Chapter 8
Where the hell is Dave? Sabi niya'y may kakausapin muna siya sandali bago kami uuwi. I've been waiting here in our classroom for like ten minutes. Akala ko ba sandali lang.
The cleaners are still here. 'Yung iba umuwi na at mayro'n din namang mga kaibigan ng cleaners na nag-aantay sa labas. How lucky can they be?
Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko at napagdesisyunan na tutulong nalang sa paglilinis. Nakakahiya sa mga naglilinis na pa-upo-upo lang ako. I grabbed the chalkboard's eraser and erased the writings on the board.
"'Wag ka ng mag-abala, Jenim. Kami na ang bahala niyan." sabi ng isa sa mga cleaners.
"No, it's fine." I said and smiled at her.
Natapos ko na rin burahin ang mga sulat sa pisara at napagdesisyunan na sa labas nalang ako maghihintay. I grabbed my things and went outside of the classroom.
As I got out, I looked around for Dave. My search stopped when I saw him at the room near ours and taking to Mazro. Magkaibigan din ba sila? Nag-bago na talaga si Mazro, ah.
We already had our practice at noon. Tomorrow, our practice will be after our class. Ate Mizee decided it to be this way for those people who still have some responsibilities to fullfil at home.
Pupuntahan ko ba sila? Why do people don't stare at Dave like how they do with me? What's wrong with me?
Mukhang matino naman sila na nag-uusap. None of them seems to notice me. The glares in their eyes are kind of scary. They seem fine but I think the tension is growing.
That's it! Pupuntahan ko na sila.
Naglakad ako papalapit sa kanila. I stopped steps away from them and faked a cough.
"Sorry it took me a while to come back, Jenim." Dave said.
"Pauwi ka na ba?" tanong naman ni Mazro.
Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. Who am I going to deal with first?
"It's okay, Dave. Yes, papauwi na ako."
"What were you talking about?" I asked.
I sounded like a tsismosa.
"I just asked him about some stuffs for the school paper." Dave answered.
"Yeah, he asked about our upcoming play." Mazro added.
I slowly nod my head.
Bakit parang magpatayan na ang mga tingin nila?
"Dave, tapos na ba ang pag-uusap niyo? I can wait for few more minutes."
"Yes. Are you going to fetch your brothers? I can go with you." Mazro this time.
I smiled at him. I appreciate it.
"Salamat pero hindi, Mazro, eh. Si Mama na ang susundo sa kanila ngayon." sabi ko.
"Let me take you home instead." he said.
"Sorry pero sabay kaming uuwi ni Jenim." singit ni Dave.
Mazro looked at me waiting for what I'm going to say.
"Babawi ako kay Dave, Mazro. Hindi na kasi kami sabay na umuuwi this past few days." I said.
He nodded, "If that's the case, take care on your way home."
"You, too. Bye!" I said before leaving Mazro.
Nasa tabi ko si Dave habang naglalakad kami. He's silent and so do I. I'm not used to this Dave. I'm used to the Dave that is teasing and irritating me all the time. Bakit ba nag-iba ang mga tao lately? Pasin ko lang.
"So, anong sinabi ni Mazro about sa play namin?" tanong ko. I want the atmosphere to brighten up.
"Uhm... not that much. I also asked permission to put one of his picture into the school paper." he said.
Tumango ako. Pang-ilang tango ko na ba 'to?
"Madalas niyo na bang nasundo ni Mazro ang mga kapatid mo? He sounded like it's part of his routine." Dave again.
"Hindi naman. He was different when he was with my brothers. The first time we fetched my brothers, they were close already." I said.
We are walking at the side of the rode. Malapit lang ang bahay ko sa school at pati na rin si Dave. My house is way more nearer while Dave's house is meters away from mine. Advantage na rin 'to para hindi na kami mag-aksaya pa ng pera para pamasahe.
"How about you? Is he different around you?"
"I don't know. I don't know how he acts with other people in order for me to know if it's different from mine but, 'yong pagtrato niya sa akin ay iba sa mga naririnig ko."
"In what way?"
"They say he doesn't care but, I can guarantee you that it's not true. He's one of the most concern person I know, hindi siya 'yong tipo na masyadong nagsasalita pero mararamdaman mong may pake siya." I said.
He stopped walking and looked at me.
"Sounds like he's a good man. Is there a chance that you'd date him?"
"'La! Grabe ka, Dave! Si Mazro 'yon... alam kong walang masamang mangarap pero mangarap naman tayo ng makatotohanan." sabi ko.
"What makes you think that dating him isn't realistic?" he asked with a grin this time.
Ano ba?
"Hindi ko siya ka-level, I bet 'yan rin ang isasagot niya sa'yo if you'll ask him if he'd date me." I said.
There are things that no matter how hard you'll try to go for it, if it's not for you, then it will never be yours. Minsan kahit alam nating walang tyansa na mapasa-atin, patuloy pa rin natin itong pinapangarap.
And... I don't know how that thought connects to our topic.
"You're wrong. No one would refuse to date you." Dave said.
"No one even likes me to be their friend. What makes you think somebody would date me."
"We'll never know." he said.
I looked straight into his eyes.
"Ikaw? Would you date me?" hamon ko.
Tingnan natin.
"Why not?"
I looked away.
Diyos ko.
"Joker na rin, 'no? Tara na nga, umuwi na tayo." I said and tried to give him a laugh.
Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. Pinapahiya ko ang sarili ko.
"We are right in front of your house, Jenim."
Ba't ang tanga ko?
^_^
