Along The Way

Open Up

THEZZA

I am walking at the plaza alone. Recess na ngayon pero wala akong planong bumili ng pagkain. Nasusuka nga ako sa mga magkasintahang nakikita ko dito.

I almost cringe when I saw a guy feeding his girlfriend. That's so unromantic, that's gross. Meron namang kamay yung babae.

Anyways, maganda naman ang naging first at second class. Wala pa lang akong naging ka-close sa loob ng room.

My phone suddenly rang that's why I took it from my pocket immediately. It was Darlene! It's her!

"Daaaaar!" I shouted out of glee as soon as I pressed the answer botton. Mabuti na lang at may hiya pa ako, agad akong umupo sa grass. I can't stop shouting. "Theeeeeeez! It's me again!" Sagot naman niya sa kabilang linya.

"I miss you so much, Dar. Sana makapagsneak out ka naman diyan papunta dito." I said jokingly. She instantly laughed and I chuckled at her reaction.

She was the first person that I called that day. Pagkagabi no'n ay tinawagan ko agad si Darlene. I told her everything. She knew what I was feeling. Wala naman akong ibang mapupuntahan at mapagsasabihan kundi siya lang.

"How's school?" Darlene asked. "Just fine-neutral lang, ganon." I answered boringly. "Wala ka pa bang nahahanap na lal-" "Darlene." Pinutol ko siya at binantaan. She then laughed. "Oo na, oo na. Ikaw na si Ms. Bitter hahahahaha!" Now she's making fun of me. Oh how I wish that she's here so I could tease her personally.

"Okay na ba kayo ni Symon?" Nabigla ako nang itanong niya sa akin si Symon. "W-well..we are friends, eventually... we just became friends." I cleared my throat. "Yeah, that guy got my number out of nowhere. Tsk tsk tsk. Pagsabihan mo yang future husband mo, Dar..."

I was silenced, I don't know why. "Uh yeah. Actually, I have this plan on my mind." I opened up.

"What is it?"

"I will burn the contract paper." Seryosong saad ko. Oh h yeah, I can do that. I want to find myself first. Ayaw ko nga ng mga jowa-jowa na 'yan, eto pa kaya na pagpapakasal na ang pinag-uusapan. It's just too much so I had to think of a plan.

Hindi pa naman ako nag open up sa topic na 'yan kina Tita Rosie at kay Symon. I didn't agree, I also didn't say no. Ano ako, bobo? Para magpakasal at magpaalipin lang nang ganon-ganon? Marriage their ass!

"Yeah, you better not marry him, Thez. I don't trust him for you. Kahit pa may kasunduan si Tita Rosie sa dad ni Symon, mas mabuti pa rin kung ikaw lang at ang sarili mo ang magdesisyon in the future. Marriage is not something that someone else would decide for you, it is something that you truly want to do. Whatever your plan is, I trust you, sis."

Napangiti ako sa mga sinabi ni Dar. She's truly a great adviser.

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"No, I don't think so ma'am." Jane, one of my classmates, argued.

Kanina pa ako nakikinig sa walang kwentang debate nila ngayon.

'Sino ang mas malakas? Ang taong pinaglaban ang minamahal niya? O ang taong sumuko para sa kasiyahan ng kanyang minamahal'

This is not the topic. Pero grabe na talaga ang mga tao ngayon. Binibring-up na ang mga gan'tong topic kahit pa sa serious class. Goodness gracious. I wanna slap their faces so hard. Idiots, idiots, idiots, blah, blah, blah, stupidity.

"Para sa akin, 'yung taong sumuko para sa kasiyahan ng kanyang minamahal ang mas malakas. Why? Because she/he sacrificed his/her own self just for the happiness of the person she/he loves. Ang sakit kaya niyan." I raised my brows. Most of my classmates agreed. Well, I don't see any interesting aspect in this topic.