He Was My Umbrella

04

"You better take care of my van," I said calmly. I couldn't afford to plant anger to the guy, I barely knew him. Besides, crush ko naman s'ya. I tried to be mature and looked at both sides of the story. All of the things he did to me were all accidents. He was kind, I saw it in his eyes. So, it was impossibly intentional.

I realized that we haven't introduced ourselves to each other. The fact that he called me 'Miss' when I got hit by the ball made me laugh. I guess I was the one who he was unfamiliar with, not the other way around. I only got alot of people approaching me and becoming my friends their parents knew my dad.

"You alright?" Kuya Matt tapped my shoulder. He must've noticed that I was quiet.

"Yeah, you?"

"Never better. Talk to you later," he went back with talking to Kuya Kent, another member of the SC.

The venue was still the gymnasium. A few people were already fixing tarpaulins, party curtains and then the booths.

"Cheska! Hoy! 'Wag kang lalayo sa akin, ha! Wala kang kilala dito," sinermonan ko siya.

"Eh! Kay Frances na lang ako sasama!"

"Mang-aagaw ng kaibigan?"

"Tinawag na gago 'yung crush?" Ugh! She used that card against me again!

I rolled my eyes and went to fix the booths. I wasn't assigned to any booth since I was already occupied with the dance performance. Tumulong na lang din ako sa designing kasi wala rin naman akong gagawin. Nakita ko sina Cheska nandoon sa Arts and Music booth. Wow, e 'di kayo na 'yung close. Ewan ko ba, ang social rin kasi ni Cheska.

She was enthusiastic that's why we became best friends. Naalala ko pa dati, kahit iisa na lang 'yung hotdog niya, hinati niya pa kasi kinulang ako sa ulam. Kahit na minsan conyo siya, masaya talaga siya kasama. Cheska serves as my motivation. I always look forward on spending the day with her. Alam niya na kahit tina-trashtalk ko siya sa harap niya, alam niya namang sarcastic lang 'yon. Basta ang alam ko, if ever man na matapos ang pagkakaibigan namin, hindi ako ang tumapos.

Matapos ko siyang titigan ng matagal, umiwas na ako ng tingin dahil lumapit sina Kuya Ren sa kanila para magtanong kay Frances tungkol sa mga banner. Tinuloy ko na lamang ang ginagawa ko para matapos na agad.

Matagal-tagal din ang pag-aayos sa isang booth, inaabot ng 30 minutes o higit pa. Matapos noon, meryenda time na. Kumuha lang ako ng softdrinks at isang burger. Nakita kong bukas ang pintuan doon sa may top row kaya naman doon ako pumunta. May pintuan na papuntang rooftop doon sa taas kaya naman mas pinili kong pumunta doon. Binuksan ko iyon at nalasap ang sariwang hangin. Ang ganda ng sunset.

A nice sunset will lead to a good evening.

It was a mixture of pink and blue with a dash of yellow. The clouds were as fluffy as cotton candies. The sun was just peaking through the clouds. It was peaceful, indeed.

I sat down on the ground, admiring the the sky. I felt someone sit down beside me but I couldn't see who it was because I closed my eyes.

"I always liked sunsets."

"So do I."

"Renzo," he offered me his hand.

"Adi." I took his hand and shook it. Oh my, it was soft. After I let go, I stared at him. His face getting hit by the sunlight, his eyes reflecting the sun's shine, it was wonderful. He was wonderful.

"Why? Is there dirt?" he wiped his face.

I giggled by his actions. "Nothing, you just look handsome," I was so embarrassed but I didn't want to make it awkward so I just gave him a warm smile.

"Your eyes," he looked me deeply. "They're pretty."

I blushed at his words. Yes, many people complimented my eyes. Pero pag nanggaling 'yun sa taong hinahangaan mo din, iba ang pakiramdam. 

"Thank you."

"Adi! Ren! Baba na daw!" sigaw sa amin ni Kuya Matt na hinihingal pa. "Pahirapan pa kayo tawagin, e!"

Kuya Renzo raised both of his eyebrows, asking if we should go. I just nodded. He helped me get up and then nag pag-pag lang kami ng kamay. Bumaba na kami doon sa gymnasium and nakitang nag pe-prepare na silang umalis. 

"Huh? Aalis na?" Naguguluhang tanong ko. Ang aga pa ah! At hindi pa tapos ang mga booths!

"Oo, pupunta tayo sa park! 4 pa lang naman, e! Tara na!" Sigaw ng malakas ni Cheska dahil nasa top row pa ako. Dali-dali akong bumaba kasi lumabas na sila. 

"SHIT!" Nadulas ako! I missed two steps because I was in a hurry. 

"Gago, Adi!" Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Kuya Renzo ang braso ko para hindi na ako dumausdos lalo. "Shit, okay ka lang?!" Napansin niya sigurong hawak ko ang likod ko. 

Nagmamadaling umakyat sina Kuya Matt at Kuya Kent para alalayan ako. "Anong nangyari?!" tanong ni Kuya Kent. 

"Kumayod 'yung likod ko sa hagdan, pucha." I hissed because it was so painful. 

"Pasan," lumuhod ng patalikod si Kuya Renzo sa harap ko. Agad naman akong pumasan sa kanya dahil hindi ko na talaga kayang tumayo at lumakad pa. Pinagaan ko na lang ang sarili ko para hindi na mahirapan si Kuya Renzo. 

Nakasakay na kami sa van at papunta na ng park. Doon ako nakahiga sa pinakalikod na seat para maraming space. 

"Ang dami mong injuries lately, ah," sumandal si Icah sa may bintana ng van. "Himala rin, hindi naman ganyan kabait si Kuya Ren."

"I'll avoid him muna. Pansin ko lang kasi na parang gustong-gusto ko siya maka close. I don't want my simple 'crush' to grow. Mahirap na. Lalo na't mas matanda siya sa akin. Okay na siguro 'yung magkakilala lang," I sighed heavily. But what I said was true. I didn't want it to grow. 

"I feel like na nadala ka na kay Noah." 

"Heh, talaga. Grabe rin 'yon, 'no? I gave my all to him. I was already at my lowest pero inintindi ko pa din siya. I helped him with academics. And yet, when it was my turn to seek help, he wasn't there. I liked him, so much. More than I have never liked anyone else. He was once the standard, but I guess I dug deeper and it reveals his true self. I don't regret breaking that friendship. Letting go was like going to the surface and breathing air after a long time underwater." 

Icah just looked at me plainly. I remember how happy she was when I said that I already broke I and Noah's friendship. 

We met on the first day of classes, he was a transferee. We grew close since I wanted it to. I liked him so much. Like I said, he was the standard. Was. I always make the first move but we became best friends. And then I found out that he had a girlfriend. What hurts the most is that it was my friend. After that, I became distant to both of them. And then after a few months, hindi ko na siya gusto, and it was a relief. Tapos nung isang beses humingi ako ng tulong sa kanya, sabi niya bakit daw hindi ko alam? Tapos pinagmasdan ko kung paanong lalapit lang siya pag may hindi siya maintindihan. I ended our friendship after the school year na kasi alam kong I can't get rid of him if I see him everyday at school. Tapos binlock ko siya sa lahat ng social media accounts ko. I literally cut all of our connections. Then ang saya-saya ko nung nalaman kong he left for Dubai. Tapos ayun, hindi ko na siya nakita since then. 

Eto lang ang masasabi ko sa 8-month friendship namin, 

He didn't deserve me. He needed me more than I ever needed him. 

*****