Chapter 4: Friend
She took a sipped and looked at the person beside her. Spade Paulino. Who would have thought that he will come and save her from doing the things that she might regret later.
"Lagi ba silang ganon sayo?" tanong niya nang makalayo na sila.
Naveen did not answer and just continue walking. He will probably dig deeper if she tell him about it. Ayaw niya nalang pag usapan, wala din namang magbabago kahit malaman niya.
"Narinig ko yung mga sinabi nila, totoo ba yon partner?"
Just as she thought. Once she tell him a bit of information, he will surely ask for more and more. Curiousity works that way.
She stopped walking, turned to him and looked straight in his eyes. Considered this as a payment for saving her.
"Yes, totoo yon. No one dare to make friends with me and to correct them, I'm not pulling strings. And please, stop calling me partner."
She started walking again but Spade grab his hand, pulling her back.
"Pero partner, mali ka." He let go of her hand. "Kung walang nakikipag kaibigan sayo, anong tawag mo sakin? I'm your friend, partner."
Friend? Kaibigan ang tingin sa kanya ng taong to kahit sobrang sungit niya?
"No, you're not." Naglakad na siya paalis, leaving that guy alone.
No. She can't be swayed by his words. They can't be friends. She can't afford to lose another person.
Pagkatapos ng accounting class niya, lumabas na siya at sumunod kay Professor Juanco sa facaulty para kunin ang mga additional seatwork niya.
"Hi partner!"
Naveen startled as she went out when Spade suddenly popped in front of her. Bakit ba biglang sumusulpot ang isang to?
"Magla-lunch ka na? Tara sabay tayo!"
What's with him? Bakit masyadong feeling close ang isang to?
"Ayoko." Naglakad na siya pababa at nilagpasan ang kaklase niya.
"Ayaw mo mag lunch?" tanong ni Spade na agad namang sumunod sa kanya.
"Ayaw kita makasabay."
"Ouch."
Despite of her attitude, nakangiti pa din na sumunod sa kanya si Spade. He should be offended, he should hate her too and not the other way around.
"Kung gusto mo kumain, pumunta ka sa cafeteria. Huwag mo akong sundan dahil naiirita ako sa presensiya mo."
"Pero partner, hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang cafeteria."
She rolled her eyes as she put the folders inside her car. He surely have his way to annoy her.
"Fine," she said, giving up. Sumakay na siya at nagulat nang umupo sa passenger seat ang kaklase niya. "Don't you have a car?"
"Isa lang naman ang pupuntahan natin partner saka classmate din kita sa next subject kaya ... tara na?"
Wala na siyang nagawa. Instead of wasting her time arguing with this annoying guy, nag drive na siya paalis. A smiling face of Gigie greeted them as they went inside the Roscoe Diner.
"Partner, mas malapit yung cafeteria diba pero bakit dito tayo pumunta?"
"Pakialam mo?"
Spade pouted and murmured. "Sungit."
The food was served and they started eating quietly. The guy in front of her did not dare to say a word, mukhang takot na masungitan.
"I prefer eating alone in a place like this." Naveen, for the second time, broke the silence. "Masyadong crowded sa cafeteria saka ayoko makasabay ang mga .. classmate natin."
Spade lifted his eyes on her. "Pero bakit naman partner --"
"Why do you keep on calling me that? May pangalan ako, just so you know."
"Ms. Zuerra? Err masyadong pormal."
"Naveen. That's my name."
Pagkatapos kumain, bumalik na sila sa CBA building at for the first time, nagkaroon siya ng kasabay pumasok sa room. All eyes are on her, or them. Probably wondering how they end up walking together.
Sa bandang dulo pa din siya umupo, sumunod naman sa kanya si Spade na umupo sa tabi niya. Now everyone might think that she pulled some tricks to deceive him.
Naveen opened her notebook, maybe preparing herself for a surprise quiz or she just want some distraction.
"Partner, pakopya ako mamaya ah." He whispered as their two classmates approached him.
"H-hi Spade, I'm Laiky."
"Ako naman si Z-zenie, kapag may groupings at wala kang masalihan, welcome ka sa group namin."
"Oo nga, wag ka mahihiya."
Naveen tried to focus on reading her notes pero walang pumapasok sa utak niya. She just stared down and listen to their conversation. Eavesdropping, eh?
"Sorry girls, may groupmates na kasi ako. Right, Naveen?"
Napatingin siya sa katabi niya, anong pinagsasabi nito? At paano siya nadamay sa usapan?
"S-siya? Pero bakit ka makikipag group sa kanya?"
"Hindi mo ba alam na ----"
His brows furrowed. "Why not? She's been a great partner and I can feel that she can be a great groupmate too. Any problem with that?"
That was unexpected. She thought he gonna accept their offer but he didn't. For some reason, she's glad that he refused it. Nakasimangot na bumalik ang dalawang babae sa upuan nila.
And about her being a great partner? Seryoso ba siya don?
"Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit ayaw mo sila makasabay kumain," sabi nito.
That class ended with a heaved of yawn. Nakakaantok magpanggap na nakikinig sa loob ng dalawang oras.
Kahit tapos na ang klase ay nanatili pa din ang lahat sa classroom, may mahalaga daw kasing announcement para sa kanila. Maya-maya lang ay dumating na si Dean dala ang ilang papel.
"Tomorrow, we will be having our yearly seminar & team building. Inside that paper are the details." Binigyan sila ng tig isang papel. "This is mandatory so everyone is expected to come. See you tomorrow!"
People around her seems excited, well except for her. She's not fond of events like that. Instead of going, much better if she lock herself in her room and spend her time reading books.
What: CBA DAY
When: September 15, 20xx
Where: Biñan, Laguna
Note: Do not bring cars and other vehicles. We will be taking the university bus.
See you!
Naveen crumpled the paper and throw it in the nearest trash bin. Wala siyang balak pumunta. Sinakbit niya na ang bag niya at lumabas sa room.
"Uy partner, uuwi ka na?" tanong ni Spade nang maabutan siya.
"Obvious ba?"
"Pero partner, ang aga pa." sabi nito na pinipilit sumabay sa paglalakad niya. "Tambay muna tayo."
Instead of saying 'sure, why not?' like a normal people would do, Naveen refused his offer and continue walking until she reached her car.
Tama naman ang kaklase niya, masyado pang maaga kaya hindi muna siya dumiretso pauwi. Nag drive siya paalis at tumigil sa tapat ng Dion Café.
She remembered that drunken guy as she enter the place. Her laptop and his coffee collided -- no. She shook her head, trying to remove those thoughts. It's not the time to reminisce such things.
Umupo na siya sa usual seat niya at nilabas ang libro na binabasa niya kanina. If only her classmates did not pull the trigger, siguro nasa bandang kalahati na siya ng libro.
"Coffee Latte, ma'am."
While sipping her coffee, she remembered her partner who gave her the same cup of coffee early this morning. Hindi naman siguro yon pumunta dito para lang alamin ang usual drink niya.
After four hours of reading, she finished almost half of the book. It is already 8:30pm when she decided to go home. Pagkarating sa bahay, dumiretso siya sa kusina at nadatnan ang nanay niya na kasalukuyang kumakain. Dapat siguro tinapos niya na muna basahin ang libro bago umuwi.
"How's your study?" tanong nito.
Great. Before her study, shouldn't she ask how her daughter first?
"Good," sagot niya naman bago umupo sa tapat nito.
Agad na inayos ni Manang Fe ang kakainan niya nang makita siya.
"Remember your cousin Alfie? The result of his board exam just went out and as expected, he is a top notcher, isn't he great?" her mom proudly said.
Tahimik lang siyang kumain, not minding her mom. The hell she care on Kuya Alfie, hindi naman sila close saka sobrang sungit non sa kanya.
Pagkatapos kumain, umakyat na siya sa kwarto niya at tinuloy ang pagbabasa. Since wala naman siyang gagawin bukas dahil wala siyang balak sumama sa seminar, walang problema kahit tanghali na siya gumising.
Kinabukasan, magkakasunod na katok ang gumising sa kanya. Ghad, nakalimutan niya pala sabihin sa matanda na wala siyang pasok ngayon.
With her eyes half open, tumayo siya at pinagbuksan ang matanda.
"Jusmiyo marimar, bakit ngayon ka lang bumangon? Kanina ka pa hinihintay ng kaibigan mo."
Kaibigan? Pero banned si Tasha sa subdivision nila kaya imposible yon. Hindi naman kaya --
Tumakbo siya pababa para kumpirmahin ang iniisip niya at hindi nga siya nagkamali. It was him, her self-proclaimed friend.
"Hi partner!"
Her annoying classmate greeted her as his eyes went down to her -- fuck! Wala pala siyang suot na bra at hollyshit dahil nakasando lang siya.
Kumuha siya ng isang throwpillow at ibinato sa kaklase niya. "Get out!"
Nawala bigla ang antok niya sa nangyari. Mabilis siyang naligo at nag ayos pagkalabas ng kaklase niya. Bakit ba siya nandito? Wala siyang naaalala na pinapunta niya ang lalaki na yon dito?
Wearing a white shirt with a small text of 'im yours', black denim pants and sneakers, she went out. That annoying guy is still there, probably waiting for her.
"P-partner, w-wala akong nakita p-pramis!" sabi nito na nakataas pa ang kanang kamay na parang nanunumpa.
Naveen crossed her arms and raised a brow. "Defensive much? Bakit ka ba kasi nandito?"
The answer was too obvious, para sunduin siya syempre. Pero bakit?
"Kasi ano -- bawal magdala ng sasakyan di'ba? Kaya eto." He pointed a car behind him, Neo was sitting infront and waving at her. "Nagvolunteer siya na ihatid tayo, tara?"
She have no plan on going but this guy turned things upside down and here she is, getting inside the car like she don't have any choice. Kung hindi siya sasama dito ay panigurado na pipilitin pa din siya ni Manang Fe na umattend ng seminar.
Putting the seatbelts on, Neo started driving. She checked the time, 7:45am and her battery is running low. Ghad, bakit ngayon pa?
"Malapit mo na ba matapos?" tanong ni Neo.
"Actually tapos na. Pinagiisipan ko nalang kung paano ko itatago sa kanila," sagot naman ng katabi niya.
Naveen remained silent and looked outside the window. Hindi siya makarelate sa pinaguusapan ng dalawa. Medyo nakakaout of place, buti nalang at sanay na siya.
"Anyways, N-Naveen? I'm sorry to tell you this pero hindi ko naayos ang laptop mo." Inabot nito sa kanya ang laptop niya. "I even asked the professional about that pero wala na daw talaga."
"Okay lang." Naveen gave him a forced smile. Atleast hindi siya gaanong umasa. Pero still, umasa pa din siya.
Bumalik ang dalawa sa pinaguusapan nila, nanatili naman siyang tahimik hanggang makarating sila sa school grounds.
Music. Production. Composing. And Riva? Those are the words she heard multiple times on their conversarion. She still can't relate.
Pagkarating, maraming students ang nakapila sa magkakaibang bus. They went off the car. Neo waved, bidding goodbye as he leave.
Pumunta sila sa bus na pinakamaikli ang pila. Nasa unahan niya si Spade kaya ito ang naunang nakapasok at nakaupo. She roamed her eyes around. Bukod sa upuan sa pinakalikod at sa tabi ni Spade, wala ng ibang vacant seat. Kaya pala ang ikli ng pila kasi wala ng mauupuan.
"H-hi! Ikaw yung transferee di'ba? Pwede ba ako dito umupo?" pabebeng tanong ng isang babae kay Spade.
Naveen can't help but to rolled her eyes. Makikiupo lang, kailangan pa magpa-cute?
Kaysa makinig sa usapan nila, nagsimula na siyang maglakad papunta sa pinakalikod. Panigurado naman na papayagan din ng lalaki na yon umupo ang pabebeng babae na yon sa tabi niya.
But she was wrong dahil bago pa siya makapaglakad palayo ay may humawak na sa kamay niya at hinila siya pabalik.
"Sorry miss, may katabi na kasi ako." Spade hold her hand tightly, pulling her back and forcing her to seat beside him.
"Ah ganon ba." Nakasimangot na naglakad ang babae sa pinakalikod. Dismayado siguro.
Naveen looked at the guy beside her, waiting for an explanation. He just shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
"Nakita ko yung reaction mo. Ang bilis mo pala magselos, partner."
She blinked. Anong pinagsasabi ng taong to?
"Yung kamay ko .. pwede mo na bitawan."