Phoenix vs Janna

Chapter 11

Janna was attending a meeting at Dekada Bar with the Kaisa ng Bayan officers from other colleges in Metro Manila.

Janna always enjoyed this monthly gathering of like-minded individuals like herself. The meeting always had lively discussions and warm kamustahans. They would tackle serious topics ranging from politics to economics and its relation to their causes and advocacies.

The meeting was halfway through when Phoenix arrived at the bar. He sat at the back and waved to Janna.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? May meeting kami!" Janna moved to the back to talk to him.

"Napadaan lang ako. Matatagalan pa ba kayo?"

"Medyo."

"Fine, then. I'll just order some food. I'm a bit hungry. Don't mind me. Meeting lang kayo diyan."

But sitting beside him, Janna grew annoyed as the minutes passed. Because Phoenix was reacting to most of the things being discussed. And he was murmuring it softly that only she could hear.

"Unrealistic!"

"Talaga lang, ha?"

"Really now?"

"Maganda in theory, but that's not gonna work in real life."

"Pwede ba? Tumahimik ka? Baka marinig ka ng iba!" Janna whispered softly.

"I was just talking to myself about what I think of all of these! So much ideals but no concrete plan!" He replied.

"Huwag mo naman okrayin ang mahalaga sa akin at sa ibang tao dito, please! Respeto lang." She retorted.

They were still arguing softly when the speaker in front, who was talking about social inequalities in the country, noticed them.

"Mukhang may reaction sa ating topic ang mga nasa likod? Guys, share niyo naman dito?"

Janna blushed. "Uhm...pinag-usapan lang namin dito na maganda ang idea na nilalatag mo."

"Ganun ba? Salamat, Janna. Ano naman ang masasabi ni Kuya na kasama mo?"

Phoenix was uncomfortable with the sudden attention. He struggled for something to say.

"Buti nga sa 'yo! Bahala ka diyan!" Janna side-commented sarcastically.

Phoenix reluctantly stood up. All eyes were on him.

"Ahm... ang sinasabi ko lang, maganda ang mga layunin, pero di ba mas maganda encourage din natin ang kapwa estudyante na mag-aral ng
mabuti?"

There were murmurs among the crowd.

"Given na naman na dapat mag-aral ng mabuti ang lahat, bro. Ang sa atin lang, on top ng pag-aaral ng mabuti, ay makialam din sa usaping pambansa. Hindi lang ito para sa ating indibidwal na kaunlaran, pero din sa ikakabuti ng ating bayan."

People smiled in tolerant amusement. The newbie guest was in for a deep discourse about social responsibility.

"Nandun na ako. Pero paano?" Phoenix asked.

"Gaya ng ginagawa natin, makiisa sa samahan, magkilos-protesta...!"

"Walang masama diyan as I said earlier. Except, sa halip na makibaka lang, why not mag-aral ng mabuti para mas malakas at epektibo ang pakikibaka?"

People seemed confused and looked at each other. Janna prayed for the floor to open up and swallow her whole, she was so embarrassed.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin, bro?"

"Kapag nag-aral ka ng mabuti, let's say sa Math, magagamit mo ang Math para... para i-assess ang quality of life ng mga Pilipino. Marunong ka na ngayon maghanap ng patterns of injustice, maka-quantify mo, at mabigyan ng solusyon."

The crowd listened intently.

"Di ba mas maganda na gamitin ng eatudyante ang katalinuhan sa Math, sa science, sa economics, para ma-drive ang struggle for democracy sa bansa?"

The silence was unnerving for Janna.

"So, sa halip na "labanan ang corruption" lang ang paulit-ulit na mensahe, pwedeng "labanan ang corruption dahil may data kami na x plus y times n ay...". Di ba mas effective yun?"

There was dead silence in the room. Then some people smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Magandang punto yan, bro. Tama ka naman diyan!"

Some clapped their hands, smiling.

"Nice one, pare!"

"Bro, saang school ka? Anong course mo?" They were interested to know.

"Er... same school with Janna. B.S. Math." Phoenix said.

Janna was dumbfounded.

Later inside his car, as Phoenix was dropping her off at the bus stop, she couldn't resist asking: "B.S. Math? Ikaw?"

"Sheesh! Ano bang akala mo? Wait! Alam ko na. Akala mo dumb jock ako, no? Just a handsome face with no brains!" He teased her.

Janna thought exactly that. But she said instead: "Akala ko kasi, given na may business kayo, econ or management ang course mo. Or PolSci kasi senadora nanay mo."

"My kuya will run that business. I have no interest in business or politics."

"Can't imagine you sa Math. Kaya pala ang dali mo lang na-solve ang econ assignment namin!"

Phoenix smiled. The incredulity in her eyes was priceless.

"There's more to me than meets the eyes, Hellcat."

"Siguro nga. Kanina sa meeting..."

"Okay ba ang sinabi ko? Hindi naman sila na-offend, di ba?" For some reason, he wanted Janna not to be mad at what happened earlier.

"Nung una gusto na kitang patigilin. Nakahinga na lang ako ng maluwag nang okay naman ang pagtanggap nila sa sinabi mo."

They arrived at the bus stop. Janna unbuckled her seat belt.

"Mabuti naman. I was not keen on saying anything publicly. And when I did, I'm worried as hell na hindi nila magustuhan ang sinabi ko." Phoenix mused to himself.

"You? Worried sa kanila?" She stopped as she was about to get off the car.

"Oo naman!"

"The great Phoenix Araneta, worried!" She was half-sarcastic and mildly joking.

"Fine! Not so much as worried. More like, I wanted to make a good impression." He replied, hands on the steering wheel.

Janna was puzzled. "Bakit?"

"Kasi boyfriend mo ako. And I want your peers to like me." He looked at her at this point as if she was dumb.

Janna froze, halfway out of the car.

"Hoy! Huwag mong seryosohin ang deal na 'to! Hindi kita totoong boyfriend, no?" She told him nervously.

"I'm just being consistent and sticking to the plan. No loose ends. Ayokong maging doubtful siya... sila sa relationship natin." At this, Phoenix stared ahead again, in a grim voice.

"Siya? Sinong siya?" She asked.

"None of your business!"

Janna went back inside the car.

"Eto na ang panahon para magsabi ka ng totoo, Phoenix Araneta. Bakit nga ba tayo may ganitong deal?"

"Aalis na yata ang bus!" Phoenix tried to change the subject.

"Marami pang iba diyan. Sagutin no muna ang tanong ko."

He shrugged.

Despite that busses where whizzing by and hooting their horns, Janna said: "Hindi ako aalis. Sabihin mo muna kung bakit."

At that, Phoenix locked the car doors and started the car.

"Hey! San tayo pupunta?"

"You'll know!"

He drove away, taking Janna with him to destination unknown.