RIVALRY [ heesun ]

seven.

KEILO'S

[Hoy! Nakikinig ka ba? Sabi ko, kita na lang tayo sa café malapit sa condo ko.] Sigaw ni Acky sa kabilang linya, ingay-ingay.

"Yeah yeah, I heard you. I'll just drop by the bookstore, then I'll go there." I said with a hint of irritability in my voice. Nagmamadali naman siya masyado.

['Kay fine.] binaba na niya kaagad ang tawag.

It was my friend Acky. He volunteered to help me arrange the documents that I will need sa pag t-transfer ko ng school. We made a deal yesterday na he will help me arrange and complete the requirements for my transferring in exchange of treating him coffee and dinner.

Napakaburaot talaga ng mga kaibigan ko.

So yeah, here I am now, in the bookstore na malapit sa LEU, the school I will attend to this school year.

We moved here in the Philippines from Canada to settle down. Nagkaroon na rin kasi ng branch ang company and brand ng parents ko rito sa Pinas. It is easy to communicate with our relatives here dahil dito naman talaga kami nakatira before, nanirahan lang sa Canada for about a decade dahil doon nag-umpisa ang business ng mga magulang ko. Ayaw din naman nila kaming iwan dahil iilan lang ang mga kamag-anak namin na malapit sa dati naming tinitirhan.

But now that we are in Manila, I suppose mom and dad wouldn't have to worry about me. Aside from the easy access to resources because I'm finally living in the city, I am old enough to handle myself.

I spent my first five days of being a senior high student at one of the famous universities in Canada but I have to transfer here in the Philippines dahil gusto nilang magkakasama kami.

I chose LEU because my friends are already studying there, and based on my research, they are included in the list of top universities here in the country. Seems like I chose the right one.

My little brother gave me a list of books he wanted to buy. Tatlo ang mga iyon at dalawa pa lang ang hawak-hawak ko. Napadpad ako sa isang alley na puro fictional at fantasy ang genre. I'm scanning the whole shelf to find the book that my brother wants, and when I saw it, kinuha ko ito agad.

Saktong paglabas ko ng alley na iyon ay may lalaking papunta sa gawi ko kaya naman nagkabungguan kami, making the books from my hand fall one by one.

I'm expecting na makarinig ng mura, or any harsh word from him because ganoon naman palagi, hindi ba? Kung sino pa ang may kasalanan, sila pa ang magagalit. I witnessed and experienced that kind of scenario a lot before.

But to my surprise, I heard him apologize.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry!"

Tinulungan niya akong pulutin ang mga librong nagsilaglagan kanina. Napatingin ako agad sa lalaking nakabunggo sa akin. And I swear, I thought an angel is already taking me.

One of the finest and gorgeous people that God has ever made. How can he look majestic just by picking the books on the ground? A word keeps revolving on my mind as I stared at his face..

beautiful.

The moment na gumawa ng ingay ang mga libro, two guys are straightly heading in our place. Kitang-kita ang pag-aalala sa mukha nila. Ang isa sa kanila ay lumapit sa kaibigan nila para alalayang tumayo, while the other checked his body, looking for a scratch or something.

Medyo OA.

"Jo, are you okay?" sabi no'ng umalalay sa kanyang tumayo, holding his hand at nakahawak ito sa bewang to give support.

All of my thoughts about the gorgeous guy vanished.

So he already has someone.

He was like, in a rush. So I quickly snatched the books from him at umalis na agad para pumunta ng cashier at magbayad.

I had the chance to examine his face though. He has a hazelnut brown eyes, eyebrows that are looked shaped but I think that's his natural brow, pointed nose, pinkish and glossy lips and what they call "glass skin" in today's time refering to a face with almost no pimple and pores on the skin. I almost forgot to mention his mochi-like cheeks.

I noticed all of those in 20 seconds.

What a talent.

I even heard the one who crashed into me saying that he is okay, so his friend and maybe, "boyfriend" wouldn't get worried. But he also added that I should at least apologize for crashing into him.

Why would I apologize? He is the one who crashed into me. Siya ang hindi tumitingin sa dinadaanan niya.

Even though I wanted to say that, I didn't look back at them para mapigilan ang sarili for doing it. After mabayaran ang mga libro ay lumabas na agad ako ng bookstore, pumasok sa kotse at umuwi ng bahay saglit para ibigay sa kapatid ko ang mga librong pinabili niya.

I texted Acky that I will be running late and asking him to wait at the café for about 20 minutes. Nasakto kasing traffic sa way na dinaanan ko and it took me some time to reach the café dahil hindi ko pa kabisado ang daan.

When I got there, I saw Acky talking to a group of people or more like to a person who seemed really interested to him. I don't know why but the guy he was talking to is really familiar. Rather than calling for his name, I texted him that I finally arrived at the café and asking for table where he seated kahit nakita ko naman na siya. I saw him checked his phone at tumingin sa entrance which where I am at lumapit agad sa akin para makipag fist bump. We chose the table na malapit sa glass window.

"Sorry, I'm late. Traffic."

"Okay lang. Buti na lang nand'yan sina Aryse to entertain me and kill some time." Acky said, shaking his head while smiling and looking at a specific table.

"Aryse..?" who?

"Oh, the guy seated on the left.." turo niya sa table where he was earlier. "..iyong naka leather jacket."

"Ah.."

It was the guy on the bookstore.

So Aryse is his name.

Sinimulan na agad namin ang pag prepare at paglista ng mga documents na kailangan kong makumpleto at ipasa sa susunod na araw para mapabilis ang pag transfer ko. After some time, napansin naming hindi pa pala kami nag order so I insist on ordering drinks and pastries for us. It's my treat anyway.

Gano'n pa rin naman ang nangyari. Kain, usap ng konti about sa documents, kain ulit then magsasagot ng form na isa sa mga ipapasa ko. After finishing the work, nag catch up na lang kami since matagal din naming hindi nakita ang isa't isa. Last visit ko rito sa Pilipinas when we were in junior high school, Grade 7. I was enrolled at the same school with Acky and Rosh by then, and bumalik agad ng Canada after spending 4 months there, equivalent to 2 gradings. Ipinagpatuloy ko na noon sa Canada ang natitirang third and fourth gradings as a Grade 7 student.

Medyo nahirapan sa pag adjust.

Nakatanggap si Acky ng tawag from his Dad so he excused himself to answer the call. Naiwan ako roon na nilalaro ang pen sa kamay ko.

As I was admiring the café for its vintage style, my thoughts are interrupted by a shout. Nakuha ng atensyon ng karamihan ang table nina Aryse. His friend's face was covered in coffee. It is dripping and of course it will drop on the floor, resulting to a wet flooring. Aryse moved quickly at pumunta ng counter to ask for assistance.

That was so nice of him.

Hindi ko na pinansin pa ang nangyayari sa paligid ko at tinuon ang pansin sa mga papeles na kailangan kong ipunin at ipasa. I waited for Acky to come back at nang makabalik ito, he said he needs to come home immediately. I understand and we both agreed that I will treat him dinner on Monday.

Nang makarating ng bahay, I placed my body bag and envelope on my study table and I let myself fall on my cozy bed. Just as I was about to sleep, I forgot to write my name on the envelope. Kanina pa binabanggit ni Acky sa akin na huwag ko raw kalimutang lagyan ng pangalan ang envelope na ipapasa ko, baka hindi raw kasi tanggapin. So before I forgot, I wrote my name using a pointed marker.

Aracosa, Keilo Theoloire D.

Matapos magsulat, I throw myself on the bed, letting sleep envelopes my system.

- ฅ⁠^⁠•⁠ﻌ⁠•⁠^⁠ฅ

first midnight update >< ~