Tila Tala

I

Nothing beats the cold breeze of December. Thinking that everyone is as excited as I am to complete the simbang gabi. Some believe that if you attended all the mass, your wish on the last day will come true. And that is one of my reasons why I am this excited.

“Good morning, Gani!” I greeted as we met each other’s eyes.

His sharp and serious eyes never showed any emotion towards me ever since I met him. He was buttoning his white polo with the black shirt inside. He wasn’t wearing his headphones so I am very much sure he heard and noticed me. Kaso masyado talaga siyang mailap akin. Sa akin lang.

He is ‘that’ person. But not like ‘that’ when it comes to me. And I would never understand why he treats me differently.

“Lagdameo, Tala Amora A.,”

“Present!”

Ibinalik ko ang kamay sa pagkakahalumbaba matapos itong itaas para sa attendance. I continued eyeing him until the end of the class. He never dilated his eyes to anything when it was class hours, just focused on the teacher, television, and on the board. Sobrang seryoso niya siya, parang ako sa pagtitig sa kaniya buong period.

His eyes catch everyone’s attention. It’s sharp but it’s bright. His lips always look so red because he loves nibbling it, brows were naturally thick and lashes were amazingly long. He’s tall, hot, and handsome as hell.

“Tal, uwi ka na?” Tiffany asked.

“Nope! Org stuff. Again and again.” I laughed.

Napatigil ako sa pagtawa nang makita ang bahagyang paglingon ni Isagani. Agad din siyang nag-iwas kaya hindi ako sigurado kung sa gawi nga ba namin siya sumulyap. Baka guni-guni ko lang. Isinakbit ko na ang bag ko at dumiretso sa office.

Since it’s December, the Christmas party is getting closer and closer. May mga pakulo ang mga clubs at organizations na sinalihan ko kaya naman abalang-abala rin ako. December is such a busy month for people like me, but it’s never been a tiring one because it is the most awaited one.

“Hi, ‘My... ‘Dy...” I kissed them on the cheek.

It’s past eight o’clock, kadarating ko lang. Mommy and Daddy are in the living room, waiting for me to come home. Hindi sila natutulog na wala ako sa bahay. Kaya as much as possible, maaga ako palaging umuuwi. Daddy is such a busy person, gusto kong nakakapagpahinga siya ng maayos at hindi ako iniisip dahil hindi pa nila ako kasama.

As soon as I finished cleaning and washing my face and body, sumalampak ako sa kama. I am so tired! I think, I need pahinga. As in a human pahinga. My friends are now so busy. I have no one to talk to with my rants and chikas. Kaya sobra akong dumadaldal dahil pati sarili ko ay kinakausap ko na minsan.

Mommy and Daddy were never strict with that. Ever since I started learning about that thing, hinayaan lang nila akong mag-explore. I had a lot of crushes way back that my parents knew, even the whole story. Talagang busog sa paalala at pangaral lang ako pero hindi nila ako pinagbawalan. Malaki ang tiwala nila sa akin. Anyways, it was my choice not to have one, I mean, a boyfriend.

Kaya naman disinuwebe na ako ay no boyfriend since birth pa rin. I don’t really care. There are a lot of guys asking my name, number, and socials but I never had an interest in talking to them. They... aren’t just the ones I have been looking for and interested in.

Nagising ako sa alarm. I scrunched my nose and gently rubbed my eyes. Look how fast the time is. Parang December one lang noong isang araw tapos a-bente na agad ngayon. Bukas ang year-end party ng bawat clubs at organizations. Bukas din ang sa bawat klase. Kaya naman hindi ko alam kung saan ako mananatili o magtatagal. Paniguradong pupuntahan ko lahat.

“Morning, Damon!”

He smiled at me. “Morning, Tala!” And greeted me back in the way that matches my energy.

I love people. I love greeting them, smiling at them, and interacting with them. It’s a part of my daily routine to catch up a little with everyone I know. Nakakatuwa pa at nararamdaman kong natutuwa sila sa presensiya ko. I have never been this loved and welcome.

“Tal, sa dance club bukas, ha?” Ate Gem approached me.

I pouted. “Abangan niyo na lang po ako. Iisa-isahin ko pa bawat office ng mga clubs, e.” We both chuckled.

“Sinalihan ba naman halos lahat,” tumawa ulit siya. “See you bukas, bebe! Sabihin mo lang kung kailangan mo ng katulong lumamon ng handa ng bawat clubs.”

Bago ako makalabas ay nakita ko si Isagani. He is talking to some girls that look older to us, freshmen.

“Pero wala ka pa talagang girlfriend?” The mestiza one asked. Isagani just shook his head and smiled. “Fling? Ka-M.U? Someone na ina-admire? Are you really that kind and innocent?”

“I almost had one, but unfortunately...” He just shrugged his shoulder.

The girl must be so lucky.

I ended my tiring day sharing stories with Mommy and Daddy. Sa ganitong edad ay kumakatok pa rin ako sa pinto ng kuwarto nila, holding my favorite star pillow, asking permission if I can sleep with them when my day is bad or very tiring. We always end up sleeping late because of so many catching ups. That is my favorite part.

“Ingat,”

“I love you two!”

I went to school not so early. Wala na namang masyadong gagawin bukod sa mag-party. I am wearing a ruffled layered dress that Mommy bought for today’s event. I styled my hair on my own. My waist-length wavy hair with its natural brownish color was falling in my back, I just put some flowery clips and more accessories so it will look so elegant.

Mapapagod lang naman ako ngayong araw, masyadong pinaghandaan pa.

“C-in-areer ng disney princess!”

“Unkabogable talaga!”

Everyone greeted and praised me. My heart always feels warm every time I hear their compliments. After a while, I roamed my eyes around the four-cornered room. Everyone is here except one person.

“Si Isagani?” I suddenly asked.

“Wala yatang balak pumunta,” Tiffany answered.

I frowned. “But he contributed? Ipinaabot niya pa kay Kyle ang bayad niya sa akin?”

“Baka nag-contribute lang para isipin nating pupunta siya kasi alam niyang pipilitin natin siya kapag umayaw.” She shrugged her shoulders.

We started the party incomplete. I don’t know what his reasons are. Baka umuwi na ng probinsiya dahil sa Christmas break, o baka ayaw lang talaga makisaya sa amin sa araw na ito.

“Hi, Tal! Kain!” Damon and his friends greeted me as they waved their hands and invited me inside.

“Busog na busog na,” I laughed. “Merry Christmas, boys! See you next year!” Bati ko sa mga taga-kabilang classroom.

Sa dance club office ako huling pumunta. I saw Ate Gem dancing wildly already. May pa dance contest pa yata sila rito, hindi na napagod.

“Tala!” Ate Gem squeaked. They turned their heads on me. I smiled widely and joined them partying wild and free.

I am waiting for Daddy to pick me up. While I am in the shed, I scroll through my instagram feed. I added some pictures in my stories and posted some in my timeline. I stared at our class picture earlier. I can’t help but think about him. I had been there, alam ko ang pakiramdam ng mag-isa.

Instagram
🔎 Isagani Iñigo Isidro

My mouth formed an ‘O’ when I saw his account. May instagram pala siya? It’s not a private account so I can easily stalk him.

iii.taal

Isagani Isidro
Tila si Tala ✧⁠*⁠。

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Kumunot ang noo ko. Tila... si Tala? What does it mean? I mean, I am Tala. Who is this Tala in his bio? Or maybe it means star? Pero bakit may ‘si’? No, hindi dapat ako mag-assume. I tapped the exit button and turned off my phone. Kasabay noon ay ang pagdating ni Daddy.

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