Hindi maintindihan ni Riley kung anong sinasabi ni Miala.
("Ano?")
"Anong gagawin ko boks!?"
("Ano bang nangyayari?")
Miala also can't explain to Riley what exactly is happening. Hindi rin siya makapagsalita ng malakas dahil papalapit ba si Lenard. Kaya binaba niya na lang ang tawag at tumakbo pabalik sa CR.
"Parang tanga! Parang tanga! Bakit ka tumakas? Dapat hinarap mo na?! Ba't mo pinalampas pa 'yung pagkakataon?" Sinigawan niya ang sarili niya sa salamin. Lalo lang siyang hindi mapakali sa nakita niya.
Bago kasi siya makapasok, she had a good view to be able to see Lenard's smile.
And she knows this expression of his.
That's the expression she has first seen him sporting during the bus ride towards Verde. Hindi niya ito napansin noong una, but later she realizes that this particular pout is something he shows off when talking about his dad or his mom.
Particularly, his dad's relationship with his mom.
Simula pa lang, alam niya na may daddy issues si Lenard. It was quite obvious even in their first meeting. Katulad niya, magisa lang nitong tinatahak ang daan papuntang Verde dahil nagaway sila ng tatay niya.
It brings her back to the time he was open about talking about his family problems. Ang Gawain nito, he will bitterly smile and bite his lips and will end in a pout.
That's how he always is.
Kapag pinaguuspaan how much he hates his dad for filing an annulment. And how much he wants to stay with his mom in Verde. Simula grade 7 sila, 'yun na ang bukambibig ni Lenard. But apparently, he has to live with his dad dahil ito ang may pera para magpaaral kay Lenard.
Miala realized that that's the turning point why she started to plan for their future. Ito 'yung simula ng pagkatanga niya. Ng pagbuo ng pangarap nila. hindi lang sa kanya. She didn't know back then that that was her mistake. That she has built her dreams with him thinking about the "we" that she started to forget the "me."
When they reach their 11thgrade, doon niya naisip ang isang plano. Back then she is seriously convinced it's a masterful plan. Both of them loves animals. Malaking parte na dito si Hachi. So, when Miala started searching for universities in Verde, nauwi siya sa College of Veterinary Medicine in Del Verde University.
"Oh 'diba? If we both apply for DVM in Verde, we can finally solve both of our problems. You can finally live with your mom, and I can board sa mga dorms nila and be free from the clasp of my mom's shackles." Naalala niyang sabi niya kay Lenard thinking the plan is so perfect. "Plus, we get to do what we love the most. Save the animals!"
She remembers Lenard being so much happy but tells her na kahit maso-solve ng planong ito ang problema ni Lenard, hindi ang sa kanya. Because choosing to live far from her mom doesn't change the fact na sikreto pa rin ang relasyon nila at bawal pa rin siyang magboyfriend.
She thought ayaw ni Lenard ang plano, but he also became very interested in it lalo na when they reach their graduating year.
He even contributed to that plan at sinabing may alam siyang mahiwagang bridge sa Verde. Sinasabing ang Yellow River Bridge sa may tabi ng Del Verde University ay cupid para sa mga nagmamahalan. Sobrang dami nga lang ng tao at sasakyang dumadaan dito. Pero ang sabi-sabi, kapag may dalawang taong tumayo sa bridge nang silang dalawa lang, magkakatuluyan daw ang mga ito.
Siyempre, kahit corny, nilagay na rin ito ni Miala sa checklist niya. They should really go into that Yellow River Bridge no matter what.
Ang dami niyang nakalagay sa checklist. Ang dami niyang plano.
Akala niya okay na ang lahat.
But without words, nawala na lang si Lenard sa kanya.
Naalala niya naman kung gaano kasakit. But she chooses to chase the thoughts away. Lalo na nang may marinig siyang kakatok sa CR.
"Excuse. May tao ba? Kanina pa kasi ako nagiintay."
Nagsorry siya nang makalabas. Ang haba na rin pala ng pila ng CR.
When she reaches the covered backyard, ang lakas na talaga ng ulan. Parang dumating na nga talaga ang bagyo.
Then she sees everybody drinking coffee. Paglingon niya, si Lenard pala ang pasimuno, namimigay ito nang mala coffee shop na kape, gamit ang coffeemaker nila Tom.
Nagenjoy naman ang mga guest sa pakulong ito habang ibinibida ni Lenard kung paano siya naging barista dati.
"Well, I worked for 3 coffee shops before. Wala eh. Hirap ng buhay."
Miala chose to sit quite far from where Lenard is doing his exhibitions. Pero hindi niya maiwasang makinig sa kwento nito. Napansin niyang puro mga kaibigan na lang din nila ang natitirang nandoon at wala na ang mga matatanda.
"Habang naghahanap ako ng stints na pwedeng kuhanan o i-shoot, I was working as a barista. Okay din. Marami din akong natutunan."
Nagulat na lang si Miala when she hears her name.
"Ikaw, Grace? Would you like some coffee?"
Halos hindi makalingon si Miala. Unang una dahil tinawag siya nitong Grace. And he only calls her that name during their intimate moments. Pero ngayon nagbago na ang lahat. All Miala can think about kapag sinasabi ang second name niya ay si Graciella. His saving grace.
Pangalawa, alam naman ni Lenard na hindi siya nagka-kape. She's the tea type of person kaya hindi niya alam kung sadyang iniinis lang ba siya nito, o nakalimutan na lang talaga ni Lenard ang bagay na ito.
Hindi niya ito sinagot and pretends like she didn't hear anything.
"Mia. Ano ba?"
Even the Jane and Tom can feel the tension. So, it's Jane who mediated. Lumapit ito kay Miala. Lumapit ito kay Miala.
"Kalma lang. Hayaan mo lang siya."
Nag-usap na lang din sila ng ibang bagay to help her distract her thoughts nang may naramdaman si Miala na naglalakad papunta sa kanya.
Ibaba ang tasa sa harap niya.
Tasa ito ng tsaa.
It's Lenard.
*later*