To the Moon and Back

KABANATA 2

March 29, 2004,Monday

Dear Diary,
Farewell party na sa isang araw, sa susunod na linggo, graduation na. I wanna cry! This is sick. In seven days, maghihiwalay na kami ni Sir Aries.
Hindi na n'ya ko maaakbayan tuwing joke time, hindi na n'ya ko matuturuan tungkol sa mga planeta't bituin, sa mga pesteng nebula, pulsars at blackholes. Wala na. Pa'no na 'ko?
I can't live a day without him. Without seeing his lips creeping into a smile, without his eyes sparkling against the sun, without his presence. Without him.
Pa'no na 'yan? Wala nang hihigit pa kay Sir, bilang best adviser... at bilang greatest inspiration. Baka hindi na ako maka-function nang maayos sa high school?
I'm dead!!!
Pero okay lang 'yon. At least I still have seven days to live my life with Sir to the fullest. I'll just make the most out of them.
For now, I'll just be happy.
Love,
Luna
P.S. Sana mag-
"Everyone, listen up, this is important!"
Hindi natapos ni Luna ang sinusulat sa diary nito nang biglang pumasok si Mrs. Gabiola habang malakas at pagalit na nagsasalita. Guro nila ito sa E.P.P.
Ni minsan sa buong buhay ni Luna ay hindi niya pa narinig na nagsalita ito nang mahina't mahinahon.
"EVERYONE!" mas malakas na wika nito sa agad namang nanahimik na klase.
With sheer fright, she quickly closed her diary and shoved it under her desk. She sat up straight and looked up to Mrs. Gabiola.
"Hindi na 'ko magpapa-test for fourth quarter!" Wika ng guro habang mabilis na nagpapaypay. Nakataas pa rin ang kilay nito. Kung tutuusin, dalawang linggo na rin itong huli sa pagbibigay ng periodical exams.
Sabay-sabay na nagpalakpakan at naghiyawan ang bawat isa sa classroom. Galak na galak sa good news na ito.
"Pero kailangan niyong bumili sa 'kin ng pamaypay. 60 pesos ang isa. Pag hindi bumili, 75 agad ang grade, 92 naman ang bibili ngayong araw!" aniya habang isa-isang inilalabas sa malaki nitong backpack ang mga pamaypay. She was secretly flashing an evil grin.
"Grabe naman 'yon ma'am!" sigaw ni Meridith, ang president ng section 4.
"Meridith minus 10!" galit na bulyaw ng gurong kurakot.
Wala nang nagawa ang mga ito kundi pumila sa harap desk. They reluctuntly picked a fan from the desk, one after another, handed their teacher 60 pesos and walked back to their seats with evident pissed look.
"Pautang naman Apollo, ayokong bumagsak dito sa bruhang 'to!" bulong ni Luna dito habang naghihintay sa dulo ng pila.
"Bakit naman kita papautangin?" malamig na sabi nito dito, hindi siya nito nilingon. Bastos kang lalaki ka! Bigyan ng jacket!
Unti-unti nang umusad ang pila. Palapit na nang palapit sa kanya ang mukha ng gurong puno ng kulubot. Palinaw na nang palinaw ang mga puti nitong buhok. Her knees bagan shaking wildly, her heart was beating like a drum, parang may parada roon ng mga elepante.
She glanced at her right, and at her left. Her face brightened when she saw an empty seat, and an open bag right there. She left the queue and tiptoed towards the empty seat as if no one can see her. She scanned the whole room once again. Within a second, she's back at the line. Now with enough money inside her balled hands to buy the fan.

***

"BLESSING IN DISGUISE siguro 'yon Luna! Cheer up!" malambing na wika ni Sir Aries sa dalaga habang naglalakad palabas ng principal's office.
Bago pa man siya makabili ng pamaypay kay Mrs. Gabiola, nalaman na agad ni Veron (ang kaklase nitong may-ari ng bukas na bag) na siya ang kumuha ng 60 pesos sa kanyang bag. Kaya naman agad itong pinadala sa principal's office. Don't get me wrong, this is a do or die situation!
Luckily though, matapos ang halos isa't kalahating oras ng interogasyon, si Mrs. Gabiola pa ang nalintikan dahil sa pangungurakot niya. The blame was lifted from Luna to Mrs. Gabiola.
Sakto namang pumasok si Sir Aries sa office para maglog-out. To the rescue.
"Madam, I know her well enough to prove her innocence. Ang dapat sisihin dito eh si Mrs. Gabiola for pressuring the pupils." He said as he secretly winked at Luna. He raced inside the principal's desk when he saw Luna a while ago. Luna in turn blushed instantly.
"Well then, I'll dismiss everyone since these are all first offences. But Mrs. Gabiola, care to explain this 60 pesos fan?" wika ng principal na ngayo'y niluluto sa mainit na tingin ang guro.
"Tara na!" wika ni Sir Aries na tumango na sa principal upang magpaalam, sabay namang paghablot sa braso ni Luna. Walang anu-ano'y naglakad na sila palabas ng office.
"BLESSING IN DISGUISE siguro 'yon Luna! Cheer up!"
Lingid sa kaalaman ng guwapong guro na sa loob-loob nito'y naguumapaw ang galak at saya. Daig pa nito ang nanalo sa lotto. She's cheerful, only she wasn't showing it. She feigned loneliness so he could comfort her longer. Let your sturdy arns wrap me up like a fatyer does to her baby when she's in fright. Please.
She looked at him with fake sad eyes, the side were welling with equally fake tears. Hindi siya nagsalita. Kung nag-audition lamang ito sa Drama Club, baka agaran na itong natanggap sa galing nitong umarte.
"C'mon, let's go somewhere!" aniya habang mabilis na inangkla ang matipuno nitong braso sa balikat ni Luna na bigla naman nitong ikinagulat. Her eyes widened, her lower lip trembled and her breathing almost stopped.
"Sa'n po tayo pupunta?" she asked him in a low voice, still faking loneliness, but was actually throwing a party deep inside.
"Basta!" wika nito. His voice was cool and calm and gentle and cute all at once. He smiled at her. She smiled at him. She wanted to shout, she wanted to hug this handsome creature, she wanted to kiss him even if he's a foot taller than her. But she didn't. Hindi nito pwedeng malaman ang nararamdaman niya. Alam niyang mag-iiba ang turingan nila kung mangyari iyon.
They started trudging along. Walking past the shops, hands momentarilly holding one another's.Bodies almost intertwined due to sheer proximity. Baka mawala 'to pag binitiwan ko, ang nasa isip ni Sir Aries. Gusto niya rin ako, ang nasa puso ni Luna.