I Want You To Know

01

I have won a position in SSG last elections, and it will be my first time capturing IDs of late students.

"Late na po, sorry po mangunguha na po kami ng IDs." Sabi ng president.

"IDs po ninyo. Makukuha niyo po mamaya sa prefect of discipline. Pero after the program pa po." Sabi naman ng PIO.

I was busy collecting the IDs of late students, then I saw her. A girl approaching the gate who is as lovely as a porcelain doll. Her long, smooth hair danced in the wind.

My breath hitched, heart pounded like it's gonna come out my rib cage.

Nang makalapit siya, inayos ko ang sarili ko.

"Hala, bakit na late ka? Hindi ka naman usually late ah." I said.

"Ah eh... May needed pa kasing ayusin sa bahay eh." Sabi niya at inabot ang ID niya sa akin.

"Sa prefect of discipline mo makukuha mamaya. After the program pa." Sabi ko habang isinusuot sa braso ko ang lanyard ng kanyang ID. "Maki linya ka na muna dito."

She went at the back of the line.

Because of a program, I had plenty of time to adore her. What an amazing view. What a wonderful time. Not because I liked that she was late, but because I could see her.

Break time, I was at the canteen eating arrozcaldo. I saw her being her jolly self talking with her cousin Sabrina. She's showing something to Sabrina and her cousin is just laughing at her.

What a cute ball of sunshine.

Early dismissal kami ngayon and we decided to swim. Sa Dream Garden Hotel and Resort nila naisipang mag swimming.

"Hello!" Bati ni mama sa amin.

"Hello po tita!" Masayang bati ni Brooklyn.

"Kayo lang na lima?" Tanong ni mama.

"Hindi po ma, susunod sila Shannon."

Okay.

Nag swimming na kami. Ilang minuto ang lumipas, nakita ko si Jez kasama si Sabrina papalusong sa isang parte ng pool.

"Ganda rin talaga ni Jezreel ano?" Sabi ni Jepoy.

"Hoy!"

Halos mapatalon ako sa ginawa ni Shannon. Tinignan niya ang tinitignan ko and she started teasing me.

"You know, if you like her, go tell her." Sabi niya.

"You think he can?" Stephen, her twin brother said while chuckling.

"Oh, yeah..." Shannon nodded.

"Coward."

"I'm not."

"Oh come on, you are."

They continued teasing me.

Seconds later, tumatakbong pumunta sa amin si Shannon. 

"Si Jezreel, nadulas sa labas ng banyo! No, scratch that. Pinatid!" 

"What do you mean?" Tanong ko

"Umiral nanaman ka demonyohan ng kaibigan niyo." Shannon said, obviously referring to Brooklyn.

Dali dali kaming nag tungo sa kung nasaan sila.

There, I saw Jezreel, trying to get up.

"Oh my God! Are you okay?" Brooklyn asked her.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Tanong ko to which she nodded. I looked at Brooklyn. "What did you do?" Madiin kong tanong. 

"Hind-"

"Let's go. May sugat kamay mo. Gamutin natin." Hindi ko na pinatapos ang sinasabi ni Brooklyn at inalalayan ko na si Jezreel papaupo sa sun lounger. 

Agad namang tumakbo si Sabrina palapit sa amin.

"Hala. Anong nangyari?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"Nadulas sa labas ng banyo." Shannon answered her.

I looked at her hand na may gasgas at kasalukuyang dumudugo.

"Sorry about that." Sabi ko habang inaasikaso ang sugat niya na malamang nakuha niya pagkakabagsak sa ground.

"Hindi. Okay lang, hindi naman sinasadya ni ate." Sabi niya.

She winced nang medyo napindot ng bulak ang sugat niya.

"Sorry." Nag-aalala kong sabi, at mas iningatan ang pag gagamot sa sugat niya.

"Brooklyn, bakit mo naman ginawa iyon?" I asked Brooklyn pagkatapos kong malinisan at magamot ang sugat na natamo ni Jezreel.

"I'm telling you, hindi ko sinasadya!" Masungit na sabi niya.

Shannon scoffed. "Yung angle ng paa mo kanina, iyong mga angle ng paang nananadya eh."

"Come on! Hindi ko sinasadya ang pagkakapatid niya! My gosh!" 

She kept on insisting na hindi naman daw niya sinasadya but a part of me really don't believe her. It was on her nature. Madalas niyang gawin ang mga ganoong bagay.

"You know why we don't believe your claims?" Stephen chimed in. 

Masungit siyang tinignan ni Brooklyn. 

"It was because nasa ugali mo yung ganoon."

Brooklyn scoffed. "Wow! Ako lagi evil?"

"Oo!" Said Shannon. 

"Ah talaga?!" Pagalit na sigaw ni Brooklyn. "Alam mo, ikaw lagi mo nalang akong binu-bwisit eh!"

Agad namin pinaghiwalay ang dalawa dahil kaunti nalang, hahablutin na ni Brooklyn ang buhok ni Shannon.

"What? I'm just describing how bitchy you are! Nasa nature mo! Ilan na ba napatid mong girl students sa corridor sa school? Hindi na mabilang sa lahat ng daliri di ba? And now, plus one, pero not on the corridor, sa labas ng banyo ng resort."

"I'm telling you, hindi ko pinatid iyong Jezreel na iyon!"

"Sige lang ipilit mo pa."

"Guys, tumigil na nga kayo!" Suway ni Jepoy.

"Eh hindi naman ko naman kasi talaga-"

"Brooklyn, tama na." Madiin kong sabi.

"Hans." Naiiyak na sabi niya.

Umiling nalang ako at umalis doon para sana bigyan ng mas maraming band aid si Jezreel.

"Hans." She stalked after me.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. 

Nang marating ang kitchen at staff's area, napansin kong wala na sila doon. Nakauwi na pala.

"Sige po mang Ben, labas na po ako." Sabi ko at nag dire-diretsong lakad, nilagpasan ang kanina pang nakasunod sa akin na si Brooklyn.

"Hans!" She grabbed my arm para maiharap ako sa kaniya. "You really would not listen to me?"

"Ano ba papakinggan ko?"

Napaawang ang bunganga niya. 

"You don't believe me."

"Because I don't." Diretso kong sabi. "Because I know you Brooklyn."

"Wh...why?" Naiiyak na sabi niya. "Mas naniniwala ka sa sinasabi ni Shannon? Sinabi naman ni Jezreel diba na hindi ko sinasadya iyon!"

I heaved a sigh.

"Hindi naman iisipin ni Jezreel na sinadya mo eh. She always look at the brighter side of things." I said as I removed her grip on my arm, then continued walking.

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