ITLOG NA MAALAT

Ika-19 na Maalat na Kabanata

Sumapit ang kinabukasan at late akong pumasok dahil awarding lang naman. Sakto pagpasok ko ng gym, nagsisimula na ito at si Sir Glintot ang emcee. Umupo ako sa bleachers katabi nila Jane at Cheche at naghihintay para tawagin ang pangalan ko sa stage.

"Now we may call on Ms. Sharon Mirasol Hambebe Ermita M. Kunyeta here on stage so we can award her the gold medal for winning the first place in scrabble. Congratulations, Ms. Kunyeta!" Pagbati sa'kin ni Sir Glintot. Malumanay akong naglakad paakyat ng stage dahil malungkot pa rin ako mula sa mga nangyari kahapon. Sinabitan ako ng medal ni Ma'am Bebe at ni-congratulate ako.

"Congrats, anak. Itinayo mo ang bandera natin sa scrabble, hehehe." Nakakatuwang bati sa'kin ni Ma'am Bebe.

"Thank you, Ma'am." I replied weakly then give her a wry smile.

Pinicturan kami ni Ate Bliss at bumaba na 'ko ng stage. Pagkababa ko, hinubad ko yung medal ko at nilagay sa bulsa tsaka lumabas ng gym mula sa backdoor. At dito ko siya nakasalubong.

"Congrats, Sha." Pagbati niya sa'kin. I smiled at him weakly. Then I closed the gap between us and hang the medal around his neck. "Bakit binibigay mo sa'kin 'to? Para sa'yo 'yan ha?" Tanong niya.

"Ano pang silbi ng gold medal kung hindi naman ako nanalo sa puso niya?" Sabi ko at hinubad niya 'yung medal tsaka isinuot sa'kin.

"Ayan reward mo. Nanalo ka kasi sa puso ko." Sabi niya. "Charot lang. Wag ka na malungkot." He pouts then laid his hands on my shoulders. "Happy lang." He suddenly followed then smiled. :--))) And with that, I flee—I flee away from the heartache that he may cause.

After ng awarding, pumunta muna ng headquarter si Maria. Hindi pa rin kasi siya tapos sa mga paper works kaya balak na niyang tapusin ngayon, tutal kaunti nalang naman daw. Sabay kasi kami lagi umu-uwi kaya hinihintay ko pa siya. Pagkatapos magpaalam sa'kin ni Chrismark na uuwi na siya at mag-ingat ako sa pag-uwi, umakyat muna ako sa rooftop dahil malamig doon. Naupo ako sa sahig at nilambitin yung legs ko sa railings. I was watching the varsity from the rooftop while I let the wind to caress my face and whip my hair. The sun was already setting in front of me and that made me feel just worse. Because after the sunset, there'll be night. And I will blend in with the night again. I rest my face on top of my hands and let myself cry. I don't wanna become the night anymore. I'm so tired of being the night already.

"Hey, ayos ka lang?" Someone said and I just ignored it. Pumasok na naman s'ya sa isip ko. Tsaka yung mga ala-ala na nabuo ko kasama s'ya. Kahit konti lang ang mga 'yun. Mga ala-ala na binigyan ako ng tunay na kaligayahan. Kahit saglit lang. At ito ang naging dahilan para maiyak ako lalo.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" ulit nung nagsalita. Kaya napatayo ako bigla at tinakpan yung mga mata ko.

"Oo," sagot ko, kahit na halata sa boses ko na hindi ako maayos. Then I looked up—never knowing that I was already looking at the person who will let my sun shine again. Si Sir, nandito: sa rooftop—sa harap ko.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Nauutal kong tanong.

"Nakita kasi kita mula sa canteen, baka kailangan mo ng kasama. Kaya naisipan kong puntahan ka dito. Pero sa sitwasyon mo ngayon, mukhang kailangan mo ngang mapag-isa." He explained. "But then, do you want me to leave or you want me to stay?" He asked me with a reassuring smile. I just ignored his question—like duh, I know it's Chrome's question whenever you're trying to leave a site where something's in progress—and sat back to where I was. Then I tapped the space beside me.

"Stay," I plea and he sat next to me. Our feet both dangling in the air like we're just kids.

"So bakit ka mag-isa?" Tanong nya. "Do you want to talk about it or you just want a company?" He asked me as he leans on the railing so he can look at my face fully. I just shrugged and wipe my eyes with my handkerchief again. I flinched. It stings because of too much wiping.

"Here, let me take the sting away." He said then pulled my head towards his'. "Close your eyes." I did. Even though I am so afraid that if I open my eyes, I will never be able to see him again. Ever. But I still did. Kasi mahal ko siya. He brushed his thumb along the line of my eyelashes. Then he kissed it. I know he kissed it. Because I know how soft his lips are—how they would feel if I kiss those lips off his face—just by looking at it. (Oh diba, taray ng sense of sight ko, kaya mag-multi task. Parang ako lang: study and landi at the same time. I can do both.)

He pulled away, "Open your eyes." He commands. I did. At nandyan pa rin s'ya sa harap ko. Still alive and breathing—breathing ragged. I looked away. How can he make me feel this way? Uminit 'yung mukha ko kaya alam kong namumula ako.

"I'm—uhm—I'm sorry." Sabi n'ya. "Hindi ko lang napigilan sarili ko. Sorry." Sabi n'ya tsaka siya tumayo at nagmamadaling lumabas ng pinto. Hinayaan ko lang siya. Kasi alam kong napilitan lang siyang gawin 'yun sakin. At isa pa, may girlfriend siya. Kaya hindi dapat siya ang humingi ng tawad. Dapat ako 'yun. Sorry, Sir. Sorry.