Marahuyo

Kabanata 17

I am so distracted during our diagnostic test for my minor subject. Sa front row ako nakaupo at malapit pa sa pintuan kaya todo na lang ang paglingon ko sa labas. Umaasa na matanaw ko man lang sa labas si Gian.

I just have a feeling that I will see him again.

I'm not sure if I did well on the test, I didn't think deeply about my answers. Hindi naman daw siya graded kaya wala akong ikakabahala.

Nang matapos ang klase, lumabas na ako at tumambay muna sa railings sa tapat lang ng room namin. I roamed my eyes around the building, from every person that passes by to those students inside the rooms.

Habang nakatambay ako doon ng ilang minuto, nakatanggap ako ng tawag galing kay Julie. Nagtaka ako dahil hindi naman siya madalas tumawag sa akin.

"Hello?" I answered the call.

"Teh, may nakalap akong chismis!" bungad niya. May naririnig pa akong ingay sa paligid niya, mukhang nasa mataong lugar siya.

"Anong chismis naman iyan at bakit hindi makapaghintay mamayang gabi?" tanong ko.

Hindi kami madalas nagkakausap tuwing umaga dahil pareho kaming busy sa pag-aaral. Pero nagagawa naman naming mag-catch up sa ganap ng isa't isa tuwing gabi.

"Kanina kasi nakausap ko si Phil!"

"Akala ko ba nasa Japan siya?" tanong ko.

Nalaman ko dati kay Julie na naging exchange student si Phillip sa Japan. Hindi ko masyadong pinagtuunan iyon ng pansin dahil naaalala ko si Gian kapag siya ang topic. Kaya nagulat ako nang makita ko si Gian sa university na pinapasukan ko. Akala ko ay naging exchange student din siya.

"Sa chat kami nag-usap!" sagot ni Julie, tila nai-imagine ko ang pag-irap ng mata niya.

"Tapos?"

"Nagkumustahan lang kami, pero sinubukan kong i-bring up si Gian. Ang sabi ko ay nakita ko siya dito sa university, kunwari lang. Sabi niya, 'yeah, he's taking up political science there'," aniya, medyo mabilis pa ang pagsasalita. "So, you're in his territory!"

Narinig ko ang tili niya sa kabilang linya kaya nilayo ko nang kaunti ang phone ko hanggang bigla siyang nag-sorry.

Napatingin ako sa paligid ko, biglang kinabahan na baka nasa malapit lang si Gian.

"Ano naman ang gagawin ko? Hu-hunting-in ko?" biro ko sa kan'ya.

Hindi ko alam saan ko gagamitin ang impormasyong nakuha niya.

"My ghad, wala ka talagang alam sa mga ganito noh? Ibig sabihin, tuwing pupunta ka sa CSSH ay dapat naka-ayos ka! What if magkabanggaan kayo ngayon? Ready ka ba?"

Napatingin ako sa suot ko. Mukha naman akong disente. I'm wearing a loose jeans, white blouse, and white shoes. But my face? I won't even bother to look at the mirror, alam kong mukha akong haggard at stress.

A noise suddenly caught my attention.

Papalabas ang mga students na may klase sa tabi lang ng room ko kanina. I was about to walk away to avoid them, but I spotted someone in the crowd.

"Anne, naririnig mo pa ba ako?" biglang nagsalita si Julie sa kabilang linya, doon ko napagtanto na nasa tainga ko pa ang phone ko.

"Si Gian..." I whispered and instantly ended the call.

He's talking with someone but suddenly, he looked at my direction. That's when my heart began beating like a drum. He's staring directly through my soul, and it sends shivers down my spine. We both froze in our spot, and no one wanted to break the eye contact.

But I did.

I walked away. My mind was all over the place, I'm not sure where my feet is taking me. But I found myself stopping outside the building's entrance when a heavy rain starts pouring.

Putek, wala akong dalang payong.

"Arianne?"

In that moment, it feels like my heart suddenly skip a beat. It can't keep up on my emotions that I'm currently feeling right now. I'm nervous, shocked, giggling, and happy at the same time.

My chest is about to explode.

"Arianne Valerio?" he called again.

Napapikit ako at huminga nang malalim bago tuluyang lumingon sa kan'ya. It caught me off guard when I realized how near he is. Mahigit isang metro lang ang layo namin at ito ang unang beses na nakita ko siya nang malapitan pagkatapos ng ilang taon.

A smile flashed on his lips. "It's really you."

There's a sign of relief on his face. I can see beads of sweat on his forehead and he's breathing fast as his chest and shoulders keep rising.

Did he chase me down here?

"Long time no see... Gian." I somewhat whispered his name. I can't believe I'm calling his name as I'm standing in front of him. Tila isang panaginip na magkaharap kami ngayon.

"I keep on calling your name earlier, but you didn't hear me. I'm glad that I caught up with you, are you also from this college?" he asked.

I smiled and shook my head. "No. I'm from the College of Education and I'm here because of a minor subject."

"Really? That's lucky for me to meet you."

No, Gian. I'm the lucky one.

Tumingin siya sa labas at nakita niya ang malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan.

Bumaling ang tingin niya sa akin. "Are you heading to your next subject?"

"Hindi, pauwi na ako."

"Oh, sabay na tayo."

"What?" gulat na tanong ko.

Akala niya ay hindi ko siya narinig dahil sa ulan kaya lumapit siya sa akin.

Yumuko siya nang kaunti para mapantayan niya ako. I still can't believe that he's taller now. I can also smell his perfume as he gets near me. It is still the same fresh and manly scent that brings back a lot of memories.

"Sabay na tayo," aniya bago umatras pabalik sa kinatatayuan niya kanina. Napahawak siya sa batok niya. "Ayos lang ba sayo na ihatid kita pauwi?"

I don't know if I'm hearing it right, but I need to keep my composure. Sandali ko siyang pinagmasdan. I can't look directly in his eyes, so I just set my sight on his lips since it's the direct thing I see when I'm not looking up at him, which is not totally helpful at all.

"Ayos lang naman pero wala akong dalang payong. Maybe I'll just wait until—"

"I have one." Suddenly, he's holding a foldable umbrella in his hand. Hindi ko man lang napansin kung saan iyon nanggaling.

"That's nice..." When did he became so adorable?

Never in my wildest dream did I imagine that one day I would be walking beside him, our shoulder keeps on brushing, and under an umbrella while raining. If I tell my three years ago self, she will think I'm having a delusional thought.

But it isn't, it's really happening now.

And my mind is all over the place, again. Baka madapa ako o makabangga ng poste kung hindi ako mag-concentrate sa daan.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?"

Bigla siyang nagtanong kaya sinubukan kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Do I look tensed?

"No, I'm fine," sagot ko at ngumiti.

"Tell me if you feel uneasy. I'm just glad to meet someone I'm familiar with."

From that day, tuwing may klase ako sa college building nila ay sabay kaming umuuwi. Kinukwentuhan niya ako tungkol sa mga interesadong bagay na nangyari sa kan'ya noong nakaraang araw o sa mismong araw na iyon. Habang ako ay masayang nakikinig sa kan'ya.

I slowly got to know him more than I ever was three years ago. I started to feel comfortable, yet the thought of him being this close to me somewhat scares the deepest of my heart.