This Is Not Strange

Chapter Four

Bridgette

I was curious to the bone sa sinabi ni Ella kaya pagkarating ko sa bahay ay agad akong dumeretso sa kwarto at binuksan ang laptop ko. Nisearch ko ang pangalan ni Marcy at PB at nagulat naman ako nang lumabas ang maraming fanmade video at clips sa series kung saan magkasama sila. Pinindot ko ang nakita kong time-line ng relationship nila at laking gulat ko nang makita kong magkasintahan nga sila.

  All my life I've been shipping Finn and Bubblegum, tapos si Marceline pala ang jowa niya? That explains the away nila sa mga few episodes na napanood ko.

  After finishing the videos, dumeretso agad ako sa Facebook para icheck ang account ni Ella. I don't know why pero napastalk ako. I scrolled and noticed na she sometimes share girls to girls stuff, which made me more curious. After half an hour of stalking, I finally drop my phone to stare at the ceiling.

  I don't know why I'm suddenly interested in watching the whole series of PB and Marcy, and into asking Ella more about what she's watching. I tried to think of any moments na ginawa ko ito but I found none.

  Baka I'm just curious, which is not bad.

* * *

  It's been a week since that day I got curious. Today is friday and I arrived late kasi nakalimutan kong magpa-alarm, which is really not me. When I entered the gate, I noticed Ella walking as if she's not in a hurry. A flash of what I had thought about her last week made me gulp when I saw her coming closer. The guard opened the gate and I got in, I purposely slowed my pace para pagkapasok ni Ella ay maabutan niya ako.

  “Hey, El. Good morning,” I said as she passed. I felt embarrassed when she didn't turn to look at me but smile when I noticed her wearing an ear phones. Kaya pala.

  I walked closer to her and removed one, then whisper, “Sabi ko, good morning.”

  She jumped and blinked thrice when she saw me. She is holding her hand in her heart, making me laugh. “Grabe ka naman manggulat, Bridgette! Kailangan ibulong talaga?”

  I smile and shrug. “I greeted you kasi tapos akala ko ayaw mo ako pansinin so I did what I think is fun.”

  We are now walking side by side.

  “Sorry naman. Masyado lang akong nag enjoy.”

  “Wait, vacant ba ang first class ninyo?” Ngayon lang napasok sa isip ko ang pagtataka kung bakit siya nalate.

  “Hindi, hindi talaga ako papasok sa first subject ko. Math kasi, nakakatakot.”

  I stopped to look at her wide eye. Is she for real? “Nag cutting ka?”

  She shrugged and smile as if it's the most normal this ever.

  “Alam mong masama 'yan, diba?” Is she not afraid na mamiss ang mga lessons?

  “Minsan lang naman.”

  “Still. Imagine ikaw ang teacher tapos nag cutting ang student mo, ” I said.

  “Imagine ikaw ang student tapos naiiyak ka sa lesson sa math. Isipin mo, nakakafrustrate ang math tas dadagdagan lang ang stress mo sa buhay. Paano pag lumala ang stress at magresulta sa sakit?”

  Is she crazy? What kind of reason is that? “Pero pumasok ka pa rin dapat. Masama kaya mag cutting.”

  “Alam ko nama-sandale, hindi ka pa ba nakapag cutting?”

  Umiling ako. If hindi man ako nakakapasok sa class, it's because I was excused.

  “Gusto mo mag cutting tayo?”

  My eyes grew wide again at what she asked. I noticed na we both stop to talk, and are standing beside a building na.

  I furiously shook my head. “I will never ever do that.”

  “Ngi? Bakit naman?”

  “Because it's bad?”

  “Wushu, bad daw. Masama kung inaaraw-araw, pero 'yung once a month? Pwede naman.”

  I can't believe we are taking about this. It's ridiculous, I still need to go to my class but for some unknown reason I am intrigued in listening to what she is offering.

  “Still, one cutting is considered as a bad doing.”

  “Ganito nalang, mag bato-bato pick tayo at kung sino mananalo ay siya ang masusunod. Kapag ako, sasama ka sa akin mag cutting, tapos kapag ikaw naman, hinding-hindi na ako mag cucutting forever.”

  I know na I can easily say no to her offer but I found myself nodding.

  “Okay. Bato, bato, pick...” She held out scissors while mine was paper. She jump and made a little happy dance before grinning at me. I know I should be disappointed that I didn't win, but I found myself smiling. Deep inside, I was hoping she'd win.

  “So, halika na at huwag pumasok. Friday naman at wala atang test ngayon. Tara?”

  I blink twice when she held her hand out. Kukunin ko ba dapat?

   “Saan tayo pupunta?”

  “Kung saan tayo dadalhin ng paa natin.”

  I shook my head and followed her. We told the guard na may gagawin akong importante, kaya pinalabas agad kami. It's unfair but kailangan  na talaga naming makalabas. Our feet led us to the street near my house kaya I asked her what if we go there nalang. I also want to ask her some things, maybe she can help with my questions.

 Her eyes roamed around my room, taking every corner. “Ang ganda ng kwarto mo.”
 
  I smile as I put down my bag in the study table near my closet. “Thanks. Your bag is cool din.” I'm not lying. Her bag is designed with galaxy, which is cool.

  “Pero ano ba ang gagawin natin dito?” She roamed her eyes around the room, and when her eyes landed on my printer, she turn to stare at me. “Si Marcy at PB? Ang cute!”

  I nod and walk to where she is standing. I printed some pictures kagabi. I don't know why I did it, there's just this urge. “I have a question. Fan ka ba nila?” I asked.

  “Syempre! I am so gay for Marcy at PB-ay hala. Ang ladlad ko, pero ayos lang ba?”

  I was surprised, but I nod. “So may alam ka pang other ships aside sakanila?”

  “Syempre! Kung gusto mo sa anime, panoorin mo ang Bloom Into You, pati yung Sakura Trick! Tsaka mahaba pa ang listahan. Sandale, bakit ka ba nagtatanong?”

  I gulp, hindi ako sanay na makipag kwentuhan sa hindi ko gaanong kaklose, tapos sa ganitong bagay pa. Pero Ella doesn't look like she will spill my secrets to the crowd. “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Syempre! Makakalimutin ako, baka bukas makalimutan ko rin ang sasabihin mo.”

  “I-I think I'm curious...”