Only Us

Chapter 3

JIA

Yesterday has been pretty much a blur. My emotions have been a roller coaster ride lately. Happy, sad, lonely then back again. I know I shouldn't feel this way because I have a boyfriend. And mabait naman sya. He's actually quite respectful and courteous, for a man. Believe me ang daming mayayabang and bastos na mga lalake sa school pero not Miguel. Siguro that's a few of the reasons why I agreed to be his girlfriend. He will be leaving for the States soon for vacation and he wanted us daw to bond kahit fast lang. He will pick me up daw in school so I told him to get me na lang sa BEG para di na sya masyadong umikot.

I went to the BEG to wait for him and saw a familiar car parked outside. A black Mercedez Benz SUV na mukhang ilang araw nang hindi nakatikim ng carwash. Hindi ko na tiningnan yung plate number. I knew it was Bea's. Mga ilang araw na rin nung last naming pagkikita. Actually after that hectc week after the championship and there was a lull in training, bihira na kami magkita ng mga teammates ko. Nagkabusy na rin kasi dahil sa finals and deadlines sa school.

Bakit kaya sya nandito? I went to look for her to say hi. I went up to the University Athletics Office baka andun sya, pero wala. Wala naman sya sa court. Hmm san kaya pumunta itong batang to. I went on to check sa study hall. But of all places parang impossible na andun si Bea. Di yun masyado gumagawa ng schoolworks sa school eh. Starbucks kid yun or sa bahay nila. But as I opened the door sa study hall, there she was, looking serious as she fiddled with her laptop. Mukhang mej kararating nya lang kasi inilalabas pa nya notes nya from her bag, at yung iba nahuhulog pa sa sahig. Bea talaga, messy kid forever.

Di muna ako lumapit kasi di naman sya lumingon. I placed my things sa desk and observed her. Then I got a text from Miguel. It read

"Will be a little late Ji, but I'm on my way. Dumaan lang ako kay Dad sa office. Sorry ha. Btw, Ji, we'll leave pala much earlier for the States. Para daw mw maximize ang time. Sorry short notice lang. Hope it's ok."

After reading it di ko namalayang tumulo na pala yung mga luha from my eyes. Hindi dahil sa aalis na sya kaagad pero feeling ko kasi ang chill lang niya tungkol sa mga bagay na ganyan.We've planned to bond for a few days kasi weeks syang mawawala, then he'll inform me lang with a text message. As if kaya ng emotions ko mag adapt ng mabilis. May hope it's ok pa sya.

I got my laptop from my bag since I needed to charge it naman. The nearest socket is the one near Bea. So lumapit ako at naki plug. Di pa rin tumitingin tong si De Leon. Masyadong seryoso yata. Sige na nga ako nang papansin.

Me: Bei, andito ka pala. Akala ko vacation mode ka na Ms. De Leon?

Bea: (still facing her laptop) Hi, Ji. Vacation? Ang labo nga eh sa dami ng deadlines.

Wow ha di man lang tumingin. Siguro busy nga masyado. I turned to leave then bigla nyang inangat yung ulo nya.

Bea: Have you been crying Ji? What's wrong?

Me: (Hay nakita pa kong umiiyak, Sagot Jia, Bilis) Ah, wala ito. Kasi sii Miguel...

Tapos nagshift na yung emotions ni Bea. From being focused sa ginagawa nya, biglang tumayo at nag react na nang kung anu-ano. Di ko na maalala yung exchange namin nun basta yung tumatak sakin, hinawakan nya kamay ko at sinabi:

Bea: Don't be sad Ji. Im here naman to keep you company eh.

Then she hugged me. Lalo akong naiyak sa yakap nya. Di nya alam kung gaano ako napa secure ng yakap nya. I feel comfortable being inside her arms. Ang soft pa nang paghawak at yakap nya sakin. Parang in that moment, walang maaring manakit sakin kasi andun si Bea. Bakit kaya ganito pakiramdam ko sa yakap nya? The more I got teary, lalo pa nya hinahagod likod ko to comfort me. Then nag ring yung phone nya. Di sya umalis sa yakap niya, din nya pinapansin. So, I told her to answer it. Parang she mumbled something then went out to answer it.

Ako naman naiwan sa loob ng room. Inaamoy ko yung damit ko na nadaplisan na ng pabango ni Bea. Sobrang bango nya. Soft lang and musky. Yung parang malinis na hindi matapang sa ilong. Ang sarap siguro pag lagi syang nakayakap. Bigla naman ako natauhan nung nagtext si Miguel na ready na raw ako kasi malapit na sya. I quickly fixed my things and looked for a notepad to tell her I needed to go. Pero wala akong mahanap. I saw her laptop then decided na dun na lang. I typed my note quickly. Baka magalit kasi si Migs if matagalan ako. Then I went out the door. I saw her sa farthest end ng alley na nakikipagusap sa phone. Di ko na lang siya tinawag and I went down the stairs na.

Nung dumating na ako sa pick-up area, wala pa dun si Miguel. So I waited na lang. Tapos after a while may naririnig akong footsteps na tumatakbo patungo sakin. Wala na akong time maka lingon. Ang bilis ng pagtakbo nya hanggang naramdaman kong may yumakap sakin mula sa likod. Amoy at yakap pa lang, I knew it was Bea. Medyo shocked pa nga ako kasi I didn't realize na naka tayo lang ako na parang statue. She then whispered in my ear "I'm gonna miss you, Ji." Nung sinabi nya yun biglang may kuryenteng dumaloy sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung pati sya nakaramdam nun. Pinikit ko mga mata ko and leaned back on her shoulder while hugging her arms back.

Bea: Ji,ma...ma...

Then I heard Miguel's car honk towards us.

Bea: Mag-ingat ka Ji.

Sobrang soft nung pagsabi nyang yun. I got out of the hug to face her. Ang sweet ni Bea. Gusto ko pa syang i-hug ulit but then I heard Miguel going out of the car. He kissed me sa cheek, got my things and pinaupo na ako inside. I didn't have the chance to say anythinng pa to Bea. Tinignan ko lang sya. NAka tingin sya sa sakin at fina-follow yung direction ng car habang papaalis. That was when I realized na nakangiti ako na parang tanga. I looked back sa side mirror and saw her smiiling as well.

Hindi naman nagsalita si Miguel. He drove silently lang. Pero malamang nakita nya na ngumingiti ako. Di naman sya nag tanong bakit. Siguro he thinks dahil magkasama na kami. I smile din when I'm with him. Pero bakit mas naiiba ang nararamdaman kong ngiti na bigay ni Bea.