Anakin, I Remember

Chapter 12

I remember the signs I was blind too see.

Tandang-tanda ko pa ang unang beses na naging magkaklase kami ni Anakin.

Circa 2018.

I was turning 14 and he was turning 15. We were in 9th grade. It was his first time going to a public school. Sa taon din na 'yon sila lumipat sa syudad ng Desjardin. Katabi lang ng bahay nina Jacko ang bahay nila, na ilang kanto lang ang layo mula sa amin.

On the first day of school, sabay kaming pumasok ni Jacko. It was supposed to be the three of us, pero pinauna na kami ni Anakin. Hindi namin alam kung bakit ayaw niyang sumabay sa amin, pero pinabayaan na lang namin.

Our excitement was unimaginable. Lalo pa nang matagpuan namin ang pangalan niya sa listahan na nakapaskil sa pader ng isang partikular na klasrum.

Grade 9 - Patience

17. Garleo, Alessandro Jacko D.
18. Garleo, Alexander Anakin B.

Magkakaklase kaming tatlo. Kaso sa unang araw, hindi siya pumasok ng umaga. Naghintay pa man din kami sa kanya. Nevertheless, noong hapon, pumasok siya.

It was the month of June then. Ilang minuto bago ang Math period. Iyon kasi ang unang subject namin sa hapon. I was seated at the back of the class together with Jacko. Our teacher hadn't arrived. Walang humpay sa pagdaldal si Jacko. I just chose not to pay attention to most of the stories he was telling me. After all, alam kong hindi rin sila magtatagal sa memorya ko.

Everyone was busy with anything that could keep them out of boredom. It was a tad noisy inside the classroom. People were starting to familiarize themselves with each other. I was just staring down at my notebook, flipping over its clean and vacant pages. The back door was on my right.

Everyone was minding their own business when somebody suddenly walked into the room and believe me or not, I had a strong feeling that it was him.

For some reason, I knew it was Anakin.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some heads turn to that person, so I was urged to tear my gaze away from the notebook on my desk and look up.

And as quick as days go by, my eyes locked with those dark brown ones, which were mirroring innocence and softness. For someone who's only turning fifteen, he's quite tall. He's dressed in a plain yellowish brown T-shirt and pants. Nakasabit sa likod niya ang bag niyang kulay-itim. A few locks of his wavy hair were springing forward onto his forehead.

"Oh, nandito na pala si Mr. Pogi!" wika ni Jacko sa malakas na boses.

Anakin dropped his gaze to the tiled floor before going past me. The eye contact didn't last longer than five seconds.

The next thing I knew, he was sitting next to Jacko who was on my right. Si Jacko ay parang isang tulay na nagdudugtong sa dalawang magkaibang bayan. Marahil ay naninibago pa si Anakin sa bagong eskuwelahang pinasukan niya kaya hindi siya masyadong umiimik noong mga oras na 'yon. Panay sulyap at tipid na ngiti lamang kadalasan ang iginaganti niya sa akin na para bang hindi namin nakakalaro ang isa't isa noong mga bata pa kami.

On the same day, we met the sweetest and most caring one, Ashlyn Celia.

Then it became the four of us.

Jacko was the Jack. Acey was the Ace. And maybe I was the Queen... and Anakin was the King.

Acey was our classmate then. She chose to sit on my left. Akala ko noong una, mahinhin siya at tahimik lang. Sa mga sumunod na minuto ng paghihintay sa teacher namin, namalayan ko na lang na nakikipagdaldalan na ito sa aming tatlo. Napakalakas pa ng boses niya kaya napapasulyap ang iba naming kaklase sa direksyon namin. Doon pa lang, alam ko nang likas talaga itong madaldal.