I was intently looking at our pictures from last Saturday, and I still can't believe it actually happened. My heart still races like crazy every time I remember the exact event. It won't stop acting abnormally. I even had our pictures developed at the nearby digital store. My favorite one is where he made a half-heart sign and placed it beside my cheek.
I even put that picture as my home screen on my phone. I don't know... Fuck! I'm so head over heels for him.
I even had a dream that night—in my dream, we were dating. He was holding my hand, and he took me to a romantic place. Everything was perfect. In my dream, there was no judgment. Everyone supported us. That's why when I woke up, I felt a heaviness in my heart because those things are too impossible to happen.
"Ivan, labas tayo mamaya after class. Ngayon daw kasi magbubukas yung carnival na malapit sa school. Shuta naexcite ako, gusto ko itry lahat!" excited na sabi ni Venice habang naglalakad kami papunta sa gymnasium para sa isang assembly.
"Gagabihin tayo."
"Ano ka ba? Sabihin nalang natin na may tinapos tayong activity sa school kaya tayo nalate na umuwi." Talagang nagrason pa siya.
"Okay naman sa akin na pumunta tayo mamaya. Parang masaya." Akala ko hindi nakikinig si Trev sa aming usapan. Pagkarating namin sa gymnasium ay umupo na agad kami sa aming pwesto. Sa left wing kami na bleacher umupo.
"Bakit kaya biglang nagpatawag for assembly?" tanong ni Venice habang nililibot ang tingin, tila may hinahanap. "Hindi ko makita si Andrei," bulong niya sapat na para marinig ko. Talagang may oras pa siya na hanapin ang kanyang crush.
"I know you're all wondering why we're here right now. We just wanted to announce that our 50th founding anniversary is fast approaching, and we want to inform you about the activities we'll have on that day," the student president announced using the microphone.
"So, here are the activities that will take place over the course of three days." He then started announcing all the events. All I remember is that there will be a pageant, a battle of the bands, and a dance competition.
Pagkabalik namin sa classroom ay agad na nagtawag ng meeting ang aming president para mamili kung sino ang ilalaban namin sa pageant. Kailangan kasi ng isang lalaki at isang babae per section. Hindi naman nahirapan ang president namin na mamili dahil nag volunteer agad si Alliyah para maging representative ng aming section. Sa boys naman, si William na ang kumuha ng challenge.
"Dating gawi?" tanong ni Venice sa amin. Last year kasi wala na naman kaming ginawa kundi manuod at magbantay sa aming booth.
"Pass! May battle of the bands. Sasali ako," at kumindat pa itong si Trev. Sa limang taon kong pag attend ng Foundation celebration dito ay walang naganap na Batle of the bands, This will be the first time that the student council has decided to have this event.
"Pero tuloy tayo mamaya ah. Mukhang magiging busy na kasi ako sa mga susunod na araw para sa rehearsal, Itetext ko si Dave." Inilabas ni Trev ang kanyang cellphone para imessage si Dave. Kaya pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng huling klase namin ngayong araw ay agad kaming nagtungo sa aming meeting place. Nauna kaming nadismiss kaya hinintay pa namin si Dave.
Dumating si Dave after five minutes of waiting. At hindi siya nag-iisa, He's with Kaiden.
"Hey!" Kaiden greeted us. Trev and Kaiden exchanged their bro-hand gesture. Kaiden just nodded at us with his captivating smile. Kahit hapon na ay ang fresh niya pa ring tignan.
Nagtricy kaming tatlo nila Trev samantalang nakasingle motor naman si Kaiden, nakiangkas nalang si Dave sa kanya. Hindi naman ganuon kalayuan yung location ng carnival kaya mabilis din kaming nakarating. Pagkatapos naming ibigay ang bayad kay manong driver ay hindi na maitago ni Venice ang excitement.
Grabe! Ganitong oras palang pero madami na agad ang nagsipuntahan. May mga schoolmate din kaming nakita, yung iba naman ay galing sa ibang school.
"Gosh! Sa Viking tayo mauna!"Agad akong hinila ni Venice, muntikan pa kaming may makabanggaan dahil sa kanyang pagmamadali. Tumingin ako sa aming mga kasama na nakasunod naman sa amin. Ngayon ko lang narealize, we're still wearing our school uniform.
"Sure ba na itong uunahin natin? Extreme agad?" Tanong ni Dave.
"No way sa Carousel," saad ni Trev nang mapansin niyang nakatingin duon si Dave. Napahagalpak naman ng tawa si Dave kaya binatukan siya ni Trev.
Sa huli ay sa Viking din ang inuna naming sinakyan. Sa pinakadulo kaming bahagi ng bangka umupo. Venice is so loud beside me. Trev is on her right side. Kaiden is sitting next to me, and Dave is sitting beside him.
I can perfectly smell his scent, but I didn't try to check on him. Though he's busy talking to Dave about some random things.
Nang magsimula nang umandar ay saka lang ako napahawak nang mahigpit sa hawakan. Nakailang sigaw na si Venice kahit dahan dahan palang naman ang paggalaw ng malaking bangka. At nang maabot namin ang pinakatuktok, duon na ako nakakaramdam ng kakaiba. Halos humiwalay ang aking kaluluwa sa aking katawang lupa kaya hindi ko na ring napigilang sumigaw sa nararamdaman.
Narinig ko pa ang tawanan nila Dave at Kaiden na tila ba normal lang sa kanila ang mga ganitong rides.
"Just relax, Reivan. Relax," Kaiden said while laughing. I felt his hand tapping my left shoulder. Mukhang mas lalo akong hindi kakalma dahil sa mga pinaggagawa niya.
After riding the Viking, we decided to try out some other extreme rides, like the Super Moon ride and the Dragon Coaster. Each ride made our hearts race, and laughter filled the air as we screamed in joy and fear. Of course, Venice, being the most dramatic in the group, would scream at the top of her lungs.
After all the extreme rides, we finally agreed to ride the Ferris wheel as our last adventure of the night. It stood majestically against the starry sky, and I could feel a mix of excitement at the view. It was already 7:30, and the stars and moon were already out.
Once we reached the top, the view was breathtaking. The carnival lights twinkled below us like a sea of stars, We are in a one gondola, the five of us. Maluwang naman ang mga passenger cars ng Ferris wheel kaya kasyang kasya kami.
As I glanced at Kaiden, who was seated in front of me, I caught him smiling at the view. Gosh! That smile...
"Ang Ganda!" I shouted as I diverted my eyes to the view.
"Right? It's even better up here," Kaiden replied. I looked at him and there I saw his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Venice, ever the photographer, was busy snapping pictures, capturing every moment. "Everyone say 'cheese,'" she shouted. We all looked at the camera and waited for the flash to come out.
As the wheel continued to turn slowly, I felt a sense of calm. The Ferris wheel was so relaxing to ride. Having these four people with me made it even better.
"This is the best," Dave said. Trev nodded in agreement.
"Yes, this is one of the best things that have happened to me," Kaiden said. I looked at him, and for a moment, our gazes met. He smiled at me before he decided to look away, trying to focus on the beautiful view again.
"We should do this again next year. Same rides, same group," Venice said as she took some clips of us on the rides.
I smiled brightly. "Definitely! We should make it a tradition."
"Tama! Ito ay Mandatory!" Trev shouted, and the five of us laughed about it.
I couldn't help but wish that this magical night would never end, that we could stay here forever, surrounded by these amazing people with laughter—no problem at all. Just us enjoying each other's company under the enchanting light of the moon and stars.
"Kanya kanya na tayo ng rason pag-uwi," Dave said and the five of us burst into laughter.
What a night to remember!
