Collide / [Park Jay]

21

"You asked for Jay's number but didn't text him?" Hana told me when I entered the room. Medyo hinihingal pa ako dahil akala ko'y male-late ako. The traffic was a bit bad on my way here.

"Huh?" Nagtataka kong sabi.

"Sabi ko, why did you ask for Jay's number when you're not gonna text him? Maarte pa naman 'yon." Paliwanag niya sa akin.

"Oh.. paano naman niya nalaman na hiningi ko ang number niya?" Tanong ko ulit habang binababa ang bag ko.

"Sorry na! I just wanna know lang naman kung anong sinabi mo sa kanya so I asked him kanina. He just told me na wala siyang nare-receive na text from you!" Natatawa niyang sabi. I almost jumped off my seat.

"What? Hana!" Reklamo ko. "Why would you ask him that?" I frowned.

"Sorry na nga!" Humalakhak pa siya doon.

Jay then entered the room and behind him, there's Nari. She's gulping on her iced coffee early in the morning. Naabutan niya akong nakatingin sa kanya kaya ngumiti siya saglit at nag-iwas rin agad ng tingin. We only had a casual interaction recently because Sunhee introduced us to each other. After that, halos nagbabatian na lang kami kapag nagkakasalubong. Well, as much as I want to get close to her, I can't. Feel ko kasi ibang level 'yong vibe niya. Given that she's very pretty, too.

"Nakatingin sa'yo." I was scanning through my planner when Hana whispered something to me.

"Hmm?" I said, partly confused.

"Si Jay." Mas mariin niyang bulong. I don't know if she's kidding but also, I don't want to turn around to see that she's not.

"Oh, why?" Sabi ko kahit na may ideya na ako kung bakit.

"Wala. Hindi na nakatingin." Sabi niya. I immediately turned around, thinking that Hana was being serious about it. But then, after seeing a pair of eyes still looking intently at me, mabilis rin akong umiwas doon.

"Hana!" I frowned. Nakakahiya.

"Hey, friends! What's happening here?" Usisa ni Sunhee na ngayon ay kadarating lang. Halos hindi pa niya naibababa ang bag niya, dumiretso agad siya sa amin.

Hana explained what's going on and they both giggled beside me.

"Tungkol lang 'yon sa club namin. Nothing serious." I explained my side of the story. Parang hindi pa sila naniwala doon at pinagpatuloy ang panunukso sa akin sa hindi malamang dahilan.

The teacher came so they went back to their seats, thankfully. Hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin ko sa dalawang 'yon. Kapag nagkaisa sila sa isang bagay, hindi na sila mapipigilan. It's adorable, though.. but not when it's about things like this. Not when Jay is around. Siguro ay ayaw ko lang na may ma-misunderstand siya sa mga reaksyon nila. It's kind of a big deal because I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable with me.

No, but really, I just asked for his number because of our club. Jiro, our scriptwriter, has been messaging me a lot recently. Obviously, about our tasks. Dahil nga magka-section naman kami ni Jay, hinayaan nila kaming paghatian ang isang gawain doon. I was about to text him last night because I want to ask what part of the task he prefers to do. Kung anong mapili niya, iyon ang ibibigay ko sa kanya. Kung anong hindi, iyon ang magiging parte ko. Iyon nga lang, it's a bit late and I have to submit it right away so I decided to do it all. I-inform ko na lang siguro si Jay if I'll have the chance to talk to him later.

Kaso nag-dismissal na't lahat, hindi ko pa rin siya nakausap. I tried, though. But I couldn't find the right timing because he was always with Nari..

"May club meeting kami kaya mauna na kayo!" Hana said before parting ways with us. Si Sunhee na lang ang nakasabay ko paglabas ng campus pero nauna na rin siyang umalis dahil naghihintay na ang driver niya doon.

Naupo muna ako sa waiting shed habang wala pang bus. I looked at my planner to see what I need to do before going to work. May mga activities pala kami na kailangan na i-submit this week at kaunti pa lang ang nasisimulan ko doon. I then crossed out those that I already finished.

Nang may tumigil na bus ay nagmamadali na akong sumakay doon. Marami pa akong gagawin kaya kailangang makauwi ako agad. The bus looks too crowded, probably because it's rush hour. Wala akong makitang bakanteng upuan sa unahan kaya naglakad pa ako sa dulo. Nang walang mahanap ay napagdesisyunan ko na lang na tumayo muna hanggang sa may bumabang pasahero sa susunod na bus stop.

"Hoy.. dito ka na." Someone then towered beside me. Una ko agad napansin ang name patch sa kanyang uniform kaya hindi ko pa man siya lubos na naaaninag ay kilala ko na. "I mean, take my seat." Jay added as he slightly looked away. Hindi na rin talaga ako nagugulat na bigla ko na lang siyang makikita out of nowhere.

"Oh.. t-thanks." Nag-aalangan kong sinabi, hindi na nagawang tumanggi.

Saglit ko siyang tinanaw ulit habang nakatayo lang sa tabi ko. He's holding on the bus handle, maintaining his balance. I noticed how he's tall enough to block the rays of the sun that's coming my way a while ago. Somehow, it feels comfortable.

All of a sudden, random thoughts came to me. I didn't think about getting to know him that much but because of what I heard recently about him, I'm now a bit curious. Saan kaya siya pupunta ngayon? Well, if he rides the same route as me, that means he's going somewhere near my place again. I heard he's supposed to attend his private classes, pero hindi naman siya doon nagpupunta. Wala rin naman akong ideya tungkol doon dahil sa convenience store lang kami madalas magkita.

I sighed at the back of my head. Why do I feel so bothered about it? I feel like I'm keeping a secret that even I have no idea about.

"Can you move a bit?" Mayamaya ay narinig kong sabi niya. Masyado yatang malalim ang iniisip ko kaya hindi ko iyon naintindihan agad.

"Of course. Sorry.." I said as I move quickly, making myself sit beside the window. Bumaba na pala ang kanina kong katabi doon kaya nabakante na.

Jay immediately sat beside me. I watched him as he removes his necktie off, probably because it's making him uncomfortable. Mayamaya ay napansin niya sigurong pinagmamasdan ko siya kaya nilingon niya ako, nakakunot pa ang noo.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Diretso niyang tanong. I feel like he's not going to accept it if I say that I don't have.

"Uh.. well, yeah." I tried to sound calm when our eyes met.

"What is it?" He asked like he's in a hurry. Para bang kanina pa niya hinihintay iyon.

"Alam mo na naman, eh." Bungad ko, medyo nag-aalangan pa.

"Alin?" His lips pursed.

"About me asking for your number. You already knew, right?" Pagklaro ko doon. Iyon rin naman ang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya simula pa kanina kaya lang ay nawalan ako ng pagkakataon. "I'm sorry if I asked for your number without your permission. May itatanong lang kasi sana ako. Pero okay na naman. I figured it out eventually kaya hindi ko na tinuloy." I smiled awkwardly.

"And what do you want to ask?" Kalmado niyang tanong.

"Nothing serious. Tungkol lang sa club." Sagot ko.

"Oh.. I thought it's about what I told you last night." Marahan niyang sabi at nag-iwas ng tingin. I heard him sigh for whatever reason.

He told me not to tell anyone that I'm seeing him near my place. His reason? I don't know. Wala naman siyang sinabi bukod doon. I was also too stunned to even say anything. Pagkatapos naman noon ay pumasok na rin ako agad sa building namin dahil baka maabutan ako ng curfew. Ni hindi ko na nga maalala kung nakapagpaalam ba ako sa kanya ng maayos.

"Hmm.. I don't know what's going on but you don't have to worry. I don't have many friends to begin with. Wala rin naman akong kakilala bukod sa mga kaklase natin kaya wala akong mapagsasabihan tungkol doon." I said calmly. Pakiramdam ko naman ay naunawaan niya iyon.

For sure, he has his reasons and I should respect that. Even though Jay looks intimidating most of the time, I can still see that he's wise. He surely won't do things that will put him in harm.

"Just don't break my trust. I'm counting on you." He said in a heartbeat.