I hate you, Arrogant Guy.

ONCE

Dedicated to: @andeng_fatima22 and @SophiaHopeTugay my number one supporters sa pagsusulat ko. Sila talaga nagpush na magupdate ako dahil tamad ako. lovelots!

ONCE.

"C'mon Rai, wala namang mawawala sa pagtayo mo sa stage for a couple of minutes," pamimilit sa'kin ni Carrie.

"Carrie, kung tatayo lang naman sa stage ang gagawin ko, I wouldn't react like this. There's just no the hell way you're gonna make me sing."

"Why not though? You used to play for us when we were in middle school."

"You know what, Carrie. I'm too tired to argue. Let's just pursue the dance talent. I rather choose to be humiliated, besides we don't need to win and gain awards after all, They just want me to join. That's it. End of conversation," I said before I slammed the door of my room.

I was just too tired of everything I did today para makinig pa sa mga rants ni Carrie. Baka mairita lang ako sa kaniya nang tuluyan.

So after I did my thing, I straightly dived into the bed. Finally! 

"Ah... so this is what I call peace," I closed my eyes but for the next minutes, I couldn't sleep.

I stood up and went to the corner of my room to get something. I sat down on my bed, holding my old and dusty guitar.

"Buhay pa pala 'to? I wonder if it's still working well, I haven't used this for almost a decade now..." I sighed while touching the body of the guitar.

Later on, I unconsciously started on strumming the guitar, while looking at the dark sky. Until I realized, I was already playing a familiar tune I used to play.

"Going back to the corner when I first saw you.." Isinandal ko aking ulo sa headboard ng kama habang patuloy na tinutugtog ang pamilyar na kanta, "Gonna camp in my sleeping bag I'm not gonna move..." Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at huminga ng malalim.

10 years ago... I met a kid in the playground. Surrounded by kids which I think kasing age lang din namin, sadyang malaki lang talaga sila. They were all laughing at the boy on the ground, crying with bleeding knees. Napairap ako habang pinagmamasdan lang sila mula dito sa swing na inuupuan ko, "Bullies."

Patuloy lang nilang binubully 'yung batang lalake kaya lalong lumakas ang iyak nito, kung gaano naman kalakas ang pagiyak nito ay ganoon din kalakas ang tawanan ng mga batang nakapalibot sa kaniya.

"Seriously," bulong ko sa hangin sabay napairap nanaman, "They're so noisy." Tumayo ako at pinagpagan ang puwitan ko bago tumungo sa direksyon nila.

Nang makalapit ako sa kanila ay tumikhim ako, dahilan para mapalingon silang lahat sa'kin. "Anong kailangan mo dito, bata?" maangas na tanong sa'kin ng isang batang lalaki na kamukha ni Super Mario. Naka-maong na jumpers, blue t-shirt at red cap na nakatagilid. 

Muntik na'kong matawa sa pormahan niya kaya sumama ang tingin niya sa'kin, "Bakit ka natatawa?" 

I crossed my arms and looked at them bored, "You're so lame." Natahimik naman sila, mukhang nabigla. Pero mukhang nakabawi naman agad ang batang pinakamatngkad sa kanila, mukhang siya ang leader. No wonder mukha siyang gangster sa kanto manamit. Black t-shirt, black maong shorts then nakacap rin na patalikod and gold necklace. Seriously? Sa pananamit nila parang nakikita ko na mga future nila, "What did you just say?" madilim na tingin sa'kin ng leader nila. Mukha silang isang gang, gang ng mga payaso!

"I said, YOU ARE LAME."

"Aba! Ang tapang-tapang mo, eh babae ka lang naman!" Sabay-sabay silang tumawa.

"Aba! Ang tapang-tapang niyong mang-bully palibhasa marami kayo!" I said, immitating his tune earlier.

Sumimangot naman sila, halatang na-pikon sa sinabi ko kaya napangisi ako. Sabay tingin dun sa batang nakasalampak pa rin sa damuhan, "Hey there, little boy," pagtawag ko sa atensyon niya, mahirap na. Baka na-trauma na pala 'to sa pangbubully sa kaniya.

Lumingon ito sa'kin, namumugto ang mga mata at nababakas ng takot.

I went to his direction, not minding the bullies. I gave him my handkerchief but he just looked down. Kaya lumuhod ako sa harap niya para punasan ang luha niya. Sayang, ang cute niya pa naman.

Tapos ko nang malinis ko na ang mukha niya, ang dugyot kasi. Pinilit kong punitin ang ibabang parte ng jacket ko para ibalot sa sugat niya sa tuhod, akmang ilalapit ko na nang i-atras niya ang tuhod niya. Napangiti naman ako, "Don't worry, babalutin lang natin 'yung sugat mo para 'di madumihan. Hindi 'to masakit, I saw this in movies." Mukhang nakumbinsi naman siya kaya unti-unti kong nilagay yung piraso ng tela.

After that, I stood up at nagpagpag once again. I lend him my hand, "Tara. Tumayo ka na diyan."

He accepted my hand at tumayo. Tsaka ako lumingon sa mga bullies at tinignan sila ng masama, "Ang lalaki niyo tas pinagtutulungan niyo 'tong iisa lang. Are you gays or what? 'Wag na 'wag na ulit kayo mangbubully ulit or i'll kick your asses off," tsaka ko siya hinila paalis.

"Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand.." Napangiti ako habang inaalala lahat. I sang softly while strumming, "Saying, 'If you see this boy, can you tell him where I am?'"

That boy I met 10 years ago... where is he now?

"Some try to hand me money, they don't understand.." Binubully parin kaya siya? "I'm not broke - I'm just a broken-hearted woman.." Lumaki kaya siyang lampa? "I know it makes no sense but what else can I do?" Can he still remember me?

"Why do you keep following me around?" iritado kong tanong dun sa batang nakilala ko sa playground. After getting him out of there, away from the bullies, I just said goodbye and reminded him not to let anyone bully or hurt him again then I left. 'Ni hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya, besides, I'm not interested to find out.

"And what is this for?" hindi niya lang ako sinusundan, nag-iiwan din siya ng different snacks sa desk ko. At first I was curious who it was but then, lately I figured out na siya pala 'yung nag-iiwan ng mga pagkain sa lamesa ko kasi one time nahuli ko siyang naglagay ng chocolate bar nang magcr ako nung recess time.

And he's not even speaking, lagi lang siyang nakayuko o nakatitig kung saan. I don't know him since hindi kami mag-kaklase, baka taga-ibang section.

"Why aren't you answering? Pipi ka ba? Deaf?" Still no answer. Naka-yuko lang siya. "If you're not answering, then I'm leaving. And please, stop following me around or leaving foods on my desk. Seriously kid, it's creeping me out," huling salita ko bago siya talikuran. Pero 'di pa'ko nakakaisang hakbang ay napahinto ako.

"I j-just want t-to be y-your friend.. I-im s-sorry," naiiyak niyang salita. Wait, what? Did he just speak? Nakakapagsalita siya? at higit sa lahat, BAKIT SIYA UMIIYAK?!

----------

A/N: Omg. I'm so so back! Naging busy lang sa studies, since nag-aadjust nga sa new learning system and pagsusulat sa aking RPA. But yeah, dito na ulit ako magsusulat. So ayun, isang update muna kasi it's late na. But stay tuned noh, i'll update na frequently if I have time. Thank you for reading, have a good night and happy sunday!