"I TOLD you, I'm gonna prove you wrong."
"You!" Akala ko ay magagalit siya pero ngumiti siya sa akin at tinapik ang balikat ko. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you, Papa. I can't believe that I'm gonna be a father." Hindi ko na napigilan ang mapaiyak. I do believe in sex after marriage pero wala na akong nagawa noong reypin ako ni Alesia. Yes, she did that. What else could I say? She's too unpredictable. Just like when I first saw her.
"You guys heard the news? There's a girl daw na ginagawang playground ang school." Dana stated while walking and clinging her arms to Mich's. We're going to the cafeteria dahil lunch break na.
"Walang magta-tanghalian hangga't walang nakakasagot ng tanong ko!" rinig kong sigaw sa classroom na madadaanan namin.
"Oh boses ni gurang 'yon a!" natatawang saad ni Andrei. "Sino naman kaya ang malas na section na 'to?"
Palihim na silang sumilip ni Angelo. Napailing na lang ako. Nasa tapat na ako ng pintuan nila ng mahagip ng tingin ko ang babaeng may hawak na ballpen. She looks like she's targeting something. The next thing she did made my conclusion right. Ibinato lang naman niya sa board ang ballpen! Napatigil ang teacher sa pagsusulat at hinarap ang klase.
"Sino ang nagbato ng ballpen na 'to?!"
"Ako po, miss!" I can't believe that she will say it proudly! Nakataas pa ang kanang kamay na animo'y nasa recitation siya.
"At bakit naman---"
"Binibini, ikalawang tanong mo na 'yan kung sakali." At nagawa pa niyang tumingin sa wrist watch niya! "You told us that whoever answer your question will make the whole class go for the break. Nasagot ko na po ang tanong n'yo. Hindi lang isa, kundi dalawa pa." Isinukbit niya ang bag sa balikat. "It's 12:06 in the afternoon, miss. English is allowed. Goodbye, Miss!"
"Miss Montes!"
Hindi niya pinansin ang guro nila at naglakad palabas. Pakiramdam ko ay bumagal ang lahat ng magtama ang paningin namin. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her face wearing a smirk. Bumalik lang sa dati ang lahat ng daanan niya ako.
"Damn, that was epic." Angelo stated.
"Tayo ang pag-iinitan niyan mamaya." Andrei chuckled and shrugged his head. "Who's that girl anyway?"
She got me with that scene of hers. Madalas din siyang pag-usapan ng grupo kapag nakikita nila siya. Yes, only them. Because after that scene in her classroom, hindi ko na siya nakita pa ulit.
I was sleeping peacefully at the school garden when I dreamt of something 'bout my past.
"Why are you doing this?!" I heard my mother shouting angrily, as usual, to my dad. Nasa kusina lang silang dalawa kaya rinig na rinig ang kanilang sigawan. This wasn't new to me. They can shout to each other whole day but hurting my mother is a different story.
Pagod akong naupo sa sofa. Kagagaling ko lang sa eskwelahan. Hindi pa man ako natatagalan ay tumayo na rin ako nang makita si Archie. Kahit kailan ay hindi kami magkasundo. It was always him and his father against me and my mother. Step-father ko ang tatay niya and it does make him as my step-brother. I'm from a broken family. The relationship of my biological parents ended when I was seven years old. They split because there's no spark anymore, they both fell out of love. And that's when I promised to myself to do everything that I can for the woman that I will love.
I was 10 years old when they died in a car accident. Nawalan daw ng preno ang kotseng minaneho ng step-dad ko. Dead on the spot siya samantalang dead on arrival naman si Archie. A year after that, my father came back to us. Nagkabalikan ulit sila ni Mommy at hindi na naghiwalay pa.
"Ate, nababaliw na po ba siya?"
"No, baby, nasa dreamland lang siya."
Naalimpungatan ako sa mahihinang boses na iyon. Isang batang lalaki at isang babae ang nag-uusap. Nagpanggap akong tulog hanggang sa makaalis sila. I opened my eyes and even if she's not facing me, I know that it's her, the girl who captivated me without her knowledge.
"Mr. Del Madrid, your father is asking you and your friends presence to his office. Excuse na kayo sa klase ko."
My brows creased after hearing that from my teacher. Malapit naman na ang breaktime kaya bakit hindi na lang mamaya? Tumayo na lang ako at lumabas na. Kasunod ko naman sila Angelo. Natatawa na lang ako dahil sila-sila rin ang nagtatanungan kung bakit kami ipinatawag gayong pare-pareho naman kaming walang alam.
"We're going out of the country, Sho. At kasama rin namin ang mga magulang n'yo, mga bata." Dad said. "Ang sekretarya ko na muna ang mag-aasikaso ng eskwelahan para hindi ka maabala, anak."
Umaalis din ang mga magulang namin ng araw ding 'yon. May mahalaga raw silang bagay na aasikasuhin. Dumiretso kami sa cafeteria. Maingay ang mga estudyante dahil sa isang babaero at isang friendly na miyembro ng grupo. Isang lingon ko lang ay agad na nagtama ang mga mata namin. Doon ko lang din napatunayan na tama ang nakita ko noong unang beses ko siyang makita. Emotion is not visible to her eyes. It was cold yet mysterious.
I averted my gaze first not because I can no longer stare back at her kung hindi dahil mas gumaganda pa siya sa paningin ko. And the moment that I realized it, I know I'm doomed. Nagawa pa niya akong takutin para lang linisin ang classroom nila kahit nag-offer naman ako.
"Kakaiba talaga." Napailing na lang si Angelo ng makalayo siya.
"You like her." Clent whispered while mopping the floor. I just gave him a smile to answer him kahit hindi iyon patanong.
Days passed and I'm hearing things about her not only from the students but also to my father's secretary. She's talented and smart but a troublesome student. Ginawang tambayan ang detention room at clinic, laging nadadawit sa gulo, sumasagot sa guro at marami pang iba. But no matter how bad she was, I still like her. And my feelings for her is getting deeper and stronger.
And then the zombreak happened. I'm more than happy when I saw her alive. I'm thankful that she joined us dahil mas nakilala ko pa siya. She never fail to amaze me. Lalo na ng malaman ko na may kapangyarihan siya. I am amazed pero nabura iyon ng may mapagtanto ako. Isa kaya iyon sa mga dahilan kung bakit wala siyang emosyon?
But she changed when Shaun came. Ngumingiti siya ng abot sa mga mata niya at nakikipag-usap sa 'min ng mahinahon. I'm the leader of our group but I did let her to lead us. Mas nakilala ko pa siya lalo at ang mga kaya niyang gawin.
"Make love to me."
"No, you're just drunk, baby girl." I tried resisting her charm on me until I succeed.
Kaming dalawa lang ang nasa kwarto dahil nag-iinuman pa sila sa ibaba. My eyes widened when I saw her stripping her clothes. Mariin akong napapikit. I'm on the edge of letting the lust take over me but… mas malaki at matatag pa rin ang pagmamahal at pagrespeto ko sa kanya. Hinablot ko ang kumot at ibinalot sa kanya.
"I love you, baby girl. But you have to marry me before we do what you were asking."
I'm actually not hurt when I saw her kissing my brother. Kamukha man niya 'yong babae, hindi ko naman naramdaman sa kanya ang nararamdaman ko kay Alesia. I'm just shock… that my brother is alive.
Pumunta kami dahil nagpumilit ako. Bagay na hindi ko alam na pagsisisihan ko pala.
"W-why are you doing this? And I thought… I thought you're dead!" I'm confused right now. Nailibing namin ang katawan nila kaya paanong nakikita ko siya ngayon?
"Because I wasn't! Tsk. Stop talking to me and face the reality dickhead!" He answered me irritatedly. "What were you saying again, love?"
I got pissed when he called my girlfriend that way! I tried not to be jealous but I can't help it. May pinagsamahan din sila at posibleng… nagustuhan din siya ni Alesia.
"Gusto kong pakawalan mo sila. Hahayaan mo silang umalis rito hanggang sa makalayo sila. Walang susunod na tauhan mo o nang kahit sinong tao mula sa Vessels of Martiri."
"And what would I get in return?"
"You will have me."
"No!" I am strongly disagreeing to her decision. Pero anong magagawa ko kung tinitingnan niya ako sa paraang magiging maayos lang siya?
"I love you." She whispered enough for me to hear before turning her back.
Seeing her walking away from me broke my heart into pieces. Hindi ko na napigilan ang mapaiyak. Masakit. Lalo na kung hindi ako ang pinili niya, hindi 'yong kami, hindi 'yong relasyon namin. She choose her responsibility for the humanity than me, to our relationship and to her happiness.
I received a hard punch from someone. Nagpanggap akong nahimatay at saka tumakas. If she'll die choosing the humanity, then I want to die with her.
"Ano na naman bang iniisip mo?"
Napakurap ako ng ilang beses at napatingin sa kanya sa inosenteng paraan. Inirapan niya naman ako.
"Pakainin mo na lang nga ako."
"I love you." I planted a kiss on her forehead. "I really do."
"Ako 'yong buntis pero ikaw ang emosyonal sa ating dalawa." Kunot ang noo niya. "May problema ba?"
"None. Just remembered everything."
"I forgot to tell you something. It's about Shaun."
"What is it? Napaaway na naman ba?" nag-aalalang tanong ko. That kid is four years old now at marunong ng makipag-away. We officially adopted him and he's carrying my surname kahit hindi pa kami kasal ni Alesia.
"He's your son."
"My… what?" Parang nabingi ako doon at isang segundo yatang tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ko.
"He's yours." She rolled her eyes. "Basta kinuhanan ako ng egg cell tapos sperm sa 'yo. Alam mo namang kaya nilang gawin ang lahat kaya hindi ko na ipapaliwana---"
"I thought he's my brother's…" Yumakap ako sa kanya ng mahigpit. Natutuwa ako. Tuwang-tuwa ako.
"Sira ba ulo mo?! I'm a virg---"
I crashed my lips into hers. Masyadong bulgar ang mapapangasawa ko. But it doesn't make my love for her lessen. Not even a bit.
"You'll gonna marry me within this week!" anunsyo ko
"How 'bout Daddy?"
"Para saan pa at nanalo ako kanina kung hindi kita mapapakasalan agad-agad?"
"Oh my gosh! I'm gonna help you preparing for your wedding!" Dana shrieked out of nowhere. Hawak niya sa kamay si Shaun na agad tumakbo palapit sa akin.
"Daddy!"
Nandito kami sa bahay nina Alesia. Her father wants us to stay here hangga't hindi pa kami nakakasal. Pinanood ko ang paglagpit ng mga babae kay Alesia.
"Wew. Akala ko pa naman nagmamaryang palad ka---" Naputol ang sinasabi ni Angelo nang batukan siya ni Andrei.
We have our boys talk but I can't help looking to her direction. Naramdaman niya siguro ang titig ko kaya lumingon siya.
"I love you." I mouthed to her and she did the same to me. Her eyes is now glistening because of too much happiness. There's no coldness in there anymore.
The zombreak ruined the people's lives and even scarred the heart and memories of the survivors. It was a hard challenge and traumatic experience but it did strenghten our bond and made us realized things. We, the survivors of the zombreak, will see this as our second life. Mistake is inevitable but we can learn a lot from it. I already learned my lesson and now, everything is worth it. I have the only person that I'm inlove with. Hindi ko na kailangang tumanaw o manakot pa ng ilang schoolmates para sa kanya kasi sa akin na siya ngayon. And I won't let her go no matter what it takes.
Just like in every stories, this isn't the end of everything, this is just the beginning. The drug is still running on her blood and now, that she's pregnant… everything is now inevitable. Who knows what will happen next? All I have to do is to trust her and won't leave her side. I'm more than ready for our next journey.
Too ready.
~*~