The Life of the Reader: Simon

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Graduation Ball

"When you are afraid of unknown, think of something that is also unknown yet exciting."
-UnleashingDesire

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After that dinner, Simon and Rafaela grew closer. Kadalasan ay hinihintay ni Simon si Rafaela gamit ang kotse niya na ang tanging nakakaalam lang ay ang mga kaibigan niya, pamilya at si Rafaela. Pagpumapasok siya ay pinaparada niya pa ang kotse sa parking lot ng kaibigan niya at naglalakad papuntang eskwelahan. And yes, they are in a secret relationship. The arrange marriage doesn't matter. Pareho nilang gusto subukan ang magumpisa sa dating stage.

Simon even asked Rafaela is she could be his girlfriend after that dinner. Napansin kasi ni Simon na every time Rafaela was asked about the engagement preparation she will always hesitate before answering. Kaya naman gustong iparamdam ni Simon kay Rafaela na, he is with her.

They went to restaurants, watched cinemas, texts, chats, calls, video calls and even secret meetings at school. Lahat sinubukan nilang dalawa with the push of Simon, he can now see Rafaela smiling happily at him. She didn't hesitate when he asked about what flower she wanted for their wedding. It made Simon the happiest man.

Graduation ball is getting near. They are tasked to at least have a date. Marami na ring naglakas loob na tanongin si Simon, pero kahit isa ay walang nagwagi. His friend already has their own partners. Si Simon na lang ang wala. Not until Simon said, "I already have a date," did the girls decrease. Meron pa rin kasing hindi naniniwala, dahil hindi ni Simon sinasasbi kung sino ang kaniyang kadate.

Nasa field si Simon kasama ang kaibigan niya ng may nagtext. The ring tone is customize, kaya naman ng tumunog na ito ay lahat sila tumingin kay Simon. Alam agad nilang si Rafaela iyon. Rafaela rarely send a text to Simon at her own violation. Nagrereply lang siya lagi at greetings kay Simon. Ilang beses rin itong tumunog kaya nagtaka na si Simon. Agad niyang binuksan ang kaniyang cellphone.


From: My lovely wife
Sino kadate mo?

From: My lovely wife
I mean, I heard you already have a date for graduation ball…

From: My lovely wife
Don't over think. Gusto ko lang malaman.

Nang mabasa 'yon ni Simon ay agad siyang napangiti. Amused, he texted her back before talking with his friends.

Samantang si Rafaela na nasa faculty ay hindi mapakali. Nagsisisi siya na nagtext siya. Feeling niya kasi ay nagmukha siyang selosa. 'I'm not jealous,' she is convincing herself.

"Rafaela? Okay ka lang?" May nakapansing professor sa kaniya. Tumango si Rafaela at nginitian ito.

"Sure ka?" tanong ulit nito.

"Yes. May iniisip lang ako." The professor patted her shoulder.

"Don't overthink. Sige na at uuwi na kami. Ikaw ba?" Sabi nito hanggang kinukuha na ang kaniyang gamit.

"Take care, then. Mamaya pa ako aalis, may tatapusin lang."

Sakto namang naka-alis na ang lahat professor nang tumunog ang kaniyang cell phone. Tinignan pa ni Rafaela kung may professor pang natira. No'ng nakita niya na mag-isa na lang siya, binasa na ni Rafaela ang text ni Simon.

From: My Boyfriend
I smell something... Vinegar.
Come to Room ***. Let's meet 15 minutes later.
I will tell you who is she.

Stunned, she could only think who is Simon's date fo a while. 'Vinegar his face. Hindi ako nagseselos. Curious lang,' Rafaela thought as she types her reply to Simon.

To: My Boyfriend
Okay.

"Bakit ba kasi nagtext pa ko kanina? Eh, ano naman kung may date siya? Graduation ball lang naman 'yon.." Rafaela muttered. Inayos niya na ang gamit niya at normal na naglakad patungo sa kwarto kung saan nag-umpisa ang lahat ng pagbabago sa buhay ni Rafaela.

They never went there for meet-up, that room… Kadalasan ay sa office of the faculty in a pretence that Simon needed to bring this and that. It's very common to see students helping teachers these days. Kaya naman walang nakakabuking sa kanila. Of course it is also because of the Simon's friends who are helping them.

Nang makarating si Rafaela ay wala pa si Simon. She knew how punctual Simon is lagi siyang on time sa meet-up nila. Minsan lang siyang pumunta ng maaga but he is never late. This room was a bit abandoned. May nagklaklase rito pero saglitan lang.

Ito ay dahil may nagpakamatay sa room na ito two years ago. Depression, heartbreak, pressure and disappointment are the reason of the male student death. His girlfriend was missing and the police couldn't find her. He is already in his last year of college; the school work was too heavy for him. His parents pressured him, comparing with other people's child. Hindi na niya kinaya at nagpasya na magpakamatay na lamang.

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos niyang makuha ang certificate na nagpapatunay na gradwayte na siya ay iyon ang araw kung saan pumunta ito sa room para magpakamatay. According to the police and autopsy, the man was struggling and there is a possibility that it was not a suicide. The eyes of the male student contains full of despair, regrets and sadness. But nothing was found, they can only say that it was suicide because they are lacking of evidence.

Anyway, back to Rafaela. She was a bit scared of what she has remembered. Pero biglang napadako ang kaniyang tingin sa upuan na ginamit no'n ni Simon. Wanting to change her thoughts, pilit niyang inaalala kung paano ibinababa at itinataas ang kamay ni si Simon sa kaniyang ari. His expression when he saw her. Do'n niya rin napansin na iba pala ang tingin ni Simon no'ng araw na iyo sa kaniya. First he was shocked pero parang ... parang may iba pa. His eyes were darker, seemingly wanting to devore her.

Hindi napansin ni Rafaela ang pagbilis ng paghinga niya, pamumula ng mukha, tenga at leeg. Pero naramdaman niya ang paginit bigla ng kanyang dibdib pababa sa kaniyang puson. Parang may unti-unting nagiipon ng init sa loob ng katawan niya. She felt a bit restless and dazes. 'His friend down there is too big. His lips are also tasty.' Her thoughts become more and more dangerous as the time goes by. Hindi niya napansin ang pagpasok ni Simon.

"Rafaela- ..." Simon stopped talking. Napansin niya kasi na wala sa sarili si Rafaela. He went much closer to her. Do'on niya napansin ang pamumula at ang mabilis nitong paghinga. He felt bad. Kaya naman agad niyang kinuha ang attention ni Rafael.

"Rafaela? Rafaela? Are you okay? Hey!" Simon tapped her face and body, worriedly. Agad namang napatingin si Rafaela kay Simon. Mas lalong namula ang mukha niya sa ginawa niyang kahihiyan. Hindi man lang niya ito napansin dahil sa sobrang pag-iisip tungkol sa possibleng mangyari kung hindi niya pinahinto si Simon.

"Ah.. I'm fine. Sorry, hindi ko napansin na nandito ka na pala," sabit ni Rafaela hanggang kinakalma ang kaniyang sarili.

"Are you sure? Wala ka bang nararamdaman na masama? Just tell me. How about let's go to clinic?" Simon was still worried. Nakita niya kasi na parang hindi talaga okay si Rafaela. Then he thought of the suicide that day. Nag-aalala siya na baka natatakot ito. 'Kasalan ko 'to. Bakit kasi 'di ko natandaan kanina na may gano'ng kaso nga pala sa room na 'to' Simon blame himself. Nagpapasalamat si Rafaela dahil hindi napansi ni Simon ang malaswang itsura niya. Rafaela’s nipples are hard that she felt uncomfortable.

"Yes, I'm sure. So ... the text earlier ..." Rafaela nearly whispered the last words. No'ng makita niya na okay lang talaga si Rafaela ang nakahinga na si Simon ng maluwag. He grinned.

"Will you be my date?" diretsyo nitong tanong.