Loss of Tempo

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Loss of Tempo

"Here is your schedule, Ms. Anuevo," Mrs. Moldivar stretched out an arm and gave me a paper. I took it without hesitancy. Nilingon niya ang kaniyang katabi. "Hyacinth, accompany her way to your classroom. She's new to our school so be nice to her."

Tumango ang babaeng tinawag niyang Hyacinth. "Yes, ma'am."

The girl smiled gently at me which made me come to the conclusion that she was a very nice person. Her pretty brown eyes shone when they looked back at me from the latter. Nahihiya akong ngumiti pabalik. My heart hammered with nervousness because she had this uncanny presence.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na kung parang masungit siya, beh, huh . . . " aniya habang sabay kaming naglalakad sa tahimik na hallway. "Gano'n talaga 'yon si Mrs. Moldivar. Wala kasing dilig!"

She giggled. Hyacinth playfully tapped my shoulder as she chortle.

"D-Dilig? Does she love plants?" I asked.

Her face shifted to me in an instant and gave me an unknowing look. "Huy, bading? Seryoso ka ba?"

I mirrored her confused look. "I-I am sorry I don't understand."

Ilang beses kumurap ang mga mata niya sa mukha ko bago siya humagalpak ng tawa. She even held her tummy and stopped walking while I stared at her — completely muddled.

"Grabe, ilang taon ka bang nakakulong sa bahay niyo at simpleng term na dilig ay hindi mo alam?!" aniya.

She seemed shocked but the trace of laughter was still visible in her mouth.

"I-I've been homeschooled my whole life and I never got to step outside our house ever since I was born."

That made her stop on her feet. "Putangina?"

Namilog ang mata ko. Did she . . . Did she just curse?

"I-I am sorry . . . "

"Bakit ka nagso-sorry?!" taka niyang tanong. The sudden pity was painted in her eyes as they gaze at me. "Teka, bading, hindi ko kaya i-take. Ibig mo bang sabihin, buong buhay mo, nakakulong ka sa bahay niyo? Ngayon ka lang nakatapak sa labas?"

Tumango ako. Was it weird? I thought a lot of people were like me. So I wondered why was she acting like it was new.

"Kaya pala parang mahiyain ka . . . " aniya. We were taken by a deafening silence for a while before she spoke again. "Teka, ano 'yang hawak mo?"

She noticed the other paper that I was holding. Pinakita ko iyon sa kaniya. Namilog ulit ang mata ko nang bigla niya na lamang itong hinablot at pinasadahan ng tingin. "You're applying as a manager of the men's volleyball team?"

Nahihiya akong tumango. I was fascinated with that sport as my brother used to play it with me. When I was applying to this school, it was a prerequisite to join a club. It just so happened that volleyball was a sport that my brother and I used to adore. Or maybe it was the only familiar words written on the available options.

"Oo nga pala! Mag-co-college na 'yung manager nila ngayong taon! Naku!" pinasadahan niya ulit ng tingin ang papel. Para siguro tignan ang pangalan ko roon. "Messara! Mag-iingat ka roon! Puro mga sakit sa ulo mga athletes doon! Lalo na 'yung —"

Parehas kami napahinto nang biglang may bola na gumulong sa paanan ko. It was a ball that was familiar to me. It went on the tip of my shoes, rolling in a slow tempo, and seemed to stare back at me like it was telling me to pick it up from the ground. The ball was followed by grubby white sneakers, heavy deep breaths, and a scent that was trying to squeeze through my nose.

"Sorry, napasobra spike ko."

I slowly lifted my face up to see the person who spoke. The first thing that I gazed at was his amber eyes which were mesmerizing. He raked his fingers through his curly, golden-brown hair of short length and sideburns. Dripping in sweat and catching some air, he rocked his jersey top as he grimace out of weary. While doing all those, the stares he gave me made my little heart a hammering effect.

"Daikon! Kahit kailan talaga hindi kayo nag-iingat!"

If it wasn't with Hyacinth, I wouldn't be able to go out of oblivion. Her voice woke me up. Mabilis kong pinulot ang bola at agad kong naramdaman ang gaspang nito. Nanginginig ang kamay ko at ramdam ko ang pamumula ng aking pisngi.

The guy, which Hyacinth called Daikon, chuckled with an apologetic smile. "Galit ka na naman, Pres, pinasakit na naman ba ni Malvolio ang ulo mo?"

His voice was deep but calm which was ironic. Given that he was only, maybe, at my age, he sounded so mature with his low voice.

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko nang mapansin na hindi na ito nakatingin sa akin. Pasikreto kong pinasadahan ang suot niyang jersey uniform. Kulay itim iyon na may bahid ng abo. Sa gitna ay may nakalagay na malaking #1 na mabilis makaagaw ng pansin.

"Isa pa 'yung kupal na 'yon! Ang sasakit niyo sa ulo!" bulalas ni Hyacinth.

Kupal? Ano iyon?

"Mas masakit kapag walang ulo," Daikon uttered back as he chuckle.

My eyes widened a fraction when he gaze at me again. There was still a trace of a sneer on his face when he caught me staring at him. I could feel my chest under a spell of dread, as I immediately shifted my eyes elsewhere.

"Messara, bigay mo na nga iyong bola para makakaakyat na tayo. Panira talaga ng araw 'tong mga athletes."

Dahan-dahan kong inabot ang bola kay Daikon habang hindi nakatingin. I could feel his stares lingering in my face. I couldn't imagine how weird I look but I wasn't able to think straight. Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag nang maramdaman kong gumaan ang kamay ko — tanda na kinuha niya na ang bola sa mga palad ko.

"Salamat . . . Messara."

Hearing my name from his mouth made my knees go limp. I didn't know what had gotten to me. But my mind immediately went haywire as I imagined his lips moving, uttering every letter of my name. I wasn't able to think of anything in response.

So whatever came out naturally in my mouth was the only words I could find.

"I-I am sorry . . . "

The squeaky sound of his sneakers woke me up from that embarrassing moment. It was followed by Hyacinth's merciless laughter as my eyes immediately tried to find the trace of him. Tanaw ko ang apelyido niyang del Prado sa likod ng kaniyang jersey habang sinasalubong siya ng mga kasama niyang kapwa volleyball players. Ginawaran siya nito ng mga pang-aasar pero ang mga mata niya . . . ay naiwan sa akin.

"Welcome to the outside world, Messara!" bulalas ng babae sa tabi ko kasabay ng kaniyang hagalpak.