It was just another typical Monday at a small high school in the suburbs. The bell rang, signaling the start of the day, and students shuffled into their first period classes.
In Mrs. Jenkins' English class, the students were discussing the latest novel they were reading.
“Can someone please tell me the theme of 'To K!ll A Mockingbird'?” Mrs. Jenkins asked, looking around the room.
“It's about the injustice of r@cism and the importance of standing up for what's right” Tasha said confidently.
“The mockingbird represents innocence and the idea that it's a s!n to k!ll something that isn't doing any harm” she added.
Our teacher just nodded at her. Nakikinig lang ako sakanila. I'm not in the mood today para makipag kapwa tao. I still didn't forget about what happened the last day. Tasha seems alright naman na, but I'm still worried.
“Zoe, saan tayo mag lunch?” Napalingon ako kay Tasha nang magtanong siya. It's lunch time.
“I don't know, wala naman sinabi si Dione”
“Dine nalang sa room, baka mamaya masira nanaman araw ko” I gave her a side eye. I know kung ano at sino ang tinutukoy niya.
“My loveeeeeee” pareho kaming Napalingon ni Tasha nang marinig ang boses na yun. It was Kian kasama niya si Dione.
Wow ha, close na sila ngayon?
“Anong ginagawa mo naman dito?!”
“You don't want to see me? Look, I brought you some kimchi” malambing na sabi ni Kian.
Hindi siya pinansin ni Tasha at inayos nalang ang mga upuan. We sat in the chairs, facing each other. Hindi ko na sila pinansin at tumingin nalang ako sa nasa tabi ko. He's so quiet, hindi ako sanay.
“Zoe, anong kukunin mong course?”
“I thought we talked about it na?”
“Nalilito kasi ako! Hindi ko alam kung anong course kukunin ko” nakangusong sabi niya.
“Tanong pa ba yan? Of course ako!” Nakangiting sagot sakanya ni Kian.
“Never mind, magtitinda nalang ako ng fishball” nakataray na tugon ni Tasha.
“Ano naman kasing nakakalito? Akala ko nakapili ka na” pagsali ko sa usapan.
“Ako rin Nalilito e” pagsingit ni Kian
“Natatakot kasi ako mag cookery, baka ako yung sumarap” he shrugged while placing the kimchi he brought in Tasha's plate.
Tasha gave him a dirty look. Umakto pa siyang nasusuka.
“Nangangasim ka nanaman!”
Lagi nalang sila nagtatalo, love language ba nila yan?
“How was your day?” Bulong sakin ni Dione.
“It was good. How about you?”
“Same old, same old”
“You packed lunch for us again?” I asked, a smile on my face.
“I told you, we're not going to eat in the cafeteria”
Thinking about it, ayos ba sila ni Astra? I mean, she did say bad things a lot but still, she's his childhood friend.
“Ano meaning ng omsim?” Napalingon ako kay kian nang mag salita siya.
“Ewan ko, may Google ka diba? Tanong nang tanong. Anong silbi niyan kung hindi mo gagamitin” Inis na sagot ni Tasha.
Kian gave her side eye before speaking “Alamo mo ba yung joke?”
Suminghap si Tasha bago sumagot “Ayan, nagtatanong ka nanaman!”
Napako face-palm nalang ako sakanilang dalawa. They're so chaotic.
“Dione, sabay kayo uuwi ni Zoe?” Tasha asked.
“Yes, we're going somewhere” Napalingon ako kay Dione nang sabihin niya yun.
We're going somewhere? At saan naman kami pupunta? He haven't told me anything.
“Alam mo narealize ko, dapat talaga nakinig ako sa sinabi ni mama noon eh” Tasha worded out
“What did your parents told you?” tanong din ni Kian.
“Ewan ko, hindi nga ako nakinig ako diba? Bo.b0 neto”
Kian looks so done with her. Tasha is a nice person. Kung gaano kaayos ang pakikitungo niya, siya namang kabaligtaran ng bibig niya.
The classes continue after we had lunch. It was fun. No one talked about the camping. Iilan lang din naman kasi ang may alam. When it's time to leave, I saw Kian waiting patiently in the ground floor of the building. Seems like wala talaga siyang planong layuan si Tasha.
Dumiretsyo na ako sa parking lot at natagpuan doon si Dione. Nang makita niya ako, agad siyang lumapit at yumakap.
“Where are we going?” tanong ko sakanya.
“It's a surprise”
Pumasok na ako sa kotse niya pag tapos niya akong pag buksan ng pinto. As usual, passenger princess nanaman ang atake. We headed out the school. Pa tuloy lang sa pag mamaneho si Dione habang sinasabayan ang daloy ng musika mula sa radyo ng sasakyan niya. This feels so good. After all the drama, ngayon lang ulit namin nagawa 'to.
“Baby, we're here...” bulong sakin ni Dione habang tinatapik ako. Nakatulog pala ako sa byahe!
As we walked hand in hand down the sandy path towards the beach, the sun was beginning to cast a warm orange glow across the sky.
“Beach huh?” I said
“I thought that we needed a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and there was no better place to relax and unwind than by the ocean, besides, it's your favourite view”
I can't believe how beautiful it is here. It's like something out of a postcard. We found a spot on the soft sand and laid out a blanket, facing the horizon where the sun was beginning to dip below the water. The sky was painted in shades of pink and purple, creating a breathtaking backdrop for their evening together.
It's nice to get away from everything for a while. Parang lahat ng Inaalala ko ay nawala. I'm relaxed by just staring the golden scenery. We sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, simply enjoying each other's company and the peaceful sounds of the ocean. The waves crashed against the shore in a rhythmic pattern, lulling them into a sense of calm.
Naramdaman ko ang pag galaw ni Dione sa tabi ko. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small box. My eyes widened as he handed it to her.
“What's this?” she asked, her heart racing.
He shrugged “Just a little something I got for you. Open it”
I carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside, I found a beautiful silver necklace with a daisy pendant. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at him.
“It's beautiful” I whispered, her voice catching in her throat.
He took the necklace from the box and carefully put it around my neck “I wanted to get you something special to show you how much I love you, and I know you love the daisy”
“How did you know that I love daisy?”
Si Tasha lang naman ang nakakaalam non. Wala akong pinagsasabihan.
“Observing” he gently said.
YOU ARE READING
Maybe in another life
Romance"Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is hear no more; it is a tale told by an id/ot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do...
