Maybe Next Time

Chapter 16

Dumating ako ng classroom na nakikitang nagkakagulo ang mga kaklase ko. Wala kasi kaming pasok ngayon pero required pa rin kaming pumasok dahil may program.

Hindi ko nga alam bakit kailangan pang magkaroon ng mga ganitong event, eh ang pinaka kailangan lang naman ng mga college students na katulad ko ay pahinga.

Actually, I really didn't want to come today kasi masakit ang ulo ko. My eyes were still swollen from crying all night.

Paano nangyari? I got scolded last night. I didn't eat and locked myself in my room for so many hours. It wasn't really my fault.

Mamang had found the dishes unwashed because I was busy doing laundry, so I didn't have time to wash them. Besides, my other siblings weren't doing anything, so it would have been fine if they could help out. Pero hindi! 'Di man lang nila hinugasan kaya ako ang napagalitan.

Sobrang tampo ko kaya kahit kumukulo na ang tiyan ko sa gutom ay hindi ako kumain. Kaya sakit ng ulo ang napala ko ngayon.

I was carrying the cheese sticks that Joyce, Naina, and I had made. This was our contribution to the class. Like I said, our university was having an event today, and we were required to bring food for each class. Hinahanap ko kung nasaan ang mga kaibigan ko kasi ang bigat netong cheesestick. Pasalamat nga sila ay hindi ko kinain kahit  na gutom na gutom na ako.

I spotted them huddled at the end, so I went over. I saw them surrounding a classmate who looked like she was about to cry. I couldn't help but ask her.

"Okay ka lang?" malumay na tanong ko.

I was shocked when she suddenly burst into tears. Hala? Wala naman akong ginawang masama sa kaniya. Kararating ko nga lang eh. Kung maka-iyak naman siya parang sinabutan ko eh tinanong ko lang naman kung okay lang siya.

"Lagot ka! Ba't mo kasi tinanong, alam mo na ngang paiyak na." saway ni Naina sa akin.

"Bakit ako? Nagtatanong lang nga eh." depensa ko.

"Haynako. Ganyan ka naman talaga. Lagi mo kaya yang ginagawa sa akin.  Pinipigilan na nga nung tao umiyak. Tapos tinanong mo pa. Ayan tuloy umiyak. Hays!"

"Luh? Kasalanan ko ba?" sabi ko naman.

I apologized to her even though I wasn't sure what I had done wrong. I was just concerned.

According to Joyce, asking if someone is okay can trigger their emotions, especially if they're already trying to hold back tears.

It wasn't the question that was the issue; it was just the way I asked it that made her break down.

But it's also good that I asked, as it might have lightened her load a little. It's bad to bottle up emotions. The problem was, she felt embarrassed to cry in the room, so I shouldn't have made her.

Ang gulo naman, nagmamalasakit lang naman ako.

Nilapag ko yung dala kong cheesestick sa table. Dadalhin namin yun mamaya sa lounge pero i-aakyat rin ulit sa room pagkatapos ng parade. Para saan pang ibababa kung iaakyat lang rin naman ulit? Ano yun? Dinisplay lang?

Umupo muna ako sandali at humilig sa upuan. Ipinikit ko sandali ang mga mata ko dahil nararamdaman ko na naman yung sakit ng ulo ko.

Pero hindi pa lumilipas ang limang minuto ay hinihila na ako ni Ellie dahil nagpapatulong siyang ibaba yung mga dala naming pagkain.

I had no choice but to follow Ellie as we headed to the lounge. Once there, we arranged the food neatly, and Ellie even counted the items and drinks. After that, she left to join the parade, leaving no instructions behind. Since my head was throbbing, I decided to leave too.