Chapter 27
Wallet
My heart hurts so good.
Do you ever feel like your heart was being torn into small pieces and at the same time it was being fixed? Ang gulo.
He gave me a necklace with his last name on it. It gave me hope but at the same time, it can't change the fact that he left.
Malalim akong huminga.
On our NSTP 2, we have a project and it's tree planting. Sapphire Academy is very huge and trees are everywhere. There's a vacant land in the academy where we can plant. Ito ang pinaka unang project namin for this subject.
Nang makita ko si Grant na may hawak na pala ay napa-irap ako. I'm still mad at him! I almost got a bukol ha!
"Listen, class. Grant will be in charge in this project. Kindly coordinate with him... He's the leader," Prof. Somero said.
At siya pa nga ang leader!
We started on picking our seeds. I'm choosing between Banaba or Katmon. Dahil nahihirapan pang mamili, I went ahead with the next step. We need to dig the planting hole.
Nang makita kong nakatingin sa akin si Grant ay inirapan ko ulit siya.
"Why are you making tingin?" I asked and lift a brow.
I even crossed my arms for a more maldita look.
"I'm observing," masungit niyang sabi. "At hindi ka naman din magandang tignan."
Wow! The audacity of this nincompoop!
Habang naghuhukay ay maya't maya kong idinadabog ang color pink na pala.
I decided to plant Banaba instead. It is native to tropical southern Asia and is also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. The leaves of the Banaba and other parts are used for tea preparation. Each flower has six white to purple petals and blooms only once a year at the peak of summer.
"Anong tinatanim mo? Kailangan kong ilista," ani Grant at may hawak pa siyang listahan pero mukha naman din siyang tinatamad.
Masama ko siyang tinignan.
"Nagtatanim ako ng galit!" malakas kong sabi. "Gusto mo, itanim din kita?"
Napansin ko naman ang mga mata nina Gelo, Xuri, Cat, Theo, at Chance sa aming dalawa ni Grant. Nagtataka siguro kung bakit nag-aaway kami.
"Paki ko kung nagtatanim ka ng galit? Diligan ko pa 'yan, e."
Umalis si Grant sa harap ko at nagpunta na sa iba. Argh, so kapal talaga! That brute! Ibabaon ko talaga siya rito sa hinuhukay ko!
"Angelo Darius, mag-shift ka na nga!" si Xuri iyon no'ng huling klase namin.
"Huh? Bakit?" takang tanong ni Gelo.
"Wala na akong kasamang Star Sapphire do'n! I'm being friendly naman, but feeling ko binaback stab din ako ng mga 'yun!" ani Xuri at nakapamaywang pa.
I can't blame her if she can't trust other classes. They always treat us like we cheated our way here when in fact, we worked hard to be in the A Class.
On our P.E. subject, our Professor gave us a free time to just go around the campus. Pinauna ko na ang mga kaibigan dahil inayos ko pa ang locker ko. I told them na susunod na lang ako.
I was about to go when I saw a wallet on the ground. Agad ko naman iyon pinulot. Kanino kaya ito? Baka kilala ko, isasauli ko na lang or if not, I'll just surrender it to the lost and found.
I was about to open it when I heard a loud voice.
"Hey! That's my wallet!"
Medyo natulala pa ako dahil sa gulat doon sa sigaw.
Mabilis na inagaw iyon sa akin ni Claire. "Kanina ko pa 'to hinahanap! Bakit na sa 'yo ang wallet ko?"
"I saw it on–"
"Magnanakaw ka!" Claire shouted.
Some of the students around immediately flocked at us.
"Excuse me?!" I said with questioning eyes.
Is she seriously accusing me?
"Kanina pa namin hinahanap ang wallet ni Claire, na sa 'yo lang pala, Cali! Huling-huli ka sa akto na hawak mo ang wallet!" akusa pa ni Violet.
Mas lalong nag-init ang dugo ko sa narinig.
"What?! I didn't! I saw it on the floor, so I picked it up to—"
"Sir, si Cali po, ninakaw ang wallet ni Claire. Nahuli po namin!" si Jenny iyon na kasama na ngayon ang Professor namin sa PE.
Gumitna pa si Violet. "Pinag-iinteresan mo ang Herschel na wallet ni Claire, kitang-kita namin!"
Nanlaki ang mga mga ko roon.
"Herschel? Ew! My wallet is Gucci!" The words just suddenly came out to my mouth.
She's so kapal kasi to say na pinag-iinteresan ko iyong wallet na iyon when it's not even that interesting to begin with!
"We saw you opening it, Cali..." Claire said like she is about to cry.
What the freak-show is this?!
"Because I want to see who owns it para maibalik ko kung kanino!" I reasoned out.
"Ano ba talagang nangyayari? Ninakaw mo ba talaga iyong pitaka, Ms. Gonzalez?" our Professor asked me.
I can't believe this! Oh my God!
"No, Sir! I saw it on the ground. I picked it up to check who owns it, so I could return it or surrender it to the lost and found!"
"What a lame excuse! Narinig na namin sa mga magnanakaw 'yan!" hirit pa ni Violet.
Ang galit sa dibdib ay hindi ko na mapigilan.
"Will you shut up? I told you I didn't! Why would I even steal that wallet–"
Nagulat ako nang biglang dumating si Grant at agad niya akong inilagay sa likuran niya.
"May nawala ba sa wallet mo?" Grant asked Claire. His voice was deep and scary.
"I-I don't know..." Claire said.
"Would you mind to check?" dagdag pa ni Grant.
"Paki-check na lang kung may nawala, Ms. Ignacio para matapos na ito," anang Professor.
Claire opened her wallet and checked every pockets carefully. I really can't believe that this is happening. It's causing so much commotion!
"Ano, Ms. Ignacio?" usisa ng Propesor namin nang matapos na si Claire sa pagkakalikot sa wallet niya.
"W-Wala po..." she said and bowed her head.
"You better check everything first before jumping to conclusions," Grant said.
"See! I'm not a magnanakaw!" pag segunda ko.
"Pero nang makita namin siya, bubuksan pa lang niya 'yung wallet... Nahuli na namin bago pa siya makapagnakaw!" sabi pa ni Jenny.
Did I hear that right?!
"Oh, come on! Really? Para matapos na I'll buy you a new wallet na lang tapos palitan ko lahat ng things inside—"
Dumating naman sina Xuri, Cat, Gelo, at Theo.
"Take Cali with you. I'll settle this," Grant instructed them.
"Huh? But–"
Natigil na ako dahil agad na akong inalalayan ng mga kaibigan palayo sa komusyon. Why would Grant be the one to settle? Dapat ako! At talagang ipaglalaban ko na hindi ako magnanakaw! Why would I steal a wallet?
This is so embarrassing talaga lalo at maraming mga estudyante ang nakiki-usyoso. What a mess!
"Bakit n'yo hinahayaan ang magnanakaw na 'yon?" narinig ko pa ang bunganga ni Violeta.
Napahinto agad si Gelo na siyang nakahawak sa akin. "Teka nga, anong pinuputak no'n?"
"Hoy! Ang kapal mo naman! Bilhan kita ng sampung wallet tapos sampal ko sa mukha mo, gusto mo?" si Xuriella iyon na sumugod pabalik.
Sumunod naman din si Cat kay Xuri na agad pinigilan ni Theo.
"Anong gagawin mo?" Theo asked worriedly.
"I know karate," Cat said and walked like she would really fight someone pero nahatak agad siya ni Theo.
Hinatak na rin ni Theo si Xuri. "May mananampal ng wallet tapos may mangangarate, juskolord!"
"Kasi naman, pasmado ang bunganga no'ng babaeng 'yon!" ani Xuri.
"Awayin natin 'yan pag walang Prof!" sabi pa ni Gelo.
"I'm in!" sabi pa ni Cat na siyang nasa gilid ko ngayon.
I was so touched because my friends stood by me, regardless.
"Punta na kayo sa the Pad... Ikaw na bahala sa kanila, Ge. Back-upan ko lang si Grant," Theo said and went back.
The four of us went straight to the Padparadscha Building. Huling klase na rin kasi namin 'yun. Hindi ako dumiretso sa kuwarto at nagpunta na lang sa roof top.
I really need a fresh air after all of those.
Naupo ako sa isa sa mga couches na nandoon at para bang agad na nag-flash sa akin iyong mga nangyari kanina.
My tears slowly fell one by one. I still can't believe that I was accused of stealing!
Iniisip ko pa lang na hinuhusgahan nila ako sa bagay na hindi ko naman ginawa, bumigat na agad ang dibdib ko.
"Are you a waterfalls in your past life?" I heard Grant's voice.
Nilingon ko siya pero nanlalabo na ang mga mata ko dahil sa mga luha. Agad akong tumayo.
"Was it settled?" I asked him.
Unti-unting tumango si Grant sa akin. I immediately felt relieved. Mas lalo akong naiyak kaya naman inilagay ko iyong dalawang kamay ko sa aking mukha para matakpan.
"Ayos na ang lahat. 'Wag ka nang umiyak," he said in a very assuring tone.
"Naiiyak ako kasi first time lang na may nagbintang sa 'kin. It was embarrassing..." I cried.
I was stunned when he removed both of my hands on my face. I looked at him with tears pooling my eyes.
Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang tinapalan ng basahan ang buong mukha ko. Sakop na sakop mula noo hanggang baba.
"Ano ba?!" I said and immediately removed it. "Basahan pa rin? Wala ka bang handkerchief?"
Tipid siyang tumawa. "'Yan lang meron sa school supplies sa baba, e. Pwede na 'yan. Choosy pa."
I rolled my eyes at him and he just laughed again.
"Or you can use this instead," he said and removed his necktie.
Inabot niya iyon sa akin at kinuha ko rin naman. Mas malambot iyon kaysa roon sa basahan kaya naman 'yong necktie na lang niya ang ginamit kong pamunas. Hay Kumare...
"Bakit kasi nagpapang-abot pa ang break natin sa Class B? Makikita ko pa ang mukha no'ng Violet at Claire na 'yun!" si Xuri at galit na hiniwa iyong beef niya.
Mas galit pa ata ang mga friends ko sa akin.
"Pati 'yong Jenny!" dagdag pa ni Gelo.
Speaking of, dumating na iyong mga tiga Class B.
I took a deep breath and just focused on eating my lunch. For today, it was braised beef on top of the rice. Then there's a blueberry muffin for dessert.
"Guys, ingatan n'yo ang mga wallet n'yo ha. May clepto rito..." Violet's voice echoed in the whole cafeteria.
Clepto?!
Mag-rereact na sana ako nang biglang idinabog ni Chance iyong kutsara at tinidor niya. He immediately stood up and went to them.
Nagulat pa ako nang si Theo naman ang tumayo.
"Oh, saan ka pupunta?" Gelo asked him.
"Kung may barumbado..." ani Theo at tinuro si Chance. "May lawyer." Itinuro naman niya ang kanyang sarili. "Ako ang lawyer mo, Cali!"
Maangas siyang naglakad papunta roon.
I was a little afraid to go to the next class dahil major iyon. Ibigsabihin, nandoon sila Claire. I just don't have the energy for this anymore.
Alam kong wala akong ginagawang masama, pero nakakababa kasi iyong mga pinagsasabi nila sa akin. I was still in shocked upon being called as a clepto.
"'Wag kang mag-alala, tikom na ang bibig ng mga 'yon!" Chance cheered me up.
Papunta na kasi kami ngayon sa unang major subject namin.
"Really?" I asked, still feeling a bit down.
"Oo! Ginamitan ni Theo ng mga republic act republic act, eh!" aniya.
Natawa naman ako roon.
"When someone accuses you of doing something that you're not doing, it's usually because they're the ones doing it," Chance said. "Smile lang. Don't let them get to you, oki?"
I laughed again because of how he said 'oki'.
"Oki," I said.
Kami lang dalawa ni Chance ang papunta ngayon sa klase. I don't know where Grant is. Pero kanina, kausap siya ni Prof. Somero... I think Grant will be the Master Sergeant for this semester.
I just focused on studying. Gusto kong pag-igihan lalo for this sem. Lagi akong nag-paparticipate sa recitations. Minsan nga ako na lang ang nagtataas ng kamay, eh. Like... Oh my gosh, right? Am I the only one who wants to earn a point?
Bigla ko tuloy naaalala iyong mga panahong nagtatagisan kami ni... Argh! Move on, Cali! Kinalimutan ka na nu'n! Stop na!
I really can't believe how fast the days were. The next thing I know, magtatapos na ang 2nd sem.
If I could summarize it all, there's Xuri, having a total of 17 crushes... Gelo who is always active at school events dahil nakakakita ng 'papi chulo' sa ibang class, si Theo na torpe pa rin kay Cat, si Cat na walang pakialam, si Grant at Chance na laging nag-aaway. Si Grant at ako na laging nag-aaway. That's basically it.
Tomorrow will be the start of our final exams. So, I decided to stay at the greenhouse to review. I even ordered milktea for some company. Kasama ko kanina sina Gelo, Cat, at Xuri rito pero give up na sila sa pag-rereview.
I was about to open my book when my phone rang. It was Kuya.
"Yes, Kuya?" I answered.
"I never thought that Kuyas are such a pain in the ass." Iyon ang bungad niya sa akin.
Agad na kumunot ang noo ko dahil hindi ko siya ma-gets. "Huh? What are you saying?"
"Best friends are pain in the ass too, but brothers are just on a whole different level," dagdag niya pa.
Wala talaga akong maintindihan sa pinagsasabi ng kapatid.
"Kuya, I don't get it... Come on, I'm reviewing for finals," I told him.
He groaned on the other line. "Alam ko naman! Kuya rin naman ako! No man will ever be good enough for our sisters... Pero wala naman sigurong masama if you will give the person a chance, right?"
What is he ranting about? Oh my God!
"Hay... Makakabawi rin ako! Humanda talaga sa 'kin ang mga aaligid sa 'yo!"
I rolled my eyes even though I know na hindi naman niya ako nakikita.
"Kuya, I'm hanging up. I'm reviewing," sabi ko pa.
Ano ba kasing hinihimutok niya?
"Lintik lang ang Kuyang walang ganti!" pahabol pa niya bago ko binaba ang tawag.
Napailing na lang ako sa Kuya. I'll call him na lang after this.
Math is really hard. I need to review more for that subject lalo na at wala namang magtuturo sa akin! One time, I tried to ask help from Grant, pero ang tigas ng mukha niya para tanungin ako kung magkano raw ang ibabayad ko sa kanya. Like? Are you for real?!
Ang hirap no'ng isang equation at hindi siya nag-sisink in sa utak ko kaya naman natulala na lang ako sa kawalan at uminom ng milktea.
Thank the heavens for cheesecake and pearl milktea.
"'Yong bumili ka ng milktea pero nalasahan mo 'yong tamis ng sandali ng kahapong 'di magbabalik," bungad ni Theodore Monforte.
Kinunotan ko siya ng noo.
"I'm reviewing!" I said and took another sip.
Naupo siya sa tabi ko kaya naman napatingin ako sa kanya. Theo looks sad. He never looked sad.
"Cali..." he called.
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever want to be with someone who you can't be with?" Theo asked out of the blue.
Sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan ay may kumirot sa puso ko.
I nodded slowly. Of course. Oo naman.
Theo smiled at me. His signature smile, the smile he always show everyone. "Miss mo na siya, 'no?"
I know exactly who is he referring to but I refused to acknowledge.
"Who?" I asked like I was clueless. Pinaglaruan ko pa iyong straw ng milktea ko.
"He who must not be named," Theo said and laughed.
"Bakit ba kasi hindi mo pa ligawan si Cat?" I asked, diverting the topic to him.
It was actually the first time that I asked him this. His feelings were obvious from the start, he just don't acknowledge it.
"Ex ko si Cat, Cali..." Theo said at agad akong nabulunan dahil nalunok ko iyong pearls ng milktea bigla.
Panay ang pag-ubo ko, kaya naman agad na hinimas ni Theo ang likuran ko.
"Okay ka lang? Milktea pa!" aniya.
"Seriously?!" I shouted at him, still in shock about what I've learned.
Sobra talaga akong nagulat sa nalaman. May halo ring hiya dahil sa mga pagkakataon na itinutulak ko sila sa isa't-isa, not knowing they were each other's exes! Oh my freaking gosh! How insensitive of me?
"Matagal na rin naman," Theo said.
I want to know more, but Theo and Cat are both my friends. I don't want to be so nosy about something they chose not to tell.
Uminom ulit ako sa milktea ko at yinakap ang mga tuhod. "Are you sad, Theo?"
"Are you sad, Cali?" tanong niga pabalik.
Halos sabay kaming tumango sa isa't-isa kaya naman pareho kaming natawa.
"Baka kaya tayo kinakain ng kalungkutan kasi masarap tayo."
Mas lalo akong natawa roon.
"Turuan na nga lang kita rito," Theo said and took my math book.
"Sige ba!"
Agad nanlaki iyong mga mata niya at naibato pa iyong libro ko. "Ba't may mga letters, pota? Wala bang plus plus lang?"
Hay nako, Attorney!
When finals were done and I thought everything was going well, I was dead wrong.
I received a phone call like it was a curse. Na para bang laging may masamang mangyayari tuwing finals dito sa Sapphire Academy.
"Cali, hija..." Nana Medring cried. Agad akong kinabahan doon.
"W-What's happening, Na?" I asked worriedly.
"Susunduin ka na ng mga body guards diyan ha, on the way na rin ang mga magulang mo sa ospital."
Gulong-gulo ako at hindi maintindihan ang mga nangyayari.
"I don't understand, Nana. May nangyari po ba kanila Mommy? Bakit po sila pupuntang ospital?"
"Nabaril ang Kuya mo, hija." Agad akong nanghina sa sunod na narinig.