I Would Hate To Be You

Chapter 8 [hitsuzen]

Chapter 8

"Oh, wow. Magkakilala pala kayo?" singit ni Master. There was amusement in his eyes. "What a coincidence!" manghang-mangha niyang sabi. His eyes widened and his mouth is close to gaping.

Pagkasabi niya no'n, naalala ko ang isang manga na pinabasa sa'kin ni Sash dati—well, pinilit niyang ipabasa sa'kin. So, I pretty much didn't have a choice. Anyway, sabi ng fictional character na si Yuuko Ichihara ng xxxHolic, 'There is no such thing as coincidence, only hitsuzen.' And hitsuzen is a naturally fore-ordained event; a state in which all other outcomes are possible.

That rings so true today. Since that concert, I have been meeting Japheth everywhere. Sa Seattle's Best. Sa basketball court. Ngayon naman, dito sa Glamour Kills. And if I think about it, even if that concert didn't happen, we are bound to meet each other, anyway. Because he's friends with Kuya Boaz.

I thought maybe our meeting is something that has been fore-ordained and it was inevitable all along. And I like that. I like to believe that, indeed, this was a hitsuzen.

"Yes, Master. Kaibigan siya ni Kuya Boaz," I told him matter-of-factly. Honestly, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa level of connections ng Kuya Boaz ko. I mean, una close pala sila ni Master. Pangalawa, he's friends with Cyrus and the other guys. I mean, who would have thought?

Tiningnan ni Master si Japheth. "Talaga? Kaibigan mo rin si pala Boaz?" He, for one, was surprised, too. I could relate because same.

Japheth replied with a nod.

"What a small world," Master said, chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief.

I know, right.

Master looked around his store and said, "Kids, excuse lang, ah. Masyadong malungkot 'tong store ko. Magpapatugtog lang ako." He smiled before going back to the counter. And since he's already busy, I took this time to get my artwork back from Japheth.

"I'm sorry, but can . . . can I have that," nahihiyang tinuro ko ang drawing ko na hawak ni Japheth.

"Oh . . ." It finally registered to him. "Here," sabi niya habang inaabot sa'kin.

Kinuha ko ito at agad na linagay sa paper bag na dala ko. Nakahinga na ako nang maluwag dahil nasa kamay ko na ang drawing na muntik ng maging dahilan ng early demise ko. Akala ko talaga kanina, hihimatayin ako sa sobrang hiya. Buti na lang sobrang pure ni Japheth kaya hindi niya inisip na creepy ako or something. Kasi naman, who in the right mind would draw his crush's eyes and leave it in a place where everyone can see? 

I was about to say something, but it was halted by the loud music.

It's hard to be a man

But I'm doing all I can

I'm ready to give this all I have

I'm ready to be amazed

Oh. Still Breathing by Mayday Parade!

I flinched out of surprise. Even Japheth was shocked because I saw how his eyes widened. It was cute, though.

"Oh, no. Pasensya na kayo. Nag-stop kasi ang music ko kanina tapos hindi ko nahinaan bago ko i-play ulit," sabi ni Master mula sa counter. Nagulat din siya. Ilang segundo lang ang nakakalipas, unti-unti namang humina ang tunog.

Para hindi na mahiya si Master, biniro ko siya. "Don't worry, Master. Mayday Parade naman 'yun, eh. We don't mind, 'di ba, Japh?" I jokingly eyed Japh. Tumango naman siya.

Of course, dahil sa sobrang daldal ko, hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na makipag-small talk. "Hey, Japh. Mayday Parade's coming next year for a concert in Manila. Have you heard the news? Nag-announce ang PULP last month," I informed him.