Eighteen

Chapter 01

Bags vibrated as they zipped shut, shoes ticked against the tiles, and voices chirped on what to do right after stepping out of the four-cornered room that had kept us all the hours of today. Throwing on the sling of my handbag, I stood up, ready to leave just like anyone else. Dalawang mukhang nabahiran ng malalaking ngisi ang lumapit kung sa'n ako nakatayo, hindi pa man ako nakakaalis.

"'Cami, tomorrow, don't forget talaga or else . . .," the woman whose hair ran a soft wave of brown, said. It was her 18th birthday tomorrow, and this marked the 17th time she'd reminded me of it today, like I'd contracted a disease that made me easily forget about things; it may as well be the other way around.

Pagod akong ngumiti. It was supposed to appear sarcastic, but my sarcasm was worn out today, too. "Yes, Catherine, and I'm certain you'll still remind me of this later."

The other woman, Hide, with the same Cheshire grin, clung onto my free arm. As if they functioned on one brain cell, Catherine threw both her hands on my bag. Both their weight were adding up to the pull of gravity on me – plus the lethargy and all – that I found it hard progressing in my steps. Flailing my arms, they were forced to unlatch from me. Our classmates walked past us, bidding us good-bye. Ang mga lalaking patungo sa pinto, diniribol at shinoot ang bolang gawa ng imahinasyon nila. Ang iba nakipag-apir sa hamba ng pinto na para bang ginawang tradisyon na 'yon.

"Susunduin ka ng kuya mo?" tanong ni Hide habang papalapit kami sa pintuan.

"Oo. Sasabay ka?" biro ko. Kumunot ang ilong niya, iniisip na siguro kung ano ang magiging sitwasyon kung sakali mang pumayag siya.

Like she could. Romantic feelings could seriously make even the strongest soldier question their resolve.

Not sure if she had further plans about her feelings or she would just let it sit there and burn until it smoldered, its ember thinning out and flying somewhere, a place where memories dulled until they were forgotten. Kasi kung may plano siyang ligawan ang kuya ko para maging sila, malabong mangyari 'yon dahil palagi na lang siyang nagtatago sa anino ng taong gusto niya. Or maybe she was just looking for that 'perfect' time.

Well, if anything, I couldn't be opinionated about it. It was her own personal feelings to settle, and until she was still happy, giddy, about all this 'crush' stuff, then I, as her friend, wouldn't get in her way. Kung masaktan man siya, narito lang naman kami ni Catherine para aluin siya. Heartbreak is a part of this process called 'love' . . . or I was none the wiser. I was not a love expert. That brings up my second point why I wouldn't want to be part of any of this – because I wasn't one to preach about romanticism. And in my 18 years of existence, I'd never thought of it as an integral puzzle piece of my humanity, romantic love that is.

"Gusto kong sumabay, pero baka makahalata," the strongest soldier in question, said.

Reaching the threshold, my eyes trailed the corrugated columns strung along the hallway, one of which a man in white shirt and black slacks, whose pockets ate up both his hands, was leaning against. Mahinang kumurap-kurap ang mga mata niyang wala sa hulog, nakatingin lang sa sahig, pagod. Even if he was my brother, I sometimes would confuse this expression of his with either genuine lethargy or ennui. He'd always regarded the world with his dull eyes, like no one or nothing could ever make him appreciate this Earth like how he had used to with his dirty white – due to his refusal to send it to dry cleaning – shabby teddy bear he had as a kid.

Pero mabait si Kuya kung hindi siya snob madalas. Gano'n siguro ang tipo ni Hide.

Naramdaman ko ang paninigas ng kaibigan ko sa likod ko dahil hindi kami kasya sa isang pinto. Hindi pa man niya natatawid ang linya na naghahati sa silid-aralan at maaligamgam na hangin sa labas, nahanap na kaagad ng mga mata niya si Kuya Cailien.