Dahil sa sobrang pagod at sarap ng tulog, na-late ako ng gising kaya I don’t have enough time to prepare for school today, ang aga pa naman ng first subject ko today.
Badtrip.
My dad drop me off sa McDo near the South gate. I have enough time pa naman for take out breakfast. I can manage naman without having breakfast pero mapilit si dad so I have to obey na lang.
As I pushed McDo’s glass door para lumabas na, nakasalubong ko naman sina AVO, Oda, Norbert, Thomas and ofcourse si Jeron na papasok. They look like they came from an early morning practice.
“Hey Erin,” bati ni AVO.
“Hey guys,” I smiled and stepped outside the shop.
“Aga ng pasok mo ah,” said Norbert.
“Yeah, kinda late na nga eh.” I said waving off to them, “See yah guys,” I walked off. Kung hindi lang talaga ako ma-late I would have stayed na lang sana there to eat my breakfast para makita ko pa ng mas matagal si Jeron.
Well, Jeron… hindi nya naman ako pinansin kanina.
Hmp!
I knew it!
Wag kasing magbigay ng meaning!
I gather my thoughts and headed straight to my first subject, turns out, hindi ko din pala makakain yung binili kong breakfast.
Tsk… tsk… tsk…
“Wow! Tamang-tama breakfast!” salubong sa akin ni Bambi pagkakita sa akin. She took the paper bag and started munching on the fries. “Late ka nagising no?”
“Yeah,” I said and handed her the paper bag that contains may pasalubong.
“The rice cake?” she asked with bright eyes.
“Para kang bata,” I said laughing. Nakakahawa talaga ang pagiging bubbly nitong si Bambi.
“Akin lang?” she sounded hopeful.
“Ay, you have to share that with Cath and… I don’t know if seryoso ba talaga the guys that they want din.”
“Ay, wag na sila, bawal yan sa kanila nakakataba!” she said keeping the paper bag closer to her. “Kulang pa nga sa amin ‘to ni Cath.”
“Madaming gutom?” I said laughing. One full small bilao kasi yun ng rice cake. Paano nila uubusin yun ni Cath? Haha
I finished my classes today early, wala kasi yung prof ko ng last subject. May lakad pa naman kami nila Bambi and Cath today. Last week pa naming plan pumunta ng San Beda, they wanted to meet my friends doon. Pero dahil nabakante yung last period ko, I have to wait for Bambi and Cath.
Ano naman kaya ang gagawin ko?
Boring naman pumunta ng library, wala pa naman akong assignments na kelangan gawin. Maingay and madaming tao naman sa Agno and I don’t like the smell of cigarette din. I’m not hungry naman para tumambay sa Starbucks, or sa kahit anong makakainan. Ang dami ko kasing nakain sa Ichiro kaninang lunch break. Bilib talaga ako kila Bambi at Cath dahil bukod sa order namin kanina, nakain pa din nila yung rice cake na dala ko, well, they shared it din naman sa ibang classmates namin.
I was walking through St. Miguel Hall when I fished my phone from my bag, hindi ko pa pala na-o-open itong phone ko since nag-charge ako last night.
I went around the side of the building and sat at a distant bench and put my phone back to life.
Once opened…
Beep!
Beep!
Beep!
….
Ang dami kong message ah!
7 Unread Messages
2 Missed Calls
2 Missed Calls From: 💚Jeron💖
Huhh???
Jeron was calling me???
OMG!
I opened my inbox.
1 Unread Message From: Cath
2 Unread Messages From: Bambi
4 Unread Messages From: 💚Jeron💖
0.o my reaction.
Jeron Texted me again?
I scrolled down and started reading his messages.
Syempre, uunahin kong basahin yung messages ni Jeron J
From: 💚Jeron💖 9:22pm
D ka na nagreply L
Whoaaa! Last night pa to ah!
Second mssage…
From: 💚Jeron💖 9:24pm
R u sleeping na ba?
I’ll col u…
From: 💚Jeron💖 9:29pm
Tulog ka na nga L
Goodnyt!
The three messages were all from last night.
And the latest that he sent was this morning.
From: 💚Jeron💖 7:47am
Gd’ morning! Suplada L
Suplada??? I checked the time of the message, oh that was around the time na nakasalubong ko sila sa Mcdo kanina… hmp! Ako pa yung suplada eh hindi nya nga ako pinansin!
Ako pa ngayon?!
My two other messages were from Bambi earlier this morning, telling me not to forget the rice cake and the other was asking why was I late today, usapan kasi naming mag meet ng mas maaga sana.
Then the last message was from Cath telling me to meet her sa Razon after ng class nya.
Razon?
Again?
Itong babaeng ito itatali ko na sa Razon kakatambay doon!
Sana lang talaga hindi sa 7th floor para makaiwas muna ako kay Jeron. Kakahiya nag-message pa pala siya last night saka tumawag eh, na-lo-bat naman ako kaya hindi ko naman nakita.
Ma-reply-an kaya?
I check my phone for the time.
I have to wait pa naman for two freaking hours!
Wrong timing naman um-absent yung prof ko!
I hit reply, in one of Jeron’s messages.
To: 💚Jeron💖
Sorry 4 d l8 rep, lobat kc.
Didn’t think u’ll txt pa last nyt.
Just now I opened my phone.
Seconds…
A minute…
Some more seconds…
Couple of minutes…
Wala pa ding reply.
Screw this! Bakit ko ba hinihintay yung reply nya?
Ihinagis ko yung cellphone ko sa loob ng bag ko and started flipping through the pages of my book.
Pero couldn’t help but think pa din kung magre-reply or kung nag-reply na kaya siya.
Urgh! I shook my head.
Ano ka ba Erin?!
Then my phone rang!
Halos mag-dive ako sa pag halungkat kung saang parte ba ng bag ko na-shoot yung cellphone ko. Ang gulo at ang daming laman pala ng bag ko. Haha.
Finally! Found it!
Napangiti ako when I saw:
Calling…
💚Jeron💖
He’s calling!
Parang gusto kong mag LA walk sa saya!
Pero I composed myself bago sagutin at baka akalain naman nya excited ako masyado sa tawag nya.
Pero yun naman yung totoo! Wahaha!
Inhale…
“H-hell-o,” I stammered.
“Hi,” Jeron on the other line. Shocks! Lambing naman ng voice nya kahit sa phone.
“Hey,” I didn’t know what to say. “Uhm, sorry pala last night, my phone died. And I didn’t hink you’re going to text pa.”
“Ofcourse I will, hindi ka kaya nag-reply dun sa last message ko.”
“Do I need to pa ba? Wala naman akong natatandaan that you asked a question.” I asked confused.
“Silly, do I need to ask questions pa ba so you will reply?”
“Uhm, I don’t know…” I answered unsure.
“Tapos hindi mo ako pinansin kaninang umaga,” he sounded nagtatampo.
“Uy, ikaw nga yung hindi namansin eh,” ganti ko.
“Kasi hindi mo din ako pinansin, buti pa sila AVO nakakuha ng hi galing sa’yo.”
I smiled, ang cute naman mag-tampo ni Jeron kahit sa phone lang pero parang ang lapit nya lang dahil sa lambing nya magsalita. “Para sa inyo yun lahat.”
“Tapos pinatayan mo pa ako ng phone kagabi when I was calling…”
“What? No!” depensa ko. “ I told you my phone died. Battery drained.” Hindi ba ‘to nakikinig sa sinasabi ko?
“How would I know? Kanina din I tried calling you pero off pa din.”
Ahhh, I can feel him. Parang nasa malapit lang siya. Tagos hanggang phone yung pag-papa-cute nya!
Pag-papa-cute?
Meron nga ba?
Ano ba talaga?
Pero wait… digesting… late na nag-register yung sinabi nya…
Huuuuuwhhhhhaaaaattttt????
He’s calling me pa din kanina???
Haba na talaga ng hair ko!
“Just now I had the time to open my phone. Been busy kasi eh.” Sabi ko na lang.
“Yeah, you look kinda busy to me nga,” he said.
What? Nakikita ba ako nito?
“Yeah, I am busy.” I said flipping through the pages of my book again.
“You’re flipping through your book’s pages very fast, I wonder kung nabasa mo nga.”
Nakikita nya ako!
“Where are you?” I asked nervously. Nagpa-lingon-lingon ako on my left and right.
Wala naman eh, pinagt-trip-an ba ako nito?
Then I heard the busy tone.
“Huh? Pinatayan ako?” hindi ako makapaniwalang tumitig sa cellphone ko.
“Hi Erin!”
OMG!
I looked back…
Slowly…
Parang pang teleserye lang…
Ahahaha
He’s here!
Behind me!
Looking down at me who’s seated at a bench.
Ipnilig ko yung ulo ko to gather my thoughts at hind ipahiya ang sarili.
“You’re here,” I gasped.
Obvious ba Erin?
“Yeah, I am.”
“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Stupid Erin! Dito din siya nag-aaral! “I mean, don’t you have class pa ba?”
“Kakatapos lang,” he said then hopped on the bench and sat next to me. “Ikaw?”
The few students walking ay napapatingin, mostly ladies. Probably wondering kung sino ako at kinakausap ako ni Jeron.
“Last subject’s prof is absent, so free time ko ‘till makalabas sila Bambi and Cath.”
“May lakad kayo?”
“Naka set kaming pumunta ng San Beda later.”
“Ahhh,” he nodded. “Do you miss it there?”
“I miss my friends and also the school na din.”
“And yung kambal?”
“Ha?”
Sinong kambal???
“Semerad’s?” he added.
“Ah yeah, and the kambal.” I smiled. Well, na-miss ko din naman talaga yung dalawa na yun dahil naging ka-close ko din naman sila because my cousin, Dino is friends with them.
Bakit parang nalungkot siya? Or imagination ko lang yun?
Hay ewan.
“How long are you going to wait pa ba for your friends?”
“An hour and a half pa.”
He looked at his watch. “Matagal pa. You hungry?”
“No, I’m good,” I smiled. Feeling ko nga bloated pa ako sa dami ng kinain ko kanina.
“I’m hungry kasi eh,” he said holding his tummy.
Parang gusto kong sundan yung kamay nya!
Urgh! Mag-hunos dili ka Erin! Kung anu-ano ng kalokohan at kahalayan ‘yang pumapasok sa utak mo!
Mahiya ka naman!
“Go ahead and eat.” I told him.
“Samahan mo ako,” nabibingi na ba ako or he sounded naglalambing talaga???
Wag kang ganyan Jeron… please…
Baka hindi kayanin ng nagwawala kong puso at bigla na lang itong mag-malfunction!
“Ha?” wala akong masabi.
He might have taken the chance ng pagkagulat ko kaya kinuha nya yung bag ko na nakapatong sa bench and tugged me with him.
Wala akong maisip kung hindi yung hands namin na magkahawak. Parang hindi ko na alam kung ano ang nangyayari. Nagulat na lang ako na huminto siya at halos masubsob ako sa likod niya.
“Sorry,” we both said in unison.
He smiled down at me. “What do you wanna have?”
I looked around, we’re at Z2! Paanong hindi ko namalayan na nakarating ako in this part of the campus???
Oh, Jeron Teng, and the warmth of his hand!
Whew! Ito ang epekto mo sa akin! Nawawala ako sa tamang katinuan!
“I’m full talaga,” I said. At kahit gutom naman siguro ako eh hindi ko din makukuhang kumain kung ganito kami ka-close sa isa’t isa.
Picture this:
Jeron is holding my Nine West bag on his left hand with his gym bag and holding my hand on his right. And we are standing side by side REAL close!
Parang couple lang???
Stop it Erin! Wag mag-ambisyon!
“Kahit ano,” he said.
“Eh,” I ouldn’t finish what I was supposed to say dahil nag order na siya.
Ending, he got me a milk tea. While he munched on his food. If it weren’t because he is going to need both his hands for eating, hindi nya bibitawan yung hand ko.
Feeling ko lang, or more like… I wished!
Haha.
Even when he took the tay of food and on our way to a table, he somehow managed to balance our bags and the treys on his other hand because he wouldn’t let go of mine. Even when he was paying for the food pa nga eh.
Of course, takaw eksena kami. everyone’s looking, I mean, staring!
I shrugged them off my mind, and enjoy na lang the moment. Baka hindi na maulit eh.
Sayang naman.
Pabayaan na muna nila ako sa kahibangan ko.
Honestly, I don’t drink coffee or tea even hot choco nga hindi masyado. Kapag may topak lang ako. Pero I’m always at Starbucks. Well, Bambi at Cath are there to finish my drinks usually.
We don’t really talk much while he’s eating and I’m occasionally sipping on my milk tea.
“Boring ako no?” all of a sudden he said.
“What?” napapangiti kong balik-tanong. I’m enjoying nga the moment with him, tapos he thinks naman pala that he is boring?
“Boring akong kasama,” he stated.
“Hindi naman, you’re hungry lang talaga siguro,” then we laughed.
“You’re funny,” he said.
“Akala ko ba I’m suplada, now I’m funny na?” biro ko.
“Hindi mo kasi ako pinapansin eh,” he said finishing his food.
“Uy Jeron, earlier when I said, Hi guys, that means kasama ka dun!”
He shook his head.
“Kelangan ng special mention?” biro ko ulit. Napangit siya pero parang nag blush?
Nag BLUSH? Jeron Teng? Nag BLUSH?
Kalokah!
Hindi na ako kakain ng madami, I noted. Nakakapraning pala pag nasobrahan ng busog. Kung anu-anong naiisip mo.
Nagulat pa ako ng mag ring yung phone ko.
Cath Calling….
“Hey,” I answered.
“Hi Erin! Nasaan ka?”
“Z2”
“I thought sa Beda tayo kakain?”
“I just accompanied someone,” I looked up and saw Jeron looking at me. “Are you done na ba?”
“Yeah, I’m with Bambi na.” I looked at my watch, ganoon na kami katagal na magkasama ni Jeron? Ang bilis naman ng oras! Hindi ko man lang naramdaman! “We’ll come over na lang sa Z2 to meet you.”
What? No!
“Uhm, no!” nabigla kong sagot.
Baka makita nilang kasama ko si Jeron.
Eh ano naman???
Pero tatadtarin na naman kasi ako ng tanong ng mga iyon kung bakit kami magkasama. Ang hirap pa naman nilang paliwanagan.
Napakunot naman ang noo ni Jeron.
“I will meet you na lang guys sa Razon, You are there di ba?”
“Yep.”
“Ok, see yah in a bit.”
I hanged up the phone and turned to Jeron. “Thanks for the milk tea. But I really need to go.”
He smiled. “Thanks for accompanying me.”
I stood up.
“I’ll walk you to Razon,” he said and stood up din grabbing our bags with him.
Patay!
“Uhm, ok lang, wag na.” I said as I tried to reach for my bag.
Iniiwas nya ang kamay nya so I won’t be able to take it from him. “Papunta din naman ako dun. I will be meeting Oda.”
Semplang! I thought pa naman gusto nya lang talaga akong ihatid sa Razon. Papunta naman pala talaga siya dun. L
Assuming!
I shrugged as I don’t have any other choice. Pero deep inside, kilig to the bones na talaga ako!
Walking, pinagtitinginan na naman kami. Though hindi na kami magkahawak ng kamay, iba pa rin talaga if you are going to walk with The King Archer… you’ll get everyone’s curious stare and hanggang langit na mga taas ng kilay!
Kaloka!
And so we walk side by side. He will occasionally greet or smile to anyone greeting him or just simply saying hi while I culdn’t look naman to anyone. Trying my hardest to block them out of my mind.
Celebrity?
“Hey,” he leaned on me when we entered the elevator in Razon. “Are you ashamed of being seen with me??
“Ha? What? No!” nabigla kong sagot. Nahihiya ako sa sarili ko! Hindi dahil sa kasama kita!
“Looks like eh.”
“Uy, grabe ka. Hindi ah.”
The elevator opened at the second floor.
“Where are they?” he asked.
Ay naku! Talagang ihahatid nya pa ako?
"The Store daw," I said starting to get worried baka makita siya nila Cath and Bambi which obviously ay makikita naman talaga nila sa laking tao ni Jeron! Haha!
We got off the lift na and was about to turn and walk when we heard someone calling.
“Hey!” I turned and saw Thomas.
Nag fist bump sila ni Jeron. Then came LA… eyeing my bag on Jeron’s hand.
“Hi erin,” they greeted.
“Hi guys!”
“Saan date nyo?” asked LA na obviously ay hindi na nakatiis na itanong.
Sabi ko na nga ba they’ll jump into conclusion.
Hindi ba pwedeng… friends kami kaya kami magkasama?
Friends nga ba kami?
Kelangan bigyan kaagad ng kulay?
“Date?” I asked kunyari.
“Uy! Kala ko ba Beda tayo? Bakit may date naman pala kayo ni Jeron?” Nakakagulat naman itong sina Cath at Bambi. Bigla na lang nagsasalita sa likod ko.
“May lakad kayo?” asked Thomas.
“Sana,” shrugged Bambi pero mukang hindi matutuloy kasi may date yata ‘tong dalawang ‘to eh.”
My protest got stuck into my mouth when Jeron said:
“Tapos na yung date namin. Hinatid ko lang si Erin para matuloy yung lakad nyo sa San Beda.”
“Sira!” hinampas ko si Jeron sa braso and grabed my bag from his hand. Pero grabe ang kilig ko! To the highest level! “Niloloko lang kayo nyan.”
“Sino pala yung kasama mong someone kanina sa Z2? Hirit pa ni Bambi.
“Ako yung someone na kasama nya kanina.” Answered Jeron. “I wonder why she did not mention my name nga sa convo nyo kanina eh.”
“Ay! Walang ganyanan! Pinagkakaisahan nyo na ako eh,let’s go ladies,” akmang hahakbang na ako when Jeron tugged on my hand.
“Walang goodbye?”
I smiled and waved at him, “Bye!”
He did not let go and instead pulled me closer for a hug and beso. Saka natatawang sinabing: “Sige na, yu can go now.”
Waaaahhhhh!
Gusto kong mahimatay sa kilig!
Wag kang ganyan Jeron! Baka maaga akong magkasakit sa puso sa ginagawa mo!
“Uyyyy,” tukso naman ng lahat sa amin.
Alam kong pulang pula na ako sa sobrang hiya, kilig… at kung anu-ano pa!
The guys walk us back to the lift at before pa tuluyang samara yung door, Jeron made a gesture na of calling and mouthed I’ll call you later.
Mahihimatay na talaga ako and feeling ko ready na akong bumulagta sa elevator floor anytime pero bigla akong nagising sa sobrang lakas ng pagtili nina Cath and Bambi sa magkabilang gilid ko.
“Ang cute nyong dalawa!” said Bambi.
“I knew it! May something kayong dalawa!” Cath giggled.
Then tili ulit silang dalawa.
“Shhhh,” pinipilit ko silang pakalmahin kahit na deep inside me nagwawala na hindi lang ang puso ko maging ang mga laman loob ko na din yata! Hahaha!
The lift opened at the ground floor at pinagtinginan lang kami ng mga pasakay dahil sa ingay ng dalawang kasama ko.
Then we heard one of the girl said: “Siya yung kasama ni Jeron kanina sa Z2, he was carrying her bag pa nga tapos holding hands pa sila.”
OMG!
Hindi na ako lumingon at hinila ko na sina Bambi at Cath para mabilis na makalayo sa mga nag uusap.
“Ikaw na talaga Erin! Imagine! Jeron Teng taga-bitbit mo ng bag!” said Cath.
She heard pala what the lady said! Urgh!
“And holding hands? OMG!” dugtong ni Bambi.
“Ano ba kayo! wala yun, we went to Z2 lang for a friendly snack.”
“Friendly holding hands lang din bay un?” Bambi commented.
“Ay naku, ewan ko sa inyo,” I said napapailing. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. The paliwanagan time.
“Ano na ba talaga kasi?” asked Cath.
“Believe me ladies, wala talaga.”
“Alam mo ikaw Erin-“
“Whatever!” I said cutting whatever Bambi’s about to say. Bakit ba kailangang maging ganito kakulit ang mga new found friends ko? I shook my head and nagpauna na sa paglakad.