Collide / [Park Jay]

63

"Si Jay pa rin 'yan?" Tanong ni Sunhee at pasimpleng dumungaw ulit sa cellphone ko habang nagt-type ako ng reply. And it's probably just my adrenaline that let me turn my screen off before she could even read something. Dahil doon, binigyan niya agad ako ng malisyosang tingin.

"Yeah..." Tugon ko sa pinakamahinang boses. "But it's nothing." Mas pirmi kong sagot.

"Nothing pero tinatago." Buwelta niya.

"K-Kasi.." As much I want to show her our conversation, I feel like it's not necessary. And staring at Jay's recent replies, I'm certain that it's not something to be announced like this.

Kanina pa niya ako napapansin na panay ang pakikipag-text at kanina pa rin niya ako tinatanong kung sino iyon. When I told her it's Jay, she didn't mind it at first. But when she saw me constantly checking my phone like a business person, that's when she started nagging me.

"Araw-araw ba kayong magkausap?" Tanong niya. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa labas lang ng marriage booth because we were too embarrassed to witness Hana exchanging wedding vows with her unwilling husband.

"Yeah.." Tipid kong sagot.

It's kinda ironic how I only realized that now. Hindi ko na rin naman kasi iyon namamalayan. But... okay lang naman 'yon, 'di ba? I mean, we have to talk because we're classmates and we're part of the same club as well. Although, I must admit that we mostly talk about the random things that are not even related to those..

"Bakit everyday? Siya ba ang madalas magtext?" She asked again as she went closer to me.

"Hmm.." I simply nodded.

Jay is usually the one sending me texts, asking me things about my day and stuff like that. But sometimes, when he's busy with his band rehearsals and he barely even send me one, I still tend to expect to receive it at any moment. Lalo na kapag nagtakda siya ng oras kung kailan siya magte-text ulit.

"Ano namang pinag-uusapan niyo madalas? About broadcasting?" Mas naging curious siya sa unti-unti kong tugon sa kanya.

"Minsan, oo. But there were times na sobrang random lang gaya ng-"

"Kumain ka na ba? Anong ginagawa mo? Nakauwi ka na? Kumusta ang araw mo?" She said as she cut my words. Medyo natawa pa ako dahil may emosyon pa ang pagbanggit niya doon.

"Yeah, something like that.." Pag-amin ko.

Natigilan siya doon at medyo lumayo sa akin para matitigan akong mabuti. She even crossed her arms like she's in the middle of an inspection or whatever. I raised an eyebrow like I was telling her what is it this time.

"Sabi ko na nga ba, eh." Mayamaya ay pahayag niya.

"W-What?" Tanong ko.

"You guys are dating?" Medyo malakas niyang sinabi kaya napatingin sa amin ang ilang nakapaligid. Good thing they're quite busy with what they're doing and didn't seem to hear clearly what Sunhee just said.

"Sunhee! Hindi! Hindi gano'n.." Mahina ngunit may diin kong pagtanggi doon. I feel like I'm starting to sweat so madly because of that. Hindi naman kasi iyon sumasagi sa isip ko at isa pa, I know Jay is just being kind.

"Ah.. so talking stage pa lang kayo, gano'n? No label yet?" Maarte niyang dugtong.

"N-No. We just talk. And.. 'di ba, nakikipag-usap ka rin naman sa kanya? You know, we're in the same class." I defended.

"Pero hindi niya naman ako tinatanong kung kumain na ako!" She said as she burst out laughing.

Mayamaya ay natigilan lang kami sa pag-uusap nang marinig naming may tumatawag sa akin sa 'di kalayuan. May kahulugan ang naging tingin ni Sunhee sa akin bago namin sabay na nilingon ang paparating.

"May I see your fingers?" Jay immediately said without even greeting any of us. Napansin ko agad na nakapagpalit na siya kumpara sa suot niya kanina. It looks more comfortable now.

"Huh? Why?" I just timidly showed my hands, not knowing what is he up to.

"Walang singsing. Good." Komento niya at ngumisi.

He then looked at my giggling friend beside me. Kumunot lang ang noo niya bago naupo sa tabi ko. Nasa gitna na nila akong dalawa ngayon at dahil nga kakaiba ang tinginan nila sa isa't isa ay parang medyo nailang ako.

"May nililigawan ka ba ngayon, Jay?" Halata ang gulat sa mukha ko nang marinig ko ang tanong ng kaibigan ko. I know she's just trying to see something but still, it's quite embarrassing. Kahit na wala naman iyong kinalaman sa akin.

"Why did you ask?" Jay asked with amused curiosity.

"Siyempre, classmates tayo, eh!" Sunhee tried to reach Jay for a highfive but he didn't even move an inch, making fun of her.

"I don't do courting." Komento ng katabi ko. But it doesn't sound surprising, though. He's Park Jay and he can always have his way through everything.

"Kahit ka-talking stage, wala ka? Kawawa ka naman. Hindi talaga lahat ibibigay sa'yo ni Lord." Biro ng kaibigan ko.

"Not sure. I'll ask the person. Parang tino-tropa lang yata ako no'n, eh." Seryosong sabi ni Jay. I was just staring blankly because I don't know what to react since he's only talking to my friend and not me.. at the moment.

"Wow. The Park Jay is bothered about uncertainty. That's new!" Pang-aasar ni Sunhee. "Ikaw, Yerim? May manliligaw or ka-talking stage?" Hindi ko akalain na mayamaya ay ibabaling rin niya ang atensyon niya sa akin. I thought if I remain silent, I would be exempted from this kind of conversation.

Pareho silang naghintay sa isasagot ko. I don't know why I suddenly ran out of words to say. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong magpaliwanag pa sa kanila or just answer in the simplest and honest way.

"Wala." I uttered. Wala na akong idinugtong doon dahil parang natigilan na lang rin ako. I really don't feel comfortable when the attention is on me, especially if I'm not ready.

The topic changed after that. Naging tungkol na lang iyon sa mga activities ng school fest sa mga susunod na araw. Tomorrow will be the start of the most hyped sports event. Isa 'yon sa talagang pinag-uusapan ng lahat dahil siyempre, present ang mga star players ng school. Maging ako ay nae-excite na rin para doon.

Naghanda na kami sa pag-uwi nang makalabas si Hana sa marriage booth. Napuno ng tawanan ang paglalakad namin palabas sa grounds dahil sa mga kinuwento niya about her experience. Even though I couldn't be part of the conversation, I always have fun just by listening to them.

"Sa parking tayo, ha.." Mahinang sabi sa akin ni Jay. Dahil nga abala ang mga kaibigan ko sa pinag-uusapan nila ay hindi naman nila napansin na nag-uusap na rin kaming dalawa.

"Bakit?" Tanong ko.

"Ihahatid pa kita, 'di ba?" He said. Doon ko lang na-realize ang gusto niyang iparating.

"Si Nari? Nandoon na?" I asked again.

"Umuwi na." My eyes widened at what he said. I wonder kung anong napag-usapan nila kanina. If they made themselves clear or what. "And before you judge me, sinundo po siya ng driver nila. Hindi ko po pinauwi." Sabi pa niya at marahang tumawa.

There's something about him using honorifics towards me everytime he wants to prove something. Para bang kahit gaano pa ka-seryoso ang pinag-uusapan namin ay hindi ko pa rin mapipigilang mapangiti doon.

"Okay, I didn't ask for you to explain." I said as I looked away, trying to hide a shy smile.