Wendy's Pov
Weekend feels like it was only for two seconds. I woke up early in the morning as soon as my alarm clock rings. I stood up from my bed and immediately went inside the bathroom to take a hot shower. It took me only 20 minutes before I dressed up for school. I took my uniform and just blow dried my hair, naglagay lang ako ng maliit ng clip and then I'm done.
I took my backpack and phone before I finally went out of the room to meet my parents down stairs. They were already inside the kitchen, laughing at each other.
"Morning!" I said.
"Good morning sweety," Si Dad.
"This is new. You're taking me to school right?" I asked while reaching for a sandwich.
"Of course, I will." aniya na ikinangiti ko.
Buti na lang hindi nagtagal at kumain na din kami. We were just all buzzing around, talking about stuff and about school. Hindi ko na din namalayan ang oras at halos thirty minutes na pala kaming kumakain, I almost forgot school. Kasalanan talaga 'to ni Dad.
"Mom, alis na po kami." I said before giving her a peck on her cheeks.
"Take care sweety," I nodded at her and smiled.
"How about me?" si Dad. Natigilan kami ni Mom bago bumaling sa kanya.
"How about you?" Nagtatakang sambit ni Mom, I pursed my lips to stop smiling.
"Where's my kiss?"
Napasinghap ako dahil sa narinig. Hirap ng buhay single, kahit sa magulang mo nabibitter ka sa mga pinanggagawa nila. Napailing na lang ako bago ko narinig ang mahinang tawa ni Mom, she automatically went to my Dad before kissing his lips.
"Ang PDA niyo naman," I retorted.
They looked at me with a small smile on their lips. Napailing ulit ako bago ko hinablot ang bag sa mesa. Motioning them na kailangan ko ng umalis at baka saan pa ampunta ang kasweetan nitong dalawa.
"Okay, that's enough." Natatawa pa ding sambit ni Mom. "You better go, Wendy might be late on her class"
Hindi nagtagal, I immediately went inside the car. Gano'n din si Dad. As what we would always do before, we turned on the stereo to listen to our favorite musics. We were just singing together while we were almost stuck in traffic. Buti na lang at nahanapan ng paraan ni Dad para makarating kami ng school ng hindi nala-late.
"Thank you Dad," I said ng tumigil kami sa entrance ng school. I kissed his cheeks as well before smiling.
"Take care. Just call me if you need something, alright?" aniya ng nakangiti sa akin. I already went down from my seat, I nodded at him before closing the front door.
"Okay. Bye!" I said before the car vanished in front of me.
I began walking inside the campus, I still have 10 minutes left before my first subject. I just took my time, marami din akong mga kaibigan na nakakasalamuha, I would wave and talk to them for a bit. Hanggang sa maka-akyat ako ng building namin, agad akong pumasok ng classroom ng agad na bumungad sa akin ang mukha ni Miro. We almost bumped each other.
"Oh, kalma." umangat ang tingin niya sa akin ng mapagtanto na muntik na kaming magkabundol.
Paano ba naman kasi, tutok na tutok sa cellphone habang naglalakad palabas nag classroom.
"Hala sorry. Kainis naman kasi nitong signal ang bagal!" reklamo niya ng nakakunot noong nakatitig sa phone. I rolled my eyes before shaking my head.
"Tss. Ewan ko sa'yo," Nilagpasan ko na lamang siya at agad na nilagay ang bag sa aking upuan.
Agad kong napansin ang mga papel sa harapan ni Amara. Gumagawa ng assignment. Buti na lang tinapos ko na kagabi, wala na akong iisipin pang school works.
Napansin ko rin na hindi pa dumadating si Rad, even his friends. Si Arkie, nasa harapan ko na pero ni hindi man lang napansin ang presensya ko. I just shrugged my shoulder, I just took my phone instead to check my social medias.
It didn't took long though buti na lang at dumating agad ang subject teacher namin. Tamang-tama lang din nung dumating sina Rad, our eyes met pero agad ding nawala ng una akong bumitaw. Hindi ko kaya.
All of us greeted our teacher in unison, she immediately just presented her lessons and made a short activity after. It all went like that until lunch break.
"Cafeteria tayo?" si Amara.
"Tara," sambit ko.
"Arkie ano? Sasama ka ba sa amin?"
Agad kaming nilingon ni Arkie. He was just talking with Miro, natigil lang ng tawagin siya ni Amara.
"Syempre. Libre ko na kayo. Pambawi lang kasi hindi ako nakasama nung lumabas kayo," aniya pa ng nakangiti.
Kagaya ng napag-usapan. We went down our building, hindi pa naman ganun ka crowded ang cafeteria kaya nakahanap din agad kami ng mauupuan.
"Shit. Pe natin mamaya diba?" si Amara. I nodded at her ng maalala na pupunta kami mamaya ng court, since we are about to have our cheer dancing as our final practicum sa last quarter.
"May extra shirt ka bang dala? Nakalimutan kong dalhin 'yung pe," aniya.
"Meron. Check natin sa locker pagkatapos kumain." tumango naman siya sa sinabi ko.
Naputol lang din ang usapan namin ng dumating si Arkie, he was already holding two trays of food.
"Gago bat ang dami?" si Amara.
"Syempre, kaya nga pambawi diba?" napanguso ako sa sinabi ni Arkie. Tangina, anong akala niya sa amin? Ni hindi nga namin maubos 'yung isang burger dalawang tray pa kaya ng pagkain.
"Pwede na 'to pang mukbhang," pagbibiro ko.
He just laughed at me before giving me my favorite meal. Talang inorder niya 'yung mga paborito namin. Ibang klase kung bumawi ang isang Arkie Martinez, nakakasira ng diet.
We began eating our food. I was reminding myself na today is cheat day. Ngayon lang ulit ako kakain ng marami, ang hirap ko pa namang papayatin. Abuso kasi 'tong si Arkie.
"May bagong transferee pala tayo sa school," biglang saad ni Arkie.
Natigilan ako sa kanyang sinabi. I shook my head before looking at Amara na mukhang nagtataka rin.
"Lumevel up din 'yung pagkachismoso mo Arkie ah," si Amara. Napangisi naman ako sa kanyang sinabi.
"Sira, eh paano ko hindi malalaman? Halos pag-usapan siya ng mga babae kanina habang pumipila ako." aniya.
"Oh? So lalake?" sambit ko.
"Gwapo raw eh," nagkatinginan kami ni Amara.
"Gwapo?" We almost said in unison.
Napasinghap naman si Arkie dahil sa ginawa namin. We pursed my lips before sipping on my milkshake. Pinapaalala sa sarili na dapat loyal ako kay Rad.
"Mas gwapo ako," I glared at him. Ang kapal ng mukha, akala mo naman kung sino.
"Kadiri. Anong name nung guy?" si Amara ng nakangiti.
"Hindi sinabi. Bago nga diba? So paano ko malalaman?"
"Kasi chismoso ka. Dapat alam mo!" balik ni Amara sa kanya. I laughed and just agreed with her.
"Ang sama mo. Narinig ko lang naman," ngumuso pa siya na parang bata. Akala mo naman cute.
Napailing na lang ako. We did not talk about it much though wala naman kaming pake kung sino 'yung bago. Lilitaw din naman siya sa campus, at kung totoong gwapo nga 'yung guy, eh lamang pa din naman si Rad.
Pagkatapos naming kumain, kagaya ng sinabi ko kay Amara. We went straight to my locker. Hindi na sumama si Arkie at nauna ng bumalik sa room. Malamang sa malamang, maglalaro ulit sila ni Miro ng Ml. Ako 'yung na s-stress sa kanilang ginagawa. Hay, matalo sana sila ng ilang beses.
"Buti may extra shirt ako rito. Bakit ba kasi hindi mo nadala?" sambit ko ng makarating kami sa locker area.
"Nakalimutan ko na may pe ngayon," aniya. Binigay ko na din sa kanya 'yung extra jogging pants ko at rubber shoes. Mamayang last subject pa naman 'yung pe,, buti nalang halos pareho lang kami ng katawan kaya hindi na problema sa amin 'yun.
"Gamitin mo na lang 'to mamaya," sabi ko pa.
"Life saver ka ngayon sis ah," aniya pa ng nakangiti.
"You're welcome," I sarcastically said and she just laughed at me.
Napairap nalang ako bago ko tuluyang sinara ang locker. I was about to tell he to leave when someone talked behind.
"Excuse me,"
We abruptly turned our back. Natigil ang tawa ni Amara ng maaninag ang nagsalita. My eyes widen when I saw who it was. Siniko din ako ni Amara pero agad naman akong napatinghim dahil kahit 'yung nasa harapan namin ay nagulat din ng makita kami.
"Ikaw,"
"You,"
We almost said in unison. Hindi alam kung ano ang sunod na sasabihin. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, he was the guy we met in the mall. Si Josh.
"Wow. Small world huh," aniya ng nakangisi. Napalunok naman ako habang si Amara ay mukhang walang reaksyon. She was just looking at him, astonished.
"O-oo nga. Dito ka pala nag-aaral?" Kahiya. Bakit ko 'yun tinanong?! Nagmukha akong feeling close sa kanya.
"Yes. Kakalipat ko lang," aniya. He looks so casual when speaking tagalog. Halata naman na nanggaling siya sa ibang bansa, but he seems like he's been here for a long time. Nakakaintindi at nakakapagsalita pa.
"Ah. Ikaw pala 'yung bagong transferee na sinasabi nila," Si Amara habang tumatango sa kanya. She looked at me after whispering the last words. "'...'yung gwapo"
Halos sikuhin ko siya sa sinabi. Nakakahiya. Tangina, baka marinig pa siya nito at baka kung anong isipin sa amin. I just smiled at her sarcastically before shifting back my eyes to Josh. Doon ko lang din napagtanto na nakatingin din pala siya sa akin.
"May m-matutulong ba kami sa'yo? Ahm, Josh right?" I stuttered, tangina halatang kabado.
"Yes. I'll just ask anyway, kung saan ba dito ang Gabalion building? I was a bit lost"
"Oh? Tamang tama diyan din building namin!" si Amara.
"Really?" si Josh na mukhang na surpresa din.
"Oo. Sabay ka na lang sa amin. Pabalik na rin kami doon eh," Dagdag niya pa.
I was left with no choice. She already said it. Mukhang kami ang susunod na headline ng school kasi kasama namin 'yung bagong transferee. Hay ewan, bahala na.
"Thank you,"
Nagsimula na kaming maglakad pabalik ng building. I was too conscious dahil ang liit ko sa tabi ni Josh. He was just beside me habang nasa kabilang side ko si Amara. We were inches a part but I can smell his expensive perfume. Napalunok naman ako dahil pamilyar din sa akin ito, I don't know where I smelt it but it's so familiar to me.
"Let me guess, you're not from here right?" Isyosong tanong ni Amara habang naglalakad kami.
"I was born here actually, hindi nga lang ako lumaki dito. But I came back for good, since my parents are here for business." He said smoothly.
"Seryoso? Buti at nakakaintindi at nakakapagsalita ka pa rin ng tagalog. Mahihirapan kami neto kapag hindi." Amara said jokingly. I just bit my lower lip as I heard his low chuckles.
"Of course. Lagi naman kaming bumibisita dito, that's not a problem for me in terms of speaking and understanding the language,"
Buti na lang at agad kaming nakabalik sa building, he told us his section as well. Nasa ikalawang palapag din 'yung room niya, to be exact he's just three rooms away from our classroom. Akalain mo 'yun?
Hindi rin ako nagkamali ng hinala na halos mabali na 'yun leeg ng ibang students kakatingin sa amin. We were just ignoring them though we could hear all their gossips.
"Thank you for bringing me here," Si Josh. Ngayon ay nasa tapat na kami ng classroom nila.
"You're welcome," I said almost like a whisper.
"Wala 'yun!" Si Amara.
"See you around. Wendy-" He remembers. Bumaling ang kanyang tingin kay Amara na ngayon ay nakangiti din.
"Amara," pagpapakilala niya.
"Amara. Thank you again."
We just nodded our head as he began walking inside his classroom. Nagsimula na din kaming umalis hanggang sa makarating kami sa tapat ng aming silid. We were just spacing out when suddenly, Arkie went in front of us with a questioning look.
"Sino 'yung kasama niyo?" aniya ng hindi pa kami nakakapasok.
"'Yung transeferee na sinasabi mo," Sagot ni Amara.
"Ano? Bakit kayo magkasama?" aniya pa.
"Dami mong tanong. Pwede bang mamaya na muna 'yan? Papunta na si Ma'am dito."
Nilagpasan namin siya bago kami tuluyang naka-upo sa aming upuan. Rad was already there but he was busy talking with his friends. Ni hindi man lang ako napansin.
Nakita ko na sumunod lamang si Arkie sa amin. He was still looking at us with a questioning look. Kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Ngumisi lang din si Amara sa kanya.
"In fairness ah, gwapo nga 'yung guy Arkie. Mas gwapo pa sa'yo." panunukso pa ni Amara dahilan para mas lalong kumunot ang kanyang noo sa amin.