Hindi ako makatulog dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon. It left me in awe and amusement. No one ever said like that to me before. Merong nagparamdam, pero hanggang doon lang. Walang naglakas-loob para kausapin ako unlike Xave na araw-araw ay nandyan para sirain ang araw ko. I suddenly felt scared. I don't know. Hindi ako nakaramdam ng saya o kilig dahil doon. Maybe because I see him as my mortal enemy or at least a friend. Never ko naman tinanggal ang possibility na maging magkaibigan kami.
But I'm pretty sure I have no feelings for him. We can't just love someone and reciprocate our feelings that easily whenever they say something that makes our hearts flutter and gives butterflies to our stomach. At least, that is what it is for me.
Bumaba ako upang kumuha ng tubig sa kusina nang makitang bukas pa ang ilaw nito. I saw my Mom putting cold compress to her head. Agad akong pumunta sakanya at kinuha ito upang ako na ang gumawa.
"What happened, Ma? Nauntog ka ba? Sino may gawa nyan?", sunod-sunod kong tanong. Umiling ito sakin bago ngumiti at kunin ang tela na may nakalagay na yelo.
Pinagmasdan ko siya. "Why are you still awake, Astral? May problema ba? Hindi ka makatulog?", mahinahong tanong niya. Hindi ako sumagot. Nanatili akong tahimik, naghihintay na sagutin niya ang tanong ko kanina.
She sighed, almost tired. "Nauntog ako kanina, anak. You're little brother and I played in his room, ayaw kasing matulog kahit anong kwentong gawin ko kaya pinagbigyan ko na. You know him, nasobrahan sa pagkakulit at kung saan-saan pumunta.", natatawang kwento niya.
She's lying.
Tumango nalang ako. "Kaya ka po ba nauntog, Ma? Next time, don't play with Aino especially at night. You need to rest also, Ma!" I scolded her.
Tumango-tango lang ito habang natatawa. Hindi ako mapakali pero wala naman akong magagawa. Kumuha ako ng tubig at dahan-dahang ininom ito. I saw my Mom looking at me, smiling from ear to ear.
'Why do people loves to stare at me while smiling?' Weird.
Hinarap ko si Mama at nginusuan. "Ma, do you think there's something wrong with me? Your smile makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't feel at ease at all" ,prangka kong sabi dito na ikinangiti niya lang. Tumawa ito ng malakas.
' Why does my mother's laughter sound so precious? '
"Dalaga ka na, Astral! I would'nt mind if one of these days, may lalaki nang sumusundo sayo!" She pinched my cheeks before kissing it. "Matulog ka na, anak. Good night, my shining star."
I kissed her in the cheeks before hugging her. She's my safest haven.
"Good night, Ma."
----
Medyo late na ako nagising kaya naman binilisan ko nalang ang kilos ko para makasabay ako kay Dad. Pagdating ko sa school ay halos magkasabay lang kaming pumunta ni Ma'am sa room,buti nalang at nauna ako sakanya ng kaunting minuto. Dumiretso na ako sa upuan ko at inilagay ang gamit ko.
"Good morning, Astral!", lumayo ako ng kaunti dahil ang lapit na naman niya sa akin. I looked at him and he smiled at me. I rolled my eyes.
' May possibility kayang mapunit ang mukha niya kung every time na titingin siya sa akin ay sobra-sobra ang ngiti niya?'
"Morning", I simply replied. Kita ko ang pagpigil niya ng kanyang ngiti. Binalewala ko lang ito dahil nagsisimula nang magturo si Ma'am.
Nilabas ko ang aking notebook para sa subject niya at nagsimula nang mag jot down. Hindi pa man kami college pero ang turing ni Ma'am sa amin ay parang ganun. Hindi uso sakanya ang manila paper o kahit power point man lang. Madalas ay nagsasalita lang siya sa gitna at paminsan-minsan ay nagsusulat sa white board pero halos hindi din naman namin maintindihan. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano kami nakakapasa sa subject niya.
"Now, let's focus to customers needs and wants. One of the most significant aspects of product marketing is needs. It is the desire for a product or service by the customer. Specific benefits must be provided by the product or service in order to meet functional or emotional needs. It is the thing we must have to survive. Naiintindihan po ba?"
"Yes, Ma'am" ,we answered in unison. Ngumiti lang ito samin ng saglit bago magpatuloy muli.
I looked at my seatmate who is busy taking down his notes. Xave is a smart guy. He's the top in our class and he came from the first section ever since Grade 7. Grade 10 lang kasi ako nakasama sa star section. I had always been in the second section kaya nga nagtataka ako kung bakit ako napunta ako sa star section noong grade 10 kami. I always remember how my girl classmates used to keep mentioning his name every time we had free time. He was like the talk of the town or more like 'crush ng bayan'.
"You're staring at me again, Astral." Agad akong bumalik sa pagsusulat ko at umaktong walang narinig but I saw how his lips formed a smile.
Itinuon ko ulit ang atensyon ko sa lesson namin.
" Wants, on the other hand, are higher-level human wants that are more emotionally appealing. These are social wants for acceptance, and the potential for increased social fulfillment is boundless. These are the things we desire but not for survival." I jot down the important words as she continue talking. "So, for your assignment, please give an example of things you need and want, understand? And also, please explain briefly and concisely the word goals and objectives ,for our next topic tomorrow."
"Copy, Ma'am" ,some of my classmates answered. Pinatayo na kami ni Ma'am upang bigyan siya ng proper goodbye. Umupo din naman ako kaagad habang ang iba ay lumabas saglit habang hinihintay ang teacher namin para sa next subject.
"Astral" , lumingon ako kay Xave ng bigla niya akong tawagin. He rested the left side of his face on his left palm while looking at me. "Can I put your name as an example in needs? Since you're one of the persons I need to survive in this world."
I kept a straight face. "Shame. That's not how it works, Xave. Stop doing that! Hindi nakakatuwa!", sambit ko rito.
" But that's how it works for me, Astral. You can't change that."
"Maybe you still don't know what need and want means, Xave. Nalilito ka lang." Tumalikod ako sakanya at hindi na siya nilingon pa.
*-*
YOU ARE READING
RAINDROPS FALL
Novela JuvenilAstral Zacera used to think that Xavier Vinares was the storm that she didn't want to let in, no matter what. But little did she know, she was the torrential rainfall that would destroy the man's harmonious life.
