As Cold as the Night

Chapter 23

Chapter 23
"Ambulance"

A lot of things happened in the past months. But nothing much sticks to my mind. I recalled a few of them. So Ham competed in China for a rubik's cube tournament, which he won and successfully defended his long time title. Nakakatuksong sumama pero nakakahiya rin. I settled watching online. Then the school's foundation day. It was a lot of fun that after it I didn't want to resume the classes.

Tita Dennis celebrated her birthday. It was a solemn dinner at an exclusive members only place. There were select guests that joined the party, tanging malalapit sa kanya. We also had our midterm which is terrible for me 'coz I definitely have to work overtime to save my ass. But at least, that means after the exams it's Tasha's concert already, and of course, it's the semesteral break. I'm surely going home and will celebrate my birthday and holiday season there.

Meanwhile, Ham might be just working on with his college plans. He took the aptitude test, undoubtedly, most probably aced it. At hindi nga malabong makapasok siya ng Harvard or any internal universities na naisin niya. So far, I still don't know if he is really pursuing studying abroad. Ang sarap siguro sa pakiramdam na hindi ka mahihirapang humanap ng university na tatanggap sa'yo at sila pa mismo ang gusto kong kunin.

Naghikab ako. Sakay ako ng elevator, bababa para mag breakfast. Wala pa akong ligo. Hindi ako papasok ngayong umaga. Ang sabi kasi sa group chat wala raw pareho ang teacher namin para sa morning subjects. Nagdadalawang isip nga ako kung papasok pa mamaya, eh biyernes naman na.

Mabilis lang din ang oras. Nasa kuwarto ako buong umaga, hawak ang cellphone at inaabangan ang fan meet announcements at concerts dito sa bansa. Pero pagkatapos maligo, I decided to just attend the class this afternoon.

"Alam mo, Polka, may kilala akong gumagawa at nagbebenta ng gayuma," ani Angel.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla naging gano'n ang usapan. Uwian na pero hindi pa kami lumalabas ng classroom. Nagkukuwentuhan kasi kami, napahaba at ayaw pang putulin.

"Huh?" I sharply turned my head to her after my conversation with Berly.

Tumawa si Eunnie. "Is gayuma even hygienic aside from the fact that its effectiveness is questionable?"

"Ano na naman iyang pinagsasabi mo, Angel? Kung anu ano talagang naiisip mo."

"Tsss..." Inambaan ng suntok ni Angel si KP. "Bakit hindi subukan, 'di ba? Kung hindi tumalab, o eh 'di, hindi. Pero... kapag tumalab! Naku!"

Nakitawa na rin ako sa kanila. Sanay na kami sa mga kalokohan ni Angel. Kung ano ang maisip niya, sinasabi niya.

"Subukan mo kaya kay Ham, Polka?"

Namilog ang mga mata ko.

"Angel, ipapahamak mo pa si Polka," ani Berly, naiiling pa.

"Oh, this is fun." Ngumisi si Eunnie na parang may nakitang oportunidad. "I would love to see the result."

"Polka, h'wag kang makikinig sa kanila. Nagtanda ka na sana sa nangyari noon," paalala ni KP sa'kin.

"You're no fun, KP. Besides, baka mas mauna pang magka diarrhea kesa ang tablan ng gayuma si Ham."

"Hindi ka naman kasi naniniwala sa mga ganyan, Eunnie." Muling binalik sa'kin ni Angel ang tingin. Seryosong seryoso siya sa pangungumbinsi.

Mabilis akong umiling. "I'm not doing that. H-Hindi ko na gusto si Ham."

They all gave me a teasing look, tipong hindi naniniwala sa pagtanggi ko.

"At kahit gusto ko pa siya, hindi pa rin. Why are we talking about him?" Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil nakakainis ang ngisi nila.