In Between (SC, #4)

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17

Sumbong

Mai breathed in through her nose when she noticed she still didn't study for her exam. Julia is continuously reading her research paper printed in bond paper. Nakakagat labi habang pinupuna ang sariling papel sa tamang komposisyon. Ilang beses na siyang napapabuntong hininga at pasalit-salit ang tingin sa laptop. And I, it is still nothing for my case studies. I have 5 cases needed to finish. Kating-kati na 'kong mag-google para malaman kung pa'no 'ko i-program ito. All of us really want to finish our school stuffs bago sana mag-gabi ngayong Sabado pero parang walang nangyayari.

It is nothing because of our laziness.

Hours had passed quickly. Kung hindi kwentuhan, hawak ang telepono at may sariling mundo. How I wish I have the same attention as Jayden when focusing on important matters...like univ works. I never have her attentiveness. Her attention span is so darn wide. Sana'y kaya ko rin iyon balang araw para may marating ako sa buhay na ito. When people have goals, they could focus on getting what they want in whatever ways. You know, I have a dream, a goal, but...really this day is boring.

"Girls!" halos patili ang tinig ni Julia, napatayo at nanlalaki ang mata. Her eyes never left her phone. Nakita 'ko ang matinding paglunok niya bago magsalita. Mai and I looked at each other, confused. Parehas na nagsalubong ang kilay namin.

"Bakit?" we said in unison.

"Jayden and her boyfriend broke up?" ani Julia sabay kurba pababa ng labi.

"OMG?" Mai mumbled under her breath.

"'Di ba, okay naman sila noong birthday ni Jayden?" Julia questioned. Halos padabog ang baba niya sa kanyang telepono. Her nose flaring. "What the! Okay talaga sila. I really have pictures of them in my phone. Sayang!"

"Maybe, they parted ways for a good reason...though," Mai trying to lighten up Julia.

"Baka nga. 'Di natin alam, baka kasi hindi na sila okay. Saka, hindi naman talaga sinabi ni Jayden na boyfriend niya 'yon talaga. She said...they are just seeing each other more often sa UST. Hindi ba? Kaya h'wag mo na tayong mag-assume, unless Jayden really stated it," ani 'ko.

Jayden really keep her relationship secret. Sa tigas ng bungo ng mga kuya namin, sino bang hindi ipa-private ang mga relasyon. I don't know about Mai and Julia. Mukhang ganoon din sila, unless matatapang ang mga suitor nila para harapin sina kuya. I know Julia told me that they consulted first to our elder girl cousins before they announced it to our boy cousins. Hindi 'ko alam 'yon dahil hindi pa naman ako nandito sa Bulacan. Speaking of ates, I haven't seen them. Because they are really that busy for work.

"Maybe, we go to Jayden?" Julia suggested. Nililikom na niya ang gamit niya sa mesa.

"Okay lang sa akin," si Mai, inaayos na rin ang sa kanya.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Sige, pero, nasa bahay na ba siya?"

Julia checked her phone. Probably, searching for Jayden's schedule this semester in our own group chat. Si Mai abala pa rin sa paglalagay ng gamit sa kanyang bag. For the hours we stayed here outside Julia's house, wala nangyari sa akin. I didn't even finish analyzing the case study. Wala akong napala sa pagsisipag na 'to.

"Nakauwi na siguro," Julia concluded. "Punta na lang tayo?"

Parehas na napatango kami ni Mai. Nang matapos malikom ang gamit ay hindi namin naisipan na ibaba ito sa sari-sariling bahay. We went straight to Jayden's house quickly. The late afternoon heat, scorching my hot skin. Sweats forming above my brows. Napapunas ako gamit ang aking braso habang bigat na bigat sa aking bag na puno ng laptop at reading materials. Tinignan 'ko ang dalawang hindi man lang hirap sa buhat. Parehas pa silang nagbubulungan tungkol kay Jayden.