SECTION 4 : The Hidden Section

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 17.

TOGETHER, we watch the sun goes down. We were all silent but it was calming. Hindi ko alam kung paano kami nakarating dito basta ang alam ko lang is pumasok ako ng kotse then as we drove out the way we are laughing and joking.

We watch the sunset together. Even we just met two months ago, at wala masyadong memories na nagawa, aside from inside the campus. I can say that their's nothing wrong being with this guys.

They're fun to be with. And a lot more solid to be with, solid not liquid. Hindi katulad sa loob ng main campus na puro ka-plastikan, except sa dalawa kong kaibigan, inside the main campus students there just want to be friends with you just to know your weakness. Weakness, kung papaano ka matatalo so they can bring their self up.

Isang araw bago ako tuluyang umakyat ng second floor ay may nahagip ang mga mata ko ng isang kumpol ng estudyante sa gilid ng building na animo'y may sinisilip sa second floor. E, hindi naman nila makikita yun kasi nga nasa second floor.

Dumbs.

Nung nakita ako ng isa sakanila ay tinuro ako nito kaya napalingon ang iba pa saakin. I was taken a back when they suddenly run away. Ang akala ko'y lalapitan ako ng mga ito.

Assumera.

I just shrugged it off. Don't care about them.

“Putangina naman nito!” malutong na mura ang bumungad sakin pagkapasok palang ng classroom nila.

Umirap ako ng makitang nag-aambaan na naman ng suntok si theus saka drenei.

Lumapit ako sakanila saka pinanghahampas ng librong hawak.

“Aray! Puta sino 'yon? Gusto mo mamatay?” sigaw ni theus habang nakayuko at hawak ang ulo.

“Kung magsusuntokan kayo sa labas nyo gawin. 'Wag dito”

“Labs naman. Baka biglang mag flat yung ulo ko dahil sa lakas ng hampas mo”si drenei.

I rolled my eyes on him. I was about to say a word when someone put his arms around my shoulder.

“Men. Gusto mong sumama?” ang nakangiting mukha ni fourth ang bumungad sakin.

Sinilip nito ang mukha ko ng umiwas ako ng tingin. Sobrang lapit ng mukha nya kaya tinulak ko ito palayo. Humagalpak sya ng tawa.

“Namumula ka men”natatawang puna nya.

I touched my cheek using the back of my hand. I can feel it, it's hot.

“Kasi ang init dito! Nilalagay mo pa yang arms mo sa shoulder ko” inirapan ko sya.

He give me that weh-palusot-mo look. Hindi ko sya pinansin at dumeretso na sa black board.

I was busy writing our topic for today when drienie came running to me.

“What?” kunot noong tanong ko.

Pinakita nya sakin ang phone nya “Sayawin natin 'to labs?”

Hinawi ko ang kamay nyang may hawak ng cellphone “Don't have time for that” I lazily said.

“Hala. Ang killjoy mo naman labs. Isang vid lang”

“No”

“Sige na!”

“No”

“Tatlo tayo nila fourth, easy lang to. Pa chill-chill dance lang”

Mabilis ko syang hinarap ng sabihin nya iyon.

“Nung sinabi ko sa inyo na sumali sa dance competition, hindi kayo pumayag. Now, you're the one who's talking about dancing and I refuse, sasabihan mo ako ng killjoy” I seriously said to him.

Naibaba nya ang kamay na may hawak na phone. I saw guilt passed in his eyes before looking away.

Pansin ko ring tumahimik ang buong classroom.

I didn't meant to say that...though, it's half true.

“Sorry” aniya.

Nabasag lamang ang mabigat na tensyon ng tumawa ng malakas si fourth bago tumayo at inakbayan si drenei.

“Tayo nalang ang sumayaw. Ano ba yan? Turuan mo kami ni matt” pandadamay nito kay matt na nanahimik sa gilid.

Mukhang napansin ata nito na may tumitingin sakanya kaya tinaas nito ang ulo mula sa pagkadukduk sa lamesa.

Inalis nito ang earphone sa tenga bago nagsalita.

“What?”

Napakamot nalang ng ulo si drenie bago sya kinuha ni theus mula kay fourth.

Ramdam ko ang tingin ni fourth sakin pero hindi ko na sya nilingon pa.

It was already six in the evening when I decided to let them go home. Isa-isa silang umalis sa room, drenie was hesitant to go. Mukhang may gusto pang sabihin but decided not to voice it out.

I'm currently busy gathering my things when I felt someone's presence outside the door. Nilingon ko ito at nakita si fourth sa labas ng nakabukas na pintuan.

Hindi ko sya pinansin at bumalik na sa ginagawa.

“I understand what you felt about the dance competition, eya. Pero sana hindi mo sinabi kay drenie 'yon, hindi lang sya ang may ayaw sumali. Lahat kami”

I finished gathering and clearing my things, nalagpasan ko na sya when he spoke again.

“I'm sorry”

I stopped on my track pero hindi ko sya nilingon. We remain facing each others back.

“Why are you saying sorry? It's not your fault”

“Hmm... I just feel like it. In behalf of the whole section i guess. We didn't considered your feelings, I understand if you're somehow mad at us. Drenie–”

“It's not your fault. There's no one at fault. I'm not mad also. It's just a bad day, fourth. There's no hard feelings. Hindi ako ganun ka-kitid mag-isip para magalit sa isang dance competition lang” I calmly said.

It's true. Ewan ko kung bakit nasabi at na isip ko iyon kanina. Pinagsisihan ko rin naman agad.

“Yes, ofcourse. Si eya ka, e. Matalino ka at malawak ang pang-unawa sa katulad namin”

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya. Nilingon ko ito at bahagyang nagulat ng makitang nakatingin pala ito sakin. He got that warm smile on his face while looking at me.

“What do you mean by that?”

Umiling sya at yumuko ng saglit bago tumingin ulit sakin.

“Hindi mo sinagot ang tanong ko kanina”

Mas lalo akong nagulahan sa sinabi nya ngayon.

Mukhang napansin nito ang lito sa mukha ko, so he explained.

“Kanina tinanong kita kung sasama kaba?”

“Saan naman?”

“Pupunta kaming baguio bukas. Buong section, maganda sana kung kasama ka. Parte ka na rin ng section e. The dudes are expecting you” aniya.

Maybe it's because it's already dark. And the hallways are empty, only the both of us are still here with our low voice conversation. It feels soothing to me.

“Pag iisipan ko” nasabi ko nalang.

Tumango sya ng isang beses bago tumalikod. Kailangan ko lang magpa alam kay mommy saka daddy. But I'm sure mommy will understand naman but dad— I'm sure mom can convince him. Mamaya nalang ako magpapaalam but now...

Fourth is meter away from me when I called him.

Tumakbo ako pa lapit sakanya kaya napatingin ito sakin. He got that relief face when I saw he faced me.

“Sige. Sasama ako. Pero hatid mo muna ako pauwi” I smiled at him, and he smiled back at me before he nodded.