Chapter 7
"Goodbye, Ms." sabi namin no'ng natapos ng mag-lecture ang panghuling guro namin.
Binibilisan kong ligpitin ang aking mga gamit at 'yung mga kaklase ko naman ay panay tingin kay Mazro na nag-aantay sa labas ng classroom namin. Ano ba kasing pumasok sa kukote niya at sinundo pa niya ako?
I already knew that there will be a practice today, there's no need to pick me up. He's making other students think that there is something in between of us. Hindi ko rin siya maintindihan.
"May practice ka?" tanong ni Dave no'ng papalabas na sana ako ng classroom.
Oh! I forgot to bid my goodbye.
"Yes, we can't go home together today. Ingat ka sa daan, ha?"
I raised a hand and we had a high five. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at tuluyan ng lumabas sa silid-aralan. Naglakad ako papalapit sa naghihintay na si Mazro.
"Tagal namang natapos ng klase niyo." bungad niya sa akin.
"Nobody told you to wait." sabi ko sa kanya.
"Whatever, let's go." sabi niya at tinulak ako.
Walang hiya rin siya minsan.
Hindi kami nag-uusap habang naglalakad patungo sa social hall kung saan gaganapin ang practice namin. I don't think I can walk with him often if I will be stared by people this bad.
"Anong ba'ng mayro'n sa'yo that the people are looking at me like I'm a parasite that will kill you?" I asked.
"Aside from I'm a son of the mayor, which doesn't matter. Hindi maitatanggi ang kaguwapuhan ko, diba? So just don't mind them." kalmang saad niya.
Tangina...
"Kapal mo rin, ano?"
Behind the cold and snob aura of this man there's a facade where his boastful self lies behind.
"It's an honor to walk with me. Imagine, I'm giving you the chance to walk with me for free."
Diyos ko...
"Nasa'n na 'yung Mazro na hindi nagsasalita, hindi namamansin, at may sariling mundo? Bakit bigla kang naging feelingero?"
"I'm just stating facts, Jenim Essa." he said.
It gave me shivers.
Why does my name sounds different when it was said by him? His voice is very deep and calm. There's something in it that made my name sounded like heaven when pronounced by him.
"Here they come." Ate Mizee.
"Why are you always late? Nadamay pa ako." bulong ni Mazro sa akin.
I sat at the floor with my clubmates at tumabi naman sa akin si Mazro. Hindi 'to si Mazro, eh. He would rather sit alone far from us. Hindi siya nakikipag-socialize kung hindi naman kailangan. Parang sa isang pitik ay bigla siyang nag-iba.
"Alam niyo namang may play na naman tayo. I gathered all of you here today for the announcement of roles and who's going to play it." Ate Mizee started.
Nakikinig lang ako sa mga sinasabi ni Ate Mizee. I got a role again. Hindi man ito isang main role ay natutuwa pa rin ako. I never imagined myself acting in front of a crowd. This doesn't support myself of becoming a lawyer.
Ate Mizee stated that they made the script. The story is nice based on how Ate Mizee told us the summary of the story. Mazro didn't get a main role this time! He's is my bestfriend for this play.
"Are you sad na hindi ka kabilang sa main characters?" tanong ko sa kanya na nasa gilid ko.
"No, not at all. Tinatamad akong mag-saulo ng script, sinabi ko na kay Ate na wag akong bigyan ng role na maraming sasauluhing lines." walang ganang saad niya.
Edi siya na may malakas na kapit.
There's only eight of us that are newly accepted in the theatre club. Tatlo lang kami na artista. Some are in different teams. They applied for it. Mas marami pang natanggap na nag-apply sa iba't-ibang teams kaysa sa mga nag-audition.
"Here are the scripts." Ate Mizee said and she then distributed the scripts.
Natanggap ko na ang script at hindi naman ito gano'n ka kapal. I looked for my lines and highlighted it.
"Mizee, give me some highlighter. Wala akong dala." sabi ni Mazro.
I can't understand Mazro. Sometimes he calls he big sister Ate and sometimes by her name solely. Kung ano atang trip niya.
"Wala rin akong dala. Jenim, pahiramin mo muna si Maz ng highlighter."
"Opo, Ate Zee." sabi ko.
Since hindi naman gano'n karami ang linya ko, natapos ko agad ito. Binigay ko kay Mazro ang highlighter ko.
"Pink? Wala ka bang ibang kulay diyan? It's girly." he said while I handed him the highlighter.
"Pink is for girls? Come on, Mazro. Cut the gender stereotype."
Walang gana niya itong tinanggap at hinanap ang mga linya niya. Natapos lang din siya agad at sinauli ito sa akin.
"Guys merienda tayo bago umuwi, treat ko." Ate Mizee said.
Agad namang pumayag ang ibang mga miyembro. Ang iba'y kailangan na raw na umuwi dahil may mga responsibilidad pa sa bahay. Me too, kailangan ko pang sunduin ang mga kapatid ko.
"You won't come?" tanong ni Mazro.
"Hindi na. Susunduin ko pa ang mga kapatid ko." sabi ko.
Nilagay ko na sa bag ko ang script. Magpapaalam muna ako kay Ate Mizee bago umuwi.
"Let's fetch your brothers first then we will let them join us." sabi ni Mazro.
"Nakakahiya naman, Maz."
"Don't worry, ako bahala sa mga kapatid. Magpaalam muna tayo kay Mizee at umalis na para makabalik agad tayo." he said and hinila niya ako papalapit kay Ate Mizee.
"Maz." Ate Mizee said and looked at Mazro's hand gripping on my wrist.
"We're going to fetch her brothers so that she can join us. I'll pay for them, don't worry." said Mazro.
"No, it's fine. I got them. Ingat kayo sa daan." Ate Mizee said.
"Mazro, tapos na ba ang meeting with the fam? Sobrang close kayo nitong si Jenim, ah." Rhealyn teased.
"Kalmado lang si Mazro tapos ang bongga ng lovelife." sabi naman ng isa sa glam team.
Mazro is just looking blankly at them with his hands still gripped on my wrist.
"Magkaibigan lang po kami." sabi ko at nahiyang yumuko.
"Diyan nagsisimula 'yan." Ate Mizee said.
^_^
