Chapter 23 - Pining
June 13, 2011
"Sige mga tsong! Bukas ulit." Paalam ni Perci sa mga classmate na kasamang naglalakad pauwi. Pinagpag niya pa ang uniporme niya dahil madami na namang alikabok. Tinapon niya sa basurahan ang plastic na pinaginuman ng buko juice at dumiretso sa pintuan.
Bubuksan na sana niya ito nang may maalala.
"Hoy mga baliw, kukutusan ko talaga 'yung sumira 'nung sticker ni Bomi sa kompyuteran! Pag nalaman kong isa kayo doon!"
"Gago! Magkakasama tayo lagi maglaro, sinong sisira doon?" Sagot ng isa niyang ka-klase. Lahat sila gusto ng Apink. 'Yung grupong kaka-debut lang 2 months ago. Kapag naglalaro silang magkaka-batchmate, pinapanood nila 'yung I Don't Know. Dati-dati lang, inaasar niya pa ang kuya niya sa pakikinig ng K-Pop na 'yan. Palagi niya dating naririnig 'yung mga kanta ni IU sa bahay nila. Paminsan naman sa kung ano-anong girl group. Akala niya talaga corny. Pero hindi niya namalayan nakiki-eh eh eh eh na siya sa 2ne1 dati.
Hanggang sa ma-realize niya na kanya-kanyang henerasyon lang pala 'yun. Hindi niya alam, magugustuhan niya 'yung Apink. Silang magkakabarkada.
"Baka si Samuel!" Sagot ng isa pa niyang kasama.
"Gago hindi ako. Si Manong Felix nagtanggal 'nun! Bakit ka kasi nagdidikit sa di mo naman bahay. Diyan ka magdikit ng sticker, punuin mo ng mukha ni Bomi!"
"Pakyu!"
Nagmurahan muna silang magkakaklase bago tuluyang nakalayo mga ito.
"Nan hangsang ireonde Eojjeo geuri mollayo..." Perci half-sang habang binubuksan ang pinto gamit ang susi.
"Ay potek!" Nagulat siya nang makita niyang nagluluto ng meryenda ang kuya niya. Habang ang ate Lee niya naman ay nasa may lamesa, nakaupo at nakayuko ang ulo. "Ano ba naman 'yan nandito naman pala kayo bakit sobrang tahimik?"
Walang sumagot sa dalawa.
"Nag-away ba kayo?" Tanong ulit ni Perci.
"Hindi." Sagot agad ni Odyssey.
Tumango na lang si Perci.
Hindi niya alam kung kailan nagsimula, pero alam niyang nagkakamabutihan na ang dalawa. Basta ang alam ni Perseus, pagkatapos ng mahaba-habang away ng mga ito, bigla na lang naging okay. May isang beses pa nga na nakita niya ang mga ito na nagyayakapan isang umaga.
Hindi niya na lang pinapansin dahil baka magtransform na naman ang kuya Odi niya kapag inasar. Ganunpaman, kahit marami siyang alam at napapansin, dahil bata pa, hindi alam ni Perci ang mga nangyari bago siya tuluyang makapasok.
If only the people who knew his brother knew that he is capable of doing what he did, baka magpamisa sila. O baka tumawag sila ng albularyo.
Because at this moment, Lee's lips are so swollen she had no choice but to put her head down.
Inis na inis si Lee dahil hindi niya alam kung bakit nagagawa nitong magluto doon ng pancit canton na parang walang ginawang kababalaghan kanina.
"Penge naman!"
"Ikaw na magluto mag-isa. Patapos na 'to eh."
"May calamansi pa?"
"Wala original lang lahat 'yan."
"Pwede na 'yan. Tomguts na ako eh."
Inintay ni Perci na matapos ang kuya niya na salain ang pancit canton bago niya kunin ulit ang ginamit nito at nagpakulo ng kaunting tubig. Habang nagaantay, umupo siya sa tabi ni Lee at saka napansin ang labi nito na halata kahit pa gaano itago.
"Hala. Anong meron? May allergy ka ba ate Lee?"
Muntik nang masamid si Lee kahit wala naman siyang iniinom.
"A-ah... Nakagat lang 'yan."
"Ng alin?!" Nagaalalang tanong ni Perci.
"Tumawag ka na ba sa driver niyo?" Malumanay na sabi tanong ni Odyssey habang binibigyan si Lee ng serving niya ng pancit canton.
"Oo. Sabi ko ikot-ikot muna siya kasi may group project pa ako."
Nagpabalik-balik ang mata ni Perci sa kuya niya at kay Lee. Group project? Gusto niyang matawa. Bakit pa kailangang magsinungalng.
Ang hindi nito alam, kahit papaano kasi ay humigpit ang mga magulang ni Lee ng malaman na may boyfriend na siya. Hindi naman siya pinigilan, pero napagsabihan ng marami. Dahil kung dati, wala naman talagang namamagitan sa kanila. Pero ngayon, hindi alam ni Lee kung guilty na ba ang mukha niya sa harap ng mga magulang, lalong-lalo na ni Yaya Melay.
Nang matapos kumain, nagpahinga lang ng kaunti at inihatid na ni Odyssey si Lee pabalik ng school. Naglakad lang sila ngayon, at pilit pinapatagal ang pagsasama. Nang malapit na, at saka nagsalita si Lee.
"Ikaw ha! Bakit ganyan ka?"
"Anong ganyan?"
"Saan mo natutunan 'yun?"
Hindi halos makatingin si Odyssey. And Lee can't help but feel anxious. It was the first time that they kissed like that. Sure, they've had their stolen kisses before, but those were like smooches and pecks. Hindi niya alam kung bakit para silang galit na galit sa isa't-isa kanina.
Kung hindi siguro dumating si Perci, her lips would've bled already.
"Hoy? Ano?"
"H-hindi ko alam." Hinawakan ulit ni Odi ang kamay niya. "Sa tingin mo nagpractice ako sa iba?"
"Pero bakit ganun?"
"Hindi ko alam... I'm sorry." He cradled her head and kissed her cheek. Dumapo pababa ang kamay ni Odi sa leeg niya where they necklace was hanging. "I'm sorry." Inulit niya ang paghingi ng tawad as his thumb brushes over the bruise.
At saka lang naalala ni Lee ang nandoon.
A hickey!
She has read and heard of this before. At ang totoo, hindi niya alam kung bakit at paano nagkakaroon noon. But the moment her beloved gave her one, she almost cried because of different feelings.
"I love you." She said. Hindi niya sinabing okay lang. Hindi niya sinabing hindi. But she said what's in her heart.
Instead of answering, Odyssey gave her another kiss on the cheek. Just near her mouth.
"Hoy. Nasa kalye." Tulak ni Lee dito.
"Ngayon alam mo na kung anong ginagawa mo sa'kin sa school?"
Lee laughed heartily. She was just too happy. Hindi niya alam na aabot sa ganito. After years of persevering, and showing him her heart, he is finally showing his.
Sa papadaan na sasakyan kung saan nandoon siya, Danielle witnessed how Odyssey kissed Lee's hand. It was a sight of a different Odi. He truly was different with her. Not the cold, almost unfeeling Odyssey. He wasn't mysterious at school. He was just a snob. The kind of snob that other people might shy away from.
Kaya hindi niya alam kung paano nagawa 'yun ni Lee Gabriel.
Those wrinkles in his eyes when he laughs at her antics.
She really didn't think that the Odyssey she knew since first year high school is capable of showing such warmness.
She can only look at their figures.
June 14, 2011
The next day, napansin ni Dani agad ang nasa leeg ni Lee. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, it was a kissmark.
Danielle felt a stab in her heart. Of course if he can kiss her hand in public, what else can he do in private. Hindi niya alam why she's pining for this person.
Lumapit siya kay Lee and gave her her stick concealer.
"Ano 'to?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Lee.
Dani smiled. Oo nga. This bareface beauty. She didn't even need to wear make up. Anong alam nito sa concealer?
"May kagat ka yata ng insekto diyan." Dani tried to be as kind as possible. Ayaw niyang ipahiya ito. Because in truth, wala naman talaga siyang masamang balak sa dalawa. If anything, masokista siya for even helping her. And she can't help it.
Lee blushed. And Dani finally confirmed it
Pagtapos tulungan na maglagay ng concealer, Lee held her hand and said thank you.
Danielle smiled again bago bumalik sa upuan.
Nakatingin si Odyssey sa kanya. Nang matagal.
Perhaps this was the first time that Odyssey gave her so much attention.
"What?" Tanong maya-maya ni Danielle nang hindi na siya makatiiis sa pagtitig ni Odi.
"Alam mo kung ano 'yun?"
"H-ha?!" Dani was alarmed. Alam niyang kahit hindi ito nakatingin, he is always looking out for Lee more than Lee can imagine. Katulad kanina, her movements were minute, pero nakita pa rin nito ang ginawa niya.
And his words sounded like a trick question. Nagtatanong ba si Odi o nagagalit. And he even didn't mask his words. He isn't even ashamed.
"You knew, right?" Tanong ulit nito.
Napatango na lang si Dani.
"Why do you think people do that? Why do you think I did that?"
"W-what are you talking about? Why are you asking me." Aside from being uncomfortable, nasasaktan din si Dani.
"Baka kasi alam mo. You noticed it. So I thought maybe you knew..."
"H-how dare you?" Dani muttered under her breath. Sa lagay pala, tumulong na nga siya, pero nagmukha pa tuloy siyang eksperto sa larangan ng making out and love bites? For the love of god, wala pa nga siyang experience. But for a well-read person like her, she knew what that was!
"I'm sorry... I just wanted to know. From an objective point of view."
Bumuntonghininga si Dani.
This is the first time that Odyssey has opened up something to her. She knew he has no family— and he has limited friends. Kaya kahit na naiirita, she tried to understand. Kahit na masakit.
"The hormones?" She suggested.
"But I didn't know I was capable of doing that."
"Odi. Seriously. Wala rin akong alam. I guess it's human nature..."
"Is this making you uncomfortable?"
"Well... o-okay lang naman." Dani didn't know why she wanted to continue the conversation kahit parang sinasaksak siya. She guessed she just wanted to talk to him more.
"Kahapon, tinanong niya ako kung saan ko 'yun natutunan. Hindi ko alam..."
"Maybe it's human nature nga... Even dogs know how to fvck—-" Napahinto si Dani. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"We... we haven't..." Odyssey trailed off.
"Magingat kayo." Dani said. "We're at the height of our hormones. You don't want Lee getting pregnant, do you?"
"Hindi kami—"
"Sinasabi ko lang..." Dani exhaled. This might be the longest personal they ever had. "Matalino ka. Alam mo kung anong sitwasyon mo ngayon, Odi. Isipin mo kapatid mo. Isipin mo si Lee..."
After that conversation, Dani convinced herself that she said those words with good intentions, and not because she liked him he didn't want him getting cozy with his girlfriend.
Pero isang beses, she realized she was just lying to herself when she saw them kissing at the back of the school.
She has seen a lot of people kissing. Magulang niya. Mga tao sa mall. Mga nagpapaalamanan sa airport. But it was the first time that she saw someone kissing that way.
It was so sloppy. And in a way wild.
She was too nervous to move.
Ibang-iba talaga si Odyssey when he's alone, together with Lee. And even though a lot of people will say that Lee loved Odyssey more, at this sight, Dani can wager all her money that it isn't the case.
The way he envelopes his hands around her. The way he kisses her. He loves her more than anything he has ever loved. Like she's a treasure he can't get enough off.
That he can't even restrain himself kahit na nasa school.
Dani said to herself, na mabuti na lang siya ang nakakita.
From a distance, she created a loud sound enough to distract the two.
And then she texted Odyssey and warned him. Baka tuluyan nang mapurnada ang scholarship nito kapag napa-guidance ulit ito.
Ganun na lang siya magmahal. She'll just be kind to him and wait for her feelings to go away. Little did she know that 8 years after, she'll still feel the same.
She still loves him.
Even though she's the one beside him now, she's still pining.
"Gusto mo tubig?" She offered her bottled water to Lee who was soaking wet at the back seat.
Ganito siya magmahal.
*later*