The Future I See With You

Chapter 2

"Aray! Ano ba naman yan! Look where you're going kasi!" Reklamo ng babae.


"Hala, sorry! Hindi ko sinasadya! Pasensya!" Paghingi ko ng paumanhin while bowing my head continuously.


Unang araw ko ngayon sa Senior High at may babae na agad na iniirapan ako. Mag isa akong naglalakad ngayon sa hallway dahil nagpark muna si Kean ng kotse. Sabi ko sabay na kami pero ayaw niya daw ako paglakarin ng malayo. Di ko daw kakayanin. Psh, ako pa. Strong kaya ako! At mag lalakad lang naman! Di naman yon makakapatay sa akin!


Iniikot ko kasi ang paningin ko sa gilid gilid at hinahanap kung saan ako dapat mapuntang building habang namamangha pa rin sa mga nakapalibot na mga puno at naglalakad na tao. Tinuon ko na lang ang attention ko sa direksyon ng pinupuntahan ng karamihan.


"Welcome Home Atenistas!"


Narinig ko ang ingay na nanggagaling sa isang covered courts. Yung sa may high school. Doon na ako tumungo habang hinihintay si Kean. Dito rin naman talaga ata dapat kami bago sa mga silid namin. Pumwesto ako sa may likod, far enough to keep my eardrums intact from the loud screams of the people and the over-enthusiastic host. Also to be far from the crowd and the heat of bodies touching. A few minutes later nakita ko si Kean sa may entrance ng gym. Tinaas ko kamay ko at kumaway pero hindi pa rin niya ata ako nakikita dahil iniikot pa rin niya ang tingin niya sa dami ng tao. Napagdesisyon kong tawagan na lang siya.


"Nasa likod ako. Lakad ka lang makikita mo rin kamay kong nakataas." Agad kong bungad sa kanya nung sinagot niya ang tawag ko.


"Ha?" Tanong niya.


"Hatdog! Punta ka sa likod! Nakataas kamay ko, gugong 'to!" Sabi ko na may kalakasan.


"Anong gugong? Sandali kita ko na ata kamay mo." Tumingala rin ako para makita kung sa akin siya nakatingin.


"I see you. Now come." Binaba ko na rin ang tawag pagkasabi ko noon.


He started walking towards me but the crowd suddenly stood up, for a reason unknown to me because I wasn't paying attention and went closer to the stage which made the crowd block his way. But he managed to push past them and since I am one of the few left seated he spotted me easily and sat beside me.


"What's happening bakit bigla silang nagkumpulan?" Tanong ko kay Kean na nakatingin pala sa akin paglingon ko sa kanya.


"Uhmmm..." Lumingon siya sa stage, "Oh! It's--" Naputol sinasabi niya dahil biglang nagsalita yung estudyanteng nasa stage na ngayon.


"We are Jireh! And for a welcome to Ateneo we would like to start our Senior High journey with a band performance." Bigkas nung nasa pinakaharap. May hawak rin itong guitara tapos may iba pang mga kasama na may mga instrumento rin. "You all know who we are but for the new students' luxury I will introduce us one by one." Patuloy niya. Jireh? Napaisip ako ... that's a biblical word ... are they..? Di na natuloy ang pag iisip ko dahil sa pagsalita ulit niya.


"I am Miguel, the lead vocalist, song writer and lead guitarist of the band." He introduced himself. Yes, that's the boy I saw in the parking lot. I'm amazed at how many fans he has. Ngayon na nakikita ko siyang nagsasalita napansin ko na may braces pala ito. Medyo malayo layo ako sa stage kaya hindi ko pa rin masilayan ng maayos ang kanyang mukha, ngunit ang katawan nito ay medyo maypagkapayat. Maluwag sa kanya ang unipormeng nakabukas ang mga butones, kita ang panloob na sando niya na pawisan sa kuwelyo.  Matangkad rin siya, he's the tallest amongst his bandmates. His hair is a bit wavy and disheveled. Medyo may pawis rin ang kanyang noo na akala mo'y tumakbo papunta dito, hingal rin siya habang nag sasalita. He doesn't look as presentable as everyone else up on stage. 


"And to my right is Nero on electric guitar." Turo niya sa lalaking nasa kanan niya na mas kayumangi ang kulay ng balat kaysa sa kanya. His hair was in a clean cut, army like side shave. May salamin rin ito at ang uniporme ay saradong sarado, malinis siya tignan. He has been strumming a beautiful familiar sound on his guitar.


"To my left is Leo on keyboard." He looked at the man to his other side and I saw how this one had a whiter skin tone. His hair was curly and short but not like an afro curl, standard boy cut with curls would be the best description. He had glasses and his uniform had two buttons open at the top, showing part of his white undershirt. He was also already playing some notes just so there is no dead air happening.


"Last but not the least, we have Asher at the back with the drums!" Tumalikod siya para sumaludo sa kaibigan niyang nakaupo na at kanina pa humahampas ng mahina sa kanyang drums. His built was similar to Miguel's and his height is the closest to his too. He had a fresher face and fresher cut though. The crowd cheered the loudest at him.


"Crush mo oh!" Biglang sabi sa akin ni Kean, nung nakita niyang nakatuon na ako sa harap at nakangiti.


"Luh, crush ka jan! First day na first day! Wag muna! Baka classmate ko pa!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at hinampas ang braso niya.


"'Di daw crush pero ang daming tinanong kung sino nung unang nakita." Bulong niya ng mahina ngunit narinig ko pa rin. I just tisked at him and looked back at the band.


"For our first performance, we would be singing Ride Home by Ben&Ben. They're one of our inspirations and coming to Ateneo is always like a ride home to the four of us." Sabi ni Miguel bago lumakas ang mga instrumento nila.


Nagkatinginan kami ni Kean sa pagbanggit ng aming paboriting kanta at ng aming paboritong banda. That song is actually our theme song, if you will. It's a perfect description of our friendship. We are home to each other. Despite the chaos of the world, we find solace in the other's presence. What a great start to my journey here, I took the band and the song as a sign that I will treat this place like another home.


Narinig ko ang pagsimula ni Miguel sa kanta at agad akong napatulala sa pagkabighani sa kanya. Saying that his voice was heavenly is an understatement. If Ben&Ben gave me chills, he gave me butterflies in my stomach. Okay, I think Kean is right, he always is but I'm not telling him that now.


He's right ... I think I do like Miguel now, just a bit though.



After their performance, there was a short program with games and an introduction to the student council. The band also went down and was part of the crowd. Wala ng mga umaaligid sa kanila, parang naging normal na estudyante na lang sila bigla. Afterwards we were directed to group according to our strands. Kean was a HUMSS student and I was an Arts and Design student. Okay lang na hindi kami magkapareho. Iba naman talaga ang landas ng aming hinaharap. Nakita ko naman si Miguel pumunta doon sa STEM strand ... oh, so he's smart I guess? And his other bandmates followed suit. So matatalino sila tapos talented pa? Ang galing naman! Hanga akong nakakapag banda pa sila.


"See you sa break! Puntahan ko na lang floor mo. Hintayin mo lang ako." Sabi ni Kean. "Make new friends! Interact with your classmates or at least those near your seat! Mamaya hihiya hiya ka jan!" Dagdag na bilin pa niya.


"Yes, bub! I got this! I will try, but please go to me agad..." I pouted at him. "I'm not comfy here without you yet ... and you know how I feel about ADMU boys..." I trail off.


"Yes, yes, I know, pero buksa mo naman ang isip mo. They aren't all bad ... I'm not bad." He shrugs and we part ways.



Pumunta na kami sa sari sariling mga silid. Iba ibang floor kada strand at sa 3rd floor ang HUMSS at ABM habang ang Arts and Design ay nasa 2nd floor kasama ang ilan mula sa STEM. The rest of the STEM sections were on the first floor. We first sat in alphabetical order of our last names. Siguro mga trenta yung estudyanteng nasa silid na pinasukan ko. Since my last name is Briones I'm seated at the second row, right beside the window. I think I'm gonna like this a lot.


"Hi, there! I'm Addison, but people call me Addie or Bueno. Either way, I think you'll make my head turn." The boy beside me introduced himself with a wink. I just looked at him with one eyebrow up. He had tousled dark chocolate brown hair. He had a quirky smile that showed one dimple on his left cheek. His eyes were very dark and serious though, and paired with thick dark chocolate brown eyebrows as well. He was tall, from the way he was seated beside me, I could tell. His arm was draping over the back of his seat and his uniform opened all the way, showing his black undershirt that had a graphic design on it. His slacks were kinda tight on some parts like his thighs and calfs and his shoes were shiny, they looked brand new.


"Don't fall for his flirtatious remark, he's just fooling around. Hi, I'm Taryn. You can call me Ryn say it as Rin not Ryan or something, Tar sounds a bit off kasi," she chuckled. "...my closest also call me Abs sometimes for Abao." The girl in-front of me leaned on the wall on our left and looked back to introduced herself to me. She had a really genuinely beautiful smile and her hair that ended just below her shoulder was straight like it was ironed but it was very shiny and healthy like it could be a virgin to any hair tools. She had gold rimmed glasses that suited her oval shaped face. Her eyes were perfectly parted. Her eyebrows not too thick to accentuate her glowing hazel eyes. She was being covered by her chair so I couldn't really see all of her just yet. But her torso was very evident as her uniform was kinda tight on the chest, and that's about how much I can see right now.


"I'm Reign." Is all I say and shake Ryn's hand and gave her a genuine tight lipped smile. I do a double take on Addie and decide not to give him any attention. I looked right back out the window and wait for our class coordinator.


"Hey! I'm gonna be your seat mate for the whole year! And maybe even next year! Hindi mo talaga ako papansinin?" Sabi ni Addie nung kinalabit niya ako sa balikat ko. Lumingon ako sa kanya at mukha namang mabuti ang kanyang intension.


"Sorry. I'm just nervous. Hi." I gave him a small smile and looked away again. In truth, I'm just very skeptical about meeting new friends here; like what I told Kean, especially Ateneo boys, they don't have a very good reputation on me. Si Kean at ang kapatid ko lang ang tanggap kong mabuting nilalang sa paaralan na ito.


"So, where are you from?" Biglang simula ni Ryn ng usapan. "Yang si Addie dito na yan mula kinder. Ah, magpinsan pala kami, kaya kilala ko na yan." Dugtong niya sa sinabi niya nung nakita niya ang pagkalito sa mukha ko.


Nagusap lang kami ng mga usual introductory topics when you meet new people. Nakilala ko sila ng kaunti at masaya akong inunahan na nila ako sa pagkakaibigan. May iba ring nakisali sa usapan namin pero malapit lang sa upuan ko. Yung iba tropa na pala ni Addie, he's popular daw, but not as known as Jireh. At sige, exception na siya doon sa mga may bad reputation sa akin na Atenista. Up until our coordinator came to introduce herself we were still talking. And when she left for the break tinanong na nila ako agad kung may plano ako o may iba akong kasama, ngunit bago ako makasagot nasa may pintuan na si Kean at hinahanap ako sa may harapan. Tinaas ko kamay ko para makita niya ako. Nung dumapo na ng tingin sa akin ang kanyang mga mata ngumiti siya at lumapit.


"Hey, you ready? Sa caf na lang tayo wala akong baon e." Sabi niya sa akin. "Sino sila ..." He trailed off when he saw my new friends looking at him with a smile.


"Ah, Si Taryn at Addison. Seat mates ko, bago ko na ring kaibigan. Kanina pa kami nag kukuwentuhan." Pinakilala ko sila sa kanya at kumaway naman sila sa isa't isa.


"Uy! Bueno! Ikaw pala yan!" Biglang umapir si Kean sa katabi ko.


"Oh! Mabs! Tagal natin di nagkita ah! Wala kang paramdam nung break!" sabi naman ni Addie sa kanya at tumayo na rin ito para makapag usap sila ng mas maayos.


"Magkakilala pala kayo? Since you transferred ba, bub?" Tanong ko kay Kean habang kinuhuha ang aking wallet sa bag.


"Yeah, naging magkaklase kami dati. Mga dalawang beses siguro 'tas ayon." Sagot niya sa akin. "Sobra naman yung walang paramdam! Naglaro kaya tayo nung minsan! Anyway, kamusta?Pababa na rin ba kayo?" Humarap ulit siya kay Addie at nangyaya.


"Ah, oo tatanongin dapat namin 'tong si Reign kung gusto sumabay baka walang kasama andiyan ka naman pala." Sabi nito ng may nakakalokong ngiti sa labi. Pinapanood lang kami ni Ryn magusap at naghahanda na ring tumayo.


"Oh, edi sabay sabay na tayo. Is that okay, bub?" Tinignan ko si Ryn at Addie pagkatapos ay tinanguan ako ni Kean na ayos lang. "Okay then, tara na?" tumayo na ako ng tuluyan at sumunod sa kanila sa paglabas ng aming silid.


Habang naglalakad naguusap si Addie at Kean, sinabihan niya na pinsan niya si Taryn. Kami namang dalawang babae ay nakasunod sa kanilang paglalakad at naguusap rin ng sarili namin. When we got to the cafeteria pinauna na ako ni Kean sa paghanap ng upuan. Siya na daw ang bibili ng snack ko. Para rin daw hindi kami maubusan. Sinamahan naman ako ni Ryn mag hanap. Si Addie na daw ang bibili para sa kanya.


"Ano kayo nung Kean na yon? Bakit may pa bub bub kayo jan ha!" Biglang tanong niya na may kasabay na siko sa braso ko at nakakalokong ngiti sa labi.


"What do you mean? There's nothing going on between us. We're best friends lang kaya." Nakakunot noo kong sagot sa kanya. Sanay na ako sa ganyang mga tanong tungkol sa amin. Nakakabighani rin namang isipin na sa tagal naming mag kakilala, magkaibigan lang kami. Pero wala talagang ibang namamagitan sa amin.


"Luh, best friends lang daw, sige, sabi mo..." She responded with sarcasm in her voice. She doesn't sound convinced at all. Bahala siya, think what she wants, we aren't anything more than friends.


Pagdating nila Kean at Addie na may dalang tray pinaupo muna namin sila ng maayos bago biglang nagbuka na naman ang bibig ni Taryn para tanungin ang parehong tanong niya sa akin kanina. Si Kean sa harap ko habang si Addie sa harap ni Ryn.


"Kean, ano kayo ni Reign? Sabi niya best friends lang daw kayo ... e para sayo? Best friends lang talaga kayo? Payag ka don?" Walang pasabing tanong ni Ryn. We've just met but I have come to the conclusion that she's a very outspoken person. She speaks her mind and her queries without hesitation at all. Wala naman masama sa tinanong niya, it's just too straight forward.


"Huh?" Kumunot noo ni Kean at tumingin sa akin. I shrugged and just open the mamon he bought me. "Ah, oo, pamilya na kami noh! Parang kababatang kapatid ko yan kung minsan! Kailangan laging may alaga o bantay amp!" Sagot nito bago sumobo sa mac and cheese na binili niya.


"Grabe ka naman sa laging kailangan ng alaga at bantay!" Bigla kong sumbat sa kanya.


"Oh, bakit! Hindi ba? Mali ba ako? Diba ..." He trailed off not wanting to expose me suddenly. Minataan ko rin kasi siya, mamaya madulas pa bibig nito eh!


"Hindi ka naman mali ... wala naman akong sinasabing mali ka ..." Di ko na dinugtungan ng sumbat yung sinabi ko. Tama naman siya, kailangan ko lagi ng bantay.


"I don't believe you. You both never had feelings for each other? Or kahit yung isa sa inyo wala man lang umamin ever?" Minataan kami ni Ryn ng salitan, kinikilatis mga galaw namin. Nagiiwas kami pareho ng mata sa isa't isa at sa magpinsan. Wala naman talaga kaming tinatagong damdamin sa isa't isa. I never saw him in a different way other than a brother or a best friend. We grew up together. I've seen everything and so has he to me. And masaya naman ako sa pagkakaibigan namin eh. I wouldn't change a thing.


"Seryoso. We've know each other for 16 years na kaya. We're literally siblings. If we date, that would be incest! Ew! Kadiri! Sobra!" He was in front of me and we eyed each other after he answered her.


"Sobra yung kadiri ah! Di naman ako dugyot para pandiiran mo ng ganyan!" Nakanguso na sabi ko. I leaned into my seat abruptly and slid a bit down making me slouch. Inirapan ko pa siya at tumingin sa paligid.


"Oh, sige sorry na! Di ka na dugyot, ikaw na pinakamaganda at pinakamalinis sa angkan natin. okay na? Subo oh! Wag na tampo sakin. Di kita iuuwi sige ka." He leaned closer to me and had a spoon full of mac and cheese in front of me as a peace offering. Lumapit ako na nakakunot pa rin ang noo pero sinubo ang binibigay niyang pagkain. Nangiti lang siya doon sa ginawa ko.


"Best friends lang daw, nako ..." Biglang bulong nung magpinsan.



Pagkatapos nung usapan na yon ay iba na ang pinagusapan namin. They asked more about the origin of our friendship and our family, we asked about theirs as well. Umingay na rin sa paligid namin kalaunan dahil padami ng padami ang tao. Nagmadali na kaming ubusin ang aming pagkain para may ibang makagamit nung upuan. We placed the trays back to where they got them then we went out of the cafeteria and headed to one of the grassy areas near our buildings. May mga upuan naman at lamesa na naka kalat sa garden, para siguro hindi siksikan sa caf pag break time, madami pa naman ang estudyante dito.


Pagkatapos ng break ay humiwalay na rin si Kean sa amin dahil sa taas pa ang silid niya, tumungo na rin kaming tatlo sa silid namin para hintayin ulit ang aming coordinator. She just talked about the subjects we would be taking and our requirements in each. She also talked about the grading system in each and who our teachers would be, she said we would meet them in the next days of this week, but no work was to be given yet. She then proceeded to talk about the events of this year. The major one for our batch being the Prom. I am looking forward to that the most as well.


And halata naman na na si Kean ang date ko doon. Hindi pwedeng hindi dahil magagalit ako at magagalit magulang namin. Hindi rin naman siya papayag na may ibang lalaking magsama sa akin sa gabing yon. Pareho kaming wala pang kasintahan kaya practice na rin daw namin ang isa't isa. He's a born gentleman, he is like his father in some ways, I don't know what he needs practice for. It should come natural to him, taking care of a lady, I mean.



Pagdating ng oras para mag tangghalian oras na rin iyon ng uwian. Half day lang kami kasi nga unang araw pa lamang at hindi pa kailangan magbilin ng gawain ang aming mga guro. Sumabay ako sa paglabas ng silid sa kanila Addie at Ryn. Sabay rin sila umuuwi pero magkaiba ang inuuwian kahit malapit lang rin sa isa't isa.


Naguusap lang sila sa tabi ko nang paglabas ko ay nasilayan ko ang banda ni Miguel lumabas sa kuwarto na katapat ng sa amin. Our building was shaped like a hollow rectangle because in the middle was a garden so the second and third floors had rooms on each side, the middle of the floors were nothing, literally there was a gap for the sun to go through the garden and for air circulation to be better. Kaya habang ako ay nasisilayan ko ang banda, hindi nila napapansin ang tingin ko o ng ibang mga tao. Para silang may sariling mundo naguusap usap habang naglalakad papunta sa hagdanan pababa naghahanda na rin sigurong umalis.


Nakatayo lang kami sa gilid ng pintuan ng silid namin naghihintay para kay Kean. Hindi daw nila ako iiwanan hangga't may kasama na ako. Yung isipan ko lumilipad sa kung saan, hindi nasasabayan ang usapan ng dalawa kong kaibigan.



"Bub, tara?" Doon lang ako napalingon nung narinig ko ang boses ng aking pinakamatalik na kaibigan. Nginitian ko lang siya at tinanguan. Umalis ako sa pagkakasandal ko sa pader at kakaway na dapat sa kanila Addie at Ryn ngunit nagsalita pa si Kean sa kanila.


"Gusto niyo sumabay sa amin kumain?" Biglang pagaya niya sa dalawang katabi ko. Nagtinginan sila at ngumiti bago tumingin ulit kay Kean.


"Sige ba! Saan muna ... wala kaming budget! Baka mas mahal pa yan sa gas money ko pre," Natatawang sagot ni Addie kay Kean.


"Ah, diyan lang sa Shakey's pre." Sagot naman nito. Tumingin siya sa akin at nakita ang pangangamba sa aking mukha. "Why, bub? Ayaw mo ba?" Kunot noong tanong niya sa akin.


"Si Matt, kasabay natin. Tapos may pupuntahan pa tayo paghatid sa kanya diba ..." I trailed off giving him a knowing look. Nakita ko ring ang mga nagtatakang mukha nung dalawa dahil sa pagbulong ko. Hindi naman sila kalayuan para hindi iyon marinig.


"Ah, kapatid mo ..." He trailed off as well and looked back at my new friends. "Okay lang ba sa inyo na kasama kapatid niya?" Tanong niya sa dalawa.


"Yeah dude, no problem at all. Ilang taon na ba siya?" Tanong ni Addie sa kanya. "Pero, parang may iba pa kayong pupuntahan, baka naman abala na kami sa inyo ..." He added careful with the words he used.


"Ah, 13 na yon. At ano, pwede naman pagkatapos kumain kami pumunta. Diba Reign? Kailangan muna kumain ..." He smiled at them then looked at me with an authoritative look. I breathed and just let him invite them.


"Sige na, tara na, daanan lang namin kapatid ko, mauna na kayo sa Shakey's para may pwesto na tayo. Save us three seats, thank you! See you guys!" With my final words we parted ways.



Kean and I headed to the grade school campus to pick up my brother. Medyo natagalan lang siya dahil nakipaglaro pa sa mga kaibigan, ngunit nung sinabi ko na kakain sa labas ay sumama na 'to agad sa amin. Then we went back to the parking to ride in Kean's car. It took us about 10 minutes or so to go across the street. Malaki ang Ateneo kaya mahirap lumabas dito lalo na pag dismissal, sabay sabay lahat ng sasakyan kaya sa loob kami natagalan. When we got there we did spot Taryn in a booth somewhere in the middle. Wala si Addie sa tabi niya kaya naisip ko na baka naghahanap ito ng parking katulad ni Kean. Paglapit namin binati agad ng babae ang aking nakababatang kapatid.