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Chapter 17
Quiz
My mind is rumbling. Ano'ng sinasabi ni Jax? I never said that!
Pagkatapos namin sa Greenhouse ay agad ko siyang sinundan palabas, nauna na sa mga kasama.
"What are you saying, huh?" I confronted him.
Nasa likod lang niya ako at patuloy lang siyang naglalakad.
"Why are you putting words in my mouth?!" sigaw ko pa at doon ay napaharap na siya sa akin. "Wala akong sinasabing ganoon!"
His eyes were dark and he's staring at me, hard.
"Parehong kailangan ng allowance?" he mockingly said.
Napalunok ako roon. Narinig niya?
"I-I'm sorry..." I sincerely apologized.
I really don't know why I said it. Nagulat din ako sa sarili. Out of madness? Out of jealousy because of what Xuri said that Claire and him fit together? I am so confused, but what I've said doesn't mean I don't like poor. I would never! I am not that kind of person!
"Sorry because you said it or sorry because I heard it?" he asked while still looking at me. Like he is reading me.
"I-I really don't mean it..." I reasoned out. "I'm sorry, okay!"
Iyon naman kasi ang totoo, eh!
"What now? You just said it out of the blue because you feel like it? 'Di kita gets," he said and ran his hands over his hair.
He looks frustrated at me.
"I don't like what I've said, okay! Nabigla rin ako!" I shouted.
I'm frustrated na rin kasi I don't know how I could explain myself to him. Ni hindi ko masabi na na-hurt ako sa kanila ni Claire kasi it's not right!
Natahimik siya at malalim na huminga.
"Wala akong sinasabi na ayaw ko sa mahihirap kaya 'wag mong sabihin na ganoon ako!" Pakiramdam ko maiiyak na ako out of frustration.
Napayuko siya. "So, you just said it because you feel like it?"
I took a deep breath. Oh my God! "No! Hindi nga! I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry!"
"You are confusing, Calixta," napailing siya at iniwan na ako roon.
On that very moment, I feel like crying. I wanted to call Kuya... But me having a crush will freak him out. Should I call Ate Ariyah or Kuya Shawn? But most probably, they will tell Kuya too!
Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin. I got my phone and checked instagram. My fingers leaded me to Jaxith's account. Wala naman siyang post doon kung hindi dalawa lang.
'Yong isa, nasa beach siya at nakatalikod sa camera. Tapos 'yong isa naman, it's the exact same picture I found on his facebook. The picture of him and a girl with the 'pie' caption.
She means a lot to him, 'no? I wonder who she is. Ex niya ba 'to? Why don't he delete the picture then?
Napailing ako sa sarili at nag-chat na lang kay Daddy at Mommy. I told them to eat dinner na.
Kabado akong bumaba sa dining hall. Isang oras lang ang dinner time ng Star Sapphire Class at sabay-sabay dapat kami. That means, makikita ko na naman si Jax. I decided to talk to him after dinner. Bahala na. Mag-sosorry ako ulit.
Hindi talaga ako napapalagay pag may kaibigan akong galit sa akin. It doesn't feel right... Ang bigat-bigat kasi sa pakiramdam, alam mo 'yun? I just don't want him to be mad at me...
Halos magkasabay kaming pumasok ni Jax sa dining hall pero nilagpasan niya lamang ako.
Malungkot akong sumunod at kumuha na lang ng pagkain.
"So, prayer meeting ba 'to?" si Gelo iyon. "Ang tatahimik n'yo!"
"I'm hungry!" si Xuri naman habang pinapapak iyong crablets.
"Same!" sabay namang sabi ni Cat at Theo.
Mas lalo tuloy naging awkward at tahimik pagkatapos no'n.
Sinulyapan ko si Jaxith at tahimik lang siyang kumakain. He usually sit beside me, but now he didn't...
Sobrang tahimik lang niya.
"I'll go ahead," Jax said and went out.
"Anong nangyari ro'n? Biglang naging Mr. Loner ata? Mr. Friendship pa naman siya!" hirit pa ni Gelo. "Hoy, Grant! Hinawaan mo ba 'yon?"
Ang mga mata naman namin ay napunta kay Grant na panay lang ang kain.
"Ba't ako?" reklamo nito at may hawak pang chicken wings.
Nagpaalam na rin ako sa kanila para masundan si Jax.
"Jax!" I called and ran to him. "Wait lang!"
Huminto siya at hinarap ako. "What do you want, Ms. Gonzalez?"
The tone of his voice is different and it scares me. Parang hindi siya. Nasaan na ang walking emoji na Jaxith? Nasaan na si Mr. Friendship? I don't want this one!
"I-I'm really sorry. Nasabi ko lang naman 'yun kasi..." natigil ako.
Tinignan niya ako, iniintay ang aking sasabihin.
What now, Cali? You'll say you were jealous? You'll say that you like him? Will it change anything? What if he doesn't care?
"I'm just... Just sorry," dugtong ko na lang. Hindi ako makapagtapat sa kanya. I can't do it.
Tumunog ang phone niya at sa kasamaang palad ay nakita ko ang pangalan ni Claire roon.
Mapait akong ngumiti. Buti na lang talaga at hindi ako nagtapat sa kanya.
I looked at him. "Fine... I said what I said! Isipin mo ang gusto mong isipin! Ayaw ko sa mahirap? Eh, 'di ayaw ko!"
Bumagsak ang mga balikat niya. He looked really disappointed at me.
"Spoiled brat," he said and walked away.
Nag-sorry na ako. Nagawa ko na ang part ko. Sinabi ko na sa kanyang hindi naman iyon ang ibig kong sabihin, kung ayaw niyang maniwala, eh, 'di 'wag!
I can't wait to shop on weekends. I'll buy a new Louis Vuitton hand bag and a Valentino pumps!
He want a brat? I'll give him a brat!
"Brain exercise, everyone!" Prof. Somero said early in the morning.
We will now having our minor subjects here in the Greenhouse and it's so calming. Iiwasan ko na lang lumingon kay Jax para hindi masira ang mood ko. Ayaw ko siyang makita!
I'll beat him in this brain exercise! I'll freaking beat him!
"Juan is twice as old as Pedro. Seven years ago the sum of their ages was 16. How old is Pedro now?" Prof. Somero started.
I raised my hand so fast.
"10, Sir," I answered and got 2 points.
I looked at Jax, only to found him looking at me too. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil masungit siyang nakatingin sa akin. Like duh! Bilisan mo kasi!
"For what value of x will x be the average of 2, 4x, 6, 8, 10?" Prof. Somero asked next.
Nagtaas ako ng kamay pero mas nauna si Jax. Damn it! I hope he's wrong!
"26, Sir," Jax answered and I rolled my eyes. He got 3 points! Daya!
"Eighteen less than seven times the number of sandwiches is 269. How many sandwiches are there?" Iyon ang sunod na tanong.
Pataas pa lang ako ng kamay pero tinawag na ni Prof. Somero ang pangalan ni Jax. Kainis!
"41," Jax answered and got 2 points.
Bumaling siya sa akin. "Keep up, Ms. Top 2."
I looked at him in disbelief and flipped my hair. Oh, I will, you jerk!
"A boy and his father get into a car accident. When they arrive at the hospital, the doctor sees the boy and exclaims 'That's my son!' How can this be?"
Agad akong tinawag ni Sir dahil sobrang bilis kong nagtaas ng kamay.
"Yes, Ms. Gonzalez?" si Prof. Somero iyon.
"The doctor is the boy's mother," I answered and got 2 points.
"On my next questions, I would like to sit out Mr. Pereira and Ms. Gonzalez," Prof. Somero said.
"What?!" sabay na sabay kami ni Jax doon.
Naririnig ko iyong pag "ayie" ni Gelo sa gilid ko. My gosh!
Diyan tayo na-dedevelop, eh, sa ayie ayie na 'yan! Nananahimik ako dati, eh! Ngayon, crush ko na tuloy! Argh!
"I believe both of you guys have enough points already... Give chance to others, alright?" ani Sir.
Wala naman akong choice at humalukipkip na lang.
"Kasi naman, sis! Para kayong may gera ni Jax! Pagkasagot niya, ikaw naman tapos siya na naman tapos ikaw na naman! Kaloka!" bulong pa ni Gelo sa akin.
May gera talaga kami! I can't wait to uncrushed him!
After the brain exercise, nag-discussed si Prof. Somero sa amin tapos ay may pinagawa siyang seatworks.
I don't really understand. It's so unfair! Effort na effort akong makinig, si Jax papikit-pikit lang pero siya pa rin ang highest score sa seatwork! Nasaan ang hustisya?
May quiz kami sa isang major subject and our Professor asked us to exchange papers with our seatmates.
Umikot ang mga mata ko nang makita na si Jax nga pala ang katabi ko. Siya ang tumabi sa akin no'ng first day niya, excuse me!
Inabot namin ang papel sa isa't-isa nang hindi nagtitinginan. Whatever!
Hindi mawala sa isip ko iyong sinabi niya. Spoiled brat? Ako? Okay! Spoiled brat kung spoiled brat!
"Why is this wrong?" I heard Jaxith's voice.
Pag talaga nag-eenglish siya, parang ang sungit sungit niya. Mas sanay pa ako sa barumbadong tagalog niya!
Tumayo pa siya at lumapit sa akin. Inilatag niya iyong papel niya sa desk ko. Tinignan ko naman iyong itinuturo niya.
"Kulang ng letter s..." sabi ko at inirapan siya.
"That's not part of the rules!" giit niya.
"Eh, kulang nga!"
Ang correct answer ay may s, wala siyang s kaya minalian ko. Nagpupumilit pa! Pa-check niya kay Sir kung gusto niya!
His perfectly thick brows furrowed.
"Can you drop the attitude?" he asked me.
Wow! Ako pa ang ma-attitude ngayon?
"I don't have an attitude, I just have a personality that you can't handle!" I shot back.
"Such a brat," bulong niya at bumalik na sa upuan.
Fine, whatever!
On our last major subject, there's a surprise quiz. Napairap ako dahil exchange papers with seatmates na naman no'ng mag-checheck na! Tss, si Jaxith na naman ang kapalitan ko!
He got a perfect score. Walang mali sa mga sagot niya at hindi rin kulang ng letter s.
I'm pretty sure that I got a perfect score too!
My jaw fell when I got my paper and saw my score. What the hell?
When our Professor dismissed us, I immediately went to Jax. Tumayo ako sa harapan niya. Siya naman ay nakaupo pa rin at nag-aayos ng gamit.
"Jax, paturo ako mamaya sa library after PE?" I heard Claire's voice.
"Okay," Jax answered, hindi manlang ako pinansin.
Ngiting-ngiti si Claire bago umalis.
"Excuse me, Mr. Pereira!" I shouted at him because he keeps on ignoring me.
Padabog kong inilapag iyong papel ko sa desk niya.
"Tama ang sagot ko rito!" reklamo ko. "Bakit minalian mo?"
"Rules of Capitalization, Ms. Gonzalez... Use capitals in proper nouns. In other words, capitalize the names of people, specific places, and things."
Umuwang ang bibig ko. Is he being serious right now? Minalian niya ako dahil lang hindi capital iyong first letter?!
"How about this one?" turo ko pa roon sa isang mali.
"'Di ko maintindihan 'yong sagot mo," he said.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko roon. I can't believe this! I can't believe him!
"You know what? You're acting like a kid!" I said to him. Nakakagigil!
He stood up and towered over me.
"And you're acting like a brat..." he said. "You started this, in case you forgot."
He's so serious and his eyes were darker this time. There was no trace of the old Jax that I used to talk to. It ached my heart.
"If you're mad at me, be mad at me! 'Wag mong idamay ang grades ko!" sigaw ko at umalis na.
Gusto kong umiyak, pero hindi ko iyon gagawin. I am better than this. I am Calixta Naiam Gonzalez.
I can hear my Dad's voice somewhere saying "Cheer up, Princess."
Naiinis lang ako ng sobra at na-frufrustrate sa lalaking 'yun. Natatakot din ako...
All I want is to uncrushed him, it scares me because what if I can't? I'm so scared of how much he can affect me.
I suddenly remembered Ate Ariyah who has a crush on Kuya Kairon. She still likes him even though Kuya is so rude to her... Ayaw ko no'n! Ayaw kong maging ganoon kay Jax!
We went to the gym for our PE Class. We're going to learn a social dance which is Cotillion.
"Everyone, para hindi muna tayo magulo, by Class muna, okay..." Our Professor said.
Nagsama-sama kaming Star Sapphire Class tapos ganoon din ang ginawa ng ibang classes.
Nilapitan kami ng Professor namin. Dahil pito kami sa Class A, kinuha ni Prof si Gelo bilang partner niya. Tuwang-tuwa naman si Gelo! Talaga nga naman!
Siya rin ang nag-partner sa amin. Theo and Cat, Xuri and Grant, and what a doomsday... Me and Jaxith!
Ang bilis ng takbo ng puso ko. Why am I so nervous?
I looked at him and he's just there, staring at me blankly.
As our Professor instructed, ipinatong ko ang kaliwang kamay ko sa balikat ni Jax at ang kanang kamay niya ay kumapit sa baywang ko. Gamit ang kanang kamay ko ay humawak naman ako sa kaliwang kamay niya. We held hands.
I kept my cool even though I was so nervous and my knees were shaking. Ni hindi ako makatingin sa kanya! I can't take it being this close to him... Sobrang lapit.
Nagsimula nang mag-demo si Sir kaya lang panay ang mali namin ni Jax. Lagi ko siyang naaapakan!
"Wala ka sa tiyempo," masungit niyang sabi.
"I-I'm sorry..." sabi ko naman.
Hindi ako makapag-focus dahil nga kinakabahan ako sa sobrang lapit niya. Ibinalin ko na lang ang tingin ko sa mga paa namin para masiguradong tama iyong galaw ng mga paa ko.
I carefully followed the steps.
"Ayan ka na naman," Jax said when I almost stepped on him.
Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Ikaw 'yung nagkamali... Step ko 'yung kanan, ikaw 'yung kaliwa."
Muli akong yumuko. Hindi ko talaga matagalan ang mga mata niya.
Napapikit ako nang mahina kaming nagkabanggan.
"Tss. Ang kulit kasi," he said.
"Sinusunod ko lang 'yung sinasabi ni Sir..." giit ko naman.
"Pero mali kasi 'yung ginagawa mo. Follow my lead and stop being a brat," aniya kaya agad akong napahinto.
Ang bigat-bigat lang sa dibdib... I'm tired of this. I don't have the energy for this. I can't keep up with him and his childishness!
"Can you stop being a child, Jax? Sayaw lang 'to, bakit ginagawa mong big deal? I'm sorry, okay! Ako 'yung nagkakamali! Okay ka na?" I said and excused myself.
I need a water break. Pakiramdam ko kasi maiiyak na lang ako bigla roon.
Naglakad na ako palabas ng gym pero biglang sumunod si Jax sa akin. Pinunasaan ko muna ang mukha ko bago siya harapin.
I took a deep breath.
"Sumunod ka ba rito para awayin ako?" I asked him.
Pagod na ako. Gusto ko lang ng break, pero ito na naman siya! Nakakainis talaga! Parang bata!
"Sumunod ako rito para maintindihan ka," he said in the softest tone he can utter. Muli na namang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.