Forced

Chapter 13: Cupcakes

"I need more cream for furnishing" she said to herself, trying to find an extra cream on their hanging cabinet just above their kitchen sink. She's still wearing her favorite red apron which was probably Kian's gift for her last year on Valentine's Day. Her eyes widened when she found what she's looking for.

"Gneiss, why are you still here? You'll be late on your first day of class." her mom commented, she's on her back watching her putting some icing on top of the cupcakes just after mixing the cream and the milk.

"Ma, I'm going to give these to Kian, today is our 8th anniversary as best friends." she answered. She continued her work, while her mom volunteered to mixed the cream and milk on the bowl.

"Really? That's great, how about you and Kyler? Don't tell me you're not in good terms?" Ruby added. Gneiss faced her again.

"Ma, we're okay, very very okay." she smiled.

"Okay, just hurry up it's already 7:20 in the morning," paalala muli ng kaniyang ina. Dali-dali naman niyang inilagay sa isang kulay red na box ang isang dosena ng cupcakes at saka gumupit rin siya ng pulang ribbon at saka 'yon itinali sa harapan.

Naghugas na siya ng kamay at saka 'yon pinunasan, tinanggal ang apron, nakita nito ang dumikit na pink stains sa kaniyang uniform pero hindi niya na 'yon pinansin. Iniabot ng kaniyang mama ang bag nito at pinunasan rin ang frame ng kaniyang eyeglass.

"Thank you, Ma." aniya at saka humalik sa magkabilang pisngi ng kaniyang ina.

"Welcome my baby, enjoy your first day." wika nito at hinaplos na ang mukha ng kaniyang anak.

Gneiss waved her hands at dali-dali nang sumakay sa kotse nila, may personal driver ang pamilya nito pero hindi na rin siya sumasabay minsan kasi sinusundo siya ni Kian or Kyler, pero, currently si Kyler ang sumusundo sa kaniyang frequently. Naninibago rin siya dahil noon at halos si Kian palagi ang gumagawa nito. There are huge changes, she already noticed that, but, she doesn't know what to do in order for her to stop the chain and bring everything back the way it used to be.

Bumaba siya ng sasakyan, nakita nito si Kyler na nasa harapan ng school gate, kumaway ito sa kaniya.

"Hey, late na tayo, pero, I did still waited for you." pambungad niya.

"Talaga? Thank you ha? Sige na pumasok na tayo, mamaya paglinisin tayo ng cr e," pangamba nito.

"Akin ba 'yan?" turo niya sa may cupcakes.

"Para kay Kian, friendship anniversary namin ngayon," anito.

"Sa akin wala?" Kyler pouted his lips.

"Ano ka ba! Siyempre mayroon, pero, bukas pa ang anniversary natin, kaya bukas rin kita bibigyan." she resoned out. Kyler gently touched his nape.

"Tara na nga!" biglang hinatak ni Kyler si Gneiss at saka ikinulong ang balikat nito sa kaniyang bisig, bago sila pumasok ay nagpunta muna sa may locker ang dalawa, at dahil may duplicate key roon si Kyler ay hindi na nahirapan si Gneiss. Ngumiti pa ito bago tuluyang, ilagay roon, may mga nakita rin siyang love letters, watches, perfumes and even flowers na siguro ay bigay ng mga admirers nito, pero ang kumuha ng atensiyon niya ay ang medyo may kalakihan sa paper size na love letter.

Alam niyang mali, pero parang may nag-uudyok talaga sa kaniyang buksan at basahin ang nilalaman nito, that's her very own curiousity, naroon naman sa bandang likod niya si Kyler na nakasandal sa pader at kinakalikot ang cellphone. Kagaya ng utos ng isipan ay binuksan niya nga 'yon. It was Sapphire's letter to Kian.

Dear Kian,

I know love letters were overrated, but I'm trying my luck through writing this one for you to express my long admiration that turns out to be an, unrequited one. Kian I admire you since when we're in Grade 6, until now.

Binabasa pa nito ang nilalaman ng sulat nang bigla siyang tawagin ni Kyler.

"Second subject na natin." pasaring ni Kyler. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa at wala nang ibang nagawa si Gneiss kung hindi ibalik sa dating ayos ang letter na 'yon.

Together, they searched for their room, sa second floor lang naman, hindi na nila kailangang pahirapan ang kanilang sarili sa pag-akyat. Sabay silang tumayo sa may corridor.

"Good morning Ma'am." they both said in chorus. Napamaang ang guro nila, tinanggal pa ang kaniyang salamin at binigyan sila ng masamang titig, her eyes were dagger kilay pa lang ay halatang terror teacher na.

"What's good in the morning, if two of students from this strand are late for the first day of classes?" ma-awtoridad ang boses nito.

"We're very sorry Ma'am, a heavy traffic became an hindrance for us to reached the school on time." bulalas ni Kyler.

"I don't need your invalid reasons, first introduce yourselves and go reach out the school's library and wipe the tons of dusty books stocked on the library's stock room, or else I'll fail you on my subject for the first semester. Always bear in mind, this is a University, a private school. We need students who think and move faster than a tornado." dagdag pa nito. Nakatingin lang sa kanila ang lahat, maging si Kian na naroon na pala sa second row, may two vacant chairs sa tabi nito at malamang ay para na sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Ma'am, I think you're being so absurd. Is Understanding and Consideration not a part of your vocabulary? well, obviously it's not. Ma'am, we tried our best to be present today. It's the first day of school, honestly speaking everyone is adjusting, each and one of us is clueless about our teachers, classmates, even subjects. Pardon me, but, it's okay, we'll still follow your order. Hi, everyone my name is Kyler Jack Monterivas." saad nito, bumaling naman siya ng tingin kay Gneiss.

"And I'm Gneiss Hanie Ruiz," sabi naman nito.

Tahimik ang lahat, maging ang guro nila. Nang walang anu-ano'y parang may sariling isip ang kanilang mga kamay at pumalakpak na lamang. Napatingin ulit sa kanila ang guro na 'yon.

"Both, of you take your seat and join the class." mahinahon na sagot nito, agad silang nagtungo sa tabi ni Kian na tinapik pa sa balikat si Kyler.

"Gagu! Ang galing mo pala mag-english." bulong nito, humalakhak na lang ang tatlo.

Nang mag-break time na ay, nagpaalam si Kyler na gagamit lang ng cr, nauna na si Kian at Gneiss sa canteen. Maraming mga nakapila, pinili ni Kian na siya na lang ang pumila pero tumanggi si Gneiss, she wants to serve Kian on their friendship anniversary.

"Sure ka bang ikaw na ang pipila?" pagtatanong muli nito.

"Oo naman, doon ka na lang sa may front table para kapag dumating si Kyler makikita ka niya agad." giit nito.

"Okay, then, sige I'll wait for you." aniya at saka na nagpunta sa upuan.

Doon na nagsimulang magtaka si Gneiss, wala ba siyang naalala sa araw na 'to? Dati kasi ay nauuna pa itong mag-celebrate. Siguro'y may sorpresa itong nakahanda, 'yon na lang ang itinatak ni Gneiss sa kaniyang isipan sa mga sandaling 'yon.

Ilang minuto rin siyang pumila bago, nakuha ang lahat ng orders, saktong pagharap niya sa table nila ay nakita niyang naroon si Sapphire at ang tatlong kaibigan nito, imprentang naka-upo. Nagku-kuwentuhan naman si Kian at Sapphire, wala pa roon si Kyler na baka siguro ay nilamon na ng kubeta.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit roon dala ang iisang tray ngunit maraming laman.

"Really? Nagustuhan mo 'yong cupcakes that I baked for you?" ani Sapphire at saka pa tinignan si Gneiss, naka-focus lang si Kian sa kaniya at hindi na nito napansin na nasa harapan na nila si Gneiss.

"Yeah, that cupcakes inside my locker with the red box and ribbon? I saw that a while ago, I ate five, it taste very delicious, thank you." ngumiti si Kian sa kaniya.

Muling nag-angat si Sapphire ng tingin at pa-simpleng nginisian si Gneiss.

"Oh, Gneiss is here na pala." kunwaring sabi nito.

Tumayo naman si Kian at inilapag 'yong tray sa table nila, tumango na lang si Gneiss.

"Gneiss, baka gusto mo ng cupcakes, Sapphire baked it, bigyan kita mamayang uwian." sabi nito sa nakatulala na lang na si Gneiss.

"S—Sige bigyan mo ako ng cupcakes." tugon na lang nito, kahit nagpupuyos na siya dahil sa biglang pagkirot na naman ng kaniyang puso.

That was her cupcakes, that she put on Kian's locker, and now her cousin is claiming that it was made by her.