Collide / [Park Jay]

31

I had trouble sleeping last night but surprisingly, I still manage to wake up earlier than expected. Maaga rin kasi akong papasok ngayon for some voluntary work sa club namin. They say this month is going to be a very busy month for us so I'm slowly preparing myself for that.

"Hello?" I answered a phone call.

"Papunta ka na? Nandito na ako." Jiro said. Palabas pa lang ako ng building at tingin ko naman ay hindi pa ako late sa napag-usapan naming oras.

"Really? Aga mo, ah." Sagot ko.

"Nakakahiya naman kung mauuna ka pa sa akin, 'di ba?" Mabilis niyang sinabi na tinawanan ko lang.

Jiro is still talking about something when I suddenly get stunned by a pair of eyes looking at my way. Hindi ko na naunawaan ang mga sinasabi niya kaya nama'y nagpaalam na muna ako. I can feel my smile fading as I ended the call.

"You're early." Bungad ni Jay. Nakasandal siya sa waiting shed at mukhang kanina pa siya naghihintay ng masasakyan.

I looked at him for a while. Hindi pa siya nakasuot ng uniform kaya sigurado ako na hindi pa siya papuntang school ngayon. I wonder where he's heading this early.

"Yeah.." Tipid kong sagot at naglakad na palapit sa kanya. Naupo na rin muna ako habang wala pang bus na dumadaan.

"Got plans?" He asked.

"May pinapagawa lang sa club." Napansin ko agad ang pagkunot ng noo niya sa narinig.

"Hindi ba ako kasali?" Sabi pa niya.

"Ask Jiro. Siya lang ang nag-invite sa akin, eh." I told him. Hindi agad siya nakapagsalita doon at tiningnan lang ako na para bang may nasabi akong mali.

While looking at him, flashbacks of what happened yesterday came to me again. It was eventually settled but I don't know why am I still thinking about it until now. Ang dami kong gustong itanong sa kanya but at the same time, I don't want to cross boundaries. Ang mahalaga, nakapag-usap sila ni Nari agad. At mukha rin namang ayos na siya. I guess, I should just stop worrying about things that I'm not even part of.

"Baka ikaw lang ang kailangan noong Jiro na 'yon kaya hindi ako sinabihan." He murmured while looking away.

"I don't think so. Tatanungin ko na lang siya mamaya." Tugon ko.

"H'wag na. Baka makaabala pa, eh." Tipid niyang sinabi habang sinusundan ng tingin ang mga nagdadaang sasakyan.

When I can finally see a bus coming, tumayo na ako at naghanda na sa pag-alis. Doon pa lang niya ako nilingon ulit. Is he acting up?

"Do we have the same route?" Hindi ko napigilang itanong.

"I'm waiting for my driver." Mabilis naman niyang sagot.

I just nodded before getting in the bus. Nang nakaupo na ako'y nilingon ko ulit siya na ngayon ay nakatingin pa rin pala sa akin. I just waved my hand a little since I didn't properly say goodbye. I can tell that he's a bit flustered of what I did. Mabuti na lang at umandar na rin ang bus pagkatapos noon.

Pagdating ko sa school ay dumiretso agad ako sa broadcasting room. Naabutan ko na doon ang ilang club leaders namin, including Jiro na abala na sa kanyang ginagawa. I helped him in making announcement for our school's online community regarding the upcoming events this month. Actually, halos natapos na nga niya 'yon at kaunti lang ang naitulong ko.

"Thanks for helping me, Yerim. Akala ko talaga hindi ka magre-reply last night since sobrang late na noong nag-text ako." Jiro said while closing his laptop.

"What do you mean? I only helped a little." Sagot ko, bahagyang natatawa. "Next time, you can give me harder tasks para naman hindi unfair sa'yo." Dagdag ko pa.

Mauuna na sana ako sa paglabas nang bigla niya akong pinigilan. Sabi niya, magsabay na raw kami dahil may pupuntahan rin siya sa building namin. I just let him because he looks sincere. Noon ay medyo naiilang pa ako sa kanya pero ngayon ay parang unti-unti nang nawawala iyon. I eventually realized that he's a nice person, too.

"Did you also ask Jay for help?" Tanong ko, tinutukoy ang ginawa namin this morning for our club.

"No." He said and laughed a bit. "I don't think he'd come so hindi ko na siya inaya." Dugtong pa niya.

"Oh, okay. But it would be nice if you can invite him as well next time. Kahit hindi siya magpunta.." Komento ko.

"I will. Sorry.." He nodded and smiled.

We had to part ways since I'm already in front of our classroom. Sa third floor pa yata ang pakay niya kaya maiiwan ko na siya doon. Nagpaalam na rin ako bago tuluyang pumasok sa klase namin.

I saw my friends standing beside my seat, probably waiting for me. From the way they look, I can already tell that I have so much to explain to them.

"Girl, ano 'yon?" Hana immediately asked me. Hindi ko pa naibababa ang bag ko, sinalubong na niya agad ako ng tanong.

"What do you mean?" I asked back. She was glaring behind me so I already knew.

"Ah, si Jiro? Scripwriter namin 'yon sa club. I had to help him with stuff." Mahinahon kong sagot bago pa sila mag-isip ng kung ano.

"Really? Eh, kanina pa nandito si Jay. He's also part of your club, right?" Si Sunhee naman ang nagtanong noon.

I sighed as I look at them. Makahulugan silang nakangiti sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung papaano 'yon ie-explain sa kanila.

"Si Jay... busy siya." Sagot ko na lang.

Magsasalita pa sana sila pero biglang natigilan ang lahat dahil sa pumasok. The air suddenly becomes quiet and I wonder why. Doon pa lang ako lumingon. And there, I saw Nari walking towards Jay. Lahat ay nakatingin lang sa kanila, tila nakikiramdam lang.

Mayamaya ay tumayo si Jay at naglakad palabas ng room. Sinundan naman siya ni Nari agad. They didn't look tensed or what. Siguro ay may pag-uusapan lang ulit.

"Mabuti naman at okay na sila." Almost everyone in the room commented.

Being the newest in class, it seems like I'm the only one who really can't relate to what's happening now. Parang sanay na sila sa ganoong eksena habang ako'y naninibago pa rin.

Well, what matters is that everything's okay between Jay and Nari. I think that's what everyone wants, too.