"Bye ma'am Ica. Good luck po sa school." Nginitian ko lang si Mang Jun bago bumaba ng sasakyan. Siya ang naghatid sa akin ngayon dahil biglang nasiraan ang sasakyang minamaneho ni Kuya Caloy. Maaga siyang nagpunta sa automotive repair shop para ipatingin iyong kotse at para maayos na rin kaagad.
I entered the campus and aimlessly sauntered the covered walk towards our building. Marami akong nakakasalubong at nakakasabayan na estudyanteng pumasok at halos lahat ay juniors na parang wala ng problemang school works.
They are casually walking and chattering as though they didn't have any class to attend to. Although, that is partly true because I heard wala na raw silang gaanong ginagawa. They'll just wait for the examination week while we are still working on our paper, have it defended before the final examination so that we all can call it done.
I reached the senior high school gate, I looked at my watch to check the time because I noticed the number of students passing by. Then I found I was just too early.
As I neared our building I noticed a familiar figure comfortably sitting in one of the benches just beside the concrete lane leading to each of the three third storey buildings. And as if she noticed my oncoming presence, too, she glanced at me. She instantly stood up and I already knew she's waiting for me.
"Hi." She greeted. Huminto ako sa harap niya nang walang sinasabi pabalik.
"Pwede ba kitang makausap? Kung wala ka lang naman gagawin." She said. I looked through her shoulder for a reason before I focused my eyes at her.
"Sure." I said because I didn't have anything to do and I am also curious of what she is to say. It must be important because it's her first time approaching me like this and the fact that she initiated the conversation.
"Hi ulit. I'm Mistica." Pagpapakilala niya nang makarating kami sa hardin ng department nila.
"I know." I merely said and didn't bother to introduce myself. She probably knew or so I thought. Ngumiti lang siya sa akin. Unoffended smile, as if she knew I tend to answer like that.
"Upo ka. You're welcome here." She sweetly said and gestured me to sit at the similar bench where I sat that day when I talked to her best friend. Regardless, I politely obliged. Umupo rin siya sa tabi ko.
"What are we gonna talk about?" I finally asked. Her smile didn't waver as she opened her bag and get something.
"Here. Para sa sugat mo." Ipinakita niya sa akin ang isang antibiotic ointment sa isang glass container. I looked at it without reaching for it. Then she chuckled.
"Nawi-weirduhan ka rin siguro." She mumbled. Ibinaba niya ang kamay niyang nakalahad sa akin. Nangunot ang noo ko.
"Is this all about that?"
"Hindi ah. Hindi ako babayaran nang gano'n ni Ian para lang ibigay sa'yo 'to 'no." Mas lalo lang nangunot ang noo ko.
"Whatever do you mean?" I asked, genuinely confused. Who commanded who? Who's paying who? And why? Then a renewed mirth appeared on her eyes as if she's enjoying everything she evokes from me.
"Inutusan ako ng kaibigan kong ibigay sa'yo 'to kasi takot siyang humarap sa'yo." She finally clarified, pertaining to the antibiotic ointment in her hand.
I was taken aback by what she just revealed and I couldn't find the words to say for a second.
"Anong nangyari diyan?" She casually asked as though we're close enough to ask me that way. She used her pouted lips to point at my still bandaged elbow. I opened my mouth to speak but she preceded my voice. I pursed it close.
BINABASA MO ANG
There, Somewhere
Roman pour AdolescentsFerica Lavish, a senior high school student who lives in a confined room of her own, who struggles to escape from the humdrum frames her mother has imprisoned her, tries to keep it, but with emotions unfelt, actions reserved, afraid to stir somethin...
