Pag Mulat

VIII. The Measles

It's a Monday morning and mondays are for crowded buses, less sleep, jam packed bags and angry Kristan.

"Bilisan mo nak! Kanina pa si Kristan dito!" Sigaw ng nanay ko sa baba. Eto talagang si Carlene pag andyan si Kristan, harsh sa anak e.

"Eto na po!" Tapos ay dali dali akong bumaba bitbit ang mga uniform kong bagong plantsa sa isa kong kamay at lunch box sa kabila. Para akong kindergarten na male-late na sa eskwela. Basa pa ang buhok ko at hindi pa naka ribbon ang uniform ko.

"Good morning!" I said nang makita ko si Kristan sa sala, nakapatong ang dalawa niyang siko sa hita niya. Bwisit na ito. Nakasuot sakanya ang malaki niyang back pack na puno din ng gagamitin niya sa dorm.

"Morning." Una sa lahat, labag sa loob niyang sabay kaming luluwas sa school every Monday, tapos eto pa ako nag mamamadali.

Nagpaalam na ako sa nanay ko at naglakad na kami ni Kristan papuntang bus stop. Tahimik lang ito habang nagaantay kami ng bus, pero masaya akong sabay kaming papasok. I wish I could just take a picture of him right now, kinapa ko yung nakasabit na camera sa leeg ko, pero it's not there..

"Omg! Yung DSLR ko!" I remembered leaving it at my night desk. Napatingin sakin si Kristan, and I know it's not a cute look. "Ehehe. Kristan, balik tayo." Inirapan lang ako nito, saktong may huminto nang bus at sasakay na siya.

"Mauuna na ko." Sabe nito.

"Kristan please! Wag mo kong iwan. Ginawa ko naman lahat para maging mabuting girlfriend!" Pinagtitinginan kami ng iba pang mga sasakay at nakasakay na. Nahihiyang napahinto naman si Kristan. Inis na kinaladkad ako nito pabalik sa waiting shed.

Naglalakad na kami pabalik ng village at kipkip ko lang sakin yung lunch box ko. Natatakot kasi ako kay Kristan.

"Gustong gusto ko kasing maging photographer sa play na gaganapin next week. Sobrang favorite ko kasing fairytale yung Cinderella. Super classic, kung pwede lang akong mag audition e! Kaya di ko pwedeng maiwan yung camera ko kung di katapusan na ng mga pangarap ko." Tuloy tuloy na pag momonologue ko habang naglalakad, you know I wanna keep him entertained and explain to him why I have to do this. This is for our future and my future hopes and dreams.

Nagulat ako nang wala na pala akong kausap dahil lumagpas na pala ako sa bahay namin at nakatayo lang si Kristan dun nakatingin sakin. Tarantang tumakbo ako pabalik.

I went back the house and got my cam, naglakad ulit kami ni Kristan pabalik sa bus stop. Nakasakay kami agad ng bus thank goodness. Medyo late na kami kaya wala nang masyadong tao. He sat at the furthest sa likod ng bus. Kaya sumunod at tumabi ako dito. I can't help but fall asleep.

Naramdaman kong huminto yung bus. I slowly opened my eyes and my vision was side ways. Nakasandal pala ako sa balikat ni Kristan, I looked up to him only to catch him looking down at me.

"Ehem." Sabe nito at nag iwas ng tingin. Dumiretso ako ng upo at nakitang isang stop na lang pala yung bus.

Next week has come at ako na nga ang napiling photographer for the play since I was under media course. I was so eager at talagang kinulit ko si Ms. Minchin, and here I am. Kasama ko sina Maco, Kenzie at Ice na kakatapos lang mag training ng football. Nasa front seat ng concert room lahat ng set sa play, including Maco and Kenzie.

"So today, I have talked thoroughly to the student that I wanted to portray the role of Prince Charming. Nahirapan akong pilitin siya, kaya you guys should all work hard for this play." Sabi ni Ms. Minchin. "Hoy Prince charming, introduce yourself." Tawag nito sa backstage.

Lumabas dito si Kristan. Kung hindi na kayo gulat don, pwes ako Oo!

"Hi, I'm Kristan Miramonte. Good afternoon." Nagpalakpakan ang kaunting tao na nasa concert room. Bumaba si Kristan sa stage at tumabi kay Maco.

"Iba ka talaga pare!" Sabe ni Maco. Kristan made a gesture of Wala eh. At walang ibang nasa isip ko kung hindi.. I wanna be Cinderella!

"Kristan I didn't know you like this stuff." Natatawang sabi ni Ice. Natatawa rin si Kenzie.

"I don't. Pinilit lang ako ni ma'am."

"Okay if we have the Prince Charming, syempre meron din tayong Cinderella—"

"AKO PO MA'AM!" Nagtaas agad ako ng kamay.

"Caroline, you're already responsible for the photos. Okay everyone, for Cinderella, the most crucial role to play, may dalawa tayong pinag pipiliang gaganap, we'll have auditions for Mariel and Irene." Ma'am gestured the two of them na kasama din naming nakaupo sa front seats. Everyone clapped form them I unwillingly did too, and they smiled.

My mind still shouts.. I wanna be Cinderella!

"Irene, come closer. Just dance naturally, wag kayong stiff."

For half a week, I was just watching as Ms. Minchin asseses Irene and Mariel. They were dancing at the ball sa scene na inaact nila. Pinagpipipilian pa rin ni Ms. Minchin who will best suit Cinderella for the play. Mariel and Irene were both very popular in school, I feel very insecure that they were given the chance for the play. Especially si Kristan ang ka partner.

Ngayon pa nga lang ay gusto ko nang magtakip ng mata na may ibang nakakahawak kay Kristan. I was even reminded of the night of his birthday while we were dancing. I feel like it's less special now. Tapos pag sa totoong play ay kailangan ko pang kunan ng litrato ang mga masasakit na tanawin. I sighed. Inakbayan ako ni Maco.

"Repa, wag ka nang malungkot. Buti nga mababantayan mo yung kababata mo, hindi yan nanakawin ng iba." Sabi nito sakin tapos ay kumindat. I forced a smile.

"Pero gusto ko pa ding maging si Cinderella."

May isa pang umakbay sakin, I looked up to see Ice. Naka pang training pa ito.

"Tara na Cinderella, ibibili ka namin ng ice cream." Sabe ni Ice, tumango tango naman si Maco, at kinaladkad na nila ako paalis. Mukha ba akong gutom sa Ice cream? Gutom ako sa pansin ni Kristan.

"Teka, kailangan ako ni Ms. Minchin!" Pagpalag ko.

"Di siya nakatingin, tara na." Pang b-B.I. nila at tuloy pa din sa pagkaladkad sakin. I looked up the stage and saw Kristan looking at us. Si Mariel naman ang kasayaw nito. Nasakin pa rin ang hulin halakhak, kristan. Na saakin!

"What? Do you mean she can't participate or audition anymore?.. Okay, I understand ma'am.. Sayang naman po... Tell her to take care.. Good bye." I overheard Ms. Minchin talking on the phone after a day of rehearsals na hindi nagpakita si Irene, I was about to give her the photos of the stage. She looked at me after she hang up. I gave her a questioning look.

"Irene got measles. Uso rin talaga ngayon. Nahihiya na daw yung bata. I guess, the role was really for Mariel. Pwede mo ba siyang tawagin Caroline, so that I can tell her the news?" Sabe ni Ms. Minchin saakin. Nakatingin lang ako dito.

"Ma'am gusto ko rin pong mag audition." I said when I found the courage to speak. Napatingin ito sakin.

"Hibang ka na ba, bata? Sinong mag oorganize ng photography at set natin?"

"Maghahanap po ako ng kapalit ma'am. At isa pa, familiar na po ako sa scenes and script. Please give me a chance." Pagmamakaawa ko dito. Nag isip ito saglit tapos ay tinignan ako mula ulo hanggang paa, habang nakataas ang manipis niyang kilay. Tumango tango ito.

"Sige, I'll give you a chance. Galinga mo ha. You'll start tomorrow." She said. My heart was filled with delight. I know Kenzie was more than happy to take the photography from me.

Salamat sa mga bulutong!

Prince Kristan, your Cinderella is here!