SOMETHING OFF
"HINDI KA SASALI THIS EVENT?" tanong ko kay Haze. I was driving her home after a long day at school.
"Hindi ako sasali. I donʼt have the guts to participate after that incident last year."
"I see..." I was lost for words.
A moment of silence. Then she broke it. "Nga pala, Cyrus." she called. "I heard earlier, there was this girl na kaya daw talunin ang Aces."
"Rumors, rumors." I laughed. "Nakilala na namin siya kanina. You wonʼt believe me when I said sheʼs just a new student around."
"Oh really? Galing ah, sikat na siya agad." she said. "Kung nakilala niyo na siya kanina, what does she looks like?" dagdag niya.
Napaisip ako. She looks innocent to me. But how am I going to describe Ashley Lewis to Haze? Ahh... I canʼt think otherwise.
"She looks innocent at first glance." I replied.
"Is she tall?"
"A bit taller than you. Ang liit mo kasi e."
"Wow, big word! My height is just right for my age."
"Please remind me of how old you are again." I mocked, already knowing that sheʼs pissed off.
"Hey! Weʼre just the same age!"
Hays, mananahimik na nga lang ako. Wala naman akong panalo sa babaeng ʼto.
...
BUSY DAYS ARE COMING AGAIN. Mayroon pa kaming Aces na isang week para sulitin ang oras namin dahil sa susunod na linggo, magsisimula na kami mag-practice.
Sa ngayon, binabawasan ko lahat ng school assignments ko. Nah, Iʼll never repeat what Iʼve did last year. Adrian scolded me a lot when I couldnʼt make it in time for the practice for a consecutive of three days in total. Ganoon din ang nangyari kay Andy at Seven. Best of lucks kay Primo dahil sobrang unti lang ng mga assignments sa kanila the whole week.
Marcus decided to spend all of his time in the library before break time ends. Siyempre nandoon ngayon si Frankie kaya gusto niya nandoon din siya.
Tinatamad na akong lumabas ng room dahil ang susunod naming klase ay dito rin naman sa room na ʼto. Kaso, nakaramdam ako ng gutom kaya tumayo na ako at lumabas.
And something happened.
Tumama ang balikat ko sa pader nang may makabangga sa akin.
"Sorry, ʼdi ko sinasadya." someone apologized. Pinagpagan ko ang damit ko at tinignan kung sino iyong taong nakabangga ko. It was the new student herself, si Ashley.
"Sorry, I wasnʼt looking my way." I, too, apologized.
"Pupuntahan ko sana kayo ni Marcus. Magtatanong ako kung saan ʼyung cafeteria." she gave me an awkward smile.
I see. Mukhang hindi siya ʼyung tipo ng babae na outgoing. Major introvert vibes.
"Pupunta ka na ba roʼn ngayon?" tanong ko. Mabilis siyang tumango. "Good timing, pupunta rin ako ngayon doon. Why not magsabay na tayo?"
"Fine with me!" malapad siyang ngumiti.
Iʼd like to keep on observing her behavior. I need to at least find reasons kung bakit sumikat siya rito sa campus. What made her popular and known to be someone na kaya kaming talunin. I was very interested. Rather, intrigued.
...
"HEY."
Napatalon ako sa gulat. Someone poked my side. Nang lumingon ako, nakita ko si Haze.
"Haze, what are you doing here?" tanong ko sa kaniya. She had this wide smile when she saw me. I just love seeing her smile. I hope she wonʼt get tired of it one day.
"Pupuntahan kasi kita sana sa room niyo, nagugutom na kasi ako e, hehe."
"Magpapalibre ka?" tanong ko. Wala nang hiya hiya sa amin, tumango siya agad. "What do you want to eat?" dagdag ko. Kami na ang nasa unahan ng pila sa cafeteria.
"Gusto ko ng fried chicken." ani Haze.
"Iyon lang?" klaro ko. Tumango lang siya.
Habang pumipili at umo-order ako, napansin kong nasa tabi ko pa rin pala si Ashley.
"What are you getting?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Mukhang naninibago pa siya sa lugar.
"Iʼll get two muffins and an iced coffee." sagot niya.
Iyon ang huli kong binanggit sa staff bago niya ihanda ang mga orders namin. "Libre ko na rin ang sa ʼyo."
Nang pasadahan ko ng tingin si Haze sa kanan ko, she was intently looking at Ashley. Nakalimutan kong ipakilala sila sa isaʼt-isa.
Nakasalubong ko ng tingin si Haze. "Kilala mo?" tanong niya sa akin.
"Uhm yeah." tugon ko.
Haze then looked at me as if I was a liar or some sort of a traitor. I canʼt tell much of how she was looking at me. One thingʼs for sure, itʼs not good.
"Sheʼs new here. Si Ashley Lewis." pagpapakilala ko kay Ashley.
Meanwhile, Haze squinted her eyes before shaking hands with Ashley. "Iʼm Ellena Haze Denver. Weʼre not close, call me Hazel."
"Nice to meet you, Hazel."
Kinuha ko na ang order naming tatlo at humanap na ako ng bakanteng table. Sumunod lamang silang dalawa sa akin. The silence was loud though.
As we eat our meal, I canʼt help but notice how Haze was sharply observing on Ashley. That was the moment I felt somethingʼs not right. Then after a few minutes, Haze stood up. She finished her food first. I wondered why she stood up looking at both of me and Ashley who were just at half of our food.
She says, "Iʼll go first. Thanks for the meal." without even an ounce of emotion.
Couldnʼt even tell if there was gratitude in her words.
Hindi na niya hinintay ang magiging tugon ko. Umalis na lang siya bigla bigla. There was something wrong. Did Ashleyʼs presence made her uncomfortable? Maayos naman siya kanina. Ngumingiti pa nga siya kanina e. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla siyang nagkaganoʼn.
...
"THANK YOU, CYRUS." sabi ni Ashley habang naglalakad kami sa hallway. We were about to split directions.
"ʼWag ka mahiya sa amin, we are happy to help our schoolmates." tugon ko.
"Nga pala, si Hazel... Okay lang ba siya?" tanong niya sa akin. Nakita ko ang pag-aalala sa kaniyang mukha. Kanina pa ako nag-aalala kay Haze. Gusto ko siyang kausapin bago siya umalis kanina sa cafeteria kaso umalis siya agad. I really knew there was something off.
"Sheʼs fine." I replied.
I know just what to do at this kind of situation.
