Bits of Chemistry | ✓

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24

"Etienne," I called while he's busy on his laptop. Hindi n'ya agad ako nilingon.

"Etienne," ulit ko at hinatak nang bahagya ang kan'yang sleeves.

"Po?" Etienne asked, hindi pa rin inaalis ang mga mata sa kan'yang laptop.

I pursed my lips because I know why he's busy. It was our immersion week. Ibig sabihin ay malapit na kami matapos sa senior high school. We're about to go to college. Kinakabahan nga ako dahil sa totoo lang ay parang naglaro lang kami sa senior highschool. I didn't even really experience hardships during the semesters. Tuwing hell week lang siguro dahil kahinaan ko ang math.

"Susunduin mo ba ako pagkatapos mo sa immersion?" humilig ako sa kan'yang balikat. He stiffened but his shoulders gradually relaxed.

"Yeah," he said and kissed the side of my head. "Kakain ba tayo sa labas o magluluto ako?"

"Can you cook lasagna for me?" Ngumuso ako sa kan'ya. "Ayaw nila ako lutuan sa bahay."

"Okay," Etienne ruffled my hair as he playfully held my chin to make me look at him. "Lavyu."

Our routine was just like the other couples. We'll eat together, go on dates and awkwardly learn new things as our relationship progresses. My whole grade twelve wasn't even focused on finishing my year with flying colors, it was about Etienne. And I don't mind because I think I was able to redeem myself from my past mistakes through this.

Kinabukasan sa school ay halos nagliligpit na sila ng mga gamit. Our school year was about to end already, gano'n lang kabilis ang mga pangyayari. Kapag kasi natapos na ang immersion namin ay tapos na rin talaga ang mga gawain — completion na lang ng mga requirements namin sa ibang mga subjects.

"Itutuloy mo pa ba ang pagiging doctor?" Cara asked me. Isa sa mga kaklase ko ngayong grade 12. She was one of the closest classmates I have. Hindi man kami sobrang nagkakasama ay madalas kaming seatmate o di kaya'y groupmate.

Napalingon naman ako sa kan'ya. "Oo naman. Ikaw ba?"

Cara smiled at me sadly and shook her head. "Hindi na e."

I don't know why it pinched my heart to pieces. Isa siya sa mga matatalino sa klase namin at scholar pa nga siya sa pagkakatanda ko.

"Bakit?"

"Hindi kaya e." Cara chuckled, to mask the crack on her voice. "Magtatrabaho muna siguro ako saka na ako maga-aral kapag nakaluwag kami ni Mama at Ate."

"Is Tita still doing laundry?"

Tumango naman siya sa akin. "Marami namang nagpapalaba kaso may edad na si Mama e. At saka mas dapat makapagtapos si Ate. Nakakahiya naman kung ipipilit ko 'yong gusto ko, hindi naman talaga namin kakayanin 'yong med school."

The biggest slap that senior highschool can give you is knowing that your dream as a child is easily attained by others while it is too far from your reach. Kahit tumakbo ka patungo sa pangarap mo, may mas mabilis pa rin sa 'yo kahit naglalakad lang sila. It was the cruel truth that others tend to hide by saying you can be anything with proper hard work. Although hard work is helpful — you can't deny the power of influence and money when it comes to an easy path to success.

"P'wede ka mag-scholar?" I advised.

Kumulimlim ang kan'yang mga mata at marahan na bumuntonghininga. "P'wede naman kaso nakakahiya kasi talaga kay Mama. Mag-isa na lang n'ya ako'ng tinataguyod. Si Ate naman tumutulong pero hindi pa rin sapat e, estudyante pa rin siya tulad ko."