Parallel Intersection

Chapter 27

"Jam!"

I quickly wiped off my tears and let out a deep breath.

Sabi niya...hindi niya ako kilala. Alam ko naman na maaaring obvious lang na Jam ang nickname ko...ngunit hindi ko mapigilang umasa.

"You left your wallet. I thought it wasn't yours but I saw your IDs and a note."

"Hindi ba talaga tayo nagkita nun?"

"Miss, you're creeping me out. I'm sorry but we didn't really met before. If you want a picture with me, we can have one naman. Just...don't scare me like that." Naramdaman ko ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib.

Ah. Kaya pala tinawag niya akong Jam dahil nakasilid doon ang letter na ibinigay sa akin ni Carly.

"Sorry for creeping you out."

I quickly grabbed it and leave him. Nahihiya ako dahil umasa ako. Paano kung...nakalimutan niya rin pala? Paano kung may nangyari rin pala sa kanya?

But the truth is, he doesn't know me. Or maybe he does, but nothing really happened between us.

Akala ko spark na e, short circuit lang pala!

Again, I tried to forget about him. I tried to moved on from something that's keeping me from moving on - something unreal, something like Joe.

"Congrats, Engineer!" Mahigpit akong niyakap nina Mama't Papa.

I passed the board exam. Finally, I had it. Ubusin ko ba naman lahat ng oras ko sa pag-aaral.

But I know that I want something else. It's not like, this isn't the path I want to take. It's more like, I want to take my shot on something new.

My job on that company I'm working at became stable. Hindi ko inaasahan iyon dahil pakiramdam ko ay hindi naman ako kagalingan. Well, at least I made it. From OJT days up until I got my title.

Maaga akong nagising para sa go-see na aking pupuntahan. I was invited by someone to at least try it. Sayang naman daw kasi ang aking tangkad.

The thought of modelling reminded me of someone. Madalas ko itong makita sa TV. Hindi ata iyon maiiwasan sapagkat suki siya ng mga commercials. Bukod sa basketball, he also entered the world of modelling. Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit hindi siya nag-aartista. I think workshops would do, then he'll be fine.

We just need to pose in front of the camera. Tatlong shots iyon na may tatlong iba't-ibang pose.

Sanay naman ako sa ganito. I remembered how Ced and Chuck would asked me to be their model.

Tahimik lamang akong nanonood sa tabi. Lahat kaming susubok ay nakasuot ng skinny jeans at white V-neck shirt.

I tucked mine which shows my belt. I'm such a belt-lover.

"Next! Jammy!"

Hindi ko pinahalata ang kaba ko. My face remained on its resting bitch face as I walked to the center. Mula rito, kitang-kita ko kung gaano kami karami sa loob ng studio.

Focus, Jam. Focus.

I gulped when I saw his familiar face staring at me. Mukhang inaalala niya ata kung saan niya ako nakita.

"Ready?" Tanong ng photographer sa akin.

I nodded and smiled a little. Sa unang pose, kailangan ko lamang tumayo at saka ngumit sa harap ng camera.

I placed one of my hand inside my pocket while the other one is outside. Inanggulo ko ang aking mukha bago ngumiti. No sweat.

Sunod naman ay nakaupo. I opened my legs. Ang isang kamay ko ay nakapatong lamang doon habang ang isa naman ay nakahawak sa aking baba. Maangas na poker face ang aking ginawa. Again, no sweat.

For the third and last pose, it will be done by pair. Ipinagdasal ko na sana ay hindi si Joe iyon ngunit sa kasamaang-palad, hindi iyon dininig.

"De Liaño! Your turn!" My heart beat doubled. Palihim akong umirap bago muling naghanda sa gagawing pose.

We were asked to kneel down. Nasa loob ng aking bulsa ang isang kamay ni Joe habang ang isang kamay niya naman ay nakayakap sa aking tiyan

Naramdaman ko ang pagsitindigan ng aking mga balahibo. Nanigas din ang aking katawan matapos walang kahirap-hirap niyang ginawa iyon.

"Focus," He softly whispered on my ear.

Damn! Ang daya naman nito! He's like seducing me and my fragile self can be torn down anytime!

I held onto his biceps as my other hand was placed on top of his hands.

"Lapit mo pa mukha mo, Joe. Dikit pa...yan..dikit pa." Utos ng photographer na agad niya rin namang sinunod.

Hindi ko alam kung mukhang galit ba ang aking itsura sa camera. Hindi ko magawang ngumiti!

Mabuti na lang dahil mabilis lamang iyon. Gosh! Hindi ko ata kakayanin kung sakaling ipaulit pa iyon ng ilang beses!

"See you at work!" Napalingon ako sa pamilyar na boses na iyon.

"I'm not yet hired. They said they'll going to contact those who got in." I formally said while picking up my things.

Naglabas na rin ako ng wet wipes para alisin ang aking make-up. Hindi talaga ako sanay sa ganito.

"I know you're in." He confidently said. I just nodded, showing that I'm not interested at whatever he's up. "By the way, I'm Joe!"

I stopped wiping only to looked at him. Yes, wala akong pakialam kung pangit ba itsura ko ngayon.

"I know." Tipid kong sagot bago nagsimulang humakbang palabas ng studio.

"And you are?" I rolled my eyes when I realized that he's following me. "You seemed familiar kasi. Have we met?"

Great! Ano 'to? Binabalik niya ba sa akin ang minsan kong tinanong sa kanya? O nagka-amnesia ba siya dahil agad niya akong nakalimutan?

Gosh! Halos isang taon lang ang nakalipas! Limot agad?

Nakalimutan niya na rin ba na ako lang naman ang sinabihan niyang creepy? Na kesyo kung gusto ko ng picture kasama siya ay pwede naman? Na kung maka-asta siyang takot na takot sa akin, akala niya naman talaga kaya ko siyang patumbahin e!

"You're creeping me out." I coldly said before leaving him alone.

Tamad kong binagsak ang aking mga gamit saka humilata sa aking kama. I blankly stared at the ceiling.

"Kumusta naman?" I closed my eyes upon hearing Yohan's voice.

Yes, magkasama ulit kami sa iisang condo unit. Kasama rin namin sina John at Aries na nasa kabilang kwarto lamang.

"I met him again." Natahimik ang aking kaibigan.

Tanging kay Yohan at Ellie ko lamang sinabi ang masayang panaginip na iyon. Nang una ay pinagtawanan lamang ako ng dalawa kong kaibigan ngunit ng makita nila ang pagbagsak ng aking mga luha, mukhang naniwala na rin sila sa akin.

Somehow, I had hope that it was real, or even one part of it was real. May isang laro kasi sila na hindi napanood.

Hindi ko ba iyon pinuntahan man lang?

"He approached me first. He introduced his self and tried to have a conversation with me..." I trailed off and gulped. "I rejected him."

Malungkot akong ngumiti saka ipinikit ang aking mga mata.

"Jam...what if...you have yourself consulted by a doctor?" Napabangon ako matapos marinig ang maingat na tanong ni Yohan. "Maybe a doctor can help you." She advised.

Ilang beses na rin iyong pumasok sa aking isipan. I haven't fully accepted the idea of having myself checked by a doctor.

Paano kung nahihibang lang pala ako?

"Yes...I will."

I'll just try my last shot. If nothing really happened, then I'll have myself checked...because maybe... I really am crazy over someone who I had no connection with.