Story of a Chapter

Ikalabing-pitong Pahina

Watching romance dramas and movies is one thing. But to directly experience it in real life is something else. Even though I did not have a great example of what love was (considering the status of my parents), I thought what I've read and seen are enough to explain it and give me the necessary knowledge of what it's about.

I was wrong.

They say experience is the foundation of knowledge. When we develop familiarity with an event, that's when we'll get to know what steps to take.

When our parents tell us to wait and let the soup cool down, kids tend to not listen and do the opposite of what they're told. Only when they get burned from the heat will they realize that they should have listened to their parents. Hence, they will learn from it and not do it again.

Our curiosity often always gets the best of us. Some will go to the deepest part of the pool only to almost drown. From then on, they'll be wary when swimming in order to avoid a misfortune from happening.

Kapag naghahabulan tayo sa mga kaibigan, sinasabi ng mga nakakatanda na mag-ingat. When we've never experienced getting a bruise, we don't have the knowledge to be careful. Kapag natumba tayo at nasugatan, doon lang natin maiintindihan na maari tayong masakitan sa kabila ng kasiyahan.

When I first experienced genuinely liking someone, it took me light years to figure it out. If someone was watching my life happen, they might have shouted at me, irritated because no matter how obvious it was, I was too oblivious to my budding feelings. Kaya lang, nang napagtanto ko na ito, huli na ang lahat.

"Hulaan mo," Gretchen jested.

Nabanggit kasi ni Angela sa usapan namin na may nagugustuhan si Gretchen. Tapos naiirita raw kasi hindi siya pinapansin. Alam ko naman na iyon dahil nakuwento na ni Gretchen mismo sa akin noong sumama ako sa kaniya mananghalian. Ang tanong, sino ba ang lalaking ito na hindi nagagayuma kay Gretchen? She's literally so famous sa school dahil maganda siya at ang majorette leader ng school. Angela and her are the definition of school 'IT girl'.

"Wala naman ako gaanong kilala na lalaki," I paused when I saw her disappointed face. Gusto niyang hulaan ko kung sino iyon pero ayaw niyang sabihin. "Well, nandyan si Zirren," I thought.

Her face grimaced. "No offense, Ash, gwapo naman talaga si Zirren but..." nagkatinginan sila ni Angela.

"Everyone thinks he's... not availa—" naputol ang sasabihin ni Angela nang magsalita muli si Gretchen.

"Hulaan mo pa. Tell me more names."

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa gilid. "Si Tan," wala sa sarili kong sabi.

Ang chinito ay naglalaro ng mobile legends kasama nina Inno. Patawa-tawa ito bago biglang naging puno ng irita ang mukha. "Ngano wala mo ga-protect sa healer?!" reklamo niya.

"Noob pala 'to. Huwag na nating isali sa susunod," sabi ni Morhan na may bahid ng tukso.

Inno snickered as the pouting Tan mumbled something. As usual, his polo is unbuttoned but he looks well kept. Seryoso itong nakatutok sa nilalaro, ang mga kamay ay gumagalaw ng mabilis sa pagpindot.

Agad na nagtawanan ang mga kasama ko. Why?

"Talaga? Si Tan?" she responds with absurdity. "Mukhang wala nga 'yang pake sa mga nakapaligid sa kaniya. Pwera nalang noong may nagustuhan siya. Basted nga lang."

"Si Morhan?" I asked again. She shook her head. I pursed my lips. There's only one guy left that I know of. I don't know why but it bothered me to say his name. But I needed confirmation. "Si Inno?" I hesitatingly murmured.