Sailing Close to the Wind

SCW 23

"Sobrang stressful ng grade 12 sis!"

I chuckle while looking at Vien, who's throwing a fit. Naiiyak na siya habang nagsosolve ng math. Nasa canteen kasi kami at we're about to have lunch. Inaantay ko lang si Gahala na bumili ng ulam namin kasama si Lamore.

"Bakit pa kasi ako nag-STEM eh bobo naman ako sa math?" maiyak-iyak na sambit niya, saka trinay magsolve ulit pero wala siyang masulat.

"Ayoko na nga!" iritang sambit niya saka tinapon ang ballpen sa mesa at inis na humalukipkip. Dolly and Kala just laughed at her.

"Hindi mo sinolve?" kunot-noong tanong ni Lamore nang bumalik sila.

Here's a revised version of the text for better grammar, clarity, and flow:

I look up at Gahala when he plants a kiss on my head and sits beside me. May nabili na siyang ulam para sa amin. He opens our lunch box and arranges it.

"Trinay kong isolve, okay! Pakiramdam ko mali yung question," lusot ni Vien matapos nilang magsagutan ni Lamore because of a goddamn negative 2.

Lamore frowned, "Kakaturo ko lang nito sa 'yo kanina."

I look at Gahala when he held my hand underneath the table. I feel giddy in my seat, especially when he intertwined our fingers.

He looked at me when he noticed me staring. I frowned at him when he flicked my forehead, but it quickly disappeared and was replaced with a small smile when he tightened his grip on my hand.

Gano'n lang kami buong kainan. Ang ingay-ingay ng table namin dahil nag-uusap pa si Dolly at Kala dahil sa crush nila, and Vien and Lamore were still arguing about Math. Napapahilamos na lang ako ng mukha. Tapos ang magaling kong jowa, imbes na umawat, ginagatungan pa.

"May practice ulit kayo?" tanong ko kay Gahala habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa room. 

"Yeah, ihahatid lang kita," he smiled and messed up my hair.

"Ang daya," reklamo ko. Two weeks na kasi siyang nagprapractice sa room ni Sir Anniversaro for the upcoming debate niya with the Salles. Laging bakante yung katabi kong upuan.

Natawa siya saka ngumuso, kinikilig na naman. "Bakit? Miss mo 'ko?"

"Hmm," I just hummed and didn't answer him.

"May practice ka din sa journalism?" he asked when we stopped in front of our classroom.

I nodded at him. "Yeah, mamayang 3 pa."

Tumango lang siya bilang pagsang-ayon saka may inisip. "Date tayo sa Sabado?"

Napantig kaagad ang tenga ko. "Where?"

"Sa bahay lang," he shrugged.

"Sige," I giggled.

He chuckled and stared at my face for a few seconds before bidding his goodbye. Mamayang hapon na naman kami magkikita. Napabusangot tuloy ako habang papasok ng room. Noong 3 p.m. ay pinatawag kami para magpractice sa journalism. 

"Tiexiera, nak. Come here."

Napatigil ako sa pagsulat saka napatingala kay Sir na tinawag ako. Tumayo ako saka lumapit sa kaniya. "Yes sir?"

"Pwedeng pakitawag muna, nak, si Ma'am Aposaga sa kwarto ni Sir Anniversaro? Tell her we're going to talk about important matters."

"Sure po, Sir," I answered immediately after hearing the name of Gahala's coach.

I felt excited while heading there. Inaayos-ayos ko pa ng kaunti ang mukha ko bago umakyat sa kabilang floor ng building.

Papalapit pa lang ako, rinig na rinig ko na ang boses ng boyfriend ko. I stopped behind the door and peeked inside through  the window.