"As if the first cut wasn't deep enough"
TWENTY-TWO
The exams in SAU came by fast. Hindi na pinapasok ni Ma'am Claud si Ice sa exam period and she gladly obliged. Para na din daw makapag pahinga siya but looks like the world had other plans.
Hindi niya na imagine that Dos' little freedom of expression will reach social media but so far, no one has confirmed her identity. Even students from SAU.
But the rumor going around the mill is that Dos has a "new friend".
Hindi naman big deal iyon sa iba but people can't help but be curious, lalo na ang super fans ni Dos na hindi naman taga SAU.
Of course they want to be updated with his life and know more than what he posts on social media. She can't really blame them for being curious.
Hindi niya alam if Dos is aware since wala pa itong comment sa kahit ano. Pag talaga public figure kailangan hindi mapagpatol sa mga petty issues. Not that Ice's identity is considered as an issue.
Sana lang hindi siya magising isang araw at nasa twitter na ang pangalan niya, or worse kasama pa ang picture niya.
Sooner or later it's going to happen. Alam niya na iyon. The news traveled like wild fire, hindi niya lang alam kung bakit hindi kasama ang pangalan niya. Everyone in the Stats class knows her. Pati ang mga Psych students na tinuturuan nila. Still, she's thankful to have some peace for the mean time. Lalo na ngayong malapit na ang holiday vacation.
She wasn't avoiding Dos anymore kasi wala naman talaga itong kasalanan sa nangyari. Wala lang silang contact sa isa't isa during exam week. Kinakabahan din siya sa results ng exam nito lalo na't hindi siya kasama sa nag bantay at nakita niyang mahirap nga ang ginawang exam ni Ma'am Claud.
May possibility na siya ang mag check ng exams nila. She hoped he did well.
May ibang exams pa ito kaya hindi din sila ganon katagal nagkakausap during the week.
As Ice was watching a show that featured DMU's Basketball team on Friday, nakatanggap siya ng tawag galing kay Dos.
She smiled before answering the call dahil may idea na siya kung bakit ito tumawag.
"Buddy tapos na exam ko!"
"Oh? Anong gagawin ko?" Ice said, feigning boredom.
"Ice cream tayo diba?"
"I thought we're going to get ice cream when you passed all your exams?"
"Celebrate the little achievements, Bud." She can pratically hear the smile in his voice. "And I haven't seen you since Monday."
"You'll see me tomorrow," Ice rolled her eyes.
"24 hours is too long."
"You won't even notice it's been 24 hours."
"Dali na. Ice cream na tayo. Please?"
"Fine."
"Nasa bahay ka lang diba?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'll be there in thirty."
"An hour," Ice grumbled. Alam niya ang distansya ng SAU hanggang sa bahay nila no. "Don't drive like a mad man."
Dos laughed. "I won't."
"Hindi ako naniniwala."
"Hindi na nga," tawa ulit nito. "I'll be there in an hour."
So Ice had an hour to prepare. It's her lazy day today kaya ni ligo hindi pa niya nagagawa. Buti nga't nag sabi si Dos na pupunta ito, kung hindi pagbubuksan niya ito ng gate ng hindi pa naliligo. Nakita na nga siya nitong bagong gising. Sana iyon na ang huling unflattering moment niya.
Naka higa nalang siya sa sofa at nagpapatuyo ng buhok nang mag doorbell si Dos. Naka ngiting mukha agad nito ang bumungad sa kanya but she couldn't return the smile unless she's had food in her system.
When Ice said "lazy day", she meant it. Nag order lang siya ng food kanina para hindi na siya mag hugas ng plato. Sinabihan pa nga siya ni Lex kanina na mag vacuum ng mga kwarto sa taas pero hindi niya ginawa. But she did not say that to her Kuya. Baka mas lalong mapaaga ang pag dating ng maid nila kung sabihin niya iyon.
They plan to hire the maid and the driver after the break, pag balik ni Ice sa school, dahil wala din naman silang gagawin kung wala si Ice sa bahay for the whole break. Maglilinis nalang siya ng bahay pag aalis na siya.
"Alam mo, for a moment, I thought hindi ka papayag sumama sakin ngayon." Dos said as Ice was putting her seatbelt on.
"At bakit naman?" She didn't look at him because she already had a feeling where this conversation is going.
"Kasi you were avoiding me."
When Ice finally stole a glance at him, she saw the cheeky smile plastered on his lips.
"I was," she sighed. There's no point in lying anyway. He wouldn't open the topic kung hindi siya sigurado. "But not anymore."
Umiwas nalang ulit siya ng tingin to get her thoughts straight. "I'm sorry for avoiding you. Hindi mo naman kasalanan 'yon. I just let people... get to me sometimes," she shook her head. "And I'm also a big hyprocrite. Should've said that earlier."
"We live in a world full of hypocrites," Dos answered in a matter of fact tone. "Also, humans are contradictive. So hindi mo kasalanan kung iba yung nararamdaman mo sa sinabi mo."
"Ganyan din naman ako nung una. When the spotlight was suddenly on me, it felt weird you know? At the end of the day I found myself saying "Oh fuck I shouldn't have tweeted that." And "I shouldn't have said that." It took me time to realize na bawat galaw mo, bawat desisyon mo, may sasabihin yung tao sa'yo. People are going to talk. You can't take that away from them. Whatever you told me just put stamp on it. They don't control me. I'm going to live my life the way I want. So don't worry about them, Bud."
Ice doesn't know if she's going to do that once the whole news blows off. Alam naman niyang hindi ito ang huli. Her identity won't stay hidden as long as she keeps hanging out with Cast and Dos.
Ice felt a bit better because of the lightness in his voice. Ibig sabihin he's not really affected by what people are saying. Kasi sa mga ganitong matter nag f-feast on ang haters. Saying he's such a lady killer. May bago na naman daw bibiktimahin.
"But once they hurt you they'll answer to me."
"Sana naman hindi umabot sa ganon."
Ayaw naman niyang masira ang image ni Dos because of her. Because of something petty. He's got a bright future ahead of him, baka isa pa siya sa maging hadlang dito.
"So we're okay now?" Dos glanced at her, smiling.
"Yeah, we're okay."
Akala ni Ice they'd just hang out in an ice cream parlor somewhere but Dos had other plans pala. Mukhang na plano na nito ang araw nila bago palang siya sunduin.
They ended up buying pints of ice cream and snacks at a supermarket near the village where the Romeros live.
And she already guessed where they are headed after.
Ang katwiran pa ni Dos kaya gusto nitong dumiretso sa bahay kasi daw gustong makita ni Four si Ice since wala si Ice sa klase nito ngayon.
"Si Four ba talaga?" Asar niya pa dito. "Dinamay mo pa yung walang muwang na bata."
"Totoo naman kaya," naka ngusong sagot ni Dos. "Tignan mo pag pasok palang non sa bahay yayakapin ka agad."
Napailing nalang si Ice sabay tawa. It's obvious that Dos wants to keep her for the rest of the day. Nag hahanap lang ito ng rason para hindi siya umalis agad. Dinamay na nito si Four dahil alam nitong hindi na makakatanggi si Ice kapag si Four na ang usapan.
Pag pasok palang nila sa gate ng bahay sinalubong agad ng guard si Dos para sabihing may bisita daw ito.
Dos mentioned na walang tao sa bahay nila bukod sa maids at yaya ni Four because the rest of his brothers are still in school and his parents are in Spain for business.
So the visitor could only be one of his friends. Na pumupunta nalang daw ng bahay nila ng walang paalam.
"Alek's here." Dos grumbled nang makita nila ang bagong sasakyang naka park sa garahe.
"Your best friend?"
"If he acts like a dick then he's not my best friend," he stated as he unclipped his seat belt.
Ice raised her eyebrow. "Should I know... why?"
"Went through a bad break up after the lost. It took a toll on him," tinignan siya ni Dos. "Kapag may sinabi siyang hindi maganda you're allowed to slap him. And please wear your resting bitch face until he leaves."
"Again. Why?"
She's not the kind of girl who'd slap someone just because they're mean even if she's allowed to. She won't judge until she meets Alek.
"Because I don't want him to like you," Dos grumbled again.
"People don't like me when they first meet me so you don't have to worry, Romero." Ice playfully nudged his shoulder.
"I'm serious. I've got enough competition for you attention."
"There's a competition?" Ice couldn't help but laugh because really?
Imbis na sumagot, lumabas ng sasakyan si Dos ng naka simangot. Maybe he's a little offended because she's laughing at a "serious" matter.
"I need answers, Romero number two!" She called with another laugh.
"I'm cutting our conversation!" Dos called back, walking ahead. Yakap yakap ang plastic ng binili nilang ice cream at junk food.
"You can't cut it unless I said so!"
"Yes I can! You're in my house so that means my rules!"
The spent the whole walk to the kitchen yelling back and forth but Dos still won't budge. Ice only kept it going because she recently discovered that teasing him is fun.
"Why are you two yelling?" asked a guy sitting by the kitchen counter, eating an ice pop.
Ice bit her lip when Dos threw a fast glance at her para ipaalala kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin. She's not done teasing him but mukhang tapos na ang biruan nila. So she did what he wanted.
She gave Alek a blank stare.
"Wala ka na don," sagot dito ni Dos sabay tango sa kinakain nito. "Saan mo nakuha 'yan?"
"Sa freezer. Di ko alam kung kanino 'to pero masarap."
"Kay Four yata 'yan."
"Dalawa lang naman kinuha ko. May dalawang tray pa doon." Alek took one final bite of the ice pop before dropping the stick on the counter. Tsaka nito tinignan ng diretso si Ice. "Sino ka naman?"
"Ayusin mo 'yang pananalita mo kung ayaw mong sipain kita palabas dito, Samonte."
Alek rolled his eyes before staring at Ice again. "Who are you, miss?"
"His friend." Tinuro niya si Dos at tipid na sinagot ang tanong nito. "And you are?"
"His best friend." Tipid din nitong sagot at tinuro din si Dos sabay ngisi.
Ice can't help but smirk back because of his great comeback.
"I'm Alek Spencer Samonte. Number 32 sa SAU Team. I've been Dos' best friend since 5th grade. My life long mission is to constantly annoy him."
"Ice Sandoval. I don't play any sport. Been his friend two weeks after the semester started. Wala akong life long mission but I'll admit nalang na he's really annoying."
Dos drops the pints of ice cream on the counter to get their attention. Mukhang naiinis na ito kaya gusto na namang tumawa ni Ice.
"Alek, stop talking. Ice, stop answering him."
But instead of shutting up, tinaas lang ni Alek ang kamay niya para patahimikin si Dos. Then he leans in with both of his arms placed on the counter na para bang mag i-interview ito. "So Ice, is it? Saan ka naman nakilala ni Dos?"
"Sa SAU."
"But you're not from SAU." Alek's eyes narrowed. "If you're from SAU dapat alam ko."
Ice raised her brow. "Bakit? May track ka ba ng lahat ng student doon?"
Alek suddenly burst out laughing. "You've got spunk, girl. I like you already."
"You're not supposed to like her!" Reklamo naman ni Dos.
"Why not? I immediately like someone who's tough enough to answer to me."
The two were in a heated staring contest for a solid 15 seconds bago ito pinutol ni Alek para tignan ulit si Ice, snapping his fingers. "Kilala na kita! You're the one everyone's been whispering about! Tama ako diba?"
"Shut up na kasi," Dos landed a light punch on his friend's chest. "Don't bring that up if you want to stay here."
"Pero tama ako?"
"No comment."
Still, hindi pa din tumigil si Alek.
Si Ice naman ang pinuntirya nito.
"Ikaw ba 'yon, Ice?"
"No comment."
Alek stomped his foot like a kid na hindi nakuha ang gusto. "Ang bummer niyong dalawa."
Napa buntong hininga naman si Dos, looking so done with his best friend. He then pulls Alek in a head lock at umalma naman agad ito.
"Puta bitaw!"
"Sabihin mo nga muna kung anong kailangan mo nang mapaalis na kita!" No matter how hard Alek struggled, hindi ito binitawan ni Dos.
Halata naman kasi kung sinong lamang sa kanila, sa body type palang. Alek was on the tall and lean side parang si Cast.
"Paano ako sasagot kung naka sakal ka? Gago ka ba?"
"Kakasagot mo nga lang! Tanga ka?" Hinigpitan pa lalo ni Dos ang braso nito sa leeg ni Alek. "Ano? Sagot!"
"Pahiram ng notes sa Logic! Putangina ka bitaw na!"
Nanlaki ang mata ni Ice dahil sa sunod sunod na pag labas ng colorful words sa dalawa, but then naisip niya baka ito ang normal nilang pag uusap. Ganito din siguro sila mang hiram ng gamit sa isa't isa. May halong pisikalan.
Binitawan na din ni Dos si Alek at binato dito ang susi ng kotse na tumama naman sa dibdib nito at nalaglag sa lapag. "Oh ayan. Andon sa back seat yung bag ko. Logic lang kunin mo ha? Gago ka kasi di ka nag aaral."
Napa kamot ng ulo si Alek. "Kakatamad kasi pumasok."
"Gago to prelim palang tinatamad na."
"Oo na ikaw na masipag mag aral," Alek grumbled bago pinulot ang nalaglag na susi.
"Buti nga pinapahiram pa kita eh. Kung si Uno lang kasama mo don kawawa ka. Di ka tutulungan non. Sariling sikap ka."
"Sariling sikap na ko since nag break kami."
"Hoy umayos ka nga! There's a lady present!"
Tinapunan ng tingin ni Alek si Ice sabay turo kay Dos. "Wag kang magpapaloko dyan kay Dos. Pa fall 'yang gagong 'yan. Madamig umaasa dyan."
Tinakpan nalang ni Ice ang bibig niya to stop herself from laughing.
Alek's statement earned him a kick in the bum from Dos.
At tinulak na nito palabas ng kitchen si Alek habang nag aasaran pa din.
Napailing nalang si Ice nang maiwan siya mag isa.
Ilang minuto ding nawala si Dos
"Sorry about that," Dos said as he sat down on the chair next to Ice. Binigay niya agad nito ang scooper para maka kuha na ng ice cream.
"Sana hindi mo na siya pinaalis."
"Aalis din naman talaga siya. Pinabilis ko lang. Mang hihiram lang siya ng notes para sa Logic namin."
"Alam mo bang halos kalahati ng energy ko ang nabawa sa panunuod lang sa inyong dalawa?"
"You need ice cream to recharge!" He concluded by pumping his fist in the air.
Kinuha na nito ang scooper at nagsimula na silang kumain. They killed time by talking about what happened to his exams hanggang sa binanggit nitong malapit na dumating si Four.
Napa higpit ang hawak ni Ice sa kutsara dahil isa lang naman ang pwedeng mag sundo kay Four bukod kay Dos.
Is she ready to see him again?
"Andyan na si Four," Dos said nang makita nila ang isang matandang babae na dumaan sa hamba ng pintuan. Ice remembered her as Four's yaya. Lalabas siguro para sunduin ang bata.
Sabay silang tumayo para salubungin si Four but the cheery kid Ice knew was gone. Ang pumasok sa bahay ay isang naka simangot na Four habang mahigpit na yakap ang tumbler nitong Captain America.
Nagkatinginan muna si Ice at Dos bago tawagin ito.
"Hey chaba! We've got Ice cream, want some?" Naka ngiting offer ni Dos sa bunsong kapatid.
Ngumiti din si Ice pero may halong lungkot dahil nakakahawa ang lungkot sa mukha nito. She wants to take his frown away. Ano kaya ang nangyari?
"May ginawa din daw na fruit pops si Ate Nepthalie para sayo sabi ni Kuya Uno mo." Ngiti din ng yaya nito, trying to make him feel better.
Tanging iling lang ang sagot sa kanila ni Four at diretsong umakyat ng hagdan nang hindi na ulit sila nilingon.
Napa kamot tuloy ng ulo si Dos. "Anong meron don?"
Ice looks at Four's yaya, hoping for an answer. She's really worried because it's so unlike Four to act that way. She saw him get sad a couple of times lalo na sa playtime sa klase, kasi syempre bata pa din iyon, but he'll overcome it fast naman. Sa ganon madaling ma detect kung anong mali sa bata o kung ano ang hindi nito gusto and usually, Four responds fast kaya naaayos agad. Hindi tulad ngayon na ayaw talaga nitong makipag usap.
"May pupuntahan ata sila ngayon ni Uno pero nagkaroon ata ng biglaang lakad," sagot ng yaya. "Pagbaba palang niya ng kotse naka simangot na. Doon lang siya sa gate binaba ng Kuya niya. Umalis din agad kasama si Nepthalie."
Hindi na naman mapigilan ni Ice na mainis kay Uno. Iyong naramdaman niya noong huli silang nagkita hindi pa din nawawala, ngayon nadagdagan pa.
That was the last time they saw each other dahil iyon din ang huling beses na nasa SAU si Ice.
She tried so hard to push it at the back of her head but whenever she's alone with her thoughts... she can't help but replay every second of that day from the moment she saw Dos in Hemlock's to the point when Uno left her.
Ngayon she's more annoyed with the fact that he'd choose anyone over his baby brother who was clearly excited for their plan ngayong araw. Pati ba naman kapatid iiwan nito?
"I'll talk to him. Saan ang kwarto niya?"
Dos motioned for her to follow him. Umakyat sila sa second floor hanggang sa makarating sila sa hall kung saan naka linya ang apat na pinto.
"Mag-isa lang si Four sa kwarto niya?" Tanong ni Ice nang ituro ni Dos ang unang pinto.
"Hindi. Kasama niya si Nanay Meryl. But we're slowly teaching him to do things on his own. Kapag andito naman sina Mom, doon siya natutulog sa kwarto nila."
"That's good," tango niya. "Pero wag niyo siyang pabayaan mag isa ng matagal. Lalo na sa ganitong situation."
Kumatok muna si Ice ng tatlong beses, nang hindi sumagot si Four pumasok na siya sa kwarto.
Naka higa na ito sa kama, still wearing his school uniform and only his shoes off. Naka bukas na din ang tv at nanunuod ito ng cartoons.
"Hey," Ice said softly as she sat down next to him. Si Dos ay naka hilig lang sa pintuan, pinapanuod sila.
Hinanap niya muna ang remote para mahinaan ng tv at makuha na din ang atensyon ni Four.
Umiiwas ito ng tingin sa kanya, halatang ayaw makipag usap kahit kanino.
"Four, look at Teacher Ice."
Umiling lang ito at mas lalo pang lumabi.
"Is Teacher Ice scary?"
"No..." Mabilis na iling ulit nito.
"Then why won't you look at me?"
Four finally looks at her, eyes filled with unshed tears. Then he said, "Teacher Ice is pretty not scary."
Ice chuckled. "Keep your eyes on Teacher Ice okay?"
Tumango naman si Four.
"On a scale of 1 to 5, how sad are you right now?"
They usually do these kind of exercise to children na hirap mag lahad ng nararamdaman nila. Hindi naman kasi lahat ng bata open sa freedom of emotion. Lalo na yung mga batang nagsisimula ng maka intindi ng mga bagay bagay.
Four held up four fingers.
"Why are you sad?" Ice asked softly.
"K-kasi po sabi ni Kuya Uno he'd tell me what parkour is tapos po he'll teach me how..." Sunod sunod na ang hikbi nito sa pag iyak habang nag k-kwento. "Pupunta kami dapat don sa may maraming trampolines!"
Pulang pula ang mukha nito. Habang naririnig ni Ice ang mga hikbi ni Four parang gusto niya na din tuloy umiyak pero dahil sa ibang rason.
"N-nung... nung nisabi ko sa kanya kanina pag uwi sabi niya... sabi niya sa susunod nalang daw kasi aalis sila ni Ate..." Humagulgol pa ito lalo kaya walang nagawa si Ice kundi yakapin nalang ito.
"Shhh..." patuloy na hinagod ni Ice ang likod nito para kumalma.
Binuhat na niya si Four at nilagay sa kandungan niya para mayakap ng maayos. Dos is by her side now, trying to help her console his baby brother.
Hinayaan niya itong umiyak hanggang sa mapagod ito.
Alam niyang hindi magagawa ni Four na magalit sa Kuya nito. He's probably mad at his Kuya right now pero mawawala din ito mamaya. Ganon naman kasi ang bata. Hindi nag tatanim ng galit.
Ice, however, couldn't keep her anger towards Uno. Siya nalang ang magagalit para kay Four.
Mukhang maliit na bagay lang ang pangakong ginawa nito sa kapatid pero para sa bata malaking bagay na iyon.
Four was really looking forward to it, halata naman.
Why couldn't he keep his promise?
"Baby tahan na..." Dos kissed Four's temple. "Ako nalang magdadala sayo doon sa maraming trampolines. Sasama natin si Kuya Tres. Iwan natin si Kuya Uno."
"Sasama din natin si Teacher Ice?" Kalmado na si Four ngunit humihikbi pa din ito.
Ice looks down at him with a smile. "Sasama din ako syempre."
"Kailan tayo pupunta Kuya? Bukas?" Four asked looking all hopeful.
"Diba manunuod pa tayo ng game ni Kuya Tres at Kuya Reigan bukas?"
May lumabas na namang luha sa mata nito. "Bukas after ng bukas?"
Ice chuckled at his own term of "the day after tomorrow".
"After ng church pwede na tayo," tango ni Dos.
"Will you go to church with us Teacher Ice?"
"I'd love to."
Four finally cracked a wide grin. Pumalakpak na ito. "Yay! Pupunta tayo doon sa mga trampolines!"
Dos smiled too, looking relieved dahil okay na ang kapatid niya. Kinurot nito ang pisngi ni Four. "Don't be sad anymore, okay chaba? Sa susunod, pag hindi pwede si Kuya Uno andito naman ako. Punta ka agad sa akin. Andito din si Kuya Tres. Dalawa pa ang kuya mo oh."
Four nods happily.
"On a scale of 1 to 5, how happy are you?" Muling tanong ni Ice.
Four automatically help up five fingers, grinning widely despite of his red and wet cheeks.
"Why are you happy?" Si Dos na ang nag tanong.
Four closed his hand at sunod-sunod na inangat ang bawat daliri to enumerate his reasons.
"Kasi kanina nabigyan ako ng star ni Teacher Claud," pinakita nito ang naka tatak na star sa kabila nitong kamay bago nagpatuloy. "Kasi pupunta na tayo doon sa mga trampolines. Kasi meron akong Kuya Dos. Kasi meron din akong Kuya Tres. Tapos five kasi andito si Teacher Ice! Meron akong Teacher Ice!"
****
So baka bumagal updates ko kasi simula na ng hell weeks for finals. Please bare with me 😭😂
Hindi na talaga 'to short story. Yung plano kong 10 chapters lang humaba na ng sobra. Shunga lang siguro ako para isipin na kaya kong isiksik sa 10 chapters yung storyline ☹ Anyway, wala pang exact number of chapters 'tong BI so hindi ako sigurado kung hanggang ilan 'to. Let's enjoy the ride for now.
Comment nyo why Ice should end up with your #Team or why she should end up alone nang malaman ko insights nyo hahahaha
Twitter Hashtag: #BreakingIce
Twitter: @MeisYounique
- Nique xx