Silas is good at disappearing during recess and lunch. Bago ko pa siya maayang sumabay sa akin sa pagkain ay palagi siyang naglalaho na parang bula.
I could look for him. May isang lugar na ako na sigurado akong pinupuntahan niya. The gym, what else? Pero hindi ako nag-abalang pumunta dahil inaya ako ng mga kaklase kong babae.
Nung lunch naman ay katulad ng nakagawian, kasama ko ang mga kapatid ko maliban kay Hyon at ang pinsan namin na si Ate Lavie.
That school day ended with me saying goodbye to him. It actually made me happy when he said it back to me, too.
The next morning, I woke up earlier than I usually do. Naunahan ko sa pag-ayos at pagkain ang mga kapatid ko.
My parents questioned me again why I'm going to school earlier, I didn't lie this time. I just told them that I feel like it. Hindi naman nila ako pinigilan. Ipinahatid nila ako sa driver namin.
My mood brightened when I saw Silas in our classroom. He's here and he's alone! Walang epal. Lumaki ang ngiti ko.
He's got a book placed on top of his desk. He's reading again. I guess he's into that stuff, huh.
I closed the door behind me. That caused Silas to lift his head and turn to the door way. Our eyes immediately met.
"Hi!" I cheerfully greeted. Lumapit ako sa pweso naming dalawa. I brought down my bag, hanging it on the back of the chair in front of me.
He was looking at me expectantly. Like he already knew I'd say something to him and he's just waiting for it.
"Are you always this early?" I asked him.
He gently nodded. "I'm a morning person."
"Really?" I grimaced. "Ako, I like mornings, but I don't like being forced to wake up. Gusto ko kusa akong magigising."
Silas didn't say anything. Itinukod ko ang siko sa ibabaw ng desk ko at pumalumbaba abang nakatingin lang sa kanya. He's looking straight back at me.
"You're not shy around me anymore." I meekly smiled, still looking at him. Nagiging hilig ko na yata ang titigan siya. No one can blame me though. He's too gorgeous not to look at. "Pero dapat lang yan. We're already friends. I want you to be comfortable spending time with me."
"I'm comfortable." he nodded.
My smile turned into a grin. I shook my head to shake off my silly expression. "Do you have other friends here other than me?"
He shook his head. I frowned because of it. "Why?"
"I was raised in New York. I just recently moved here in the Philippines."
"Really? But you're good in Tagalog for someone who was raised in the West. Why did you move here?" I asked.
"My mom... was a Filipina. She would always talk to me in Filipino. She... passed away last year, and my father decided it'd be best if I'll be here with him."
My heart suddenly felt heavy. Is this why he's got a world of his own? He's still mourning? He's still too hurt to welcome new people in his life?
Sabagay, new people means you're officially moving on. I don't think it'd be easy to let go of both the person and pain. Kahit na masakit, at least nararamdaman mo pa rin kahit na nawala na sa'yo diba?
"You miss her." I quietly said.
"Everyday." he nodded.
Hindi ko na alam ang isasagot pa roon. It's too early for such a heavy topic, but it felt nice that he opened up to me. Pakiramdam ko ay tunay na tunay na talaga ang pagkakaibigan naming dalawa.
"Do you wanna know a secret?" I asked him with a haughty smile.
His forehead creased. "Secret?"
I sheepishly grinned at him. Lumapit ako sa aking bag at binuksan iyon para kunin ang isang sketch pad. I've never shown this to anyone. Not my family. Not even my own twin knows about this.
I feel like it's a hobby that is completely out of my character. Na kapag nalaman ng iba ay paniguradong pagtatawanan ako.
Inilatag ko ang sketchpad sa ibabaw ng desk niya. Mas idinikit ko ang sariling upuan sa kanyang upuan. I opened the cover of the pad and the first sketch welcomed our sight.
"You did this?" nakaangat ang mga kilay ni Silas, may pagkamangha sa mukha niya habang nakatingin sa akin.
"Yup. It's a sketch of my parents." I answered.
Silas brought his eyes back to the sketch and lifted his hand. He traced the drawing with his fingers.
"You can turn the pages." sabi ko rito.
Agad naman niyang ginawa iyon. Inililipat niya ang pahina pagkatapos niyang tingnan ang bawat sketch. I can sketch a lot of things, but I mostly sketch and design houses, especially my dream house.
Ang nasa huling pahina ay ang dream house ko. He took his time, drinking in every details of my sketch. He even touched the part where I wrote 'dream house' on top. A small smile formed on his lips.
"I want to be an architect. And you're the first one to know that." I chuckled.
Inangat ni Silas ang mga mata niya sa akin. Tumango siya. Seryoso ang kanyang buong mukha. "It'll be our secret."
"Promise?" I feigned innocence and lifted my pinky finger to tease him.
Niloloko ko lang siya pero hindi ko akalain na walang alinlangan niyang inangat ang kamay. He locked his pinky finger with mine.
"Promise." he said.
I looked at him with wide eyes. I shook my head and laughter emitted from me. In return, he stared at me with warmth.
Simula nung araw na iyon ay naging ganoon ang nakagawian namin. I go to the school early to spend time with him. Minsan ay nag-uusap kami, madalas ay nagbabasa siya ng libro habang ako ay nagske-sketch lang.
If I'm not with a boy, my friends, or my siblings, I'll be spending time with him. I sometimes hang out with him during recess. Basta-basta pinupuntahan ko lang siya sa kadalasan niyang tinatambayan.
Ngayong recess ay siya ang kasama ko sa gym. Nakaupo siya sa isang monoblock habang ako naman ay nakadantay sa railings at tinitingnan ang quadrangle.
There were sixteen pairs of students there. They were practicing for the cotillion for the upcoming Junior and Senior Promenade. Ang baduy nga tingnan. Who'd want to be a part of that stupid dance?
Kung ako ang may prom, I'd probably be at the dark part of the venue, or a room if it's in a hotel, and I'd be surely making out with my hot date. Or, I'd sneak in liquors with my friends.
Umiling-iling ako at tumalikod sa railing. Silas is still sitting on the monoblock. He's reading the book he was holding. It's not what he usually reads. Text book namin iyon. Nag-a-advance reading na naman kaya siya?
"What are you doing?" I asked as I walked towards where he was.
"Reviewing for the unit test in Filipino."
"Ahhh..." I nodded, completely disinterested.
"Did you review?" he asked.
I sheepishly smiled at him. Hindi ako nagsalita pero sa ngiti kong ito ay alam niya na ang sagot.
"Laurene..." Silas trailed in a slightly scolding tone.
"Raphael." I copied his tone, and then laughed. "Madali lang yan hulaan."
"You should study." he softly instructed.
"Pa-kopyahin mo na lang ako." sabi ko.
"Laurene." he called again.
"Fine. Hindi na. Sa iba na lang." umirap ako sa kanya at ngumiwi. "Ang damot nito."
Huminga nang malalim si Silas at umiling. Ngumiti ako at umupo sa bakanteng monoblock malapit sa kanya.
"Gusto mo sumabay ng lunch sa amin ng mga kapatid ko? My twin wants to meet you." I asked.
"Next time." he shook his head.
"Pang ilang next time mo na yan." umirap ako rito.
He's always like this. Ilang buwan na nga ang lumipas. February na pero hindi pa rin siya nagkakaroon ng kaibigan maliban sa akin.
A few guys in our section tried, but Silas seemed to have secluded himself from other people with the exception of me. Or maybe he just didn't click with them. Sabagay, majority of my guys classmates are jackass. Silas is too good for them.
He didn't join our field trip. Maging Christmas party namin ay hindi siya naki-celebrate. He only ordered someone to drop his gift for our monito-monita and his gift to me. Binigyan niya ako ng sketchpad. My gift was a framed portrait of him that I sketched.
Sinubukan kong pilitin si Silas na sumama sa akin sa canteen pero ayaw niya talaga. Hindi ko naman siya kayang hilahin. He's too tall and heavy for me. My height is just 5"4 and I've got an average body frame for my height and I don't lift heavy weights.
Nandoon na silang lahat sa table nang makarating ako. They even bought food for me, iyon nga lang hindi nila ako hinintay sa pagkain. Nagtagal kasi ako sa pangungulit kay Silas.
"L, what's this I'm hearing that you'll be going on a date with Hunter this Valentine's?" my twin asked. Classmate niya si Hunter, kaya hindi ako nagtataka kung paano niya nalaman iyon.
"Pumunta siya sa room ko. Inaya niya ako. I agreed."
"He's a player."
"If he's a player, then I'm the coach." nakatawang sabi ko sa kambal ko. "And besides, if he hurts me. I can either handle him or call on you three to defend my honor."
"How lucky. I wish Dash will mature faster. Para may mag defend din ng honor ko." Ate Lavie giggled.
Kumunto ang noo ni Kuya Xavi sa sinabi ni Ate.
"We're here for you, too, Ate Lavie. Especially Kuya Xavi. Kapag may nagpaiyak sa'yo, siguradong deretso sila sa morgue." tawa ng lumalamon na si Zeno.
"Wala akong maasahan sa Kuya mo, Zeno. Baka nga siya pa magpaiyak sa akin." maarteng umirap si Ate Lavie kay Kuya.
"When did I ever make you cry, Vie?" Kuya raised a brow at her and smirked. "Paiyakin sa ligaya, baka pa."
"Right, X. Right" sarkastikong sabi ni Ate. Sumimangot si Kuya Xavi dahil doon. Mukhang iritado. Gusto kong matawa. Madali talagang ma-pikon si Kuya.
Mukhang napansin ni Ate Lavie iyon. Tumawa siya at tinusok ng tinidor ang maliit na chunk ng potato sa menudo at inilapit iyon sa bibig ni Kuya Xavi.
"Peace." nakangiting sabi ni Ate. Kahit na suplado pa rin ang mukha ni Kuya ay nakuha niya pa rin kainin ang isinubo sa kanya.
Napailing na lang ako at tumuloy sa pagkain.
On Valentine's Day, may kanya-kanya kaming plano. My twin and Zeno stayed at home. Si Kuya Xavi ay may sariling lakad. My parents went on a date. At ako, may date ng hapon.
After lunch, I got ready for the date. Sinundo ako ni Hunter sa bahay. We just took the taxi for the date that Hunter planned.
I thought it'd be somewhere exciting but he just brought me to the mall. At para mas lalo pang maging gasgas ay bumili pala siya ng ticket para sa sine. It's not yet time, so we walked around the mall. Kumain kami sa isang dessert place para magpalipas ng oras.
He bored me to death! Hindi siya masaya kausap. The whole time, I was thinking of ways to escape this date. Nagtiis na lang ako.
Bago tumuloy sa cinema ay dumaan muna kami sa malapit na restroom. He excused himself for a moment. I don't have business in the girl's room, so I stayed outside.
Habang nakatayo ay nahanap ng mga mata ko ang isang pamilyar na mukha mula sa di kalayuan. He just got out of Fully Booked, holding a brown paper bag. Tinitigan ko pa nang matagal para makasigurado na siya nga iyon.
It's really him!
My spirit uplifted. I quickly walked towards his way. He didn't see me because he's busy fumbling with his phone.
"Silas!" I called when I finally neared him.
Umangat ang ulo niya nang marinig ang pagtawag ko sa kanyang pangalan. His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw me.
"Laurene." he took steps towards me, closing the distance between us. He kept his phone in his pocket.
"Wow." I said, looking at him from head to toe. Ito ang unang beses ko siyang nakita na hindi naka-school uniform. It was nice seeing him in less baggy clothes.
Simpleng shirt, pants, at converse lang naman ang suot niya. But still... Mas lalo siyang gumwapo sa akin sa ayos niya.
"What are you doing here? May date ka?" nakangising tanong ko rito, mapang-asar ang tono.
"No. I bought a new book." his forehead creased. It's his time to check me out. His light brown eyes carefully grazed me from head to toe. It made me smug.
I know I looked extra pretty today. Nag-kulot kasi ako ng buhok at naglagay ng kaonting make-up. I wore a simple but classy pale pink dress, partnering it with a strappy white sandals.
"How about you?" he asked, quickly bringing his eyes back to mine.
"Date." I scrunched my nose. Lumingon ako sa likod para tingnan kung nasa paligid na ang date ko. He's not yet here...
An idea instantly appeared in my head. My entire face lit up. I grinned and grabbed on Silas' hand.
"Tara, Silas!" I squeezed his hand and pulled him with me.
"Huh? Where are we going?"
I turned my head to look at him, grinning wide. "Date!"