After My Death Tomorrow (Published Under PSICOM Publishing Inc.)

Episode 17

"I have something to tell you, Margot." Marco said. His eyes are burning with an emotion I can't decipher.

Iyon ang dahilan kung papaanong napalunok ako ng laway. Nanunuyo ang aking lalamunan dahil sa lakas ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Go . . . Go on."

He scooted closer to me. Then it occured to me that we are inside his room. Alone. I am sitting next to him. At his damn bed.

"Matagal ko na dapat itong sinabi sa 'yo, eh." At one moment, hesitations painted his eyes. But he is the quickest to recover.

Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata ko nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. Dinala niya iyon papunta sa tapat ng kanyang malapad na dibdib. And there, I freaking felt how fast his hearbeat is. Para bang sasabog ang puso niya ngayon.

"I'm madly, deeply, inlove with you." Every words that came out of his mouth is like a sweet harmony brought by his husky voice. His eyes never left my now, more widened eyes. "Dati pa. Mahal na kita, Margot. Dati pa."

Napaawang ang bibig ko.

And before I can even mumble a word, his head started to move slowly near mine. Suprisingly, there was nothing I want to do that time but to just let him continue.

Dangerous inches away and he will brush his beautiful lips unto mine. And that moment, I closed my eyes. Waiting for him. Ready for his lips.

But as soon as I saw nothing but darkness, Mom's began to intervene. And it's effin weird. Anong ginagawa ni Mom dito?

"Nak, gising na. Male-late ka na sa school."

When I opened my eyes, I was now on my room. My mom is staring at me with the usual motherly gaze she used to give me.

Right on that specific moment, I mumbled my endless what the fuck's on my fucking mind as I try to fake a smile to Mom.

Lecheng panaginip 'to!

***

Habang naglalakad ako sa grassfield ng oval ay naiirita akong ginugulo ang buhok ko. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay binabagabag pa rin ako ng walang hiyang panaginip ko!

Marco confessed to me?

Why on Earth would I dream of it?

Bakit?!

Gusto kong sampalin ang utak ko.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang maging awkward kay Marco kanina. Mabuti na lang at manhid ang lalaking 'yon kaya hindi niya siguro nararamdaman.

Ngayon ay kagagaling ko lang sa Registrar Office, kasama kasi ako sa lists ng mga may kulang pang requirements para sa mga Grade 10 students. Napasa ko nang lahat iyon kaya't papunta na ako sa rooftop, kung saan nag-aabang sina Magne sa akin.

Nasa gitna ako ng oval noong may bigla na lang umakbay sa akin kaya otomatiko kong hininto ang mga paa ko. And as soon as I smelled the scent of this person, my heart started to pound against my ribs.

Napalunok ako ng laway nang malala.

Shit.

Shit talaga.

"Tagal mo naman, Marbaho. Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay sa rooftop."

Mabilis kong inalis ang braso niya mula sa pagkaka-akbay sa balikat ko. Bigla ay dinuro ko ang mukha niya, "You--" I can't find any words to mumble when my eyes focus on his lips.

God.

He is smiling as he bit his lower lips.

"I'm what?" Marco is still on his damn epal smile.

About to give up on my expedition to find words against him, I just ended up producing an irritated "Argh!" sound. Because of that, he rewarded me an amusing laugh.

I balled my fists. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko!

Without thinking about it, I turned my back at him. And before I knew it, I was running away from him.

"Hoy, hintayin mo ako!" Rinig kong sambit niya mula sa malayo pero hindi ko siya pinansin. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagtakbo habang patuloy pa rin sa pagbilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

Nasisiraan na yata ako ng ulo, bakit ganito na ang epekto sa akin ni Marco?

***

"Parang baliw 'to si Margot, basta-basta na lang tumatakbo." Hingal na hingal na sambit ni Marco habang nakasandal doon sa pintuan ng rooftop.

Awkward akong tumawa. "Mabaho ka kasi, magpabango ka kasi next time bago mo ako akbayan."

Vaeden and Magne joined me as I continue to laugh. Diyes is just smiling while staring at me.

Si Marco naman, tiningnan niya lang ako nang masama bago umupo sa harap ko. At heto na naman ako sa lecheng puso ko. Bumilis na naman ang tibok nito. On the back of my head, sinasapok ko na ito. Bakit ba kasi ganito 'to?!

"Crush mo talaga ako."

I swallowed hard. Then fake a sarcastic laugh as I roll my eyes. "You wish."

He just smirked at me and I really want to pull my eyes for staring at his damn perfect shaped lips.

"Hoy, Marco." Magne pulled his ear and I thank all of the Gods above that she did that. Because thankfully, Marco diverted his attention away from me. "Tama na 'yan. Sasapakin kita kapag na-fall si Margot sa 'yo!"

"Aray!" Marco is trying to pull his ears away from Magne's hand. "Ano naman kung ma-fall siya sa akin? Sasaluhin--"

Magne snapped. "Kayong mga lalaki talaga! Napakahuhusay niyong mag-flirt pero takot naman sa commitment!"

"Hindi lahat." Diyes coughed. I prevented myself from laughing.

Otomatikong tinigilan ni Magne si Marco. "Ay, oo naman. Yes, Ser." Napakamot siya sa batok, "Iba ka dito sa dalawang ito, President Ben 10." She gestured her hands between Marco and Vaeden.

Thinking about it, may gusto ba si Magne kay Diyes?

Well, hindi naman nakakapagtaka. Gwapo naman itong si Ben 10. Gwapo na, matalino pa. May favorite talaga si Lord.

Vaeden, being Vaeden, hindi siya magpapakabog. "Dami mong alam. Ligawan kita diyan, eh."

Magne faced him. "As if magpapaligaw ako?"

We all laugh as we watched Vaeden to point his middle finger at Magne. Para talagang aso't pusa ang dalawang ito.

Habang nagtatawanan kami ay may bigla akong naalala, "Marco, 'di ba ngayon ang unang gabi mo sa trabaho?"

He nodded as he sat beside me. "Yes, why? Mami-miss mo agad ako?"

Ibinaling ko naman ang tingin kina Diyes, Magne at Vaeden. "Ano kaya kung samahan natin siya? Moral support for Marco, kumbaga. First night niya 'to sa first job niya kaya let's give him our support. Gusto ko din kasing makita kung paano mag-perform ang mokong na 'to." Sambit ko habang pina-pat sa ulo si Marco na parang aso.

But, that wasn't the real case why I want to do it. Naisip ko kasi na for how many weeks na kami lang iyong nakakasalamuha talaga ni Marco, baka ma-intimidate siya sa mga taong manonood sa kanya mamaya.

Alam kong malakas siya. He has a strong heart. Subok ko na iyon. Pero what if, what if . . . may mangyari sa kanya? Alam kong naiba ko na ang future, nabago ko na ang tadhana niya pero hindi pa rin talaga maalis sa isip at puso ko ang mga tanong na paano kung mapunta na naman sa maling lugar ang lahat? Papaano kung mapunta na naman si Marco sa daan patungo sa mapait niyang tadhana?

Kung nandoon ako, chances are I can do something to keep him on the track I paved for him. He will never be lost whenever I am around, that's for sure.

"Ano, G?" I travelled my eyes around them.

They all nod with their genuine smile and that moment, I knew and I am assured that I am on the right circle of friends.