Under the clouds (Guevarra Series 2)

Wakas

“Jacques,” pagtawag sa akin ni Kent. “Kilala mo ba ‘yon?”

Itinuro niya ang isang junior high school student na maraming kasamang mga lalaki. Umiling lang ako. I’ve been seeing her a lot inside the campus, but I don’t know her.

“Crush ka raw niyan,” humalakhak siya sa akin. Napakunot naman ang noo ko.

“Paano mo nalaman?”

“Narinig ko lang sa kaklase. Saka marami na kasing naging boyfriend ‘yan sa mga kaklase natin si Maddie.”

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko sa narinig.

Crush ako pero ang daming kasamang lalaki?

I don’t know but after that day, I’ve been hearing her name frequently. Madalas galing sa mga kaklase kong nagkakagusto o nagiging boyfriend niya. That is why whenever we would cross paths in the hallway, I can’t help but get irritated.

Crush daw ako pero ang dami ng naging boyfriend?

“Jacques!” kaagad akong napangiti nang lumapit sa akin si Esperanza.

“Kumusta naman college life mo?”

“It was fine. Nagsisimula pa lang kaya hindi pa ganoon kahirap.”

Esperanza is beautiful. Very beautiful. Pero sa tagal naming magkakilala, hindi kami nagkagusto sa isa’t-isa. Maybe because I just consider her as my best friend. She also told me that she likes someone mature. Hindi ako ‘yon. When I was in junior high school, kung sino-sino rin ang nagiging girlfriend ko. Wala akong pinapalampas kahit kaklase. That was also the time when I would always hangout with my classmates to drink. That was my life before.

Nagbago lang talaga simula nang tumapak ako ng senior high school.

“Punta ka raw sa bahay sabi ni Dad,” she said after long pause of silence.

Napabuntong-hininga naman ako.
I don’t know why her parents are pushing us together. They keep telling me to court Esperanza. My family is not rich unlike theirs. Ayokong ma-pressure na sabayan ang lifestyle nila kapag nagkataon.

When I was in second year college, I was tasked to participate in Teachers month celebration. ‘Yung isang professor ko kasi, teacher din ng mga senior high school students.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong natuwa nang malaman na ang section na ‘yon ang tuturuan ko.

“Madelaine Graciano…” I whispered.

Finally, I found her complete name. I was looking at the record notebook, doon ko nakita ang mga pangalan ng buong klase.

She came to class five minutes before time. She looked puzzled when she saw me in front, she’s probably expecting their professor and not me.

Before I came here, I felt really excited. But one thing that really pisses me off is that she's not like the other girls who would blatantly shout that they like me. Not that I want her to do that as well.

But I thought she has a crush on me?

“Sure ka gusto mong sumama magbilyar?” tanong sa akin ni Sison kinahapunan.

Tumango naman ako. I’ve been planning this before. Matagal ko na rin namang kilala ang iba niya pang kaibigan katulad ni Twelve at Aaron. And also… I know they are friends with Madelaine.

When I entered the place with them, I immediately saw her glaring at me. Mukhang hindi niya ako gustong makita rito. I can’t blame her, naging masungit ako sa kaniya kanina sa klase.

Padabog niyang kinuha ang tako at naglakad palapit sa akin. Dinuro pa niya ako.

“Labanan mo ako, kapag natalo mo ako, tatanggapin kita sa grupo,” maangas niyang saad. Napapikit-pikit pa ako, still a bit awed.