Once Upon A Time

Chapter 3

"HOY XYKZ ASHER! Bakit nakatulala ka diyan ha?"

Nabigla ako ng sumigaw si Vien sa tenga ko.

I'm currently sitting here on one of the shed that we call balay tulun-an since we don't have any classes anymore and I'm trying to memorize my speech for the program. We're just waiting for the it which will be held at the Ampitheater of the school on March 13,2019.

It's April 29 today and it's Wednesday.  2 weeks before the program.

"I'm trying to memorize my speech Prinsesa."

"Bongga ka talaga Ash, di talaga kita keri OMG! Proud ako sayo beshiwaps! Pero anong Prinsesa ka diyan, ang weird kapag galing sayo hanuba!"

She's being carefree as usual but I haven't confirmed the rumor that has been circulating in the school that she has a suitor. I wanna ask her but I'm too afraid of the answer. Maybe, I'll just wait for her story.

"By the way, why are you here? Don't you have anything to do?"

"Nakita kita dito eh so nilapitan kita pero speaking of gagawin, aalis muna ako. Pupunta pa ko ng office eh. May ipapass akong article. So, babush! See you when I see you anim!"

She's really one of the social butterflies in our school. I saw her waved at the students in the other balay tulun-an. Nakipagusap pa siya sa kanila, Vien na Vien talaga.

I continued what I am doing since I'm a bit nervous about this speech. I don't wanna boast but I got an average of 98 that's why I'll be the one to deliver the speech of our batch. I'm very honored to do this and I know my parents will be proud too and I wanna impress Vien of course.

When lunch time came, pumunta akong canteen  para kumain. Sobrang daming tao pero I don't really care as long as hindi nila ako pinakekealaman.

I fall in line so I can buy food and find a seat. Sinusubukan kong maghanap ng mauupuan sa likod na parte ng canteen para iwas sa ingay pero iba yung nakita ko.

I saw Vien together with the Filipino Publication Staffers but what bothered me the most is the one seated right next to her.

I've asked one of my classmate about that guy nung nakita namin siya habang may ginawa sa room and I found out that his name is Faxx Jaxith Melendez, a grade 11 HUMSS student and also a consistent honor student. Nalaman ko din na mahilig din siyang sumayaw at nasa Filipino publication din. Buti hindi nahalata ng kaklase ko na interesado akong malaman kung sino nga ba yung lalaking yun.

Gusto kong magselos.

Mali, nagseselos pala ako.

Pero what can I do? We're just friends, bestfriends to be exact.

I was pulled back to reality when Manang ask me of my order.

"Isang Abudo este Adobo manang at isang kanin. Padagdag na din ng isang bottled water. Salamat"

"55 lahat iho. Yan lang ba? Baka gusto mong itry yung tart namin iho. Masarap to panghimagas."

Wala ako sa sarili kaya napapayag akong bumili ng sinasabi ni Manang na tart. Ibinigay ko nalang yung dala dala kong 100 pesos.

Pumunta agad ako sa nakita kong pandalawahang mesa na bakante. Kitang kita mula dito sa pwesto ko sila Vien. They're laughing while talking and eating at the same time.

I can see that Faxx guy trying to assist Vien in every possible way and that pisses me off big time. Parang gusto kong pumunta sa mesa nila at hatakin palayo si Vien mula sa lalaking yun pero what will the reason be?

I'll put our friendship into vain if I do that and that will be the least thing I'll do in this lifetime. I value our friendship very much that I'll do everything to make sure na walang makakasira nito even my own feelings.

Dahil sa kagustuhan kong makaalis agad, binilisan ko ang pagkain at pilit na kinakalimutan kung ano man yung nangyayari ngunit hindi ko napansin na may umupo pala sa harapan ko.

"Attracted ka ba kay Vien, Xykz?"

Hindi na ko nabigla na kilala niya ko since STE student din siya base sa uniform niya na merong vest compared sa uniform ng mga babaeng regular students. Magkabatch pa nga ata kami nito.

"Paano mo nasabe?"

"Ang pilosopo mo din no?"

"I don't know why you are approaching me pero sorry to burst your bubble, wala ako sa mood eh. Maybe some other time."

"Wala ka sa mood kasi may kasamang iba si Vien? Yun yung reason diba?"

I look at her with disbelief.

"We're just friends and I have a lot in mind kaya wala ako sa mood."

"Ows? True ba?"

"Definitely yes. Stop asking questions will you?"

"Totoo nga na suplado ka. Hindi naman na nakakapagtaka pero bakit kay Vien hindi ka naman ganyan?"

"Why are you so curious? Magkababata kami kaya natural lang yun na close ako at comfortable sa kanya."

I answered her with a matter-fact-tone kasi naiinis na ko sa pagiging palatanong niya.

I continued eating my lunch without minding the girl in front of me which is busy mumbling something while eating.

"Don't you know that talking while eating is a lack of manners?"

She just raised her brows and continue what she was doing even though I'm not interested with her.

Binilisan ko pa ang pagkain para makaalis na agad dahil mas nadagdagan yung inis ko dahil sa babaeng kaharap ko. Niligpit ko agad yung pinagkainan ko para itapon sa basurahan.

Hindi ko namalayan na tapos naman na din kumain yung babae kaya sa kamalas-malasang pagkakataon, sumabay pa siya sakin palabas.

"Saan punta mo pagkatapos neto Xykz? Mamayang 3pm pa naman yung practice sa Amphitheater diba?"

"Why are you asking? Umalis ka na please lang. I need peace of mind. Kapag hindi ko nakabisado agad yung speech ko, isusumbong kita kay Ma'am Salvacion."

I can see the horror in her face. I understand her. That teacher was good and acts like a mother but when she's mad then we're doomed.

"Anyways, I'm Wynn Diaz, Newton. Sa uulitin Xykz. Charot! Tandaan mo pangalan ko ah? Malay mo future mo pala ako!"

She ran to Building Q, which is the building designated for STE program students pero kaming Grade 10 Einstein eh nasa Laboratory building. Separate siya from the Building Q which is somewhat okay naman kasi we're free to create noise kasi walang katabing room except the Grade 7 council office.

Dahil naalala kong nandoon pa sila Vien sa loob ng canteen, lumingon ako sa kinaroroonan nila and to my shock nakatingin din siya sakin.

I can sense na nagiba yung aura niya. Maingay parin sa table nila kasi todo kwento yung mga kasamahan nila but she's somewhat serious right now. Minsan lang siya maging ganyan kaya ngumiti ako sa kanya.

Di ko alam kung guni-guni ko lang kanina na nakatingin siya sakin or hindi kasi after kong ngumiti she just looked away, walang ngiting isinukli.

~