Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
My watch seems to be teasing me. Everywhere is filled with noise yet it seems like the only thing I am hearing. It is only because I will be late. It is 7:49 on my watch and I am needed on 8 sharp. It’s still a long way to go.
My arms are weakening; tired from heavy materials I am carrying. My foot is starting to ache. Maybe next time I should not wear heels for Friday classes. Kung hindi lang ako maarte, nakalabas na yung dila ko sabay slouch ng likod. For you to know, I am wearing a plain hot pink tank top, super skinny black jeans with white spider webs on it, black open-toed lace up 4-inch stilettos and a lace flower pinned on my right chest.
I’m too small kasi kung nagtataka kayo kung bakit 4-inch heels and suot ko. But what kinda disturbs me is kung paano nila ako tingnan. I mean hindi naman bongga ang suot ko. Hindi naman bastos. Ok maybe because of my jeans. I love it. I used creative glue to make these webs. Neat, right?
Where was I again? Right! I am running in these halls well, more like walking in the moon. I can’t run. Ang bagal nang nasa harapan ko pati na rin ang nasa gilid ko. Magbabarkada pa naman ang nasa harapan ko. My gash! Ang tagal. Paano ko ito gagawin? I will just walk fast and maneuver my way away from them. Maybe that would work.
Bumagal pa lalo yung mga babae. Pefect! Makakalis na ako. Binilisan ko ang aking paglakad sa left tapos nalaman ko kung bakit bumagal yung mga yun. It is because now napapikit na lang ako sa sakit ng hulog ng pwet ko sa sahig. "Ow! Watch where you're going kuya. I have metal shears," dahan-dahan akong bumangon. Turns out nakita nila na tumatakbo yung lalaki without looking.
"Sorry," he held out his hand. I looked at him and he pulled me up. Wow! I am surprised. He has brown eyes and his unruly reddish-brown shiny hair (That seemed more brown than red) that falls on the side of his smooth face.
EMGEE! Ang gwapo ni kuya.
"Its. Ok. I was just worried that baka meron masaktan," binalik ko sa loob ng bag yung gunting at rolls of fabric.
Linagay niya yung tape measure sa loob ng bag, "You. You look familiar."
Tumayo kaming dalawa, "I think I do too."
"Amazona?" Lumaki yung mata niya.
"Dugyot?!" I pointed my finger at him.
"Ikaw nga si Amazona," his shoulders dropped then looked down
"Dugyot! I miss you," yinakap ko siya bigla.
Nanigas lang siya. He didn't hug me back so I took a step back.
"Bakit Raven? Did I do something wrong?" Nag-alala ako.
"You're Amazona! Did you even remember the things you did to me?" pinagpag niya yung shirt.
"I know. I'm so sorry Raven. I was a kid back then and..." my hand clenched on to the strap of the plastic bag.
He shrugged his shoulders, "Nevermind . We all changed, right?"
"Yeah. Thanks." Ngumiti na ako.
"Oo nga pala ito si Kuya," turo agad sa lalaking red and buhok.
Yes! Red and buhok niya tapos dalawa ang kulay ng mata niya: isang red at...Teka! Yellow ba yan o orange? He folded his sleeves to his elbows then smiled at me. "Moooshi mosh!" He said cheerfully while waving his hand.
"Kuya Stephen?!" Nanlaki mata ko. Hindi ko na siya makilala.
He tilt his head to the side and smiled, "They call me now Teppei-kun!"
"EMGEE! Kuya Stephen!" Yinakap ko siya bigla and gladly, he hugged me back. "Grabe Kuya! Muntikan ko pa kita hindi makilala."
"Honto?" he pointed his finger beside his lips like he was thinking. Ano yung sinabi niya kanina?
Nagring na ang bell.
Tumingin na ako sa relo ko, "Oh em! Late na ako." Kinuha ko yung mga gamit ko at nagmadali akonng naglakad.
Midway, I stopped. "May class ba kayo mamayang 4? Linakasan ko boses ko.
Stephen glanced at Raven, who just shrugs his shoulders. He pulls his phone to check. Stephen elbows him on his arm, looks at me then at Stephen while cocking his brows.
May sasabihin sana si Raven kaso pinigilan ni Stephen by blocking with one arm. "Ayus daw!" Ngumiti si Kuya habang nakathumbs up.
"Tss! Stephen naman." Rinig na rinig ko ang bulong ni Raven.
. . .
The sun was beginning to set in the between the tall buildings. A beautiful cascade of purple and peach began to merge into cotton candy clouds. Saan kaya ako makakahanap an ganun ang material for cloths. Well, anyway, our spot in Sweet Tooth Café was amazing. I heard from my friends that this place is a great place for a date... Or a get together with friends.
Hindi makatingin sa akin si Raven. Nagtetext lang siya sa dark grey phone niya. Minamasdan ko siya ng pasulyap-sulyap lang. Baka mairita kasi.
Naka charcoal grey na graphic t-shirt siya at maroon jeans saka white chucks. Ang kulit ng suot niya. Paano si Dugyot naging ganito? Dati gusgusin ito tapos ngayon ang hot na niya. Merong ngang mga babaeng minamatyag kami. Siguro fans niya ito or malala ex.
"So anong course mo?" Tanong ko.
"Business Management," sinagot niya without even looking at me.
"Ah."
Sabi nila it takes 4 seconds bago maging awkward and silence. Ok.
4...
3...
2...
1...
AWKWARD!
"Fashion Design course ko," sinabi ko na lang for conversation starters.
"Halata." Yun lang? Walang wow or kahit ano.
Tumunog yung chimes sa pinto. Dumating sa wakas si Kuya sa loob. Pinagtitingan siya ng mga tao. Try having a red hair color... Or maybe that's a wig.
He was wearing a navy blue shirt with black sleeves, that slightly fit his upper body and dark washed cargo jeans added with a white dyed detail of lightning on the sides. Ayus Kuya! Saan kaya niya nakuha yung jeans niya?
"Kuya!" I stood up and hugged Stephen.
Ngumiti siya, "Namiss ba ako ni Yu-e-chan o sinupladahan ka ni Raven-kun?"
Ang weird ng pagkasabi niya sa nickname ko. Hindi Yue kundi Yu-e.Tumaas yung kilay ko, “Yu-e-chan? Raven-kun?”
“Its honorifics in Japan?” he squeezed my shoulders.
“Hono-What?!”
“Mou!,” he tugged his hair. His wig? Argh! EMGEE!.
“Namiss mo ba ako o sinupladahan ka lang ni Raven?” Kinamot niya yung ulo niya.
Lumaki yung ngiti ko, "Umm. Both?"
He smiled again. “Halika na Yu-Yu,” hinila niya yung kamay ko tapos pinaupo pa ako sa tabi ni Raven.
Agad-agad siya umusog. Galit ka talaga, ano?
Upak-Wag! Good girl na ako. Mag-order na lang ako. “Mag-oorder na ako. Ano yung gusto ninyo?”
“I’ll have a double shot espresso,” Kuya said sabay ngiti. Ang bitter ata ng lasa nun siguro. Mapait na nga yung espresso na paborito ni Papa dinoble pa. Yuck!
Lumingon ako kay Raven, “Ikaw Raven?”
“Playful slurp,” he piped. Medyo green ata yung order na yun, ah?
Nagsihila na sila ng mga wallet niya. I stopped them midway, “Hindi na!” I waved my wallet at them. “Ako naman ang manglilibre sa inyo,” I smiled then walked towards the counter to order.
I came back to the table tapos biglang naging tense yung vibe. Bakit kaya?
“So anong order mo Yu-e-chan?” He smiled again, tilting his head to the side with his chin resting to the palm of his hand. Ngayon ko lang napansin na ang cute ng ngiti ni Kuya. May dimple kasi siya sa tabi ng labi.
“Caramel Iced Macchiato with extra caramel syrup and whip cream,” sinabi habang ngumingiti.
“Diabetis,” he muttered under his breath while texting.
“Ano yun Raven?” Pinilit kong paulitin yung sinabi but no response. Saka kalian ba siya titigil sa kaktext? Hindi ba napapagod yung daliri niya kaka pindot?
Biglang ngumiti si Raven. Ay hala. Baliw na ito.
“Sooo. Musta na Yu-e-chan?” Napakacheerful talaga ni Kuya. Ibang-iba siya. He’s so much different than before. Parang tumanda ng paurong. Kung ano na yung language na sinasabi nito Korean ata ang pinagsasabi nito. Chan? Kun?
“Ayus naman. Fashion Design yung course ko. Ikaw?” I placed my hands together on the table.
“Yung,” Tinapik niya si Raven sa balikat. “Ravie-kun, ano nga ulit yung course ko?”
“Bachelor of technology in graphic arts,” he began snapping his fingers. “And… And printing technology ata.”
And then, bumalik nanaman siya sa pagtext. Sana magkacarpal tunnel syndrome ka. Ayan! Nasabi ko na rin. Maswerte ka na nagbago na ako, kung hindi, inupakan ko na kita. Baka gusto mong magexperience first hand ang maging stuntmen ni Bruce Lee.
“What is it about?” I leaned closer.
“Em, all I know is animation is the major,” Kuya did a thumbs up.
“Animation?! I never knew that you could draw.”
“Order for Yow?” Sabin g barista sa counter.
“Sino kaya yung Yow?” I stroked my finger across my jaw.
“Dunno. Ikaw Ravi-kun, kilala mo ba?
He exhaled, “Definitely not a girl’s name.”
“One Double Shot Espresso, Playful Slurp and Caramel Macchiato for Yow,” linakasan na ni Kuya Barista yung boses niya. Me and Kuya giggled while Raven let out a suppressed snort
“I’ll get it,” nagpresent kaagad si Raven. Kinuha na niya yung drinks naming, Yehey!
Bumalik lang siya tapos sabya text ulit. Ay hindi na ata. Iba na yung position ng phone. Naglalaro na ata.
“Back to your question Yu-e-chan, dati na ako nagdradrawing,” he took a sip from his hot drink. His face relaxes then licks his lips.
Oo nga pala muntikan ko na makalimutan. “Pero sabi mo sa amin na balak mong mag-architect.”
“Dati yun. People change,” Raven’s eyes finally broke contact from his phone then looked at me. I felt a stabbing sensation in the middle of my chest.
This feels so tense.
Kuya laughed nervously at the vibe, "Nahilig kasi ako sa anime nung high school kaya nagbalak akong mgatake ng animation."
"Wow," yung na lang ang nasabi ko before ko inumin yung drink ko. Ahh! Sarap! I love it!
"Ikaw Yue-chan?"
"Hmm?" i mumbled while savoring my drink.
"Anong course mo?"
"Fashion Design," I smiled.
"Ah sokka! No wonder Yue-chan looks kawaii," he lightly tapped his fist on his palm.
My face crunched up, "Ano pala yan sinasabi mo"
"Japanese. Ibig sabihin ng sokka ay I see"
"Tapos ano yung mga chin, kan?"
Kuya let out a light laugh and gently pinch both of my cheeks, "Yu-e-chan is so kawaii. Its chan and kun. It honorifics. Alam mo naman siguro yun."
"Yesh!" Yun lang ang kayang sabihin ko habang hindi pa niya nabibitawan yung pisngi ko.
Ang saya yung kwentuhan namin ni Kuya. Marami na ngang nagbago. Marami na akong namiss out. Mga iba, sumunod na ata sa yapak ko: nag-abroad o lumipat ng ibang school. Sinabi na sa akin ni Kuya na si Primrose ay hindi na naglalaro kasama nila simula nang umalis ako. Knowing her parents, siguro dahil ayaw nila na ang kalaro ng unica hija nila ay mga lalaki. Bata pa lang yun ay hinuhulma na para maging susunod na Maria Clara. Echos!
Si Markus bumalik na sa Italy. Ang tsismis ay naglalaro na yun ng football para sa olympics pero hindi para sa Pinas, para sa Italy. Half kasi yun saka hindi mnasyadong halata ang pagkapilipino.
Yung Valedictorian ng high school ni Kuya, si Nicole, ay naging liberated na. Ang sabi nung prom daw nawala yung virginity niya. Simula noon, na-adik na sa, alam ninyo na yun. Nakakasurprise pa din. Kahit na liberated, hindi pa rin nawawala ang focus sa studies.
Sa sobrang sarap ng kwentuhan namin ay nagulat na lang kami na next na nangyari. Raven broke his eyes from his phone with his hands heavily falling on the table. “What did you call us for?” Raven’s dark brown eyes pierced through mine. It scared me. A lot of emotions portrayed in his eyes. Mostly were either anger or frustration. I am not really sure which.
“What do you mean?” I tried to smile it off but it’s useless.
He clenched his fist tight. The knuckles on his fingers are starting to look white on his skin. “What I mean is that its been 5 years?!” Raven tried to suppress his raised voice. He didn’t want to make a scene.
The surprised on Kuya’s face was obvious, “Ra-Raven!” He stuttered.
Raven’s face crunched up, “What?” Raven exhaled, trying to keep his composure, “Stephen, hindi siya nagpaalam sa atin tapos babalik siya na parang walang nangyari?”
“Wa-Watch your words,” halatang he tried to be firm but he can’t.
KInuha ni Raven yung wallet niya from his marine printed backpack para kumuha ng pera at linapag sa table. He stood up and grabbed his bag, “I’m done with this.”
He walked away from the café which left me dumbfounded. I am starting to drown in my own confusion and guilt. A lethal combination, may I add.
“Ganun..” my voice croaked. “Ganun ba kasama yung ginawa ko?” I mustered all my strength as it slowly betrays me.
“Alam mo Euterpe,” he placed a hand on my shoulder. I immediately looked away. Kaasar. Naiiyak na ako. I thought this will be a chance para mabalik ulit yung pagkakaibigan naman. Bakit nagging ganito?
“Yu-e-chan!” he called my attention cheerfully. I looked at him to see a square shaped whip cream on his upper lip. It’s a mustache of Charlie Chaplin but its white!
Natawa nalang ako. He looks so ridiculous. Ang kulit ng itsura niya. Tapos bigla niyang hinawakan yung kamay ko. “You know that I will always be on your side pero this time tama si Raven. Nasaktan talaga kami nung hindi ka man lang nagpaalam.”
“I really am sorry Stephen,” hinigpitan ko yung hawak sa kamay niya.
He winked at me, “Ayos lang yun Yu-e-chan. Alam mo naman na bias ako sayo.”