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Chapter 17
NSTP
"Malinis 'yang basahan, Naiam," Grant said and walked away.
Napatingin ako sa hawak-hawak na basahan. Kami na lang ni Jax ang nasa rooftop ngayon at hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin sa kanya.
"Cal... Okay ka lang? Anong nangyari?" sunod-sunod ang tanong niya.
Nanatili lang akong nakayuko.
"Bakit ka umiiyak?" he asked in the softest tone he can utter.
Dahan-dahan akong tumingala para tignan si Jax.
His eyes tell a lot of stories. It's dark and it's deep. It seems like the more you stare at it, the more you'll get lost into it.
"Why do you care?" I asked him.
Napatitig siya sa akin at tila hinahanap ang tamang salita.
"Because I care."
Mabilis akong umiling sa sagot niya.
"The question is why, Jax."
I am desperate for an answer, to the point that I can feel the heavy water in my eyes once again.
Why is he so worried about me? Why did he attack Grant like that? Does he like me? Then why won't he tell me?
"Because we're friends..." he answered.
Tatlong salita ang dumurog sa akin. Hindi unti-unti, mabilisan. It felt like someone struck a knife in my heart... It was fast and it was deep.
Nginitian ko siya.
Never get too attached to anyone unless they also feel the same towards you, because one-sided expectations can mentally destroy you.
"Sabi ko nga," I said and turned my back on him. "I'm tired lang, Jax... Gonna go to my room na."
I should bury my feelings for him. Una pa lang, dapat ginawa ko na. Nahihirapan tuloy ako ngayon. At mas mahihirapan pa ako kung ipagpapatuloy ko pa. Sa huli, ako lang din ang talo. Dahil pag umalis na siya, paano na ako?
For the next couple of days, I focused on studying. I buried myself in books. Midterms are fast approaching and I have to do better than my Prelim grades. I keep on ignoring Jax most of the time. Madalas kong sinasabi na kailangan kong mag-focus para sa Midterms, partly, totoo rin naman.
Remember the motto, Calixta Naiam? Laude bago landi!
The prefects have a meeting for the NSTP Day this week. Classes from A to F will be together once again for the seminar and training. There will be a disaster management, basic first aid, and blood donation.
"Sa huwebes daw 'yong seminar and training for NSTP," Gelo said.
My forehead creased. What's huwebes?
"So, sa Tuesday?" I assumed.
They all looked at me like they got weirded out.
"Wednesday?" I tried again.
"Huwebes is Thursday," Grant said.
Oh, I was about to say it na naman! I nodded at him and started writing to our schedule board.
"At kailan ka natutong magsalita, Grant? You were always quiet during meetings!" si Xuri iyon.
"Ayie! Si Cali lang pala ang makakapagpasalita sa 'yo, eh!" hirit ni Gelo.
"Can we just start the meeting?" ani Jax at tila nawala sa mood.
What's with him all of a sudden?
"Oh, ba't napapa-english?" puna ni Theo.
Jax glared at Theo. Theodore raised his hands like he was surrendering.
"Go na, Serge," Gelo encouraged Jax to start.
"The faculty already planned out all of the activities for the NSTP day. Ang kailangan na lang natin ayusin ay ang Midterm Party pagkatapos no'n," Jax explained.
There will be a Midterm Party after the NSTP Day. First time na magkakaroon ng party sa academy kaya naman excited ang lahat para roon.
"Where are we going to set-up the party?" Cat asked.
"Amphitheater?" Xuri asked.
"Too formal... How about sa rooftop ng The Pad?" si Gelo iyon.
Napalunok naman ako nang maalala iyong mga nangyari roon last time. It's suddenly so awkward for me!
"Not everyone can enter The Pad," Theo said as a matter of fact.
Oo nga pala at kami lang na tiga Star Sapphire Class ang may access sa Padparadscha Building.
"How about sa Kashmir Building? Malaki rin naman 'yung roof top doon," Xuri said. "What do you think, Serge?"
Jax nodded at the suggestion.
"Oy, 'yung drinks, ah!" ani Theo.
Wait, what? Alcohol inside the school premises? Aren't those against the rules?
Naningkit ang mga mata ko. "Is it pwede?"
"Yes, sis!" Gelo happily said and clapped his hands. "Not naman during school hours, eh."
"We're College students, not highschoolers!" si Xuri at sinulat na agad 'yong mga drinks na o-orderin. "Woohoo! Party party!"
I am now wearing my NSTP shirt and my PE jogging pants. Today is the day. Nagpadala rin sa amin ng text notification na magpunta na sa gymnasium. We need to be there by 8am.
Upon entering the gym, we registered our name on the list first and got our name tags. 'Cali' ang isinulat ko roon sa name tag ko. Si Xuri naman, 'Baby' ang inilagay para kikiligin daw siya pag tinawag siya ng crush niya. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa babaeng iyon. Gosh!
Ang lahat ng mga estudyante ay pinaupo sa bleachers. Magkakasama ang mga nasa iisang class. Ang katabi namin ay ang mga tiga Class B.
"Pati ba naman NSTP shirt, iba rin ang sa Star Sapphire class? Eh, 'di sila na!" one of the Class B girls said.
"Special treatment much!" segunda pa no'ng isa sa kanila.
I can't believe this! At ni hindi manlang sila nagbulungan? Do they want us to hear how absurd they are?
"Oh my God. They have a problem with shirts now?" I whispered to my friends.
Katabi ko si Xuri at Cat. Si Gelo naman ay nasa gilid ni Xuri.
"Seriously, pati t-shirt? Ngudngod ko 'to sa mukha nila, eh!" bulong ni Xuri.
Hinawakan ko siya para kumalma. Mamaya ay tumayo siya at manugod! We will be in so much trouble if that happens! Gosh! We're part of the prefects pa naman.
"Why are they being so dramatic?" si Gelo naman.
"Peace and unity, guys!" paalala naman ni Cat.
Sabay-sabay kaming nag-inhale, exhale. Tapos ay binulong namin sa aming mga sarili ang mga katagang 'Friendly cooperation, peace, discipline and unity'.
Iyong mga boys naman na nakaupo sa baba lang namin ay wala atang narinig, mga dedma, eh!
"Good morning, Sapphires!" The headmistress greeted us. She's standing on the stage, looking beautiful and classy as ever.
"Nanay mo, par!" si Theo iyon at inalog-alog pa ang balikat ni Jax.
"Oh? Ngayon ko lang nalaman!" sagot naman ni Jax.
Napapailing na lang ako sa dalawa. Si Grant naman ay tahimik lang sa gilid.
"Today is our NSTP day. You will have your seminar and training. I wish everyone well and I hope you'll learn a lot especially in disaster risk reduction and management," Ms. Yrreverre said.
The seminar started and we listened to the Mentors carefully and took down notes.
Earthquake Drill ang unang gagawin. Pinapunta ang bawat klase sa kanya-kanyang classrooms. Dahil sa Greenhouse madalas magklase kaming Star Sapphire Class, doon kami nagpunta. Kasama namin iyong isang guest Mentor.
"Okay, guys... Kapag narinig n'yo iyong bell, grab any book that you can for head cover and calmly fall in line to go outside the campus wide." the mentor said.
Nakaupo kaming lahat sa kanya-kanya naming upuan at nag-aantay lang sa ring.
When the bell rang, I immediately panicked because I can't find any book on my table. What the heck? Nakapila na sila Gelo kaya naman hinablot ko na lang iyong kung ano ang mahahablot sa ibabaw ng desk ko.
"Ms. Gonzalez, bakit laptop ang bitbit mo?" tanong sa akin no'ng aming Mentor nang lapitan niya ako.
"Sir, I can't find any book on my desk, eh... So I grabbed my macbook na lang," I reasoned out.
Tawang-tawa naman sina Jax at Theo sa likod. Nakita ko rin si Grant na nangingiti. What's their problem? It says book din naman, ah!
Naglakad na kami palabas habang naka-cover iyong mga books sa ulo namin. Agad akong nakaramdam ng pangangalay. Should I get a thinner macbook? Bakit ba kasi walang libro sa desk ko? Nalagay ko ata lahat sa locker. Asar much!
Nakapuwesto na kami ngayon sa field. Inayos ang pila per class. We are on the left side, katabi namin ang Class B, tapos sunod naman ang Class C and so on.
Nagulat ako nang biglang kinuha ni Jax ang macbook ko.
Nanlaki 'yong mga mata ko roon sa ginawa niya. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"Mangangalay ka, mabigat. Ako na 'to... Tapos sa 'yo itong libro ko," aniya at inabot sa akin iyong book niya.
Napalunok ako roon.
"O-Okay, thanks..." sabi ko at bumalin na ng tingin sa iba.
Gusto kong iwasan si Jax as much as possible, but come on! Nangangalay na ako!
"Sabi sa 'yo, may something si Jax at Cali..." I heard Jenny of Class B spoke.
Halos katapat ko siya sa pila. Nagpatay malisya ako at binalin ang sarili roon sa nagsasalitang Mentor sa harapan.
"Baka naman close lang dahil magka-class! For sure kung nasa Class A si Claire, siya ang close ni Jax!" si Violet naman iyon.
Ano na naman ang mga pinagsasasabi ng mga 'to? Gosh! Can they stop already?
"Gelo, can you sing?" I asked Gelo.
Para sana hindi ko na marinig ang chismisan ng Class B girls!
"At bakit ako kakanta sa gitna ng Earthquake Drill? Baka matuluyan pa, gorl!" Nagpamaywang si Gelo gamit ang isang kamay.
"Kanta ba?" si Theo iyon. "Kay sakit naman isipin na sa puso mo ako'y pangalawa. Sa tuwing makikita kitang kasama siya, pinipikit ko ang aking mga mata! Yow!"
Si Theo ang kumanta pero parang mas nakakainis iyon.
"Dapat kasi macbook din ang dinala mo, Claire! Para ikaw ang nilapitan ni Jax!"
"Walang macbook si Claire!"
Oh gosh. 'Di pa rin tapos itong mga ito? Nalimutan ba nilang kahilera lang nila ako?
"Guys, tumigil na kayo. Makinig na lang tayo sa Mentors..." Claire told her friends.
I rolled my eyes. She's trying so hard to be good, I want to laugh. Hold your mask really well, girl. It may fall off.
Pagkatapos ng Earthquake Drill ay Fire Drill naman. This one is intense because we will do a rappelling at the back of the Business Administration building. It's the third highest building on our campus!
Rappel is to descend by sliding down a rope passed under one thigh, across the body, and over the opposite shoulder.
"Shitballs naman! Ang taas, nakakatakot!" si Xuri iyon nang makaakyat kami sa back stairs ng BA building.
Una ang Star Sapphire kaya wala kaming choice kung hindi ang umakyat na rin.
"Una na ang boys," the Mentor said.
Nagsuot na ng head gear iyong mga boys at nagsimula na rin silang suotan ng harness no'ng mga assistants.
"Safe po ba ito? Pangarap ko pa pong mag-abogado!" hirit ni Theo habang hinihigpitan no'ng assistant iyong harness niya.
"Hindi ko pa po nasasabi sa crush ko na crush ko siya!" si Jax naman.
Naningkit ang mga mata ko roon. Bumigat din ang aking nararamdaman. Who is your crush, huh? Paige?
"Shuta! Hindi pa ako nakakaamin sa Tatay ko! Hindi pa ako nagkakaroon ng jowa! Ni wala pa akong first kiss!" sigaw naman ni Gelo na akala mo'y huling sandali niya na sa mundo.
Si Grant lang ang walang reklamo. Tahimik lang siya habang sinisigurado iyong harness na nakakabit sa kanya. Why is he so chill at everything? He's like a bato talaga!
The boys made it look so easy upon going down the building with the use of the rope. Si Gelo na kanina'y nagrereklamo ay gumiling pa pagkababa sa building. Kalat ha!
"Baka naman it's easy lang," I told Cat and Xuri to ease the nervousness.
"I think it's fun," Cat said who seems cool with it.
"Fun, Cathaline? Kung malaglag ako, kawawa naman ang mga crush ko dahil mababawasan ang nagkaka-crush sa kanila!" si Xuri naman.
Natawa na lang ako sa kanya. Sinusuotan na kami ngayon ng harness. Naka head gear na rin kaming tatlo.
Sobra akong kinakabahan nang nagsimulang ibaba iyong rope unti-unti. Cat is just quiet and Xuri is shouting like crazy. Ako naman, kinakabahan pero sinusubukang makababa ng maayos.
"Go, Cali! Sasaluhin kita!" Jax shouted from below.
Imbis na kumalma ay mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil doon.
Iiwasan, Cali! Iiwasan!
"I-I got you, Cat!" si Theo naman ang sunod kong narinig.
For the first time, he manned up!
"Ay pokabels! Sige, Xuriella! Ako naman ang bahala sa 'yo! Lalaki ako ngayon!" Natawa ako nang marinig iyong tili ni Gelo.
I successfully got down. At gaya nga ng sinabi ni Jax, nag-aabang siya sa pagbaba ko para maalalayan ako.
"Galing naman, madam!" Jax cheered.
I just smiled at him.
Ayaw ko na nang ibang interaksyon sa kanya dahil grabe iyong tibok ng puso ko. I need to remind myself na iiwan din naman niya ako rito.
He'll transfer after this semester. I won't see him again and that would hurt.
"Class B, you're next!" one of the mentors instructed.
"Jax..." I heard Claire's voice from behind. "P-Pwede bang abangan mo rin ako?"
Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang umakyat na naman ang inis sa akin. Am I being jealous? I can't be jealous!
"Ah... 'Yong mga classmates mo na lang, Claire," Jax said.
I am suddenly relieved in some weird reasons.
Pagkatapos ng Fire Drill ay pinabalik ang lahat sa gymnasium para naman sa basic first aid.
"I need a girl volunteer for Class A and B," anang Mentor. "You will be the injured person in this exercise."
Nakita kong tumayo si Claire kaya naman parang nagkaroon ng sariling utak iyong mga paa ko at tumayo nang kusa.
"Top 2 namin 'yan!" Xuri cheered.
Ang ingay pa nilang dalawa ni Gelo!
"Now, I need two boys who could do the first aid."
Kumaway ako kay Chance nang makita itong papalapit sa akin.
"Hi, Cali!" he greeted.
Ngumiti naman ako. "Uy, hello."
May lumapit din sa akin na tatlong mga lalaki na hindi ko naman kilala. Tinignan ko iyong mga badges nila, may mga tiga Class C at D.
"Guys, isang lalaki lang ang para sa isang babae," the mentor said.
Naguluhan din ata siya nang makitang marami ang lumapit sa akin. I am so confused too!
Ilang saglit pa ay nakita ko si Jax na papalapit sa amin.
"Jax, wala pa sa akin!" Claire said and she looks so excited.
Jaxith walked passed her and went to me.
"Ang tiga Class A ay para sa tiga Class A, mga pare..." Jax said with so much authority.
My eyes widened. What is he doing?
Others left right away. They must be scared, Jax is the Master Sergeant of the academy for crying out loud!
Chance took a deep breath and went to Claire instead.
"I-I thought peace and unity?" I said to Jax.
I don't know what's gotten into me. He sounded so rude to other classes. Ngayon lang siya ganyan. Lagi pa naman niya kaming pinaaalahanan tungkol sa mantrang iyon.
"Handa akong maging barumbado para sa 'yo," Jax whispered something.
"What?" I asked because I didn't hear it.
"Watusi!" aniya.
I glared at him. Dapat talaga hindi ko na siya kinakausap!
"For you, Cali, leg injury..." anang Mentor.
The mentor used the full body mannequin to show how to carry someone with a leg injury. He also showed us how to put a bandage.
"The most important thing is to apply a pressure bandage. Applying compression minimizes swelling, which in turn may decrease stiffness and pain," the mentor said.
Pinaupo ako roon sa mat para i-perform sa akin ni Jax iyong paglalagay ng bandage.
"Place a piece of foam directly above the injury site. This gives additional compression. Start wrapping the bandage from below the injured area, dagdag," dagdag pa ng aming Mentor.
Jax held my right leg and started putting the bandage around it. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang kinakabahan ang itsura niya.
"Y-Your doing it right... Don't be nervous," I told him.
Baka kasi kinakabahan siya dahil akala niya ay mali iyong ginagawa niya pero tama naman iyon.
"Calixta, I'm holding your leg. I have every right to be nervous!"
He's holding my right leg like it's very delicate. Like I was really injured.
"Very good!" anang Mentor sa amin pagkatapos.
Inalalayan ako ni Jax para makatayo.
"Do we have a problem, Cal? May nagawa ba ako?"
His questions caught me off guard. Saglit ako natahinik dahil doon. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko.
"W-Wala... I just really want to focus ngayong midterms," pagdadahilan ko.
Jax nodded but it looks like he's not buying it.
Bumalik na kaming dalawa sa bleachers. Si Claire na ang sumunod at head injury naman ang kanya.
Marami pang itinuro sa amin at kumuha rin ng ibang representatives mula sa ibang mga classes.
CPR awareness naman ang sumunod. There are CPR manikins where we can practice so that we would know how much is the exact pressure to do it.
"Cardiopulmonary resuscitation can help save a life during a cardiac or breathing emergency," our Mentor discussed.
Pinatayo ang lahat mula sa bleachers at pinapuwesto ang bawat isa sa sari-sariling CPR manikins na nakalatag sa buong gym.
"First, chest compressions... Push hard and push fast," the Mentor instructed. "Place your hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the chest. Use your body weight to help you administer compressions that are at least 2 inches deep."
I followed the instructions and started pumping using both of my hands with so much pressure.
"Second, deliver rescue breaths..." our Mentor said next.
Ito na iyong mouth to mouth resuscitation.
"With the person's head tilted back slightly and the chin lifted, pinch the nose shut and place your mouth over the person's mouth to make a complete seal. Blow into the person's mouth to make the chest rise. Deliver two rescue breaths, then continue compressions."
Pinakita muna sa amin kung paano gawin iyon no'ng mentor na nasa stage.
"Bakit manikin? Dapat totoong tao na lang, eh!" someone shouted.
Oh my gosh, what?
"Oo nga!" a boy from Class D loudly said. "Kapag totoong tao sa mouth to mouth, si Cali Gonzalez ang pipiliin ko! Tamang halik lang! Ganda, eh!"
Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi niya. I was immediately grossed out!
I can feel my hands shaking. I badly want to call my Kuya right away para magsumbong na nabastos ako.
"You are being disrespectful to a woman, boy," Grant said out loud.
Ngayon ko lang narinig na lumakas ang kanyang boses.
"Bastos kang gago ka, ah!" sigaw naman ni Theo. "Suntukan tayo!"
Bago ko pa makuha ang phone ko sa aking bulsa para tawagan ang kapatid ay nakita ko si Jax na mabilis na sinuntok iyong lalaki.
"She's not a fucking object, you fucking asshole!" malalim at puno ng galit ang boses ni Jax.