Field of Emotions

Chapter 22

I woke up as the bus was already parked at the first destination. And my classmates were teasing me.

"Pres. Ganda, masarap tulog mo?" Pang-aasar ni Dane sa akin na sinundan naman ni Jacinth.

"Siguro kung katabi ko Aurelian, masarap din tulog ko. May magkukumot din sa akin tapos may hahawak ng kamay ko kapag tulog ako." Jacinth said dreamingly.

"Wala na, may nanalo na ng korona. Luminarian lang pala ang hanap ng Captain namin!" pang-aasar naman ng isang Aurelian.

My forehead knotted on their remarks. Natulog lang ako ganito na bungad nila sa akin. I looked at them, eyes asking for something and they looked at my hands. I traced their gaze and to my shock, Sian was holding mine! Not only that, the red string bracelet I gave him when we were still elementary, he's still wearing it together with his steel bracelet.

"Matheo Sebastián, wake up you idiot!" I exclaimed and flicked his forehead but his forehead only knotted.

"Lizzy, mamaya na...natutulog yung tao eh." Anas naman niya at lalong hinigpitan ang kapit sa akin.

"Mamaya? Sasabihin kita kay Lola Meli at kay Tita Felize lalo na kay Tito Sixto." Pagbabanta ko pero wala siyang kibo.

"Where's Arianna, Cassandra?" I asked even Cassandra wasn't in the same bus as me. With the mention of "Arianna", he opened his eyes and sat properly but still didn't let go of my hand.

"Kuya Sungit, did you know I can see you from here? I will tell the whole clan of Romero and Augustine what are you doing. At nako! Babawalan ka na nilang lumapit kay Ate." striktong saad ni Arianna na nasa katapat na upuan lang pala namin. "Hayyy...sayang naman." pang-aasar pa niya.

"Pres, magkilala kayo?!"

"Captain, you know each other?!"

They reacted in synchronous. I saw Sian grinned and even held my hands tighter. Gusto ko nang bumitaw dahil alam kong mag gagawing kalokohan ang lalaki. Pero laking pasasalamat ko ng palabasin kami ng driver. Biyaya talaga siya ng langit kung sino man si Manong! Pagbaba ay nakita ko ang dalawa na nakasimangot din.

"Mga nakasimangot? Hulaan natin kung anong nangyari!" Sabi ni Arianna na parang si Dora kung magsalita. "Solana, ano kaya ang nangyari?" Tanong niya.

They kept on teasing us and it turns out, hindi lang ako ang napagtripan sa bus. Deia and Alexa accidentally slept on their seat mate's shoulders. Si Gab naman ay mukhang masaya kaya tuloy ay kasama siya sa nang-iinis sa amin. Puro museum ang pinuntahan namin at si Sian ay panay ang picture ng kung ano-ano. It was an educational trip indeed.

Ginabi na kami at pinagpaalam ako ni Sian kanina umaga kina Tita Alvina na sa kanila daw ako matutulog. Napangiwi ako kay Sian at hindi naiwasang maalala ang nangyari kaninang umaga. It was normal sa amin pero ang schoolmates namin ang nagbibigay ng malisya.

While waiting for his driver to pick us up, the cold breeze of the Christmas season embraced me. It was cold and I forgot to bring my jacket. But then, I felt someone putting a jacket on my shoulders. Napatingin ako sa lalaki pero nginitian lang niya ako.

"Malamig, Lizzy. Baka magkasakit ka." Sabi niya.

"P-pero pa'no ka?" Tanong ko kay Sian. I don't even know why I stutter.

He grinned at me and ruffled my hair. "Lamig lang yan. Kayang-kaya ko yan, ako pa!" He gazed at me but smiled when he got his senses back. "Wag mo nang ibalik yan, bibili naman na ako ng bago." Dagdag pa niya.

I looked at him with curiosity. "Bago? Akala ko kakabili mo lang nito noong isang linggo?"

He held my hand, feeling the warmth of it. "Tatanggapin ko lang yan kapag tinanggap mo regalo ko sayo tapos may pabango ko yang jacket."