The Seat We Sit On (HFS #1)

seat #12

"Ma'am, I have a new suggestion. I suggest you select partners based on the first letter of the name itself."

Our teacher halts, and tilts her head as if she's processing on her mind what Rico has said. Dumaan ang mabining katahimikan sa kanila. Rico swallowed. Ma'am Lauchenco's eyebrows met.

"New suggestion indeed but why do I need to change the partners again, Mr. Alvarez?" nagtatakang tanong ni Ma'am Lauchenco.

So, I heard it right. He scratches his nape. The way his knuckles clench while his fingers come in contact with his skin, I couldn't help but think that he's hesitating. For what reason? I don't know either.

"Uhm...para ano..."

Damn!

His audacity sucks.

Gone was the Rico full of conviction and assurance. My palms are closed while waiting for his justifications.

"Para...para maiba naman po."

Napapikit ako sa palyadong sagot na lumabas. He's not himself today; well, it's not that I know him too well but being his schoolmate for four years, I know he won't spit such nonsensical word without purpose when it comes to anything academic.

"Nevermind, Ma'am," he shakes his head.

Akmang tatalikod na siya nang biglang pumalakpak si Mrs. Lauchenco.

"Oo nga 'no? I wanna consider your idea, Mr. Alvarez. I might see a new set of teamwork, hmm."

Nakapangalumbaba na ang guro at sinimulan nang burahin ang kung anong isinulat sa listahan ng mga pangalan. Napaawang ang mga labi ko nang makita ang munting ngisi sa mukha ni Rico bago siya bumalik sa likuran.

When Mrs. Lauchenco commences to announce the pairs, I couldn't settle on my seat. My knees are wobbling in extreme anticipation. Hinihila ko nang mahigpit ang palda dahil kahit ang mga palad ay pinagpapawisan nang matindi!

Something is forbidding me to calm down because even when I already exhaled a dozen times, nothing's changing. Sumandal na lamang ako sa inuupuan at pasimpleng tumingin sa likuran. Nakanguso ako nang makita ang posisyon niya. Ganoon pa rin, kuyom ang kamao sa ilalim ng baba habang nakatitig siya sa kawalan. Dahan-dahan kong ibinalik ang tingin sa harap.

Ma'am Lauchenco starts to call the names by pair. Labis-labis ang pagtahip ng aking dibdib habang hinihintay ang pangalan ko. Sino kaya'ng makakapareha ko?

The fact that only the two of us have the same first letter, which is F, makes me anticipate in every second that passes by.

"Dylan Lim and Erich Juarez."

Sumibol agad ang mga panunudyo sa dalawa. Ang babae ay nakangiwi habang ang isa nama'y namumula na ang tainga. I can see a glimpse of disgust on my classmate's face while the nerdy boy from section A just bows his head down.

"Next!"

Napasandal ako sa inuupuan. Ayaw kong mag-aasume pero obvious na talaga, e.

"Frederico Alvarez and Freesia Mandeville."

Hindi na ako nagulat doon. Kaso, ang karamihan, oo, lalo na sa mga kaklase ni Rico. Nagtikhiman ang aking mga kaklase, karamihan ay mga lalaking nakangisi. Hindi naman kasi lingid sa kanilang kaalaman na may crush daw ako kay Rico noon, at kaya nga raw ako napunta sa section na ito dahil basted raw ako.

Umirap ako kay Joaquin na siyang nagpakalat noon na patay na patay daw ako kay Rico. Ngayon ay ngising-ngisi pa siya sa gilid. Gago!

Sinabi ko rati na nasaktan ako sa mga nasabi ni Rico tungkol sa piyesa ko. They just smirked and assumed. That's why I don't like sharing secrets anymore. Most of the time, they will misunderstand. They may promise not to tell it to anyone but there'll be the time that they're gonna spit it randomly or purposely just to have a topic for their animated conversations. Ang masama pa, it is not going to be the exact one you told them before. It will always be either of the two: may dagdag o may kulang.
After all, we also tend to put our own perspective when it comes to telling a story. But the thing is, I'm not signing up for that.