"Sana all pinage-effort-an!"
"Sana all may boy best friend!"
Nakapangalumbaba ako habang sumisimsim sa milkshake ko at nakatingin sa kawalan. Walang humpay naman ang pag-iingay ni Pat at Jian dito sa table namin. Kulang na lang ay itodo nila ang pagsigaw para umabot sa entrance.
They were making a fuss about the papers Shin gave me this morning.
It turns out that the paper he gave was a scratch of when he was trying to find out the meaning of the Thai question I wrote in my notebook. Nung time na kumakain kami ng midnight snack. Pinicture-an niya pala 'yon tsaka niya hinanap.
I only know taught him the basics of Thai script so I didn't expect that he'd be able to translate it into English. Medyo complicated pa naman ang Thai script.
He probably searched for the romanized equivalent of each character tapos gumamit na siya ng Google translate. He actually got an accurate meaning.
ถ้าคุณมีชื่อเสียงคุณจะยังเป็นเพื่อนกับเราไหม?
If you become famous, will you still be our friend?
Tangina, ang sipag. Kung ako 'yan, tatamarin akong magtranslate. Hay, sana all nga.
Then on the envelope, he wrote a response which left me in awe.
อะไร ทำให้ คุณ คิด อย่าง นั้น? ฉัน จะ ไม่ เคย.
What makes you think so? I will never.
About Pat and Jian being noisy? Of course I told them about it. I always tell the girls (include Earl, too) everything gossip-worthy. But right now, sana pala hindi ko na sinabi. They're making a big deal out of it kasi.
"Don't you consider Chris and Shin your boy best friends? How 'bout Earl?" I asked.
Pat gave me a dismissive gesture. "Nah. First of all, hindi boy si Earlita. Si Chris naman ka-close namin. I mean, what I mean is 'yung childhood friend na boy best friend! Gets mo ba ako? Atsaka ikaw kasi ang best best friend ni Nate and vice versa. Basta, ewan ko! 'Di ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko."
"Gets kita, mga one half at one fourth." pagtango ni Jian. "Basta 'yung friend na solid since kabataan, ganern. 'Yong bang sobrang perfect ng friendship"
I shrugged. "Sa Wattpad lang may ganoon, guys. I meant the perfect friendship. Kita mo nga kami ni Shin, kung minsan ay halos magsapakan na? Ganoon talaga 'pag parehas siraulo."
"Daming alam, sana all pa rin." Jian muttered.
I just heaved a sigh and finished eating my lunch while my two companions are talking to—or should I say, shouting at— each other. Paminsan-minsan ay nakikigulo ako sa kanila lalo na 'pag nadadamay ako sa usapan but most of the time, I'm silent whenever I'm eating.
The professor of our next subject after lunch did not attended to our class so I opted to read through our recent lesson for a few minutes and proceeded to type an update on my laptop.
"Sophia, Sophia!" medyo masama pa ang pagpukol ko ng tingin sa kaklase kong tumawag sa amin. She looks unbothered naman so it's okay. I don't like it if someone is disturbing me whilst I'm busy.
May inilapag siyang strawberry milkshake sa desk ko at kinikilig na ngumiti. "May nagpapabigay."
"May nagpapabigay?" Sinuri kong mabuti ang cup at may naka-tape pang note na may smiley face. Binalik ko ang tingin sa laptop at nagpatuloy sa pagtipa. "Sino raw?"
Kahit nakatingin ako sa laptop at nagta-type ay naririnig ko ang bahagya niyang pagtawa. "Hindi ko kilala, Sophia, eh. May mga kasama 'yung nag-abot pero hindi siya mukhang taga-rito sa school. Gwapo siya atsaka parang kahawig niya 'yung trainee na in-announce ng PHM Labels! Kilala ko ba sila? 'Yung moreno?"
"Ha?" My eyes literally widened and she was able to catch my attention. "Ano ngang sabi mo? Pakiulit, mali yata ako ng pagkakarinig, eh."
"Tama 'yung pagkakarinig ko! Oo, kahawig nung trainee sa PHM Labels! 'Yung moreno hottie roon!" Lumapit siya sa may tainga ko at bumulong. "Uy, Sophia, jowa mo ba 'yon? Manliligaw? Ang gwapo, ha. Infairness! Mukhang teen artist pa!"
Awkward akong ngumiti. My cheeks are lowkey turning red. "Hala, hindi ah!"
"Sus! Gwapo naman, ah! Pero 'yung isa ang type ko, 'yung nasa pinakadulo." kinikilig niyang sabi. Well, gwapo naman silang lahat. "Do you think your best friend can introduce me to him? Diba trainee rin siya?"
Napaisip ako. "Yeah he is, pero I think you'll have a hard time convincing him.. But I don't know, depende sa kanya or doon sa reque—"
"Hoy, baklang Sophia! Ang papa Nate pinagkakaguluhan na sa office niyo!"
I abruptly stopped talking when I heard the high-pitch voice of Earl shouting. Paglingon ko sa pinanggalingan ng boses na 'yon ay nakita ko siyang nakadungaw sa pinto ng classroom namin.
Nasara ko bigla ang laptop ko at nagtatalang tumingin sa kanya, pino-process ng utak ko ang sinabi niya.
"Ha? Eh anong dapat kong gawin?" taka ko paring tanong kahit hila-hila niya ako at mabilis siyang tumatakbo.
I saw him roll his eyes. "Duh, vice-chairperson ka, remember? Responsible ka sa chairman niyo!" Medyo hinihingal pa siya habang nagsasalita. Ikaw ba namang tumakbo from building to building.
"And? What if may classes ako? What if our prof attended our class? Ipu-pull out mo ba ako?" I don't even know why I'm asking that in a lowkey rude way pero sige, bitch fight kami ni Earlita.
Earl sighed loudly. "Ay, jusko mamsh, ang dami mong hanash! O sige, dahil in-appoint kang personal secretary ni Nate kaya obligasyon mo siya!"
"Gago!" Despite the fact that we're running, binatukan ko pa rin siya. "Medyo sineryoso mo talaga 'yong mga pinagsasabi ng Shin sa buhay niya, 'no?"
"Arouch ko, pakyu with respect Madame VCP!"
We only stopped bickering with each other nang makarating na kami sa office ng executive committee and yes, parang may artista sa loob dahil sa dami ng mga girls doon na nagsisigawan pa.
Kulang na lang ay nagka-stampede, pero syempre 'wag naman sana. Kami kasi ang malalagot kapag may hindi kami na-control na gulo na nasa kamay na namin.
"What the hell is happening here?"
In a loud voice, I called out the students who don't seem to mind the other officers who are stopping them. Langya, mukhang mapapasabak ang english skills at lalamunan ko rito, ah.
"Hala, ayan na si Sophia."
"Tss, bakit ka ba natatakot dyan sa neneng 'yan?"
"Acting tough na agad porque freshman palang nasa execom na?"
Halos kumulo na ang dugo ko sa mga naririnig ko but I just acted calm. A few breathing exercises will be enough.
"You, you and you." I pointed at those three female students who, I think, belong to the same year as me. "Thank you for dishonoring me, my position in the committee and my year level. I want you to do me a favor and go to our office. We have something to talk about."
"Oh shit, she's serious in her job, sis."
Pinanood ko ang mga nakayukong babae na nakipagsiksikan pa sa mga estudyante para makapasok sa office namin. I even gestured an officer to let them in. They just got themselves a V.I.P pass. Amazing.
"Ayan kasi, feeling superior pa. Ka-batch lang naman nila ang vice ng execom."
"Nakakahiya, mars. Out of all times na mapapa-office, sa harap pa ng maraming tao."
"She's a scary woman. I stan!"
"What are y'all talking about, huh?"
Napatahimik ang lahat nang bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanila at sumigaw. "Sending three girls in our office because of their misdeed doesn't mean I forgot the bigger issue."
"Tae, 'kala ko ligtas tayo."
"Sino ba kasing nagsimula nito? 'Yong nagsisisigaw pa?"
"Kasalanan ba nating gwapo?"
"Do you not know that what you're doing is distracting not only our officers, but also students who have classes in nearby buildings?" I asked. "And what are y'all making a fuss about? A handsome guy?"
I ended up having one of our officers list down the names of every student who took part in the commotion. Inalam ko na rin kung sino ang nagpasimuno at dinala ko sa office. Pinalabas ko ang mga nakaabot na sa loob.
"Shin, what the shit are you doing?" tanong ko pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko ng office. Binitawan ko ang balikat ng ring leader ng stampede. "This girl here saw you and whatever you had with you and made a fuss!"
"Kalma ka lang, mamsh." And I almost forgot that Earl was with me. Great. "Sige, una na akes. Mags-study pa ang bruha, para go-go-go! sa quiz!"
I smiled. "Sige, Earl. Good luck, ha? Thanks for giving me a heads up."
Pagkalabas ni Earl ay bumalik ang tingin ko kay Shin. Bumuntong-hininga ang aking kaharap sabay ayos sa buhok niyang natural pa rin ang hati sa gitna, at ang polo niyang medyo nabuksan at nagusot.
Okay, hot. But mas hot ang ulo ko at the moment and kulang na lang talaga ay umusok ang butas ng mga ilong ko.
"I was with Dylan."
Nalaglag ang panga ko nang makitang lumabas si Dylan mula sa private office ni Shin. He's in his usual side-combed hair and casual clothes.
"Ploy, this is Dylan. Dylan, this is Ploy, but I think she'd prefer you to call her Sof or Sophia. You two have met, I assume." tamad na pagpapakilala ni Shin.
Slightly napangiti ako. Owshet, hindi ko ine-expect na ganito ka-speed pagdating sa mga usapan si Shin! Within a day natupad niya na agad ang usapan namin.
Naglahad ng kamay si Dylan sa harapan ko. "Hey. Sophia pala ang pangalan mo."
Wait, hindi pa ako ready, direk. Ahihi.
"Hi, Dylan. Nice to meet you. Again. Are you okay? Hindi ba kayo natulak o nasaktan ng mga estudyante nung pinagkaguluhan kayo?"
He smiled at umiling. "Nah, I think I'm fine. Buo pa naman ang katawan ko."
"Bakit ako, hindi mo tinatanong kung okay lang ba? You're being biased." Sarkastikong singit ni Shin. "Yeah right, that was sarcastic."
Humarap ako sa kanya at pekeng ngumiti. "I remember saying 'kayo' so I meant you and Dylan. And why don't you just talk to the student and fix your mess, ha?"
"Uhm, chill lang kayo, guys." pumagitna sa amin si Dylan at sumenyas na parang aawatin kami. "Ako ang nagvolunteer na pumunta rito, pumayag naman siya. So it's partly my fault."
Umirap lang ang kaibigan ko. "Biased."
"You shut up and talk to the girl, dumbass!" inis kong bwelta.
He made a face and gestured for the girl to come to his office. Right before he went inside, tumingin siya sa direksyon ko. "And you talk to the three girls you've brought, lazy woman!"
"Ugh, I wasn't even able to enjoy my fucking strawberry milkshake! Punyeta!" muttered. Medyo nagsisisi ako kung ba't di ko nadala 'yung cup noon edi sana kalmado lang ako. Chillin' like a villain, ganon.
"Natanggap mo na pala 'yung milkshake, akala ko hindi pa. Hindi mo kasi dala, eh." Napatigil ako sa pagra-rant nang sumulpot si Dylan sa gilid ko.
Pinigilan kong magmukhang gulat at umaktong normal. "Yep. Sayo galing 'yon, diba? Sabi sa akin nung nagbigay."
"Uh, yeah? Sort of, but yep. Oo, siguro? You can say that it's me."
Medyo naguluhan pa ako sa sinabi niya dahil medyo magulo naman talaga pero tumango na lang ako. Kahit mukhang hindi siya sigurado sa buhay niya.
"Thanks nga pala." I smiled then I turned to the three girls who were just at the side, listening to every conversation they could hear. And with very full sarcasm, I said, "Let's go. We have a lot to talk about, BFFs."
Everything turned out well in the end. Hindi ko na kinailangan pang paabutin sa Student Council ang kasong hinandle ko. I don't know about Shin, though. Campus disturbance is an issue kasi. The most advisable thing to do is pass it on to the Council.
After that stressing event, I bought some strawberry pretzels at the canteen to help me chill. Sigurado namang hindi pa tapos ang subject naming hindi in-attend-an ng professor namin. Unfortunately, kinailangan kong bumalik dahil sa milkshake ko.
And just as how I've predicted, basa-basa na nga ang sides ng cup but at least hindi nabasa ang gamit ko. I plopped myself in my seat, eating my snacks and waited for our next professor to come in.
"Today is tiring." I ranted to my brother nung pauwi na kami. "I could've finished half of a chapter if it isn't because of students causing commotion outside our office, damn it!"
He, on the other hand, is just chilling with his iced coffee. "You know, girls and their weird responses when it comes to handsome guys. Patience is a virtue."
"You think they're handsome? That handsome to make other girls almost cause a stampede?" I asked.
He chuckled. "Don't you find them handsome? I'm more handsome than them but yes, they are handsome. And you know what?"
"What?"
He gave me an annoying smile. Ah, alam ko na. 'Pag ngumiti siya ng ganito, may sasabihin 'tong medyo hindi kaaya-aya.
"I actually thought you and Nate will end up together. You know, 'yung best friends turn to lovers shit. Pero na-realize kong 'pag nagsama kayo sa isang bahay, wala pang one month ay nabasag niyo na lahat ng pinggan."
Nagkunwari akong nasuka. "Yuck, kuya! Ano ba naman 'yang mga pinag-iiisip mo? Buti hindi ka binangungot dahil sa isiping 'yan!"
"Hahaha! Why? Naisip ko lang naman." he said in defense. Pero tumatawa-tawa pa rin siya. He kept on muttering words pa rin na hindi ko maintindihan.
Pagkauwi ay humalik ako kay mommy at daddy at dumiretso na sa kwarto ko para maligo at magbihis. While waiting for dinner, I busied myself with all the homework I need to do. I want to finish it all para may time akong magsulat mamaya for my update. An hour will suffice.
I ate a lazy dinner. Pizza at softdrinks lang ang kinain ko. Nabusog ata ako ng sobra sa mga strawberry-flavored food na kinain ko, eh. Mom and dad agreed naman, only Chatri protested.
"Now, it's time for the real deal."
Itinago ko na sa bag ko ang mga tinapos kong homework at inilabas ang laptop ko. Oras naman para magtype ng update. It's only 9:30 PM so I guess I can finish a chapter tonight.
"Ano 'to?" I muttered to myself. Paano ba naman kasi, pagkabukas ko ng MS Word, I saw something typed right after my unfinished chapter.
ILY :)
I am sure as hell that I left this closed nung tinawag ako ni Earl. None of my classmates know my passcode so how can one of them typed a note here? Or maybe I just thought I closed but hindi talaga?
Habang nagta-type ng chapter scenes ay binabagabag pa rin ako ng kung sino ang naglagay noon. For sure ay by now, alam niya na ang tao behind the pen name Iahcantar. I just hope he or she won't reveal the secret
"'Sure akong ikaw ang gumawa noon. 'Wag mo nang itanggi, ikaw talaga! Crush mo ako, 'no?' I shamefully asked."
I was muttering every word para sure na tama ang grammar. I'd look stupid pero ganito talaga ako mag-proofread. This was the part when the protagonist and her partner confessed to each other. 'Yung partner niya lang kasi ang nakakaalam nang password nung phone niy—
Wait. I actually have friends who know my laptop password! My god, how can I forget that? Minsan ay ginagamit nila 'to kapag magkakasama kami! Plus, I went straight to the canteen kanina so mas may time silang magbasa!
Dahil doon ay in-open ko agad ang chrome ko at binuksan ang Facebook account ko. Mga kupal na 'to, may nagbasa na naman ng unreleased chapters ko!
Hindi na ako nagpaligoy-ligoy pa, dumiretso na agad ako sa group chat namin nang hindi nagbubukas ng notifications. Mamaya na 'yang mga 'yan.
mga bungol
Sophia the First:
hoy, sino na namang nagbasa ng unreleased chapter ko sa laptop? nag-iwan pa ng 'ily' ampota, prankster ka bHie?
Jian ka magaling!:
labas kami dyan ni pat, ha. magkasama kaming nagawa ng plates.
PATing na shark:
^ (2)
si-Ryan, 'wag mo na gamitin:
Nag-aaral ako nang mabuti rito, ha. Don't me.
Earl grey tea:
Nagquiz aq, mamsh?
Chris cross:
No comment ako, basta hindi ako 'yan.
Sophia the First:
si shin 'yan, tahimik eh.
cocoNATE:
why me? i was in the office, remember
Sophia the First:
'de wala ikaw 'yon. vote niyo si shin! impostor 'yan!!!!
PATing na shark:
'di 'to among us, baliw
Sophia the First:
de joke lang. pero si shin talaga 'yan hay nako. crush mo ako 'no? yieee yiee
Earl grey tea:
...
si-Ryan, 'wag mo na gamitin:
... (2)
cocoNATE:
see, i told u. youre being delu day by day
i don't have a crush on u
Jian ka magaling!:
BOOM 'YON BOOM!
Chris cross:
tsk tsk
Napairap na lang ako dahil sa fruitless conversation namin. Medyo walang kwenta at medyo ang sarap nilang sapakin ng hard.
And don't ask me about the nicknames, isa lang naman ang corny sa aming magkakaibigan. 'Yung tumawag sa akin ng Sophia the First? Ngi.
Hinayaan ko na lang ang nangyari, though may kaunting risk na baka nga ma-expose ako but okay, hindi naman maiiwasan 'yon. Baka rin kasi sabog ako kanina at bigla kong na-type 'yon. Remember how I asked Earl what I should do when he told me na may commotion. Yeah, sabog diba?
But we're not really sure.
I just shrugged of the thought. Isinara ko na ang chatbox namin kung saan patuloy pa rin silang nag-iingay. I checked my notifications and wow, over 50 ang bilang and 27 friend requests.
Most of my notifs are reactions and follows lang. The most exciting icon to open is always the messages and friend requests. When I checked mine, puro schoolmates na hindi ko naman nakaka-interact ang nag-add so I chose to ignore them.
Scroll lang ako ng scroll hanggang sa may nakita akong nakapagpalaki ng mata ko.
Dylan Jacobe sent you a friend request.
#
hey, so i updated after two days (finished this update on sept 16)! wow, 3k words in two days is new to me ajuju. maybe bc there's no internet, i became productive. i'm also sad, i didn't make it to the e-meet & greet of my fave artists, but hey, it's okay.
anyways, a little disclaismer: the thai language here is purely from google trans lol. i didn't intend to bring dishonour on thai people. i love them so muchhh. i just want a character with thai origins. message me if there's a prob. *u*
annnnd a piece of advice that i've just discovered; don't hesitate to add scenes you can think of in every chapter! don't focus on the main scene that will lead to your cliff-hanger, a chapter will be more exciting with different scenes ;) but it's really up to your writing style, tho.
(author's note became my journal i'm so sorry)