2
Rumor.
"Kalat na sa campus na nilapitan ka kanina ni Andro!" Rhey exclaimed excitedly.
Nandito kami ngayon sa usual kiosk naming magkakaibigan at kumakain. May isang oras kaming lunch at lagi kaming sabay kumain kasama ang iba pang kaibigan.
Ang pakpak nga naman ng balita. Magtatatlong oras pa lang noong kinausap ako ni Andro, kumalat agad. Akala ko pamo walang pakialam ang mga tao kanina sa department ko.
"Umabot na sa Engineering department!" Jonas joked and laughed. They all clearly know how bothered I am with the rumor.
A smart and handsome guy having a crush on me is enough of a rumor, he made it worse by interacting with me!
I half-heartedly blame myself for this rumor, kung sana hindi ko na lang naiwan yung digest o kung sana hindi na lang siya ang nagbalik!
I usually shrug things like these off but the thought of it just annoys me. Para bang bawat hakbang ko ay magbubulungan na sila. The impact of that Gapiz to students, huh?
"I can feel your annoyance." Xien chuckled while looking at me.
"Very evident in your eyes." Si Kiel naman. It was four of them against me.
I continued eating my meal that I brought from our school canteen. I could sense eyes starring at me from the nearby kiosks.
I am bothered.
Very bothered.
Baka awayin pa 'ko at sinasabing inaagaw ko sa kanila si Andro. Girls, chill! Hindi ko aagawin 'yang Gapiz na 'yan sa inyo.
"Alam mo, the rumor is very fresh. 'Yung gusto ka ng lalaking whole package at isa sa mga crush ng school." Rhey said.
"At pinalaki niyo 'yung rumor in a snap!" Jonas continued Rhey's statement.
"The power you both hold! Dream girl ng lahat ng boys and dream boy naman ng girls." Aniya ni Xien.
"Bagay kayo!" Kiel joined in the teasing. I groaned at their statements.
I don't know if it's something about our first interaction, his image, or the rumors, there's just something strange I feel towards him. Annoyance? Anger?
There's really something weird in him.
"Please, stop. I don't like him, geez!" I defended.
"Maraming nagkakatuluyan dahil sa tukso!" Jonas continued teasing.
"Besides from the same old excuse na 'study first', explain further why you can't see him as a potential boyfriend?" Rhey asked.
"He's got this weird air." I trailed off. "May something strange lang talaga sa kanya and I don't know what it is."
"Ganiyan naman halos nararamdaman mo sa admirers mo noon at ngayon, Vienne!" Kiel said, a victim of the 'weird air'. He was once my suitor, but we were more compatible as friends.
Maybe this strange feeling is the same as those other admirers I had back highschool and early college years.
I may use the 'study first' card but I've had a boyfriend or two before. May mangliligaw, may secret admirers na nagpapadala ng letters, at may harap-harapang inaaya ako magdate.
Maybe this weird air I can sense from Andro is the same air I noticed from the past suitors. I just can't put it into words somehow.
I have a bad yet good feeling about him. Heck, I barely know the guy!
Lunch with them felt therapeutic. At least I have them to vent about my life occurrences. Tuloy-tuloy ang sched ko for the afternoon, my last class ending at 4 PM. I wonder if I'll ride with Ali again or just commute home? Might text him later.
I focused during class, fighting the urge to sleep. I kept on listening and writing, setting aside all the happenings today.
Maaga kami dinismiss ng last prof namin. I went to my locker and fixed my things. I was about to text Ali when someone called me from behind.
"Vienne." It was Andro.
I sighed.
Not him again! We'll once add gas to the fire. Lalaki at lalaki ang rumor!
To think of it, parang highschool life ang magkaroon ng rumor with a guy. Para akong nabalik 3 years back.
"Andro!" I faced him and put on a fake smile.
I know it wasn't his fault, but I sort of released my annoyance with the rumor to him. We all should have the freedom to court a girl but hell with a popular guy! A conversation with his rumored crush and the news spread like wildfire.
I stared at him and my gaze went to the person far back, it was his friend again.
"Do you have a minute? I want to talk with you." He asked politely.
Maybe he wants to clear the rumor and apologize for the damage he's done? I hope so!
"Uhm... Sure. Ayusin ko lang saglit gamit ko." I said and gestured to my papers that I've been carrying.
"Sige, hintayin kita sa may kiosk sa tapat." He said and smiled nervously. Why is he nervous again?
I shrugged it off and fixed my papers, making sure I'll bring home the right books. Tests na kasi niyan ng ibang subjects by next week, sisimulan ko na ang pag-aaral.
Then it'll be the long-awaited semestral break!
I finished fixing some things and carried two books or three, heading to the kiosks in front of our building.
I immediately saw Andro sitting at the one near the edge of the building. Boundary kumbaga nitong building at katabing building. I headed his way and sat in front of him, placing the books on the table in between of us.
"I'm sorry for bothering, may kailangan ka atang gawin?" He apologetically smiled.
"Wala naman. Ano bang gusto mong pagusapan?" I asked and shifted on my seat.
"This might be shocking for you..." He trailed off.
I raised my eyebrows at him. Wala na sa likod namin o tabi 'yung kaibigan niya. Binigyan ng privacy si Andro, hmmm?
"Kasi... ano..." He said fidgeting his hands. He looked at me straight in the eye.
His eyes were the color of honey. There's something in them that makes me want to stare longer.
"Uh-huh?"
"Pasensiya na sa kumakalat sa university." He apologized and looked down. "Alam kong hindi mo gusto 'yung kumakalat lalo na alam ng lahat na binabasted mo ang 'iyong mga mangliligaw kasi 'study first' ka muna." He did the quotation marks in the air with both hands.
Buti naman at nanghihingi ng pasensya. Dapat lang.
"Pero to clear things, totoo 'yun." He said and starred at me.
I was shocked with his confession. Umaamin ba siya ngayon? Hala, hindi ako ready!
Nagkakilala pa lang kami ngayon biglang aamin 'to!? Dios ko.
Hindi pa 'ko nakakaisip ng speech sa pagtuturn down sa kanya. Gagamitin ko na lang ba 'yung excuse sa lahat ng manliligaw ko?
"Totoo na gusto kita. Paghanga lang 'yun dati, lumago lalo." He continued. I once again sensed something in him. Para bang hindi totoo, pero totoo 'yung pinagsasabi niya.
I was doubtful.
"Salamat sa pagkagusto sa akin." I replied. "But I can't reciprocate your feelings, plus I believe you also know my other reason." Tukoy ko sa 'study first' excuse ko na sinambit niya kanina.
"Kaya umaakyat ako ng ligaw ngayon." He said with finality, my eyes wide open.
"Ano?" He's adding gas to the fire, lalong lalaki ang rumor!
"Hindi mahalaga kung may nararamdaman ka sa akin o wala, kayo ko 'yun baguhin!" He confidently said.
"Give me a chance, Vienne. Hindi rin naman agaran, after finals ako magsisimula! Hindi kita aabalahin sa dalawang linggo bago ang sem break." Aniya.
It would be unfair if I don't give him a chance. I usually give all my suitors a week or two to see if my feelings for him will change. It's unjust if I won't treat him the same because of the 'rumor'.
"Really, Andro? Kung kailan sobrang init pa ng balita tsaka mo dadagdagan ng init?" I pursed my lips.
"Alam kong hot ako." He joked and chuckled, lighting up the mood. I rolled my eyes at his joke though it's somehow true.
Ano, Vienne? Can you hear yourself!?
"But please, give me a chance." He pleaded.
"I give my suitors a chance, Andro." I smiled at him. I'm trying to be nicer because no one deserves to feel pain right after a confession.
I mean, I just can't be unreasonable and throw a fit because of the past events.
That's childish. I'm trying to be understanding.
"So you're giving me a chance?" He smiled with hope.
"I can't be unjust and make you an exemption because of the rumor, Andro." I smiled. "I usually give it a week or two before confronting a suitor."
"Pasensiya na kung wrong timing. Alam kong naiirita ka sa kumakalat na balita tapos nagkakilala pa lang tayo," he apologized. "Parang mali kasi kung magsasayang pa ako ng oras."
"Doon ka lang nagkamali. 'Yung mga dating manliligaw kasi, hindi raw pinagsasabi na gusto ako kasi ang sagot daw ng barkada nila ay mababasted din sila." Tawa ko habang kwinikwento ang ilang mangliligaw noon.
Now I feel guilty kung sa tingin niya pinapaasa ko siya. I'm just really open and friendly to others.
"Hindi naman ako mababasted." He confidently said.
"Hindi ka sigurado diyan, Andro." I laughed.
"Sigurado ako." His words marked with finality. It's like he's saying that it's a goal to be accomplished.
"How confident of you." Tawa ko muli at umiling.
"I hope you don't mind the things I'll be sending you starting tomorrow." He said.
"Kasama sa panliligaw mo?" I challenged.
"Oo."
"I value actions than material things, sorry." I said and smirked. "Hindi ako nakukuha sa yaman at bagay, makukuha mo 'ko sa asal at gawa."
Doon din halos bumagsak ang ilang manliligaw. Akala mo lamay ko at nagpapadala ng bulaklak araw-araw!
"Noted." He said and winked. I laughed at his gesture.
Bago pa 'ko makapagsalita muli, tumunog ang phone ko na nasa tuktok ng mga libro sa mesa. Nakita kong si Ali ang tumatawag.
"I'll just take this call." Sambit ko kay Andro at humarap sa gilid. Tumango naman siya at balak hintayin matapos ang tawag.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Tapos na ba klase mo? Uwi na tayo." He replied.
"Yup, punta na 'ko sa gate. Be there in a few." I said and turned down the call. Mukhang sasabay nga 'ko sa kanya.
"Sorry, got to go." I faced him and smiled. I stood up and put my tote bag on my shoulder.
"Ako na sa mga libro." He offered to carry my books. I smiled and just nodded.
"Simula na pala ng panliligaw mo ngayon."
"Hindi naman, it's just a gentlemanly thing to do. Tulungan ang may maraming bitbit, mapalalaki, babae, bata, o matanda." He said and got my books.
I am amazed by his principles. Mukhang iba 'to sa mga dati kong manliligaw, ah?
"Sige, salamat."
"Teka, tingnan mo muna saglit 'yung kiosk at baka may maiwan ka na naman." He chuckled.
I laughed with him while double checking the kiosk. Hinatid niya na 'ko sa gate at binigay sa akin ang libro. Hinatid pa 'ko sa loading zone kahit na sa parking pa siya didiretso kasi naroon ang motor. Hinayaan ko na lang.
Nang nakita ang sasakyan ni Ali, nagpaalam na 'ko sa kanya.
Kakalat na 'to niyan sa campus. Talk of the town na naman ako, shuta. Ganda ko kasi, e.
Pumasok na 'ko sa sasakyan at umupo sa shotgun seat, nilagay ang mga libro sa tuhod.
"Let me guess, new suitor?" Bungad sa akin ni Ali nang nagsimula na siya magdrive.
"Yup." I replied and sighed.
"Babastedin mo rin naman." He laughed and swiftly made a turn.
"Give it a rest, Alijah." Humalakhak na rin ako.