space, I love you from your toes to your face
If it's love
And we decide that it's forever, no one else could do it better
If it's love
And we're two birds of a feather then the rest is just whatever
And if I'm addicted to loving you and you're addicted to my love too
We can be them two birds of a feather that flock together
Love, love, got to have something to keep us together
Love, love, that's enough for me
You can move in, I won't ask where you've been
'Cause everybody has a past
When we're older we'll do it all over
Again
When everybody else is getting out of bed, I'm usually getting in it
I'm not in it to win it, I'm in it for you
If it's love
And we're two birds of a feather, then the rest is just whatever
Then the rest is just whatever
If it's love and we decide that it's forever, no one else could do it better
And if I'm addicted to loving you and you're addicted to my love too
We can be them two birds of a feather that flock together
Love, love, got to have something to keep us together
Love, love, got to have something to keep us together
Love, love, that's enough for me
Feel na feel ko ang last line. Nagawa ko pang mag-bow at kumaway sa invisible audience ko sa labas ng bintana. Yeah, sometimes, I do crazy things like that.
Pero muntik na akong mapamura ng malakas nang makarinig ng palakpak mula sa pintuan ng kwarto ko.
“Magnificent performance,” said that someone, in his loud baritone.
No way! Don’t tell me…
Dahan-dahan akong humarap.
At nang makita ko ang ubod ng gwapong lalaking iyon na nakasandal sa may pintuan at nakahalukipkip ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko kasabay nang nakakabinging sigaw.
“KJ! YOU FREAK!”
--
Habang nasa daan ay hindi ko pa rin magawang tingnan ang katabi ko dala ng matinding hiya. At marahil ramdam naman niya ang kahihiyan ko ay hindi rin siya umiimik habang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan.
Namiss ko ang kotse niya. Namiss ko ang amoy ng kotse niya. Namiss ko siyang katabi. Namiss ko siya.
Grabe. One month of misery pala no’ng wala siya sa tabi ko.
Pero alam kong paminsan-minsan ay sumusulyap siya sa akin at naririnig ako ang pagtikhim niya na sa tingin ko ay pagpipigil ng tawa. Nakakahiya talaga.
“Tawa-tawa ka diyan,” nakasimangot na sabi ko habang nakatingin sa bintana.
He cleared his throat, still looking straight ahead. “I am not laughing,” he said seriously but failing miserably.
I knew it. Natatawa nga siya. Grabe naman.
“Why did you barge into my room?” I switched my gaze from the window to him. “There’s this thing called ‘knocking’ you know.” I glared at him, secretly checking him out. He’s wearing a white-shirt inside a yellow long-sleeved polo and a straight-cut faded jeans. Naka-red Vans shoes siya. As usual, hindi niya kilala ang suklay kaya messy hair pa rin ang look niya. Idagdag pa ang black aviator shades niya. Mi fafa guapito.
Saglit siyang sumulyap sa akin before smiling impishly. “I did, but you were stuck in your own little world. Your mom even shouted at you from downstairs to tell you I was there. She thought you heard. So, she allowed me to go to your room. I didn’t even know you’re…well,” he smiled sheepishly.
“Argh!” Napapadyak ako. “You should have knocked and waited.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I knocked thrice, and I found out that you don’t lock your door.” He chuckled.
“Nye, nye, nye.” Tumingin ulit ako sa bintana at kunwa’y hindi na siya pinansin.
“So mature, OA. So mature.”
“Says the nosy one.” I rolled my eyes.
“Hey, I am not nosy.”
“You snooped!” I shouted.
“I did not!” He shouted back.
“You did!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“No!”
“Whatever!” I snorted. Hinampas ko ng malakas ang dashboard ng sasakyan niya.
“Tsk.” He turned off the engine. “We’re here,” he said, amused.
“I know. I can see it. I’m not blind.” I said sarcastically.
“So early in the morning yet so grumpy,” he whispered.
“What did you say?” Taas ang isang kilay na tanong ko nang makalabas sa kotse.
“Nah. I said let’s go,” he said, wrinkling his nose. Nagpatiuna na itong maglakad habang ako naman ay umagapay sa paglalakad nito. Grabe. Ang haba kasi ng mga paa, ang hirap habulin ng mga taong matatangkad na gaya niya. Kainis.
Dire-diretso ako sa paglalakad nang mapansin ko ang lugar na pinagdalhan niya sa akin.
Monday ngayon at wala naman kaming pasok every Monday kaya buti na lang at kakaunti ang tao, but still…
“Dito na naman?!” Nagulat na tanong ko.
“O, bakit? E, dito mahangin, e.” Bale-walang sagot niya habang naupo sa isang bench doon na nasisilungan ng malaking puno.
“Sampaloc Lake? Seriously, Karlito?”
Naiinis na kumamot ito sa kanyang buhok. Nagulo tuloy, mas lalo tuloy naging hot. Nakakainis talaga ang lalaking ito. “Ang dami mong arte. Maupo ka na lang nga,” sabay higit sa kamay ko paupo sa tabi niya.
“Why are we here?” Kandahaba ang nguso kong tanong ko habang nakatingin sa malawak na lawa.
Gaya dati, payapa ito at masarap pagmasdan. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin kahit tirik na tirik ang araw. Kaya siguro ito ang gustong lugar ni KJ na tambayan. Kaninang umaga kasi, after he witnessed that ‘incident,’ ay niyaya niya akong lumabas. Kaya pala siya nasa bahay namin kanina, balak niya pala akong kidnapin at dalhin dito.
“I like this place.” Pinatong niya ang dalawang kamay niya sa likod ng ulo niya at sumandal sa bench. "Those days that we were you know, not on good terms, I always went here."
I nodded, suddenly remembering those times na hindi kami nagpapansinan. Nakakalungkot pala talaga pag walang bwisit na gaya niya sa buhay mo.
I looked at him. “So…” binitin ko sa ere ang nais kong sabihin. I hope he got my message.
“You want to know the truth?” He asked in a lazy manner. Thank God, he got the message.
I nodded carefully, averting my gaze.
He sighed deeply. “We’re about to get kicked out,” he said matter-of-factly.
My eyes went wide and gave him a what-the-heck look. “Are you serious? What do you mean you’re about to get kicked out?” The way he said those words seemed like getting kicked out of school is not a big deal. This guy has some serious mental issues. Seriously.
“CW.”
“What?! You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said incredulously. Nanlalaki pa rin ang mga mata ko dala ng matinding pagkagulat at pag-aalala.
“I hope I was kidding but no, I’m not,” he smiled bitterly.
“What happened?! Ano ba namang katangahan ang kinasangkutan mo, Karl Jonathan Dominguez?” Hinawakan ko ang sentido ko. Kailangan ko ng massage as soon as possible. Grabe. Biglang sumakit ang ulo ko sa nalaman ko.
Inhale, exhale.
Inhale, exhale.
“Ano ba naman iyan. Hindi na natapos na problema?” I muttered.
“See? That’s what I’m avoiding since the beginning. That is the same reason I kept this from you. I don’t want to give you problems like this one,” he said in a low and embarrassed voice.
“How did that happen? I mean, why? When? What the…” I didn’t know which questions to ask first. I was so confused and scared.
“Nalaman ng school ang mga nangyaring frat wars. They have witnesses and yeah…pieces of evidence. As of now, pinag-aaralan nila ang lahat. As for us, we have to wait for the verdict.”
I winced. “Bakit ba kasi kayo nakikipag-away ha? Ano ba’ng problema niyo ng Alpha Delta Omicron, ha?”
“It’s been an ongoing conflict, but nothing was serious before, not until now,” he said in a smooth, almost bored voice. “At first, dahil lang iyon sa mga frat activities at sponsorships. Minsan nauunahan namin sila at minsan nauunahan nila kami. Minsan sa mga programa ng frats, e, mas tinatangkilik ng mga estudyante ang sa amin. Kaagaw namin sila sa mga sponsors, palakasan sa ibang organizations, nandoon na rin ang kaunting payabangan at popularity. Paminsan-minsan pagnagkakasama sa iisang lugar kami at ang ADO ay nagkakainitan kaya nagkakasakitan, but that’s about it. Nothing serious, the usual fights that men in groups have. Simula nang itatag ang mga frats na ito ay iyon lamang ang conflicts na nagaganap. But then, when that Nicholas entered the scene, nag-iba ang lahat, mas lalong tumindi. He always provokes us. He plays dirty. Minsan naiisip ko kung personal reasons ba ang dahilan niya kung bakit siya ganoon. One time, naglalakad lang si Nate pero tangina binugbog nila, si Rojan na walang kaalam-alam na bigla nilang sinugod at binugbog din, then Jigger and Neiji.” He paused and looked at me cautiously. “You know about that because you witnessed the incident. They were the ones who did that to Jigger and Neiji.”
I gasped and bit my nail.
Information overload.
Information overload.
Sumasakit ang ulo ko. Grabe.
Bakit wala akong kaalam-alam sa mga nangyayari kay KJ? Hindi ko alam na ganito ang nangyayari sa CW. Akala ko okay ang lahat dahil parang palagi silang masaya, nagtatawanan at kwentuhan, nag-aasaran. Occasionally, nag-iinuman at nagkakantahan. But I didn’t know na ganoon pala katindi ang problemang kinakaharap nila.
Gusto kong batukan ang sarili ko. I was never vigilant and a keen observer. Before KJ came back to my life, I was happy in my little bubble at school. I never paid attention to rumors and school issues because I just didn’t care, and I didn’t want to get involved. Ang gusto ko lang, matataas ang grades ko at maka-graduate sa UP. Iyon lang. Kaya nga never akong sumali sa kahit ano’ng orgs kasi ayoko ng involvement sa ibang bagay maliban sa pag-aaral.
“Was M-Mike one of them?” I asked hesitantly.
His mouth dropped open. “H-how did you know?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He made a face. “He’s your friend.”
I fell silent.
Ganyan ba siya kamartir? Hindi ko akalain na may pagka-GOMBURZA si KJ. So hindi niya sinabi sa akin na involved si Mike kasi alam niyang kaibigan ko ito at ayaw niya akong masaktan pagnalaman ko?
He sighed. “And I didn’t think it was important for you to know. Kasi kung sasabihin ko sa’yong involved ang kaibigan mo, then what? May magagawa ka ba? Problema na namin ni Mike iyon. It's between me and that freak. Labas ka sa frat issues namin. Therefore, I don’t see any reasons to tell you about it.”
Napahawak ako sa magkabilang pisngi ko at napabuga ng hangin.
Boys and their pride. Boys and their abhorrence for dramas. Boys and their ego.
Napasimangot ako. “That freak! Ni hindi man lang niya sinabi sa akin na member din siya ng frat! He even lied to me. I can’t believe he did that. I thought I knew him, but I guess two years weren’t enough to know a person. He’s secretive. Nakakainis talaga siya." Dire-diretsong sabi ko. "Pero bakit niyo siya binugbog?”
Biglang dumilim ang mukha ni KJ. Umayos ito ng upo at diretsong tumingin sa lawa. “That was a set-up. They recorded it and sent it to the University Council. They used it as evidence.”
Pilit kong inalala ang nangyari ng oras na iyon. Mas lalo akong kinabahan. “I was there!”
“They edited the video. They cut your role there.”
“But how did you guys end up there? ‘Yong sa Forestry? Nandoon kayong lahat—“
“Nandoon kaming lahat kasi meeting place namin iyon. We were having a discussion when that damn asshole appeared out of nowhere. We didn’t know his reason at first. Fuck him.”
I shuddered. I remember Zach’s questions that time.
"What do you want?" Zach asked.
Nakatingin ang lahat kay Mike. Hinihintay ang kanyang sagot.
Pero imbes na sumagot, Mike smirked.
“Michael.” Zach said spitefully. “Stop playing around.”
Mike smiled maliciously. “Who’s playing around, Zach?”
“Answer the damn question.” Rojan shouted.
Mike shook his head in disbelief. “Tsk.”
“What’s the motive?” Neiji asked.
“Who sent you?” Zach asked. This time, mas lumapit siya kay Mike. Halatang nagtitimpi na siya.
“Cowards,” Mike said.
Now, it all made sense to me. “So that was really what happened, but Mike told me a different story,” I said, almost to myself.
KJ snorted. “Of course, he did. He’s a liar, a fucking good one at that.”
“E, bakit ba kasi mainit ang dugo sa inyo no’ng Nicholas na iyon?”
“We still have to find out. Nobody knows.” He said, furious.
Hinawakan ko ang braso niya to calm him down. I was glad he did.
“That Nicholas.” Napapitik ako sa hangin. “I saw him at Enchanted Kingdom. I saw him at the hallway and even bumped into him. I saw him in front of KFC while I was waiting for a jeepney.” Napahampas ako ng malakas sa bench. Remembering the cold stares he gave me.
I felt him tensed. I saw how he clenched his fists, hard. His eyes narrowed to slits. “He was blackmailing each of us, every weakness we have. That guy is sick.” KJ said, disgusted. “Ikaw ang ginagamit niyang pang-blackmail sa akin. Pero alam kong hindi ka niya magagawang saktan, panakot niya lang iyon. Kaibigan mo si Mike, at alam kong kahit ganoon ang hayop na iyon, I know he cares for you, and he doesn’t want you to get hurt,” he said seriously.
Mike. He was a good friend to me before all of these things happened. We were okay. We were happy. I didn’t know it would lead to this. Nakakalungkot ang mga pangyayari.
I shook my head sadly. “So ano’ng balak niyo? Maari kayong ma-kick out. Teka, kick-out agad?”
He nodded gravely. “According to the U.P. Board of Regents, we broke some rules and regulations on the conduct of fraternities like inadequate for purposes of instilling discipline and proper conduct and of course, violence. As I’ve said, they are studying the pieces of evidence and interviewing witnesses.”
“Who are these witnesses?”
“They won’t tell us.”
"You think everything will be okay?" Tumingin ako sa lawa at pilit kinakalma ang sarili.
"I'd like to think of that," sabi niya, pilit pinapasigla ang boses.
"So you have to wait?"
"And we have to find out some things that we still don't understand. And of course, we need to find ways to counter the enemies' claims and dirty plays."
I elbowed him lightly. "Sabi nga sa movie na 3 Idiots, 'all is well.'"
He smiled, sabay ginulo ang buhok ko.
"Wow. Aso ako ha? Aso?" Reklamo ko habang inaayos ang buhok ko.
He laughed.
Hindi ko alam ang dapat kong gawin at sabihin.
Tama naman si KJ, wala akong magagawa. Kahit gusto ko silang tulungan, hindi ko alam kung paano at kung saan ako magsisimula. Pero sa ngayon, kuntento na muna ako sa mga nalaman ko. I was happy that he shared his burden to me. I know how hard it is to keep everything to yourself.
Pero alam kong malalampasan ito ni KJ. Si KJ pa? Alam kong kaya niyang lampasan ito. He's a strong man. Nobody can bring him down.
Pero kung may magagawa man ako, tutulong ako sa abot ng makakaya ko. Hindi ko siya iiwan. Hindi ko siya hahayaang harapin ito ng mag-isa.
Tumayo ako at nag-inat.
Nagtatakang tumingin sa akin si KJ.
"Gutom na ako," I stated walking backwards.
He stood. There was an amused look on his face. "What do you want to eat?"
I pretended to think before I turned my back on him and continued to walk. "Isaw!" I shouted.
I heard him laugh aloud.
I smiled to myself.
Everything will be alright, KJ.
--
Mia's Message: Check out my new story, "The Perilous Haven." Thank you to those who voted and commented. Thank you to those who added TPH to their reading lists. The Perilous Haven is far different from TBND. It's not your ordinary love story. :) A mixture of romance, mystery, thriller, & action.
Credits to http://osa.upm.edu.ph for the fraternity info