If I Fall Chapter 16: A Thing With First Impressions
JULY
(Barbs' POV)
MONDAY. After ng Honors.
Second round na ng Lessons With Nerdy Sawy (Savvy talaga yun guys, pero mas trip kong Sawy. Ang bantot! HAHAHA!) dito sa rooftop. Actually may meeting pa sila ng varsity kaya chill muna ako dito mag-isa. Good thing dinala ko yung laptop ko! I'm now watching The Vampire Diaries Season 2 Episode 8: Rose. KYAAAAAAAA! :"> Isa ang TVD sa fave series ko ngayon! Sinong nanonood sa inyo ng TVD? DELENA forever ako! Kahit sa libro sina Stefan at Elena ang lumaloveteam, kay Damon pa rin ako! ;)
Huhuhu naiiyak ako dito swear! Eto kasi yung scene na nagtapat si Damon kay Elena. Teka, para makarelate kayo, eto dialogue nila:
Damon: I just have to say something.
Elena: What'd you have to say with my necklace?
Damon: Because what I'm about to say is probably the most selfish thing I've ever said in my life.
Elena: Damon don't go there.
Damon: No. I just have to say it once. You just need to hear it. I love you, Elena. That is because I love you, I can't be selfish with you. Why you can't notice? I don't deserve you, but my brother does. *kisses Elena on the forehead* God, I wish you didn't have to forget this. But you do.
TENGENEENG UNREQUITED LOVE YAN!!! Huhuhuhu di ko talaga mapigilang maluha dito ;((( Goodness walang tao nga-
"And look who's crying," may nagsalita sa tabi ko.
"Ay t@ngina!!!" napatingin ako sa gilid. Shet, si Tuko pala! Muntik ko na mabitawang tong laptop ko. Pinunanasan ko agad yung luha ko. Uh oh. This is bad! "Sa susunod nga wag kang mangugulat!"
"Eh nakakatuwa kang panoorin na umiiyak e! I can't believe this, ang BatCom, umiiyak dahil sa Vampire Diaries? Shet, dapat pala vinideohan ko muna!"
I glared at him. "What the f*ck! Ako nga tigilan mo!!!"
Umupo sya 3 paces mula sa kinauupuan ko, enough space para magkarinigan kaming dalawa. "I really can't believe that you're watching sappy romance series. Sa classroom puro Supernatural and How I Met Your Mother ang naririnig ko mula sayo. Yun pala... you're pining over Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder."
"OW. Pano mo naman sila nakilala ha? I know! You're watching it too!"
"Hoy asa ka. I have 2 sisters. Every Tuesday night silang nag-aabang nyan sa ETC. Umayos ka nga."
"Fine fine fine. So.. what's our topic for the day, Nerdy Sawy?"
Tinignan na naman nya ako ng masama. " Ewan ko sayo. SAV-VY nga yon e."
"Parang ANSAVEH?"
"Seriously?"
"Fine, I'll shut Sensei. Ano nga?"
"Character depth."
SAY WHAAAAAAAAT? Character depth? Meganun? Tumahimik na lang ako at nakinig sa kanya.
Tuko: So.. let's take Vampire Diaries for example. Bakit mo yan pinapanood?
Me: *sniggers* Ako tinatanong mo dyan? Ha? Ako? Of course mehn! IAN SOMERHALDER! The guy has SEX spelled all over his being!! Hello! And the cast too! Walang patapon!!!
Tuko: Any sensible reason?
Me: Fine. First of all, hindi ako nakikisabay sa vampire bandwagon ha. Nabasa ko na yung VD series nung elementary, dahil sa mga ate ko. Waaaay back before Edward Cullen sprouted from nowhere. Bakit VD? Kasi.. deeper yung story nya. Walang dull sa kanila, except for Bonnie, na hindi ko talaga gusto. And take the Salvatore bros, they're holding on for what's left of their humanity because of Elena. Deep, Casabueno. Deep.
Tuko: So, you can identify with the characters?
Me: Of course, lalo kay Elena. Not that I'm torn between two hot guys, as if that's possible *laughs* Syempre kaya ka mapapamahal sa isang show or story, kasi may connection ka sa character. You could see yourself to that character. Salamin ba. Teka anong point ba ng tanong mo?
Tuko: Well I have this theory. I think every girl goes through a forbidden guy phase. It explains why vampires are so popular right now.
Me: Okay enough with the vamp talk. Anong konek nun sa character depth?
Tuko: Isa sa points yan ng character depth, ang connection between the reader and character. Remember, the thing with connection? Kasi pag gumagawa ka ng character, palaging may basis yan. Kagaya mo. You based Denn to me.
Me: As if I have a choice!!!
Tuko: Eh bakit mo binase si Denn sakin?
Me: Coz you're the jock type. Yun ang peg ko kay Denn.
Tuko: Mas jock type si Wes kesa sakin. His reputation, remember?
Me: Barkada ko yung tao hoy. Oh wait, barkada mo rin pala yun. Tsaka masyadong obvious pag si Wes ang peg ko, the womanizer? Hah. I don't want Denn to be like that.
Tuko: Okay fine, I won't press on that subject anymore. I re-read your notes.. yeah. Mas interested ako kay Leiza. Or shall I say.. you?
Me: What do you mean by me?
Tuko: Oh come on. Wag mo na i-deny. Ikaw si Leiza, right?
Me: I AM NOT.
Tuko: Sige, hindi ikaw si Leiza. Kunwari naniniwala ako. Pero you can't convince me. Read the notes.. and all of them describes.. Barbara Ramirez!
Me: HINDI NGA AKO YAN EH!!! ANO BA!!!! Look, I based Leiza sa iba't ibang kakilala noh!
Tuko: And mainly yourself. Ang pinagkaiba nyo lang ni Leiza ay hindi sya tomboy, magaling sya sa Math, magaling syang kumanta at... nahalikan sya ng crush nya. Which.. wala sayo. Ni isa.
Me: HA. Bahala ka dyan, basta hindi ako si Leiza!!! Now can you get to your point. Please?
Tuko: Fine. *sighs* Nagbabasa ka naman ng ibang stories right? Ano ang mga napapansin mong common sa characters? Sa main characters lalo?
Me: Depende sa story. Tsaka marami akong binabasa!!! ANO BA!!!
Tuko: I'll give you three. First, madalas parehas gwapo/maganda ang mga bida. Syempre, mas nakakakilig kung pogi yung lalaki diba? Para habang iniimagine mo yung story na ikaw yung female protagonist, feel na feel mo. Pero para maiba yung story sa karamihan, gagawan ng twist. Gagawing panget si Girl and vice-versa. Kung parehas panext, may BUT na lang palagi. Bagay sila BUT... may sabit si Girl or something.
Second, napansin mo ba na karamihan ng teen romance stories, may mayaman sa characters? Nung tipong tulad nating nasa highschool, palaging nasa bar or nagdadrive ng magagarang sasakyan. I'm not saying na hindi nangyayari yun in real life, but come on. Exaggerated masyado. Most of the time lalaki yung mayaman. Tapos yung yaman nila minsan unrealistic na. Sobrang yaman! Tipong may-ari ng chains of restaurants, hotels, shipping lines, airlines.. malls.. anak ng isang business tycoon.. Possible naman yan kaso.. reality bites, dear.
Lastly, yung sa iba, minsang sobrang perfect ng bida. Si Boy super gwapo, matalino.. si Girl multi-talented.. Alam mo ba, sa tingin ko, pinaglalagay ng ibang writers sa stories nila yung frustrations nila sa buhay. Mga pangarap na hindi maabot ba. Gusto nila maging. Kasi interesting yung taong gusto nila maging sila, maganda gawan ng kwento. Coz let's face it, we can't write our own story. Hindi natin kontrolado ang nangyayari. So sa story natin ibubuhos lahat ng WHAT IF. What if maging sikat na model ako? What would happen? Wait, does this make sense?
FOR THE SECOND TIME, SPEECHLESS NA NAMAN AKO SA PINAGSASABI NYA. SAN NYA TO NAKUKUHA!?! I MEAN.. SYA NA OBSERVANT!
Me: Okay.. bottomline?
Tuko: Kulang sa character depth sina Leiza at Denn. Wala masyadong background story sa kanila, especially kay Denn. Example, yung 3-day bet nila. Hindi mo naelaborate. Ang lagay tuloy biglang kinainisan ni Leiza si Denn. Bakit? Of course, dahil sa stolen kiss yun. Pero bakit? Anong underlying cause? Minsan kung masyadong close ang character mo, madali syang kakabagutan. Fine, he's the McDreamy one pero lalaos din yan. Do something with his character before it's too late.
Me: What? Eh planado na si Denn! I even based him on you!!!
Tuko: That explains one thing: you shouldn't have based him on me. As you can see, I am the boring jock. Wes should've been the best choice.
And with that, he left me again with tons of questions inside my perky brain.
-----
PALABAS NA AKO ng school gate nang makita ko sina Janine at Chester galing sa Pop's.
Me: *shouts* HAPOOOOOOOOOON!
9: TOMBY!!!
Me: San kayo?
Chester: Pauwi na. Ikaw?
Me: Tsss. Tinatamad pako umuwi! Wala pa sina Ate dun, katakot sa bahay.
9: Scaredy-cat!
Me: Ngeee corny mo.
Chester: Tambay ka na lang samin! *to 9* Sama ka?
9: Awww I can't! Skype date with Dad later e. Next time!
Me: Sige punta ako! Hoy Janine. Next time ah!
-
Tahimik lang sa bahay nina Chester. Only child lang kasi sya at parehas nasa hospital ang parents nya. Neurologist ang mama nya at cardiologist ang papa nya. Grabe noh? No wonder ang talino nitong bestfriend ko! ;))) Grade 1 bestfriend ko na tong si Chester. Tapos Grade 2 namin nakilala si Wes and ever since kami ang Tatlong Pugo! Actually hindi ako kalbo nung bata ah! Kaya ako yung 3rd pugo kasi bilugan daw mata ko. UPAKAN KO KAYA YUN!!!
*sa kwarto ni Chester*
Chester: Ba't mo dala laptop mo? Weird.
Me: Haaa? May ginawa lang kami para sa Herald kanina. Hey! Nadownload ko na nga pala yung SummerSlam 2004! Kopyahin mo?
Chester: Wait, hanapin ko lang harddisk ko.
Alam mo ba kung anong first impression ko kay Chester nung Grade 1? Lampa. Yup! Pano ko ba sya nameet? After ng flag ceremony nun, nadapa sya sa pila. Walang tumutulak or something, basta nadapa na lang sya. Weak noh? Pero wag ka!! Ngayon? Hala ka. Varsity na si Kuya! At Training Officer pa sa CAT! Sinong lampa ngayon? XD
Hindi naman kami magkasundo sa lahat ng bagay. Nakakaumay naman kung sobrang similar kayo ng bestfriend mo diba? Ewan, mas gusto ko varied kami ni Chester sa likes and dislikes. Para hindi ka mabore sa tao. Para meron ka palaging malalaman na bago. Para exciting!
Sa kalagitnaan ng pagcopy nya ng SummerSlam...
Chester: May napansin nga pala ako.
Me: Hmmm?
Chester: Bumabait ka na kay Cyrus ngayon ah!
Me: *kunwari wala lang* Sus, nakikisama lang =)))
Chester: First time ah. Nanggaling pa sa non-conformist.
Me: I hate it when you call me that.
Chester: Eh totoo naman, ever since bata pa tayo ayaw mo na makiconform. Tignan mo nung Grade 1. Sabi ni Ms. Pineda dapat color pink sa girls at blue sa boys nung Foundation Day. Ayaw mo nung dalawang kulay kaya nagwhite ka. Nung Grade 6 Grad Ball! Sinabing wag magsusuot ng black pero ganun ginawa mo. At sinong di makakalimot last year? Ikaw lang ang di pumunta sa JS Prom natin! IKAW LANG!
Me: Weird ba yun Ches? So first impression mo sakin e non-conformist agad? Hello Grade 1 ka pa lang nun! Alam mo na agad yung 'non-conformist'? IKAW NA NERD!!!
Chester: Sira. Grade 3 ko lang nalaman yun. Anyway.. hindi naman yun yung first impression ko sa'yo. Sabi ko sa sarili ko nung una kitang makita.. "Matapang masyado tong batang to. Katakot!" Pero weeks later makikita kita sa may playground, umiiyak dahil nahulog yung Marie nya sa damuhan.
Me: So now you don't find me feisty or what?
Chester: Nandun pa rin yun. Pero syempre 'first impressions don't last' chorva. Matapang ka pa rin, mas pa nga e. Pero yung tapang mo ngayon, may sense. Kasi pinapakita mo na may something kang pinaninidigan. That's what I love about you.
Me: G@go, kung makapag-I love you to! Maghanap ka na nga ng syota!!!
Chester: Di pa ko tapos! Ba't nga pala ayaw mo kay Cyrus? Mabait naman yun ah! Ngayong highschool lang naman sya nandito.
Me: Mayabang kasi sya.
Chester: First impression mo ba yan?
Me: Actually.. nung nakita ko sya nung first day, sabi ko "Ay magiging habulin to dito. Kaso sya yung type na subtle lang. Undercovers." Pero t@ngina, October syota na si Tatin! Kung anu-ano na pinaggagawa! Sayang. It doesn't last.
Chester: Mas malala naman si Wes kesa kay Cyrus ah!
Me: Understood ko naman yung kay Wes. Tong epal kong seatmate ang hindi.
Chester: Mabait naman si Cyrus ah!
Me: Apparently not to me.
Chester: One month pa lang naman e. 9 months to go, B. Marami pang pwedeng mangyari ;)
---
TUESDAY.
(Breaktime)
(Rocky's POV)
Eto talaga ang perks ng pagiging class president: palagi ikaw ang nauutusan. Hmmm. Ako lang ba ang nag-eenjoy na inuutusan? HAHAHA! =)))Wala lang. Gusto ko kasing may ginagawa ako for my classmates. At guys, hindi ako mapapel. Mind you.
Kagaya ngayon, nautusan ako ni Ms. Maniano na ayusin yung groupings for our Food Fest next next Monday. Aba, nandito na rin lang ako, ako na hahanap ng groupmates ko! XD
(classroom)
Me: *dinikit sa corkboard yung groupings* Archi! Eto na yung groupings natin for the Food Fest. Since alam kong per barkada ang gusto nyo, ganun na nga ang ginawa ko. Okay ba?
Nagsi-YES! ang mga kaklase ko. WOOOOH! Galing ko talaga! Pinagkaguluhan ng iba yung pinost ko, samantalang sina Barbs nakaupo na lang. Bumalik ako sa upuan ko.
Barbs: You're so manipulative.
Me: I did it for us!
Barbs: *kunwari nandidiri* Shut up.
(pumasok sina Chester, Cyrus at Wes sa classroom)
Chester: Wow! Groupings! *silip* Nice, groupmates tayo!
Cyrus: *tinignan din yung groupings* Teka.. ba't wala si Wes sa listahan?
Napangisi na lang ako sa sinabi ni Cyrus. AT LAST! May nakapansin din! Para makatakas pansamantala sa gulo, nakinig na lang ako ng music at kunwaring natutulog. Wala pa sigurong 20 seconds may kumakalabit na sakin. Kunwari wala akong nararamdaman :D
Wes: *binira yung earphones ko* HOY RACHEL ANNE!!!
Me: *looks up slowly* Whaaaat? Hello, I am sleeping here!
Wes: Bakit wala ako sa listahan?
Me: Aba malay ko!!!
Wes: Ikaw gumawa nun ah!!!
Me: Wala kasi yung pangalan mo sa class record ni Ms. Maniano. Too bad. *grins*
Wes: *nawawalan na ng pasensya* Leche. Ayos mong kausap ah!
Me: You know me *winks*
9: Besh! Sali mo na si Wes sa group natin oh. Kawawa naman e!
Wes: YES!! Thanks 9!
Me: NO.
Barbs: NAKO RACHEL ANNE WAG KA NGANG MAARTE!!!!
Chester: Sali mo na. If I know sinadya mong di ilagay si Wes e.
Me: I did not! Sakto na tayo guys, 6 na.
Vivien: Rocky... *insert her puppy eyes*
Barbs: *to Cyrus* Groupmate ka namin! Makialam ka naman!!!
Cyrus: Oo nga Rocky. Makakatulong din naman si Wes.
Me: *stands up* BAKIT BA MASYADO KAYONG HAPIT DYAN!!! FINE!! GROUPMATE KA NA NAMIN!!!! Leche.
Wes: *victory dance* Yeeeeees! Salamat guys! At dahil dyan, I offer my house for our test run! Ano, okay ba?
Me: Fine. You win.
Wes: I know you can't resist me, Ms. Rodriguez.
Bago pumasok si Ms. DV, humabol pa ako ng isang palo ng Physics book sa ulo ni Wes. Makaganti's a b*tch.
---
WEDNESDAY. NORMAL POV
MAPEH Class.
Since Wednesday is Music Day.. may activity ngayon si Mr. Ronsillas sa Archi. Nung highschool naman siguro naranasan nyo na kumanta para sa Music class diba? Pupunta ka sa harapan.. minsan may gitara.. madalas acapella.. kakantahin yung mga kantang gusto mo o patama sa crush mo sa classroom (and you're hoping na magets nya na para sa kanya yun) at kung anu-ano pa.
Ayan ang magaganap ngayon sa mga bida ;)
-
Unang kakanta si Wes. As usual, inaasar na naman sya ni Rocky.
Rocky: *laughs* Hoy Wes, kakanta ka ba ng baby? Bagay sa'yo mehn!
Wes: *death glare* Lul, ayos mo. Marunong naman ako maggitara.
Rocky: Reaaaally? Sige nga!
Wes: *stands up* Talaga.
Pagdating ni Wes sa harap ng klase... narinig ni Rocky ang intro ng isa sa mga paborito nyang kanta nung 2nd year..
It's too late baby there's no turning around
I got my hands in my pocket and my head in the cloud
This is how I do, when I think about you
I never thought that you could break me apart
I keep a sinister smile and a hole in my heart
You want to get inside, then you can get in line
But not this time
Coz you caught me offguard
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
I feel the weakness coming on
Never thought so good to feel so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turn me around
I'm feeling like a newborn child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated, I was so jaded
-
SUMUNOD naman ang duet nina 9 at Chester. Todo prepare ang dalawa kahapon para sa kanta nila ngayon
You're a part-time lover and a full-time friend
The monkey on your back is the latest trend
I don't see what anyone can see
In anyone else but you
I kiss you on the brain in the shadow of a train
I kiss you all starry eyed, my body swinging from side to side
I don't see what anyone can see
In anyone else but you
Here is the church and here is the steeple
We sure are cute for two ugly people
I don't see what anyone can see
In anyone else but you
Pebbles forgive me, and the trees forgive me
So why can't you forgive me
I don't see what anyone can see
In anyone else but you
You're always try to keep it real
I'm in love with how you feel
I don't see what anyone can see
In anyone else but you
-
Minamaliit naman ni Wes si Rocky.
Wes: Pipiyok ka.
Rocky: I'm not. Watch me.
Here you are now, fresh from your wars
Back from the rdge of time
And all that you were stripped to the bone
I thought you'd want to know
That when you feel the world is crashing
All around your feet
Come running headlong into my arms
Breathless
I'll never judge you, I can only love you
Come down, running headling into my arms
Breathless
So glad to see you smiling, so good to hear you laugh
I think that you found you even missed yourself
I'm only asking this because I think
That truth be told, o
You'll never go again..
-
Si Barbs naman ang kasunod, with Chester on guitars.
Look at the stars, look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they are all yellow
I came along, I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called yellow
So then I took my turn
Oh a lot of things I've done
And it was all yellow
Your skin, oh yeah your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
Did you know.. you know I love you so?
You know I love you so..
-
Kasunod naman si Cyrus. Nag-aabang na ang Archi girls maliban kay Barbs.
Lalalalalalalalalalala lalalalalalala
Now that I've lost everything to you
You say you want to start something new
And it's breaking my heart that you're leaving
Baby I'm grieving
But if you wanna leave take good care
Hope you Hope you make a lot of nice freinds out there
Just remember there's
A lot of bad and beware
La...la...la...la...la...baby I love you.
Si Vivien naman :)
Ika'y nakikita ngunit hindi mahawakan
Inakalang nandyan ka pero wala naman pala
Ilang taon na tayong naghihintay para magsama
Ilang taon pa ang kinakailangang lumipas
Gusto ng maidlip para makapanaginip
Umalis sa mundong totoo at puno ng gulo
Para kahit sandali, ika'y makatabi
Para kahit papaano, 'di ka na lalayo
sa mundong totoo at puno ng gulo
Para kahit sandali, ika'y makatabi
Para kahit papaano, 'di ka na lalayo
Para kahit na hindi
Tayo sa huli
Sa aking mga panaginip
Tayo'y magwawagi.
---
(Rocky's POV)
Hanggang breaktime LSS pa rin ako sa kinanta ni Cyrus. Elibs e!
"Ooohh baby baby it's a wild world.. It's hard to get by just upon a smile.." di ko talaga napigilang kumanta!
"Wow, di makaget over?"
Si Cyrus! Pinuntahan ko sya sa locker nya.
Me: *laughs* I'm impressed. You know Cat Stevens?
Cyrus: Naman. Kaso alam ng iba yung version ng Mr. Big.
Me: Ayan! I am really impressed!
You're not like most basketball jocks. Well exception kayo ni Chester. Unlike oth-
Cyrus: Unlike Wesley?
Me: Damn right. Actually, that song changed my first impression of you.
Cyrus: Are you high? *laughs*
Me: Di ah! Kasi.. alam mo yun. For 3 years, akala ko katulad ka nila, the standard basketball jock. Na girlfriend ang pinakamagandang babae sa school. Sa movies and TV series lang yan diba? Wala lang. I'm amazed. Okay ka naman pala.
Cyrus: I was wrong about myself, too. I could be better pala.
Me: Really? And ginulat mo ko, you're friends with Barbs! Heard the Tatin incident last week. Winner!
Cyrus: Ewan ko ba kung ba't ko tinulungan yun. Kaya naman nya sarili nya. Must be because si Tatin yung umapi sa kanya.
Me: Still, I can't believe kinaya mo ugali ni Barbs! Alam mo ba nung elementary, sina Wes at Chester lang ang lalaking nakakausap na lalaki nyan. Di naman sa may phobia sya sa lalaki. Ewan! Bilib ako sayo, isang buwan lang! Anong ginawa mo dun?
Cyrus: *laughs* Ewan. Di ko alam. Actually wala naman akong ginawa e. Seriously.
Me: Naaawa nga ko dun, baka tumandang dalaga yun.
Cyrus: Whaaaat! Ang bata pa kaya nun! 17 pa lang ba sya?
Me: Turning 17, sa Halloween. Ang stubborn kasi ni Barbs e. Kung anong gusto nya, ayun. Dapat masunod. Pag nagdecid e sya, final na. *sighs* Gusto ko lang naman na maayos na lovelife para saming lahat.
Cyrus: Masyadong maaga para sabihin yan, Rachel. Malay mo, this year will change everything. Endless possibilities.
Me: Yeah, I know. Sana nga may mangyaring weird para mabago lahat. For a good change. :)))
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(A/N: Took me long enough! Comment and vote guys!)