Epiphany

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

I'm waiting Cait outside their classroom. Nakahilig ako sa isang pader kaharap ng pintuan nila and I don't give a damn to those people who's staring at me. Ngayon lang ba sila nakakita ng isang masugid na manliligaw?

Nakatingin lang ako kay Cait na nagsusulat na ngayon, kinakausap s'ya ng gagong si Leo at hinahawakan pa yung buhok n'ya. Ilang sandali pa kinausap naman ni Cait si Silv at parang may pinapakita sa kanyang papel nakatingin si Cait sa papel habang si Silv naman nakatunganga sa mukha n'ya. Bakit ba napapalibutan s'ya ng mga kaagaw ko?

Cait look at me and smile maya-maya lang kinuha n'ya ang kaniyang cellphone at nagtipa. Hindi nagtagal nagvibrate ang aking cellphone, gusto ata kong ka-text ng baby ko kahit may klase sila.

From: baby
Iz, just wait me in the canteen. Nakatingin kasi sayo yung mga classmates kong babae.

Tinignan ko yung mga classmates n'yang babae at biglang nandiri sa nakita. Yung iba naka-lipbite pa habang nakatingin sakin.

I type a reply.

To: baby
Don't mind them, I'm here to wait you.

Tinignan ko ang gawi n'ya at napakunot ang noo ko dahil nakikibasa si Leo ng text ko kay Cait. So I type again.

To: baby
Remind me to punch Leo later.

Pero imbis na matakot natawa pa ang mokong at tumingin sakin habang maangas na nginunguya yung bubble gum n'ya. Palunok ko kaya sa kanya yun.

Sinamaan ko s'ya ng tingin at bumaling kay Cait na nagsusulat na ulit.

Bigla kong naalala yung unang beses na naka-text ko s'ya. That is the first time I felt like I'm cheating Gin.

"You can cry Iz, spill it and we try to understand you." Sabi ni Elexiber sakin pero nanatili akong tahimik.

"Is it about your dad? Did he ask you to break up with Gin again?" Tanong naman ni Jovan

"What's your problem dude?" Si Skyler

I'm about tell them when Adam's phone suddenly beep. "Sorry, may problema din kasi yung pinsan ko na nasa Manila kaya kailangan din n'ya ng kausap. Hindi n'ya makausap si Teresa kasi nasa England pa kasama yung parents n'ya. Ayaw naman ding istorbohin ni Cait kasi bihira lang daw makasama ni Teresa yung magulang n'ya."

"Sinong pinsan 'yan pre? Iyan ba yung hot chik na kasama mo sa picture?" Nakangising tanong ni Skyler

Tumango lang si Adam habang nagta-type "Magkwento kana Iz, don't mind me I will listen." Nagtitipa pa rin s'ya.

I get a bottle of beer "Mama left us. Sumama s'ya dun sa ex-boyfriend n'yang businessman na taga Maynila." Walang nagsalita sa kanila at halatang nagulat, napangisi ako at nilagok ang beer. "Feeling ni papa iniwan s'ya ni mama kasi mas mayaman yung pinalit sa kanya. So now, he's really want to get close with the Jimenez to help him in his campaign. Because of that, he has a big chance to win. And I am his ace to get what he wants, Allyza Jimenez is a bipolar and we all know that." I sighed and drink a beer again "I understand my father because I know he just want to prove something to my mother. But using me is not the right thing! He is a good mayor! Damn it! He don't need those Jimenez because they're just fucking use him!"

Elexiber tap my shoulder "Cry."

"Men don't cry." Uminom ulit ako ng beer.

"Gago!" Sabay-sabay na sabi nilang apat.

"If you want to cry just cry. It will help you trust me." Sabi ni Adam

Hindi na muli ako uminom at hinayaan na lang sila. Mas gusto kong irelax yung isip ko habang nakapikit. I don't want to cry kasi naniniwala ako na ang problema sinsolusyunan hindi iniiyakan.