Road to Matandang Dalaga

Chapter 2 UNKNOWN NUMBER

Time check 0550H.

WORK. HOUSE. SLEEP. EAT. SCAN TIKTOK. RESIN. PAINTING. YOUTUBE. WATCH KDRAMA AND MAG FANGIRL KAY JV NG SIKAT NA BANDANG GALAXY.  I dont know pero parang tanggap ko na parang satisfied na ako sa ganitong set up ng buhay ko. Walang stress. I never thought of having a family of my own. I enjoyed being the daughter who can stay and take good care of my mom and dad , a sister that my brothers can lean on, a rock and roll tita and a supportive sister-in-law.

I was on my way with Jane. (Jared's wife) to work when an unknown number kept calling me. I put my headset on.

"Hello?" in my husky voice ( I was born with a husky voice anyways)

"Happy birthday helga" sabi nung malamig na boses nasa kabilang linya.

( I was a bit pissed thinking its something impotant or what) "oh well thanks. Anyway bye. Im driving" and turned off the phone.

Jane look at me and said "sino yun?" while fastening her seatbelt.
Nagkibit balikat lang ako at umarangkada na.
Naisip ko... Di ko man lng tinanong kung sino siya. Harsh ko naman.

After parking the car.
My phone is ringing again with the same unknown number I didn't dare to answer and Pop up message says

"Grabe naman helgs, Taray mo pa rin hanggang ngayon". Kumusta na?

I was about to type something but I hesitated ng bigla siyang nagsend ng bagong message.

"Sige helgs. HAPPY BIRTHDAY na lang ulit enjoy your day. Anyway. Si Jinjin to.

Jinjin??? WTH! MUJIN???

BIGLANG. FLASHBACK ng
March 8, 2006.
It was before 1st period class.
I was sitting on my desk
( straight hair down na halos matabunan na ang mata. eyeliner to the max na para ng panda ang mga mata, 25 f*ck bands na parang goma na black sa kamay, nakaconverse shoes kahit bawal pag di wash day at earrings na magkaiba. I was a big fan of LIRVA band nung highschool pero no one knows behind my rock and roll look im a big collector of Hello Kitty. Meow )

Today. Ika 9 months ng nanliligaw si Mujin.
Nung una ang alam ko trip2 lang ng mga barkada at kaklase namin gusto lang nila yata makita ang fusion ng isang geek at ng isang feeling rakista kaya shiniship talaga nila kami. Kami na lang kasi ang walang jowawers sa grupo. (Peer pressure kumbaga)

Pero katagalan... I think Im starting to appreciate what he is doing and Im secretly liking him... back. Kahit maliliit na bagay binibigyan ko ng halaga like
Wheb it rains.. He will fetch me sa may tindahan with his umbrella. So I dont bring umbrella on purpose.
Siya lang may alam na takot ako sa ahas, sa lizard o sa mga anik anik na uuod pero sa classroom pinapakita ko kunwari flat affect ako pero deep inside nanginginig na ako sa takot.

One day he gave me a hello kitty keychain. Pinagtawanan pa siya ng buong classroom nung araw na yun sabi dapat daw mga death metal chains binigay niya sakin. ( I dont know pano niya nalaman about sa hello kitty)

On feb 14 a skull shape mug was left on my desk.
It says ROCKING VALENTINES fr Jin.
I secretly envy those girls na me pa flowers ang peg but I do like the mug tho. Tampulan kami ng asaran that day. As usual Im the girl who says nothing and parang walang care sa paligid.

"Ikaw naaa jiiinnn rockkk and rooll to the worrllld" sabi nung classmate naming si tan.

I looked at jin2 and he just smiled at me.

Pag uwi ko hinabol niya ako at inabutan ng bonquet of flowers sabay sabi..

"Happy valentines day helgs ayaw nilang ibigay ko to sayo yung mug na lang daw kasi sabi nila di mo daw magugustuhan.. pero gusto ko talaga ibigay to sayo. I love you helgs. Magaantay pa rin ako". Nahihiyang tugon ni jin.

"Ang cringy mo". Sabi ko. ( sabay talikod at amoy ng bulaklak. I feel like ang ganda2 ko that day I cant explain.char.)

Eto na.... habang nakaupo ako sa desk. Palapit na si Mujin he's a tall guy, mapupungay ang mata,moreno. Geek. Math wizard. Para bang slow motion ang paligid.
Today march 9.
I decided na sasagutin ko na siya.

Habang papalapit siya di ko maintindihan ung kaba na nararamdaman ko. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. Maaga ako pumapasok ksi maaga kaming hinahatid noon sa school bago pumasok sa work tito ko. Malapit lang sa school bahay nina jin2... kaya madalas kaming maaga sa classroom.

"Helga..." panimula ni jin umupo siya sa tabi ko.

Bago ako mkasagot....
Nagsalita ulit si jinjin...

"Gusto ko lang sabihin na... Ititigil ko na ang panliligaw ko sayo.... "

I didnt ask why... sumagot lang ako ng

"Nah. Ikaw ba. Okay." Without looking at him.

He stand up and left the room.

I was left there repeatedly saying to my self. Rakista ka. Wag kang iiyak.