KAZUMI
I was half asleep when we arrived to the airport. It was four in the morning! Kahit nga mga kapatid ko antok pa rin.
"Why did we have to go to the airport this early?!" reklamo ko sabay sabunot ng sarili kong buhok. Napatigil naman si Elle habang si Anne ay tinatamad na hinihila ang kanyang maleta at hindi ako pinansin.
Agad na lumapit sa akin si Elle no'ng nabitawan ko ang maleta ko at sinalo niya kaagad 'yon dahil pag natumba 'yon, for sure ay gagawa 'yon ng ingay.
"Halika na," pag-aaya niya sa akin at tinulungan akong hilain ang maleta ko kaya sumunod naman ako sa kanya.
Pumila kami para mag-check in. Nasa harap ko ang dalawa habang ako ay nasa likod nila, nagdadabog pa rin.
"Uh, why did I sleep so late last night," I kicked the floor, akala mo naman may magagawa 'yon. "I should've slept early!" because I was trying to kick something that doesn't exist, I lost my balance kaya napasigaw ako.
Before I fell down, I felt a warm hand wrapped around my waist, preventing me to fall.
Nanlaki ang mata ko when I realized who held me at agad namang tumayo at pinagpag ang sarili ko even though I didn't really fall.
When I looked him in the eye, I saw a spark of concern lingering in his eyes. I immediately avoided my gaze.
"Sorry," I whispered as I realized he was still holding me.
Tinitigan ko lang ang kamay niya, when he realized that, agad niyang binawi ang kamay niya.
"It's okay," aniya.
"Kazumi! Halika na!" tinawag na ako ni Elle kaya nag-excuse ako at nag check in na.
After that incident, hindi na ako inantok.
Habang nag-hihintay sa plane, sinandal ni Elle ang ulo niya sa balikat ko. Our other classmates are also here, as well as Miss.
"Saan kaya si Mommy?" Napaangat ng ulo si Elle at tinignan ako.
"Nandyan lang yan si Mommy. 'Wag na natin pansinin muna si Mom," inaantok niyang sabi at sinandal ulit ang ulo niya sa akin. Napatango na lang ako at 'di na siya kinulit pa. I wonder if Mommy saw what happened a while ago.
Not too long, dumating na rin sina Cleo. I wonder why they always arrive together. 'Di ko na lang 'yon pinansin.
When the plane was ready, agad 'kong ginising si Elle at tumaas na kami sa plane.
Magkatabi sina Elle at Anne, habang may pagitan sa aming aisle. Four seats lang per row dahil maliit lang ang plane na sinasakyan namin.
Umupo na ako sa tabi ng window. I'll just ask whoever sits in my side if I could seat here kasi dapat 'yong seat ko ay katabi ng aisle.
I was staring outside the window when I felt like someone sat beside me so I looked behind me. And if it wasn't cliché enough, I was shocked when Lucas sat beside me. Sabagay, when I checked-in, siya 'yong taong nasa likod ko. Oh well, there's nothing I can do.
Hindi naman ako ganoon ka-arte to request the crew to give me a new seat just because I'm seating beside my ex. It's hassle and nakakastress, not to mention nagmumukhang bitter!
"Uh, can I sit here beside the window?" I asked when he looked at me. I had to swallow my nervousness to ask that. I didn't want to ask him anything but I just really love to sit beside the window, it's relaxing.
He nodded, "sure."
I smiled to show my gratitude.
He didn't speak to me na rin and when we were in the air, I pulled out my phone and earphones at sinuot 'yon.
I was staring outside the window when I drifted to sleep.
THIRD PERSON's POINT OF VIEW
Hindi namalayan ni Kazumi na nakatulog na siya, dahil na rin sa antok kaya't mukhang pagod ito.
Napansin ni Lucas na tumatama ang ulo ni Kazumi sa kabila kung nasaan ang bintana kaya napatingin siya sa dalaga. Nakita niyang nakapikit ito at mukhang natutulog na. Napangiti na man siya nang ma-realize niya ito.
"She's very beautiful," bulong niya at hinawakan ang ulo ni Kazumi para isandal sa kanyang dibdib. Ayaw niyang sumakit masyado ang batok ni Kazumi kaya isinandal niya ang ulo nito sa kanya.
Madaming tanong ang bumabagabag sa isipan ni Lucas, kung bakit hindi ito pumasok last week, kung mayroon 'bang nangyari, ngunit lahat ng tanong at duda ay biglang naglaho nang tinitignan niya si Kazumi.
Natawa siya sa kanyang sarili, kahit nahihirapan, kahit na nalilito, si Kazumi pa rin ang sagot upang siya ay maging mahinahon.
Alam niya sa sarili niya kung ano ang kanyang mga mali, at inaasahan niyang maintindihan siya ni Kazumi.
Buong oras na tulog si Kazumi, ay sinusulyapan o kung hindi ay tinititigan lang siya ni Lucas. He was so grateful na sa dinami-daming classmates na pwede niyang matabihan, ay si Kazumi pa ang natabihan niya.
KAZUMI
Nagising ako nang dahil sa hilo. I wanted to vomit but I can't, wala naman kasing laman ang tyan ko, and maybe that's also the reason as to why I am feeling dizzy.
I haven't opened my eyes yet but what is this hard thing on my head?
Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko. Napalingon ako sa sinasandalan ko at agad na nanlaki ang mga mata.
Nakita 'kong titig na titig sa akin si Lucas na mukhang namamangha, kaya agad kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanya.
"Sorry, I didn't realize that I fell asleep," I said, still not making an eye contact. I felt my cheek burned up so I guess namumula na ako ngayon.
"Okay lang," aniya at umayos ng upo.
Gosh! Nakakahiya naman at sakanya pa ako nakasandal. I hope he won't think of it as me trying to get close to him because I'm definetely not.
Pero in fairness, ang bango niya ha.
But damn, what if may nakakita sa amin na ganoon ang posisyon then they'll think that Lucas and I got back together! Ano'ng isasagot ko? I mean, of course sasabihin 'kong hindi dahil hindi naman kami nag-uusap, magiging kami pa kaya?
"Sorry if I bothered you." I looked at him again and he was still staring at me.
"Okay lang, Anica. Maayos ba ang tulog mo?"
Anica, he still calls me that. Iba pa rin sa feeling pag tinatawag niya ako ng gamit ang second name ko. Pakiramdam ko tuloy mas namula pa ako, I hope he won't notice.
I nodded. "Yes." I didn't know what else to say so tumingin nalang ako sa phone ko. Saka ko lang napansin na hindi na pala tumutugtog ang earphones ko. Pagkabukas ko ng phone, ayon hindi bumukas, lowbatt na pala! So how can I pretend that he's not the one beside me?
While I was trying to distract myself, the pilot said that we will soon be arriving at the island kaya napaupo na lang ako ng maayos habang tinatanggal ang eaphones na nakasaksak sa tenga ko.
I glanced at the window at namangha ako sa aking nakita. The island is just beneath us and it was so pretty! I couldn't help but smile. The island wasn't that big though but still, it's so beautiful that even words couldn't describe.
We landed in the middle of the forest. Wala eh, kung titingin ka sa labas ay puro puno ang makikita mo. Kung saan lang kami nag-land ay doon lang din ang nakasemento, the rest was soil.
I can hear my classmates gasped when they saw the view outside. It was breathtaking! The grass is very green at ang tatayog ng mga puno. Though I'm curious, how will we go to the rest house?
When the crews opened the door, dali-daling lumabas ang mga kaklase ko dala ang iba nilang gamit. Well ang maleta namin ay pina-baggage namin so ang karga ko lang ay ang pouch ko.
When I noticed Lucas wasn't standing, I looked at him with a confused look.
"Excuse me, Lucas. Everybody's leaving the plane." Agad naman siyang napatayo when he realized what I said and he said sorry. Tumango lang ako at tumayo na rin.
When I got out of the plane, I immediately felt the wind brushing through my skin. My hair flew so I tied my hair.
We were asked to form a line, girls and boys are sperated, when we all got down from the plane.
Agad naman akong lumapit kena Cleo.
"Your island is so pretty, Cleo," I said when I approached them.
"I know, right? Kahit ako ay nagulat when I saw the scenery."
We talked more about the island but we stopped when Miss asked for our attention.
"Good Morning class. It is now 9:30 A. M. and you will have a free time until later afternoon. Though you aren't allowed to go outside the house, at least use that time to unpack your things. Let's go." She started walking but Jazz shouted so she could hear her.
"Miss, how about our trunks?"
Napalingon si Miss and stopped at her tracks.
"It will be brought by the crew to the house. So now everyone, please follow me."
We did what she asked. I was confused at first as to where we were going and where will we walk. Kasi nga 'di ba, mapuno talaga rito. But my question was answered when we reached the end of the path where the plane lands. There was a small path leading somewhere else, at first I didn't know where but as we walked and walked, we saw the back of the rest house.
It was a 10 minute walk so some of our classmates who weren't really used to walking that much ay napagod na. Some were panting, some were even talking about things like, why is the walk so long, etc.. I didn't mind though, I'm used to walking very far or maybe because I have lots of stamina.
My friends didn't also complain about the walk. We actually enjoyed it. Kasi naman, as we walked through the forest, there are many animals that can be seen. My other classmates were terrified especially the girls, 'yong iba nga ay sumisigaw na baka mayroong ahas but Miss assured them that there weren't.
I asked Cleo about how can Miss be so sure and she answered me that they hired someone to get rid of all the snakes. Siyempre they didn't kill the snakes, pero nilipat daw ito sa ibang lugar.
I saw many butterflies and I was so happy! We live in the city so bihira lang ang butterflies do'n. Nakakakita naman ako ng butterflies sa garden namin but just one or two, 'di gano'n karami tulad dito.
No'ng dumating na kami sa harap ng rest house dahil inikot pa namin galing likod, naramdaman ko agad ang pag-iba ng hangin. It smelled like the ocean kaya napatingin ako sa harap.
Napaawang bibig ko when I saw the ocean. The sand was so white and the water was very clear. Napapasabik tuloy akong tumakbo papuntang dagat at maligo. That's how much appealing it is.
Hindi kasi masyadong makita habang nasa plane ka, or maybe I just have a bad eye sight nut damn, ang ganda ng dagat.
Napansin ko rin na tumutingin ang iba sa dagat but Miss called us at pinapasok na kami sa loob.
The house was built with a modern look. Brown ang pintura sa labas at double door ang pintuan. Malaki rin ang space sa porch.
Nang pumasok kami, sinalubong kami ng napakalaking space at sa taas ay ang napakalaking chandelier. If I'm not mistaken, there are three floors.
White ang theme sa loob at most of the things that you can see are in black or white.
Konting lakad galing sa pinto ay sasalubong sa amin ang isang napakalaking sofa at tv. Kasya siguro kaming lahat magkaklase doon.
Napatigil kami sa paglalakad sa gitna ng sofa.
Miss cleared her voice and made us all sit. Sa tabi ko naman ay sina Elle at Anne, bale ako ang nasa gitna nila. Katabi lang din namin sina Cleo, Gia, Jazz at Angel.
Tumayo siya sa harap ng tv as she faced us all.
"So, this is the meeting area," she started. She pointed her right side, "Doon ang dining room at doon sabay-sabay tayong kakain. Sa tabi ng dining room ay ang kitchen but no need to worry dahil may chef naman tayo. May common bathroom din," at tinuro niya ang pinto malapit sa hagdan.
"Walang room dito sa first floor. There are twenty room in total. Bale ten rooms each floor. Sa second floor ang girls at ang boys naman ay sa third floor. Bawal pumasok ang girls sa room ng boys at ganoon din ang boys. May nagbabantay each floor kaya 'wag niyong pagtangkaing pumunta pa. You can choose the room you want pero syempre, pare-pareho lang naman ang rooms kaya kayo na ang bahala dyan," Miss explained.
There are 17 girls and 18 boys in our class. Dahil pang dalawang tao ang isang kwarto, may isang babae sa class namin ang mag-isa na matutulog sa room.
"Kazumi," tinawag ako ni Miss kaya tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya.
"Ano po 'yon, Miss?" I asked.
Tumalikod kami sa class at nagbulungan lamang.
"Sabay na tayo sa kwarto dahil mag-isa lang din naman ako, is that okay?" She asked and I nodded.
"Thank you," she said and smiled.
Bumalik na ako sa tabi ng mga kapatid ko at kita ko ang pagtataka nila sa mukha.
Mag tatanong pa sana si Elle nang nagsalita ulit si Miss.
"That's everything, class. Just be sure to go back here exactly at 11:30 P.M.." Agad namang tumayo ang mga kaklase ko at nag unahan umakyat sa hagdan para piliin ang sarili nilang kwarto.
"What did Miss say?" takang tanong ni Jazz while we were going up the stairs.
"She told me to be her roommate and I agreed. Okay lang naman sa inyo, 'di ba?"
Tumango naman si Elle. "Of course! If okay lang sa'yo, okay lang din saamin, 'di ba?" sumang-ayon naman sa kanya ang mga kaibigan namin.
Pumili na sila ng room at magkakatabi lang naman ang room nila.
Nasa room two sina Elle at Anne, room three naman sina Cleo at Gia habang room three naman sina Jazz at Angel.
Nasa labas ako ng pintuan ng mga kapatid ko dahil ininvite nila akong pumasok muna, nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng room one.
Si Miss ang lumabas do'n at tinawag ako. I excused myself from my sisters at sinabing babalik lang ako in a while. Pumayag naman sila at sinabing mag-papahinga muna sila dahil na rin sa jetlag.
"Okay, rest well."
Ako na ang nagsara ng pinto nila at pumasok na ng kwarto namin ni Miss.
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Hello, may nagbabasa pa rin ba nito? hehehe