Collide / [Park Jay]

70

Mabagal ang naging pagbaba ko sa building namin at pasimpleng tinatanaw pa ang bukana noon. Earlier this morning, I received a text from Jay that he'll wait for me outside so we can go to school together again. This is the first time I'm going to face him as my "manliligaw" and not just the usual Jay that makes me go insane. Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala doon kaya nama'y hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin kapag kaharap ko na siya.

"Good morning." Salubong niya sa akin. He began showing his usual half smile and doe eyes that gives me some sort of feeling in my stomach.

"Morning." Tipid kong sagot at muli siyang pinasadahan ng tingin. He's wearing a casual denim fit paired with his usual expensive kicks. To be honest, I'm always amazed of his fashion sense to the point where I have to think of how I look when we're together. Uh, I probably look awful!

"Did you sleep well?" He asked randomly as we walk towards the waiting shed. Napansin kong wala siyang dalang sasakyan ngayon kaya nagtaka ako doon. But I'm nothing against that, anyway.

"Yeah." I said. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nauubusan ako ng mga salita ngayon. I feel a little nervous and at the same time, awkward. But I don't want him to think that it's because of what we talked about last night so I immediately think of something to keep the conversation going. "Why do you have to come here? I mean.. magkikita din naman tayo sa school, 'di ba?" Mahinhin kong litanya.

Jay bit his lower lip as he watch me find the right words to say. I don't know if I'm being too obvious that I'm nervous. "Wala lang. Gusto ko lang sabay tayo." Mabilis niyang sagot.

"You didn't bring a car so it means, nag-commute ka lang ulit to get here?" I asked obviously, trying to prove something. "It's quite a hassle." Komento ko pa kahit madalas na naman niya itong ginagawa noon.

He immediately sighed like he saw this coming but the ghost of smile didn't leave his lips. "No, 'rim. It's quite an effort." Kalmado niyang sinabi, dahilan para matahimik na ako nang tuluyan.

The moment I opened my eyes this morning, I immediately went to check my phone if everything's real and I'm not being delusional. Kasabay ng pagbabasa ko sa mga text niya sa akin kagabi ay ang pagpuna ko sa pagbabago ng tema noon. Well, we've been texting for quite a while now and it all just started as a simple form of communication since we belong in the same class and the same club. Pero dumalas pa iyon hanggang sa hindi ko na rin namalayan na tungkol na sa mga sarili namin ang napipili naming pag-usapan. Things we do, plans for the week, hobbies, personal likings, and many more.

"Kumain ka na?" He asked me after we settled our seats in the bus. "Or coffee lang ulit?" Before I could even answer, he already came up with that thought. Napansin ko kung gaano na niya ako nakakabisado.

"I'm not hungry since I ate a lot last night. Thanks for the food, anyway." I sincerely said.

"Hindi ka na nag-reply. You didn't ask me if I got home.." Mayamaya ay litanya niya. He looks like he's trying his best not to sound petty, however, his subtle pout is telling otherwise.

"Malaki ka na, Jay." Biro ko sa seryosong tono.

"Kawawa na talaga ako sa'yo. Ikaw, naaalala kita palagi. Tapos ako, past time mo lang." Natatawa niyang sinabi habang umiiling. "Bad girl.." Dugtong pa niya.

"Hindi naman. I just have things in my planner that should be done first. Tapos ikaw, wala ka naman sa planner ko." Paliwanag ko at natawa na lang rin sa tema ng pinag-uusapan namin ngayon. Everything's just so random but I must say, I'm quite emotionally dependent on these moments with him.

"Dala mo?" Tanong niya, tila may gustong patunayan. I just laughed as I get it inside my tote bag. Ibinigay ko agad 'yon sa kanya at hinayaan na lang siya sa kung anong gusto niyang gawin. It's just basically a notebook with my daily routine so I don't worry much about him reading what I've wrote inside.