After Phoebe's birthday, the next day, I texted Chad para sunduin ako. Phoebe really enjoyed her birthday because she was still asleep. She was dead drunk! Siguradong sasakit ang ulo niya kapag hindi siya naka-kumpleto ng tulog, kaya hindi na ako nagpaalam sa kaniya bago umalis.
I received a message as I got home. It was from Benjamin.
benjchavez
It was nice talking to you last night.
I'm sorry for the way I acted when I was with you. I didn't know you were already seeing someone.
You like someone with a motorcycle, huh? Not a car guy, lol.
Anyway, have a nice day ahead, Crisandy.
Natawa ako nang malakas sa message niya. People always assume Chad is my boyfriend. Gosh, no way! That's why I don't use my last name on social media—ayokong isipin nilang may something sa amin. Like kasal, ganon!
I typed a reply.
maicahcrizan
you're so annoying in the morning, benjamin. good morning : )
Surprisingly, he replied immediately.
benjchavez
Hindi mo ako madadaan sa emoticon mo.
Good morning! (〃ﾟ3ﾟ〃)
maicahcrizan
SO DAMING ALAM
Come Monday, maaga akong pumasok dahil may flag ceremony. Ganoon din si Chad kaya sumabay na ako sa kaniya para makalibre ng pamasahe. When I arrived in our room, Phoebe was already there, chatting with our classmates.
I sat on the chair next to her. Inilapag ko na rin ang bag ko. Since few minutes na lang ay magri-ring na ang bell, nakinig na lang ako ng usapan nila.
"May discussion pa rin daw ang mga teachers for a week bago tayo i-deploy for work immersion," sabi ng class president namin na si Angel. Work immersion is one of the requirements for senior high school students. I heard there's something similar in college called OJT.
"A week lang? Kakatapos lang ng midterms, ah?" sabi naman ng isa. "Paano 'yon? Two to three lessons lang ang finals?"
"Good news, wala ng final exams!"
I couldn't help but shout with joy at that announcement. Just then, the bell rang, cutting off our conversation. I thought it would stop, but even as we lined up, Phoebe and the others kept gossiping! It only stopped when the Philippine national anthem started playing.
After that ay panunumpa na. 'Yung president ng student body ang nag-lead non. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti. Kahit ilang ulit siguro akong tanungin kung sino ang type ko, my answer would definitely and always be him. Matalino, tahimik, and of course, good-looking! That's my ideal type. Feeling ko bagay sa 'kin 'yung mga tahimik.
Just as our president told us, after a week, we were deployed for our work immersion. The management couldn't find a placement related to our strand, so we had no choice but to do our work immersion at the LTO.
Gosh, hindi talaga siya related. What does a student and driver's license have to do with science? Mathematics? Connected siya when it comes to technology, pero sobrang kaunti lang!
Pero buti na lang at kasama ko si Phoebe. She was assigned to the cashier, while I was assigned to release student licenses. During our first day, nakaka-pressure! Lalo na kapag may tanong 'yung mga clients. I had to stand up and ask the admin just to get answers!
"Sir Chavez," I shouted. "Chavez, Benjamin. Window 9."
Wait, what?
Natigilan ako. Tiningnan ko 'yung paper na hawak ko para tingnan kung tama ba ang nasabi kong pangalan. Tiningnan ko rin 'yung scanned copy ng valid ID para masiguro kung sino 'yon. Gosh, it was really him! Tatawagin ko sana ulit siya nang bigla siyang dumating.
"Good morning, Crisandy." Here comes the devil.
"Benjamin Chavez po?" I asked. I was told to ask their names to clarify if they were the ones called. Also, I should address them as ma'am or sir out of respect.
"Yes, ma'am." He smiled. That annoying smile!
"Biometrics po, sir. Pa-scan po ng four right fingers, sabay-sabay," I instructed. I showed him my four fingers except for the thumb. He immediately followed. "Now your four left fingers, sir."
"Ang galang naman po," tumatawang sabi niya. Ayan, ang daming alam. Nag-error tuloy 'yung middle finger niya.
"Ulit po. Press a bit harder, all four at once," I told him. He did so. "Now your two thumbs together."
After that was the picture taking. I wanted him to look silly in the picture, but there's a monitor outside the window where he can see his face. Gosh, sayang naman!
"Kindly remove your cap, sir... Tapat po kayo sa center, sa white background... then look here." I pointed to the camera. "One, two, three, smile."
Nang ngumiti siya ay saglit akong natigilan. I hate to admit this... pero ang gwapo niyang tingnan sa monitor. I pressed the capture button late, so his face looked funny on the screen. The monitor showed a bunch of Xs. I tried not to laugh.
"Awit, pinagti-tripan pa nga ata ako," nakangusong sabi niya bago niya inayos ang buhok niya.
"Assuming," I whispered. "One more time, sir. One, two, three..." Then I clicked the capture button. "Okay na po ba 'yan or isa pa?"
"Okay na po 'yan, ma'am. Pogi ko, 'no?" he asked teasingly.
"Parang hindi naman, sir." I rolled my eyes.
Tumawa siya. "Attitude naman."
Nang makapirma siya, I immediately printed his student license. Inalok ko rin siya ng case ng license, baka kasi want niyang mag-avail. He said yes, tapos ako na raw ang pumili ng kulay. I chose black para hindi dumihin.
"About your message last time... I thought you were a car guy, bakit ngayon ka lang nagpapa-lisensya?" I asked him as I handed him the license. "Or are you a liar who just pretends to have a car?"
The side of his lips rose. "Balak ko pa lang maging car guy... Maging car guy mo."
