Chapter 5
Days passed so fast. After semi-finals exam Lei and I decided to stroll just around here in our village, jogging. Hindi naman high-class ang village namin, unlike the other villages. Maganda lang talaga mag-jogging dito dahil makikita mo ang ganda ng sunrise habang nagjo-jogging.
Lei wearing like a fashionista. Para nga siyang nakiki-rampa lang. While me? Pawisan. Dugyotin. Nagdala ako ng jacket dahil kanina mahamog at malamig. Ber-months na rin kasi at ramdam mo na ang malamig na simoy ng hangin.
"Ah, pawisan na ako," Lei said while wiping her sweat. She drank her water on her bottle.
"Malamang. Nag-jogging ka nga eh," I commented. She chuckled.
"Himala. Hindi mo dala cellphone mo ngayon ah." Palagi niya kasing dala iyon kahit saan kami magpunta, I mean, dala ko rin naman palagi ang cellphone ko pero kasi tuwing magkasama kami palagi niya iyong ginagamit. Nakakairita nga minsan eh. Masyadong tutok sa boyfriend. Masyadong na-inlove.
She paused. My brows furrowed.
"Ah, nakalimutan ko," she said.
"Himala rin kasi nagyaya ka mag-jogging."
"Cas, s'yempre naman ginagawa naman natin ito noon pa."
"Why so sudden, Lei?" I curiously asked.
"Wala lang. Gusto ko lang," aniya at saka tumayo na. Sinundan ko ito ng tingin, nagdududa. Hindi rin siya makatingin sa akin.
I already know her.
"What's wrong?" I asked. Tumayo na rin ako para magkalevel na kami. Nakatingin siya sa kalsada habang ako ay nakatingin sa kanya. Hindi ko masyado naaaninag ang mukha niya dahil nasa likod lang niya ang sikat ng araw.
"Wala," she said. "It's just a simple... misunderstanding."
"Nino?"
Hindi siya nagsalita.
"Ni Thirdy?" I probed. Hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita.
I sighed.
"Ano—"
"We're okay," agap niya. "I guess..."
"Ewan ko. Sabi niya... masyado raw akong mabait para sa kanya. That I am too perfect for him and he's just an asshole."
"What?" I hissed. Mas lalong nangunot ang noo ko. Aba't ang gagong iyon!
"Nagui-guilty raw siya kasi..." She paused. She looked at me sadly.
"Kasi ano?"
"I'm scared, Casper. I don't want to lose him," she said.
"Ayaw na niya?"
"No!" agap niya. "It's not like that. At saka isa pa, lasing kasi siya no'ng nakausap ko siya kagabi kaya baka hindi niya alam sinasabi niya," natataranta na niyang saad.
I gritted my teeth. She saw that. I saw panicked in her eyes.
"I will talk to him later!" she said. "I am sure dala lang iyon ng alak... hindi ba?" she said.
Hindi ako nagsalita. Nakatingin lang sa kaibigan. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh. That asshole is getting out of hands again.
"Don't worry, Cas, I will talk to him later."
"Siguraduhin mong magkakaayos kayo ng babaero mong jowa ha?" I widened my eyes. She pouted her lips.
Buong araw akong binagabag sa sinabi ni Lei. Kung iyong gagong iyon sinaktan si Lei, oh God, forgive me. That night Lei called me and she said that they already talked and they're now okay. Nag-sorry naman na raw si Thirdy sa kanya.
Wala pa rin talaga ako tiwala sa babaerong 'yon.
The next week we were back to normal school days—lecture and some activities.
"Ano 'yan?" tanong ni Lei habang nakatingin sa hawak kong paper bag.
"Wala isasaoli ko lang 'to... sa may-ari." Good thing she didn't ask anymore who is the owner of these.
Speaking of King, I never replied to his texts anymore. Kaka-badtrip. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nakuha ang numero ko. That guy has his own ways huh? Ang loko, nagfriend request pa! Mabait na nga ako kasi in-accept ko pa.
Isasoli ko na rin sana itong mga hiniram ko sa kanya.
I read his last messages.
King:
You cursed again! Unbelievable! Akala ko banal ka?
King:
You said, damn you!
King:
Hey.
King:
You didn't reply anymore.
King:
You're so masungit.
King:
Mag-reply ka naman :(
Tss... oh eto, magre-reply na ako.
Me:
Where are you?
I quickly locked my phone after I sent it. Dumating na kasi ang instructor namin.
After this class we have a 2-hour vacant. Wala namang gagawin kaya ngayon ang balak kong pagbalik ng gamit ng King na iyon.
I looked at my messages and saw no replies. Oh ngayon, ikaw naman 'di magrereply? Bahala ka diyan.
"Lei, una ka na sa library. Ibibigay ko lang ito," sabi ko.
She looked at me. "Kanino 'yan?"
"Basta."
"Okay, sige. Una na ako sa lib."
Wala nang ibang pupuntahan ang grupo nila King kung hindi sa building lang nila. I went to the civil engineering building. Minsan lang ako nagagawi rito dahil medyo malayo ang building nila sa building namin.
Pagpasok ko pa lang sa building nila ay ang dami na estudyante ang nagkalat. Marami ang nagti-take ng kursong ito. I don't know why. Sometimes they're asking me... why I didn't choose civil engineering.
Porket ba engineering, civil na agad? Marami pa namang engineering na kurso diyan eh. I don't like civil... it just reminded me of him.
Natagalan ako sa paghahanap ng room nila King. Nakakainis kasi ang lalaking iyon, ni hindi man lang mag-reply. Mabuti na lang may kakilala ako na kakilala rin si King... at kaklase niya rin ito kaya nalaman ko kung anong room sila ngayon.
Finally, I saw their room.
Nasa harap na ako ng pintuan. Nakatanaw ako mula sa labas. Hindi ko siya nakita pero nahagip ng mata ko ang mga kaibigan niya. Nagtama ang tingin namin ni Cody.
He was surprised when he saw me. Nilibot niya ang tingin sa loob ng classroom tila may hinahanap pero agad ding bumalik ang mga mata niya sa akin. Tumayo siya. Lumapit siya sa akin.
Kilala ko si Cody. He's a quizzer in their department but because he is such a freak in mathematics eventually he became a quizzer of the whole campus.
Nakakasama ko rin siya sa mga reviews dahil nakiki-contest din ako minsan. Noong high school din kami minsan na kami nagkasama sa isang contest.
"Nandito ba si uh... King?" I don't know why I am still hesitantly to ask where that guy is.
"Yuno!" he called a guy who is sitting not far from us. Yuno looked at us. Kagaya ni Cody, bahagya rin siyang nagulat nang makita ako. Singkit ang mga mata ni Yuno pero nanlaki ito nang makita ako.
"Bakit?" he said while his lips were half parted.
"Si King daw?" Cody asked.
Yuno's lips are now parted. Bakit ba nagugulat sila na nandito ako? Ang weird nila.
Suddenly, Yuno smirked.
"Wala siya," he said. Nangunot ang noo ko. Absent?
"Hinatid si Stacey," he added
Stacey?
Cody looked at Yuno curiously. Yuno shrugged. He turned his back to us, minding his own business again.
"Ah," Cody nodded. "Hinatid niya girlfriend niya." sabay tingin niya sa akin.
Oh. May girlfriend pala iyon? Given naman na iyon sa kanilang magkakaibigan pero... nabigla lang ako.
"I see." I looked at the paper bag in mad hand. "P'wedeng pakibigay na lang sa kanya ito? Babalik pa naman siya dito mamaya, hindi ba?"
"Yeah. Hinatid lang naman si Stacey. May sakit ata," Cody said while pursing his lips.
I nodded.
"Pakibigay na lang sa kanya at pasabi salamat." sabay abot ko ng paper bag na laman ay payong at mga jacket.
"Alright."
"Thanks, Cody," I said then went out of this building immediately.
Mabilis akong nakarating sa library at nadatnan ko si Lei na nagbabasa. She's looking at me while I am having my seat. Hindi ako nagsasalita at agad na nilabas ang libro na hindi ko pa naitutuloy basahin kagabi. I will just use my free time in reading.
I looked at Lei who is looking at me curiously. Nagtaas ako ng kilay at sumimangot. She shook her head then her eyes went back to the book once again.
Nilabas ko ang cellphone at earphones para magpamusic na lang. I frowned more when I saw King's message.
King:
Why?
Psh.
I played some classic songs.
After few minutes, my phone vibrated again.
King:
Where are you?
I quickly locked my phone and continue reading. Good thing the book was good and really a masterpiece.
That night, I was busy recalling some of the topic we've discussed when I felt my phone vibrated. I saw King's name.
King:
Mabuti naman at binalik mo na ang payong ko. Baka patayin ako ng Mama ko.
I know that he's just only joking but I am still slightly worried. Ako kasi ang humiram. Paano kapag galit ang Mommy niya?
King:
Joke lang.
What the—kita mo na?
I rolled my eyes.
Me:
Tama, mabuti at binalik ko kasi baka sunog na 'yan ngayon dahil may balak na rin sunugin ng nanay ko 'yang jacket mo.
Bakit ang bilis ng reply niya? After a few seconds, he replied again.
King:
You're welcome. :)
I sighed when I realized I am still not thanking him. Pinasuyo ko lang iyon kanina kay Cody. Gusto ko kahit sa text lang makapag-thank you ako sa kanya.
Me:
Thank you, King.
That's my reply.
I thought this will be the end of our conversation because it took him a while after he sent another reply.
King:
Pumunta ka raw kanina sa room?
Me:
Oo.
King:
Nadatnan mo doon si Yuno?
Why don't you ask your friend, Fontanilla? Nandoon din naman sila ah? Nahiga na ako. Hindi ko na rin natuloy ang pagbabasa. Bukas na lang.
Me:
Yup. Pero si Cody ang nakausap ko.
King:
Ano sabi?
Ang bilis talaga magreply ng isang ito?! Ugh.
Me:
Tanungin mo sila. Matutulog na ako.
Reply ko kahit hindi pa naman ako inaantok.
King:
Mag-usap tayo bukas.
Napatitig ako sa reply niya. Hindi ko alam pero parang iba ang dating ng reply na iyon sa akin. Bakit kami mag-uusap?
Me:
Bakit? Para saan?
King:
What did Cody tell you?
Nangunot ang noo ko.
Me:
Wala naman.
King:
Can I call?
My eyes widened.
Me:
Matutulog na ako.
Mabilis kong reply. Damn. What is his problem? Hindi ba may girlfriend ito? Is he bored?!
King:
Alright. Mag-usap na lang tayo bukas.
Me:
Para saan? Naisaoli ko na ang mga gamit mo ah?
King:
I just want to.
My breathing hitched for a moment. I bit my lower lip and close my eyes then eventually... I already fell asleep.
The next morning after morning dismissal I saw Thirdy waiting for Lei outside our room. I was shocked when I saw King beside him. King is looking at me.
"Cas, sabay ka sa amin na mag-lunch?" Lei asked. I quickly shook my head.
"Okay," she said then she and Thirdy started walking away. Napatitig ako sa likod nilang dalawa. Napansin ko na nakahawak sa braso ni Thirdy si Lei habang ang kamay ni Thirdy ay nakatago sa kanyang bulsa.
"Can we talk?" I was shocked when I heard King's voice. I was about to shout at him but I saw his eyes that were kind a bit sad.
"P-para saan?" nag-iwas ako ng tingin. May kakaiba talaga sa mata niya na hindi ko matagalan na titigan eh.
"Ano'ng sinabi ni Cody sa iyo?"
Huh? We're still in this topic?!
"Ano bang big deal sa pinag-usapan namin? Sabi ko wala eh!" iritado ko siyang binalingan. Nananatili ang titig niya sa akin
I zipped my mouth. Ilang segundong walang nagsalita sa amin.
"Tinanong ko lang kung nasaan ka dahil ibabalik ko sana iyong hiniram ko at sabi niya na wala ka at..." I paused. I looked at him, waiting for my reply.
"At?"
I sighed.
"Hinatid mo raw girlfriend mo!" I hissed. Tumalikod na ako. "Nagugutom na ako. Bahala ka diyan," sabi ko at dali-daling naglakad.
Ilang saglit pa ay naramdaman ko ang pagtabi niya. Kairita talaga oh.
"Wala akong girlfriend," sabi niya sa akin. "Awit, sana nga meron..." he added humorously.
I chuckled then I looked at him.
"Impossible," I murmured.
"Totoo!" he said defensively.
"Ikaw pa ba?" natatawa kong saad. "Magkaibigan kayo ni Thirdy, impossible 'yan." Iling ko.
"Oh ano ngayon kung magkaibigan kami?" aniya na parang naghahamon. Inikot ko ang mata ko at hindi na sumagot pa. Ano pa nga ba sa tingin mo ha? Birds of a feather flock together!
"Galit na galit ka talaga sa kaibigan ko ano?" he said. "Minsan iniisip ko may gusto ka kay Thirdy eh."
"What?!"
"Oh, you're mad again?" he said. I glared at him. Kung ano ano sinasabi eh!
"Hindi ako galit sa kaibigan mo. Nagdududa lang," I said. "... at wala akong tiwala sa kanya!" I added.
"Hmm... I understand." He said.
See? Even his friend.
"But sometimes you need to trust a person, Casper."
Trust? Kung gusto nila ng trust kailangan ipakita nila na karapat-dapat sila na mabigyan ng tiwala.
"Wala pa rin akong tiwala sa kaibigan mo. Humanda iyon sa akin kapag sinaktan niya si Lei," medyo galit kong saad.
"Iniisip mo na kaibigan ko si Thirdy kaya... ganoon na rin ako?' he asked. "Iniisip mo na dahil kaibigan ko si Thirdy na may girlfriend may girlfriend na rin ako?" he asked again.
Ugh. So annoying.
"Wala 'no!" he said in an energetic way. I thought he's sad earlier but now... look at him.
"May mga jowa na mga tropa ko ako na lang napag-iiwanan." He then laughed hardly. Somehow that atmosphere between us became lighter once again compared earlier.
I looked at him. He is laughing. Sobrang saya niya... parang palagi siyang walang problema.
I stopped from walking. I then faced him. He stopped too and now we're facing each other. He's a very light person. His vibe, his personality, nakakagaan ng loob... o ako lang nakakaramdam nito? One thing that I noticed is he has so much soft features from his face down to his body. Unlike his twin brother Kai who is very matured looking, this guy has a baby face pero mahahalata mo naman ang konting pagka-matured sa katawan at mukha niya. Iyon nga lang, kung ikokompara mo sa mga kaibigan niya o pati sa kakambal niya, mas bata ito tingnan. Kung ikokompara mo rin ito sa kakambal niya, mas maputi si King.
"Wala kang girlfriend?" I asked seriously? I looked him in the eye. I saw sudden panic in his eyes.
"Wala," he said in a serious tone as well. Para kaming nagpapaligsahan sa kung sino ang pinakaseryosong mukha at tanong.
"Kahit kalandian?" I asked again.
He licked his lips.
"Wala." His voice became rougher... and husky.
"Ka-I love you-han?" muli kong tanong.
"Wala, Casper. Wala," ulit niya na parang nangungusap na maniwala ako sa kanya. He even shook his head.
I looked at him directly in the eye. I smirked.
"Bakit?" he's now tensed. I can sense it.
Nananatili akong nakatitig sa kanya. Seryosong-seryoso. Ilang saglit pa ay nagkibit-balikat ako at saka ngumiti sa kanya.
"Wala lang. Kawawa ka naman pala, Fontanilla," I whispered to him before I continue walking.
There, I left him dumbfounded. I smiled more because of his reaction.
~~
Hi, just want you to know... YOU'RE DOING GREAT!