The End of Your Song

In Retrospect

Nagmamadali akong lumakad papunta sa chapel, I have two scheduled long quizzes this morning.  Ayokong ma-late pero gusto ko pa ding makadaan sa chapel. Since it's a Wednesday, mamayang uwian namin, magno-novena at mag-sisimba kami nina Mandie, Lindsay, Lei at Belle.  I'll just say a short prayer this morning, will ask for help from Mama Mary, mananawagan na din sa mga paborito kong mga santo to help me on my quizzes.  As usual, duon ulit ako sa paborito kong pew, the very last, at the right side.  Kapag kasama ko ang mga kaibigan ko, mas gusto nila sa bandang gitna. 

After a while, I got up, my feet automatically led me to the holy water vessel, while I was checking my bag for my reviewers (na pinaghirapan ko pang i-summarize sa index cards).  I extended my right hand towards the vessel, dipped my fingers in the holy water when it touched another's.  Mas mabilis ang pag-angat ng ulo ko para tingnan kung sino ang nakasabay ko, kesa sa pag-angat ko ng mga daliri ko.  Sandali lang nagtama ang mga kanan naming daliri, pero parang frozen in time ang pakiramdam ko.  At that moment, I felt a mild electricity from the tips of my fingers, going to my heart.  Warmth spread all over my body, I hope I'm not blushing.

It's that guy, madalas ko siyang makasabay sa jeep from Cubao to our school.  Judging from his uniform, he is an engineering student.  Minsan may kasama siyang kaibigan siguro niya, naka-uniform na pang Science.  Several times, nakikita ko siyang bumababa sa jeep sa tapat ng abangan ko ng jeep, an indication that he lives farther than me.

It's a normal thing, familiar faces ang mga nakakasabay ko sa pagpasok, considering na napakalaki ng university namin at madaming students, living in different parts of Metro Manila.  Cubao ang bagsakan ng maraming commuters from different parts, going to several destinations.  Among those faces, he is the only one whose face etched in my mind.  Well... his friend is also familiar, but I'm not paying as much attention to that guy the way I'm paying attention to him. 

I saw him the first time when I was in my first year, I don't know when I really started noticing him.  Well, bukod sa pagkakasabay namin sa sasakyan sa umaga papasok, he does the same thing I do most mornings---dumaan sa chapel.  Most of the students na palagi kong nakakasabay, don't passed by the chapel in the morning.  Ang babaan kasi namin ay medyo malayo doon, and its actually far from the other college buildings, unless Theology student ka.  Kahit yung taga-Science na madalas niyang kasama, hindi naman din dumadaan sa chapel sa umaga.  Though madami din namang ibang estudyanteng dumadaan doon every morning, mostly those passing at the gate near the chapel on their way to their respective buildings. 

Then on most Wednesdays, sa tanghali, I noticed that he and some friends are attending the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help.  Ganun din kaming magka-kaibigan, sabi nga ni Mandie, maaga pa lang, ipagdasal na namin ang board exam.  There are many students like us, dumadaan sa chapel at least once a day, praying the novenas, doing what became our habits.  So under normal circumstances, hindi naman talaga siya dapat maging kapansin-pansin. 

But I did noticed, maybe it's the mysterious aura he has.  There were times when we sat opposite each other sa jeep, I was able to memorize how good looking he is.  At quick glance, mas attractive ang kasama niya, but if you pay attention, this guy will draw you more.  He looks serious most of the time, specially kung mag-isa siya, like he's always thinking of some complicated engineering problems, and doesn't notice the world around him.  Besides, feeling ko napaka-religious naman niya, for him to be always in the chapel, which makes me see him in a better light. 

Syempre, ang mga pangyayari sa umaga ko ay lagi kong kinu-kuwento sa apat kong kaibigan, na matiyagang makinig sa mga kahibangan ko.  Wala namang nang-yayaring kakaiba kundi ang madalas naming pagka-kasabay, yun lang juicy na sa amin yun.  Sabagay, ganun naman talaga ang mga barkada, handang makinig kahit sa walang kuwentang kuwento, may mapag-usapan lang.