Ang Aklat at Ang Abacus

Chapter 1: Lynetta

Pasukan na naman bukas at magkikita-kita na naman kami ng mga kaibigan ko. Well, I can't imagine na we're finally in high school. Para kasing all of the things that have happened for the past years are still fresh in my mind. Like nung nag-away away kami dahil sa sayaw, and nung nagtapat si Jepoy kay Kyla last camp.

Beep. Si Kyla nagtext!

"Lyn-be! I'm on my way na." I realy don't know if she's glad when she texted this. Pero baka naman. Ni minsan naman kasi hindi nagpabaya itong si Kyla sa pag-aaral. Anuber. A girl who graduated salutatorian would not be so sluggish about school. Why do I even ask? Shunga mo talaga Lynetta. 

Grabe lungs. I think it's Kyla's first time to get late. I mean to get later than the usual school time. Dati kasi she would be here thirty minutes before the class even if we know that our teacher is usually ten minutes late. Well siguro maraming masyadong inayos kasi nga it's the first day. Besides, I think our teacher would make this day a grace period for us--hello, first day nga diba?

 Habang naghihintay kay Kyla and other friends, heto ako, nakatambay sa loob ng room ng mga dating Grade 7. Though I don't really like this room so much, I think to be in a new room is a lot better. Para bang metaphor for the past. We need to move on para naman maexperience natin ang mas magaganda pang mangyayari sa buhay.

As I wait, I was reminded of how our elem years ended. Well, as usual, sabi sabi ng walang iiyak only to find out that the one who told it will be the first one to cry---Levi. Sobrang natawa talaga ako. Yeah, yung tawa na humahagulgol kasi deep inside nasasaktan ako kasi feeling ko last day na namin magkakasama ng mga classmates ko. Ayan tuloy naluha ako. Buti na lang hawak ko ang panyong bigay ni Carlito-my-labs. 

Si Carlito ay isang basketball varsity ng aming school. He's already in the 10th grade. He's tall. He's handsome. He's my ALL in ALL!! I did my best just for him to notice me but I think my best is not enough. Sa VALPRISAA nandun ako, sa practice nila nandun ako, pati nga SSG sinalihan ko mapansin lang ako. Pero parang kailangan ko pang maging teacher para lang makuha ko ang atensyon niya. Anyway, walang sukuan ito. Now that I'm in the 7th grade, I know he will start to notice me. Baka lang kasi masyado pa akong bata noon. Or maybe because of our school uniform na mukhang pambata.

Tok tok. Ayan may kumatok na, may kasama na rin ako sa wakas. 

Pumasok na ang mga kapwa early birds sa classroom. At as usual, wala na namang nagsara ng pinto ni isa sa kanila. 

"Hoy Levi, paki-sara naman ng pinto."

"Maka-hoy ka ah. Close tayo."

Wow! As in wow! Alpha-Kapa-Omega talaga tong si Levi. Nanghiram lang ng power bank sa bahay kahapon at ang angas magtanong kung "close" daw ba kami. 

Di ko napigilan ang inis ko. Napatayo ako. Naghimagsik ang kanang kilay at sabay sabing: "Power bank ko?" with matching hand movement at matapobreng pose.

"Wehehe, joke lang tol. Di ka naman mabiro. Eto na oh, sasara na."

Binanggit ito ni Levi habang isinasara ng dahan-dahan ang pinto. 

Ako naman nakatitig pa rin sa kanya na parang lobong manlalapa ng buto-butong usa. 

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagiging matapobre ng biglang pumasok si Kyla. 

"Oi friend, bakit naman ganyan ang mukha mo."

"Eto kasing si Levi eh."

"Let it go Lyn-be. Sige ka, baka ma-in love ka diyan."

"Ewwwww!!"

"Kaya nga, get over it. Let's go muna sa canteen."