Handkerchief
"I don't wanna," Stephanie says as she stomp her feet multiple times.
"You see, my cousin, Rouge would be mad at your brother, if he thinks we are a couple." I explain calmly.
"I don't care!" She says. I bit my lower lip to stop my irritation on.
"But we are not a couple, I don't like your brother." Mahinahon kong sambit.
"Ouch, it hurts." Bulong ni Stephen. "Please, don't be a hard-headed on this. Just say that you are joking. In exchange, I'll go with you while you're shopping at my expense." He says bribing her. Lihim akong napailing sa sinabi niya.
"Yes but I want to go with Ate Francis and you. I'll match you, till you fall in love with each other." She says, claps her hand in excitement and sits on the bench.
She watches our one-on-one training. We do the usual routine: warm-up, stretching and sparring. Sa sparring talaga kami nagpo-focus ni Stephen. Never ko pa yata siyang natalo sa sparring, sobrang galing niya kasi—na kilalang kilala ang pangalan niya sa ibang bahagi ng mundo.
"Go Ate! Talunin mo yan si Manok." She says, cheering me.
"Ako dapat ang manok mo, yun ang tawag mo sa akin eh. What a disrespectful child." Stephen says, glaring at his annoying sister.
Mas matangkad sa akin si Stephen kaya kailangan ko pang mag-extra effort para maabot ang ulo niya. Roundhouse kick it is. I nearly kick him, pero siya iniwas niya lang ang ulo niya nang mabilis at walang kahirap-hirap.
"Come on," pang-aasar pa niya.
I hiss at him. I look at his open area and it is his chest. I use axe kick to slam his chest but failed because he immediately read my next move. He just moves to the side.
"If I move to this side, attack me immediately using left roundhouse kick on my chest." Pagtuturo niya. Inulit niya yung pwesto kanina kaya ginawa ko yung axe kick ko sa kaniya at sinunod ko ang tinuro niya. I hit the point. I hit his chest!
"Very good," he says. "Always sharpen your eyes on your opponent's movement. Look at my torso, it will indicate my next move so you can defense it or avoid it."
"I got it."
After all the techniques that he thought me while sparring with him, I gladly thank him.
Humahangos si Rouge papunta sa amin. Maybe because he is really mad at him. I think he hates him because they have the same feather—parehas silang malandi.
"I already gave you my last warning and you waste it!" Rouge shouts at him.
"I can explain it, the photo was nothing. Please hear me out." Pakiusap ni Stephen.
"Hear me out, huh? " Nakakuyom ang kamay na tanong ni Rouge habang nagtatagis ang kanya bagang. "Then taste this first." Mabilis na dumapo sa kaliwang pisngi ni Stephen ang kamay ni Rouge. Kaya naman dumugo ang kaliwang labi niya.
"Rouge, please calm down!" Sambit ko habang inihaharang ang katawan kay Stephen.
"It's okay, I can take it." Sagot sa akin sa likod ko.
"Rouge, that's enough." Suway ni Marsan at hinila palayo sa amin.
"Let me go, Marsan. Huwag kang makialam dito." Pagpupumiglas ni Rouge sa hawak sa kanya ni Marsan.
"If it's just nothing, then why are you protecting that bastard?" Tanong sa akin ng pinsan ko.
"Because I know he will not survive in your hands. You're a soldier after all." Paliwanag ko na ikinangisi ng pinsan ko.
"I said stop before I kick you out in our team." Marsan says with full authority. Pinigilan kong ngumiti pero tingin ko hindi ko mapigilan ang mga mata kong maging masaya dahil lang sa sinabi niya.
"Okay. Pasalamat ka at hindi nga pala ikaw ang gusto ng pinsan ko." Sambit niya at nilampasan kami. Tumakbo ako papunta sa kanya para tanungin kung anong ibig niyang sabihin doon. Does he know that I like Marsan?
"Roué," I say in a calm manner. "What did you just say?" Tanong ko nang umupo siya sa bench. Tinabihan ko siya at hinarap.
"Hindi si Stephen ang gusto mo, may iba kang gusto. At nakita ko sa mga mata mo na gusto mo pa rin siya. Because you're too obvious, dati hindi—dahil ako lang ang nakakapansin—pero ngayon pinapakita mo na rin sa kanya. I'm still worried, I don't want to get you hurt. But I like him rather than Stephen." Paliwanag niya.
"Look, I just punched that guy pero may iba na agad umaasikaso sa kanya. I hate his guts, yung mga sinasabi niya sayo, hindi niya pinapanindigan yon. Kaya naman huwag kang maniniwala sa kanya." Tinuro niya nasa harapan namin.
Sandra is intently curing his corner lips. She puts ice bag on his lips too. Anger rush into my bloodstream and I don't know why. Si Stephen nakatulala lang habang ginagamot ni Sandra, bakit hindi niya magawang tanggihan si Sandra kagaya nang dati? Tahimik na tumutulo ang luha sa mga mata ni Stephen. Why is he even crying? Why do I feel empathy?
"Hey, why are you crying? Does it hurts so much?" Narinig kong tanong ni Sandra na may pag-aalala. Malakas yung pagkakasabi niya kaya napatingin din ang ibang teammates namin. Lumapit silang lahat kay Stephen.
"Sorry, I chickened out earlier because I know I was at fault. I'm sorry Kuya Stephen, I know that there's really nothing going on between you and Ate Française. I just really like her. I idolized her actually. I'm sorry Ate Française, because of me nag-away away kayo. I'm sorry, too, Kuya Rouge. Because of me you got really angry at Kuya." Stephanie says as she step out of nowhere.
"Woah, first time mong nagkuya kay Stephen ah." Si Jonel na seryoso ang sitwasyon pero nakuha pang magbiro. Inakbayan niya pa si Stephanie. "Magalang na ang bata." Ginulo niya pa ang buhok ni Stephanie.
"I'm really serious this time. Don't make me angry." Masamang tingin ang pinukaw ni Stephanie kay Jonel. Baka sila pa ang magkatuluyan sa mga titigan nilang yan. "Yan natawa ka na rin ulit Manok!"
"Aish, Jonel get your hands off of my childish sister." Saway ni Stephen habang pinupunasan niya ang kanyang luha. Agad namang inalis ni Jonel ang braso niya kay Stephanie.
"Forget my tears guys, please." Natatawang saad ni Stephen, tumawa din kaming lahat sa pagmamakaawa niya. "By the way, guys, I want to treat you in Tagaytay. Camping for three days."
Naghiyawan ang lahat sa sinabing iyon ni Stephen. Kahit na sinaktan siya ng pinsan ko, hindi niya pa rin nakalimutan ang favor ko sa kanya.
Tumabi sa akin si Marsan, wala na sa tabi ko si Rouge. Nakikigulo na sa paanyaya ni Stephen.
"Are you okay with the Tagaytay camping?" He asks with concern.
"I'm okay." I say with a reassuring smile.
"You're not scared?" He says.
"I am not anymore." I say.
"Good." Sambit niya at tumayo na.
"Guys, let's start."
Masigla at masaya ang naging training namin. Sa bawat pag-ikot namin habang nagjojogging ay sumisigaw sila ng "Let's go Teammates! Let's go! To Tagaytay!" Maagang natapos ang training dahil dinuscuss sa amin ni Stephen ang Tagaytay Camping. He just planned this earlier, and he's already starting it.
"I'll bring the tents!" Jonel volunteers.
"You bring foods."
"He's a certified PG." Parinig ni Rouge na ikinatawa naman namin.
"I'll bring the foods." Pagboboluntaryo ko.
"Yeah, your food is delicious." Sang-ayon ni Jonel.
"Mahiya ka naman huy." Suway ni Clarence sa kanya na ikinatawa ng buong team.
"I'm just saying." Pagdepensa niya sa sarili.
"I'll take care of our vehicle." Stephen says.
"Ako sa snacks!" Si Sandra.
"Marsan and Rouge kayo ang magfacilitate." Nice one Stephen, in order to get away from them kailangan maging busy sila. Sumang-ayon naman sila kaya walang problema.
"I'll take pictures. Para hindi tayo magkanya-kanya ng selfie. At magfofocus tayo sa camping hindi sa gadgets natin." Suhestyon ni Stephanie.
Napagkasunduan na sa isang araw na agad ang camping. Natapos na ang meeting at nagsiuwian na ang iba. Samantalang nandito pa ako, sina Jonel, Clarence, Marsan, Rouge, Stephen at Stephanie.
"Hey my awesome chicken brother," Stephanie says. "You promised me, you'll shop with me and together with Ate Française."
"Not this time, brat." Umiiling na sabi ni Stephen.
"Hey, kiddo!" Si Jonel iyon. "I'll go with you."
"No way!" Disgust is written all over her face but her small blush can't hide from me. She likes him, I think they don't know that they secretly like each other. Oh, I'm being a matchmaker now, huh?
"Don't hit on my sister bud," bulong ni Stephen kay Jonel. "She's not Leila de Lima."
"Oh I know her, she's Stephanie Kennedy—the child brat slash annoying kiddo." Natutuwa pang pagsakay ni Jonel sa biro ni Stephen.
"You're really annoying!" She says and walks out. Nairita yata talaga sa dalawa.
Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa umupo siya sa gutter ng parking lot. Malakas siyang humihikbi kaya nilapitan ko at tinabihan. I tap her shoulder, and offer her Jonel's handkerchief. Lagi ko 'tong dala pero di ako nakakakuha ng tyempo na isauli sa kanya.
He gave me this back when I was crying because I can't avoid Marsan anymore, two years ago.
"Oh. May nagpapabigay." Saad ni -paglingon ko ay nakita ko ang maangas na si Jonel.
"Sino?"
"Ayaw niyang sabihin kung sino siya eh."
"Kung ganon. Ayoko. Salamat na lang Jonel."
Kaya imbis na panyo ang gamitin kong pampunas ay ang aking mga kamay na lang.
"Ayaw ka niyang nakikitang umiiyak." At nilagay sa mga kamay ko ang panyo at iniwan na akong mag-isa.
"This is Stephen's favorite handkerchief. Where did you get this? Binigay niya sayo?" She says.
"Yeah," sagot ko na lamang. Sasabihin ko sana na si Jonel ang nagbigay—pero yun pala si Stephen ang nagpabigay—kaya lang it's a long story at baka malaman niya pang may gusto ako kay Marsan.
"I thought you two are nothing." She say calmly. I sigh heavily and look at her blandly. "Fine, I'll kept it as a secret. This is our first secret ever, Ate Française. I promise I will shut up my mouth about this." Nakangiti niyang saad.
"Thanks," I utter under my breath. "You okay?" I still ask her.
"Yes, but what's wrong with my personality? Why does he always say that I am a brat, childish and a kiddo?! It hurts. I want to be matured too. Just like you Ate Française." She frown at me, she's really a child doing that face. Ang baby face naman kasi nito.
"There's nothing wrong with your personality. Don't take it to your heart, and someday you'll be matured too but I hope you're sense of humour won't be gone. I like your personality, actually, because you're brave and confident."
"Thank you Ate for believing in me. I thought something was off on me. You're really are My Ate. I still hope you and kuya would be together and marries each other so you'll be my official sister-in-law." Nakangiti nang saad ni Stephanie.
"That's what I hate about you, you know. I can be your sister even without Stephen." Naiiling-iling na sambit ko sa kanya.
"Sorry not sorry," she says and hugs me. "I still want to go to shopping with you two."
"Yeah yeah," sambit ko na lang.
"Yeah yeah yeah ex-b," kanta niya. "Hayaan mo sila na, hayaan mo sila na maghabol sayo." She smiles so bright na nadala na rin ako ng ngiti niya.
"Kulit mo." I say and pinch her cheek. "Nandyan na sila." Turo ko kila Marsan at Rouge. "Mauna na ako."
"Huwag bata ka pa po eh." She says and wave her hand at me while smiling brightly.
Loko kang bata ka! I laugh mentally at her joke. Seriously ako ba ang nagcomfort sa kanya o siya ang nagcomfort sa akin?
Its been two years, ni hindi sumagi sa isip ko na si Stephen pala ang nagpabigay nitong panyo na ito. Sa kanya pala ito, bakit di siya ang nagbigay? Back then, I thought it was Marsan who gave this to me. I am also surprised that I am not disappointed that it is not his. Maybe, maybe, just maybe. There's a chance I could like Stephen.
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