Chapter 18
"We're back, baby!" sigaw ni Tomas. "We're finally seniors! Sinong gigiba sa 'tin?"
Binatukan ko naman ito. "Loko ka talaga. Naghahanap ka pa ng away, e."
Natawa naman si Tomas. "Excited lang naman, boy! Pagbigyan mo na ako. Ngayon lang naman 'to, e. Saka marami tayong pag-uusapan. Hayaan mo muna si Synestine maging busy sa ginagawa niya. Kasama mo naman siya buong summer. Kung saan-saan pa kayo nagpupunta."
"Anong saan-saan?"
"Sus! Nag-Boracay kayo, 'di ba?" anito.
"E, isang linggo lang naman kami ro'n?" sagot ko pa. "Hindi naman kami nag-stay nang buong summer do'n. Barbero ka na ngayon, Tom. Anong ginawa sayo ng Dubai, ha?"
Napahagikgik naman ito. "Well, marami! Kaya nga kapag hinanap ka ni Sy, 'wag mo muna sagutin 'yong tawag niya. Catch-up muna tayo. May malapit na bar diyan sa labas oh!"
Napangisi naman ako saka umiling. "Nope. I won't drink. As much as I'd love to, it's too early. Maybe we should do it next time."
"Mamayang gabi?"
"Next time," pagpunto ko pa.
Napailing-iling naman ito sa akin. "Simula lang nang maging girlfriend mo si Synestine, hindi mo na ako sinasamahan. Oh, well, gets ko naman kung bakit. You've been dreaming to be with her since the first time you saw her kaya sino ba naman ako para pigilan ka, 'di ba?"
"Nag-drama ka naman ngayon?"
Napakibit balikat naman ito. "Well, it was just the truth. . . Anyway, I'll be seeing you later, tomorrow, later, whatever. Text mo na lang ako kung kailangan mo na ako."
Tinalikuran ako ni Tomas at saka ito naglakad palayo. Tinawag ko pa ang atensyon nito, pero hindi na ako nilingon. Nakuha pa niyang magtampo. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakita niya nasabi 'yon. Hindi naman umiikot ang mundo ko kay Synestine—well, lately, pero may sari-sarili pa rin naman kaming buhay at pinagkakaabalahan sa buhay.
Gusto lang siguro uminom ni Tomas kaya nagtampo.
Saglit lang din naman ay nakatanggap ako ng text kay Synestine na hindi kami magkakasabay sa lunch ngayon dahil may group work silang kailangang asikasuhin. We would be able to see each other after her class na lang o kung may gagawin pa siya ay sa coffee shop na kami magkikita.
I headed to my next class and it went along so well. The first semester of our senior year would be the last time for us to attend onsite classes because when the second semester starts, we would be doing our on-the-job program, and I've heard some would try exploring their internship abroad. Synestine and I talked about it if the opportunity was given because we knew for a fact how much it would cost us.
At lunch, I went to the cafeteria alone looking for someone I needed to talk to. Nang makita ko siya na kumakain mag-isa ng binili niyang mac and cheese. I bought some softdrink in cans before I went to his direction. Nilapitan ko ito at saka ako umupo sa kaharap na silya. Nagulat pa nga ito nang makita ako. Hindi niya siguro inaasahan na makikita niya ako na usually si Synestine dapat.
"Okay, let's talk," panimula ko, pero bumalik naman ito sa pagkain niya. "I know what you meant when you said those things to me earlier. We've been together since first year."
"Not together-together," paglilinaw pa nito sa akin.
"Right! That's right," pagsang-ayon ako. "Well, I would like to apologize if I haven't been there with you lately. I know you've been supportive of me and Synestine. Hindi ka rin naman namin pinagtatabuyan o kung ano man. We were actually looking after you as well. We also know you've been doing so well and we're proud of you."
