Another day at school, kasama ko si Cheska sa cafeteria.
"So ano nga? You're gonna distance yourself na naman. Then magiging marupok ka na naman then mamaya-maya, you'll see him tapos you're gonna hug him again?" Tanong niya.
Kinuwento ko kasi sa kanya 'yung mga nangyari kahapon. 'Di ko na talaga nagugustuhan ang mga ginagawa ko. I have to say, I am not a woman of my words. Hindi ko kayang pangatawanan 'yung mga sinasabi ko.
"Wait, I also told myself na I'll distance myself after the socializing! So now's the time. But the problem is, I feel like he already sees me as a friend. Ba't ko ba kasi siya niyakap?" Napahilamos na lang ako sa sarili ko.
"Hay nako, you can figure that out naman! What if, deretsahin mo na siya? Kaso how? How will you say na you don't like to be friends na. Para namang ang sama mong human," napahilamos na rin siya.
"Kaya nga, e," napatungo na lang ako. Tumingala ulit ako kasi may naisip ako. "What if I just be casual? Kakausapin ko lang siya kapag kakausapin niya ako. I'll never make the first move and I'll say po to him like I used to do nung hindi ko pa siya friend?" Napatingin ako kay Cheska.
"That actually a good idea kamo," she looked so shocked. "That's right! Just be casual! Don't act like close friends!"
"I'm so smar-"
I was cut off by Kuya Ry.
"Why didn't you attend the foundation day?" He looked kinda pissed.
"Because I don't want to? Why, hindi ba natuloy dahil hindi ako pumunta?" I asked him, sarcastically.
"Bakit nga?" He asked again, looking more pissed.
"May inasikaso akong iba." Palusot ko kahit wala naman talaga akong ginawa maghapon, nagkasakit pa ako.
"Mas importante pa sa foundation day?" He asked again.
"Yes." Deretsang sagot ko.
I picked up my lunchbox and proceeded to class, taking Cheska with me. Grabe, ba't ganun si Kuya Ry? Ano ba'ng ginawa ko sa kaniya? Total red flag.
"Why was he like that kaya?" Cheska asked me.
"How should I know? Ba't ko ba naging crush 'yon?" I scoffed. When we entered the classroom, we went straight to our seats, not minding anyone. I had many friends but this wasn't the time to interact. I'm pissed for a reason I do not know. Nababaliw na ata ako.
Class ended within 1 hour. It was just a topic discussion, no seatworks. While walking towards the next classroom, I kept sighing and sighing. Cheska seemed to notice it so she asked.
"You okay? It's already your 11th sigh," hinaplos niya ang likod ko. "Want to go to the clinic?"
"No, thanks. Bad mood lang talaga ako." I walked faster. She still caught up, though.
After 2 more classes, the school day finally ended. Sumabay ako kay Cheska pauwi since wala na akong balak pumunta sa library at wala rin akong pupuntahan.
Pagkadating ko sa bahay, dumeretso ako sa kwarto ko at nagbihis lang. I continued doing my pending homeworks that were released last Saturday. Naka shuffle na naman ang playlist ko dahil gusto ko talaga 'yung iba-iba ang genre ng music.
A few minutes into my listening, here comes a line that made me stop what I was doing.
"You said if we had been closer in age maybe it would have been fine.
And that made me want to die." I screamed that line of All Too Well (10 minute version) by Taylor Swift.
I felt that.
Talagang nawala ako sa focus dahil doon.
"Potek naman oh." I sighed heavily.
Ang hirap naman ng may iniisip. After noon, talagang gumawa lang ako ng assignments hanggang sa mag gabi na.
Pahikab-hikab na ako kaya naman tinigil ko na ang ginagawa ko at humiga na sa kama ko. Inaantok na ako kaya naman pumikit na rin ako.
"Adi," kumatok-katok si Daddy.
"Oh?"
"Sama ka?"
"Saan?"
"Roadtrip. U-belt tas sa park. 10 PM pa lang, oh!" Inalog-along ako ni Daddy.
"Sige na nga! Labas ka, bibihis lang ako." Kahit natatamad akong bumangon, I was craving for a roadtrip din kasi! I changed into a light-blue hoodie, gray sweatpants and tsaka nag medyas ako at nag white Crocs na lang. It was such a mood. Before going out, I took my phone, powerbank and earbuds and put it inside my pocket. I put on my hood before leaving the room and I sprayed perfume kahit kami lang naman dalawa ni Daddy ang magkasama. Lumabas na kami at nahikab-hikab pa ako. Nakita kong nakabukas na ang makina ng van kaya doon ako pumunta.
"You said if we had been closer in age maybe it would have been fin- GAGO!" Kumanta-kanta pa ako bago buksan ang pinto.
"Hi, ACS!" Sigaw ni Icah.
Nandito sila. Frances, Icah, Rai, Ate Rach at... Kuya Ren.
"Hey, Adi!" Bati ni Ate Rach.
"Hi, Ate Adi!" Bati din ni Rai.
"Hi, guys! Anong meron, ba't kasama kayo?"
"Well, your grades are doing well, and I wanted to surprise you since I noticed that you seemed close with your church friends. So, nagpaalam ako sa mga parents nila para isama sila rito," sabi ni Daddy.
Nangyayari ba talaga 'to? Hindi ba kakasabi ko lang na lalayo muna ako sa isang 'to?!
I went inside and nasa window seat ako ng first row dahil doon na lang ang bakante. Katabi talaga siya. BWISET!
"Excuse me, Kuya," nakaharang kasi ang legs niya. Agad niya naman 'tong tinanggal at umupo na ako. May space pa sa harap kaya naman nagtanggal ako ng Crocs at itinaas ko ang mga paa ko. I felt so comfy dahil may unan pa ako! Hay, this is the life.
Umandar na kami at sinubukan kong matulog. Pumikit ako habang nag pa-play ang radio ng playlists ng OPM songs.
Pinagpatuloy ko ang proseso ng pagtulog at nagising ang diwa ko nang tumugtog ang isang kantang hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan.
"'Di naman siya sobrang gwapo," kumanta ako habang nakatingin sa bintana.
"Ngunit ako ang type na type mo," itinuloy ni Kuya Ren ang kanta habang nakatingin sa harapan.
What the fu-
*****
BINABASA MO ANG
He Was My Umbrella
RomanceAdi, a jolly, enthusiastic, and smart girl. She moved into her dad's hometown when her parents separated. Little did she know that there's a quiet, Mr. Suplado but nice, and good-looking Renzo that will welcome her in a subdivision that she isn't fa...
