#WhatWouldItBe
"At last!"
I jumped from where I'm standing when Nale put his hand on my neck. Wala naman kaso sa akin 'yun pero sa ngayong pagkakataon?! Mas lalong uminit ang pisngi ko dahil napansin niya mga ginawa ni Trent sa akin last night?
"Sherep?" pang-uya niya kaya tinapakan ko ang sapatos niya. God! Nasa public place kami!
"Ang arte nito. Supportive ang friend mo pero di mo na-a-appreciate." umirap siya sabay una na paglalakad sa akin.
I wore a blue polo sleeves so I can hide these red marks pero napansin niya pa rin! I should've bought at least concealer to hide these!
Paepal talaga ni Trent, sabing ngayon ang entrance exam namin for RST tapos ginawa niya pa rin 'to!
I can say, mas malaki pa rin ang UW compared to RST. The buildings have different designs, I think every school have different engineers and architects to create an outstanding buildings.
It's just that, nakakapanibago talaga na nasa ibang lugar ka na at maybe.. this will be my school if I didn't pass UW.
Actually, I doubt that. Doon ako galing, imposible na bumagsak ako.
"Where is he anyway?" sumabay na muli sa akin si Nale. I threatened him to elbow his stomach if he brought up that topic again.
Iniisip ko na nga lang na walang nangyari, e! Masama talaga kapag nalasing 'yung isang 'yun.
"Busy. Shoot, maybe?"
"Sayang.."
"Why?"
"E 'di ba alma mater niya 'to? Maganda siguro if he's here so he can show us the whole university!" he spread out his arms like he's trying to hug the whole school.
"I told him about that, try niya humabol."
"Stefan, ilang oras tayo rito. Anong habol?"
I shrugged. "Maybe after exam? Basta susunduin niya raw ako, may pupuntahan pa kami after."
He eyed me again. "I do want to know where you both go pero ang tagal niyo na at matanda na kayo pareho so bahala na kayo,"
I pushed his head so he can shut up now. Kaysa magreview, kung anong sinasabi.
Dumeretso kami kaagad sa College of Law na building daw doon daw exam venue namin. And my classmate is right, dalawa ang building ng RST compared sa UW.
Hindi ko alam bakit isa lang sa UW, mayaman naman na ang university namin pero hindi kayang magpatayo ng bagong building.
"Fill this out and wait for forty-five minutes or one hour. You still have time to review so good luck,"
I bowed when I got the paper from the guy. Strictness can be written on his forehead. Hindi nga sila nagkamali na maraming gustong magtry dito since dito galing ang mga nag top sa Bar.
We tried our luck here… kung papalarin, maganda. Kung hindi, we still have a lot of choices. As if we're okay to pay double pay here unlike from UW.
Tahimik si Nale na nagfifill out kaya kahit papaano ay tahimik ang buhay ko. When I finished doing it, binalik ko iyon para mag review sa natitirang oras.
"Do you think I need to read some provisions? Just in case?"
"I don't think.. so? Hindi naman siguro kaagad scope ng exams ang laman ng Law. Try focusing in the units they are looking for."
Tumango siya at doon na ako nagbasa. Time flies so fast na tinawag na kami kaagad kahit hindi pa ako tapos magbasa. Before I went inside the room, I prayed again. Hoping I'll pass one school at least para kapag bumagsak ako sa isang school, I still have choice.
God... it's the start of my dreams yet it feels like I'm pushing myself deeper to hell.
***
Pakiramdam ko tinakasan ako ng bait nang ipasa ko ang sa akin.
"Grabe, ilang buwan lang tayo tumigil sa pag-aaral pero parang sampung taon tayo nag-stop!" Nale ranted habang pababa kami sa building.
I can't help but to smirked and laugh. Tama naman. Parang nag-graduate lang kami tapos parang nag-graduate din utak namin.
Tama lang ako sa sinabi kay Nale kanina, wala namang Law related questions dahil kaliskisan lang ng stock knowledge ang pinasagot sa amin.
I've been with so many exams in my life, pakiramdam ko ito na pinakaworst! What more pa kung nasa Law school na talaga kami? Baka iiyakan ko 'yun magdamag.
They keep comparing their answers and I hate hearing it so I decided to call Trent. Ayoko talaga nakakarinig ng comparing ng sagot because I feel, mali ako sa lahat ng nilagay ko doon.
And Trent will really fetch me here. I sent him a tentative time of completion ng exam namin at nasunod naman, thirty minutes early lang naman.
While waiting for him to pick it up, lumipad ang tingin ko sa court sa hindi kalayuan. I stopped for a while but continue after.
Up until now, I still couldn't forget what happened. Siguro nga tapos na kami roon, okay na ako sa dalawa but the embarrassment and everything?
Dala-dala ko na siguro 'to until my last breath.
"Stefan, sama ka?" aya sa akin ng kaklase. Pinatay ko ang tawag dahil hindi naman sumasagot ang isa.
"Sorry, but I have other business. Next time!" ngiti ko. "If.. may next time pa!" sabay halakhak.
"Tama ka rin naman!" we both clash our hand and waved goodbyes. Pinanood ko muna sila umalis bago sinubukan tawagan uli si Trent.
Is he still busy that he's not answering? O baka nandito na siya?
"O, how about you?" Nale said, putting his hand inside his pocket.
"Susunduin.."
"Then where is he?"
Hindi ako sumagot. "He's not answering any of my calls. Baka busy pa siya. Why?"
He shrugged. "Sasabay ka?"
"No! May date ako, Papa arranged it and just like old times, how can I say no?"
He's always under when it comes to his father. He knows naman how to say no and reject what his father's saying but he's always in yes. When will he learn that no one should dictate what his life would be?
Only himself.
"I tried pero ayaw makinig." he sighed. "I'll go now, is it okay? Baka magalit pa siya,"
"Sure," lumapit ako to hug him. I watched him go inside a taxi and waved like he's still looking at me.
When the car is out of sight, tried calling him again pero wala talaga. Tumawid muna ako dahil nagutom talaga ako literal sa nangyari kanina.
Pakiramdam ko naiwan ko utak ko sa room nung umalis ako.
"Ate, isang order nga po nito," sabay turo ng gustong kainin. Agad naman niyang inasikaso ang sa akin.
While waiting for her to finish, someone went beside me and "Sa akin rin ate, just like what he ordered."
Umangat ang tingin ko, only to see a familiar face and back. And hair.
Umawang ang labi ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. She's not looking at me but instead, she's smiling while checking the other foods.
Wrong timing ata na I took exam ngayon kasi napiga nang husto ang utak ko, I couldn't remember her face or her figure because I know, nakita ko na siya!
Pilit kong kinalkal ang memorya, only to remember na siya 'ung babae na kasama ni Trent noong huling laro nila! The time bago ko puntahan si Paul sa back room!
"Ito na hijo.." nairita ang babae dahil dalawang beses niyang inulit ang sinabi bago ko iyon kinuha.
"Pasensya na po.." I said, trembling in something I can't understand. "Salamat.."
Aalis na sana ako dahil nasiguro ka na siya 'ung babae noon because she still has the same hair but my world stopped when she called me.
In my name. "Stefan, right?"
I gripped tight to the one I'm holding, plastered a fake smile on my face. "Hi? D-do we know each other?" I asked her back.
Kinuha niya muna ang kagaya ng binili ko bago humarap sa akin. She's wearing a sexy clothes now, and I can't stop looking at her chest.
Damn!
"You don't know me?" parang gulat niyang tanong.
Humalakhak ako saglit at hinawakan ang leeg. "I won't ask that if I know you miss.." tumawa uli ako. Awkward. "Do you need something? I'm in a hurry din kasi.."
I looked away because my eyes are boring through her chest. Napansin niya ata 'yon so she pushed her shoulders more. To give justice to her breasts.
"Wala pa si Trent dito, ah? What in a hurry you're talking about?"
My mouth went agape. "Sorry?"
"I'm Tiffany," she offered her hand. Tinitigan ko lang 'yon. "Just in case, we've seen each other noong last game nila Trent.."
Mas lalong may bumara sa lalamunan ko. It's confirmed. Siya nga ang babaeng nakita ko with him before.
"Ah… I can't remember it na, e.. Sorry ah, it's not Trrnt, I'm really in a hurry with…" a massive gulp was made. "Someone else.."
Hinintay ko siyang magsalita pero nakatitig lang siya sa akin habang nilalaro ang hawak. Why is she here then? Is she from RST too? Kung oo, bakit niya ako kilala? And why she went from me?
An awkward silence is between us. Mabilis na tumunog ang phone ko and I didn't said excuse to her at lumayo kaunti para sagutin.
"Hello? Baby, sa likod na ako ng school nag-park. I forgot to bring my license, may nanghuhuli kapag sa main entrance ako huminto." his warm and husky voice welcomed my ear.
Hindi ko alam ang dapat gawin at parang gusto na lang tumakbo. Lalo na at may kasama ako na kung ako makatingin sa akin.
"Hello? Stefan? Baby? Nandiyan ka ba?"
"Ah! Sige, I'll see you there." that's the only words I said saka binaba ang tawag.
I glanced at her and she's still there, "If you have nothing to say to me, I should go."
I don't want to be pesky around here but I can't stop! Hindi ako ganito kung walang ano sa tingin niya! She's throwing me weird glances like she knows my biggest secret. To think na I don't even know her.
Pabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa harapan at sa likuran dahil baka sinusundan niya ako. Thank God, there's no trace of someone following me.
Malayo ang ikutan pero sa nararamdaman, it took so easy to walk hanggang makita ko na ang kotse ni Trent. I quickly went inside, only to see him waiting for me.
"Bakit ka balisa kanina? May nangya—"
He didn't even finish what he's trying to sat because I quickly held his cheek so his lips will meet mine. Fuck. My mind is fucked up from a while ago, but not my fucking lips.
***
"Stefan.. stop.."
Gusto kong matawa because he's not calling me baby now, proof that he's mad at me now. Inagaw niya ang shot glass from my hand, but I ordered another one.
"Why? You dragged me in here, what do you want me to do? Umiyak kasi pakiramdam ko I'll fail RST?"
Siguro nga wala na ako sa huwisyo but I don't know what made me drink tonight. Wala akong planong uminom or what dahil sunod-sunod ang mga entrance exams namin.
To think na isang school pa lang... ganito na ako. What more kung naka-ilang take na ako sa iba?
"Kahit na... Pinapunta kita rito to meet my father, not to drink." mahina niyang tugon pero bakas pa rin ang inis.
Oh, yeah. Nakilala ko na ang itay niya kanina. Siya pala ang pakay naming dalawa at... it went well naman. Mabait si Tito Gessy and yeah... he accepted what we both have.
Too bad, hindi namin siya kasama ngayon because he needs to rest. Kakauwi niya lang galing trabaho and according to Trent himself, siningit niya lang talaga na makita kaming dalawa.
"Stefan..." mas tumaas ang boses niya.
I rolled my eyes on him and grabbed my wallet. I paid for what I drink and mabilis na umalis sa counter. Maayos pa akong maglakad but my eyes feel like bubbles now, isang maling tapak.. mahuhulog o makakabunggo ako.
Trent's familiar warm hand snaked my waist and the next thing I knew, nasa isang familiar na kami na kuwarto.
Trent's condo.
"Where's your phone?" matalim niyang tanong.
Kinuha ko ang isa niyang unan at niyakap iyon. Now I know why he likes hugging this, sobrang lambot at nakakaantok.
"Why?"
"Basta akin na.. Papaalam kita.."
I really have no strength to fight with him, bugbog na ang utak ko sa nangyari, at ang gusto ko na lang ay matulog.
He finally found where is it at bago umalis, he pat my hair and kissed my forehead. "I'll be back.." he promised.
Before I hear the door shut, I heard he mentioned Nale's name. Para saan?