Be With You

Chapter 4

I jumped off the stage when Kuya Dren started to pinpoint some parts of the play to be polished. I got my tumbler and drunk the water till the last drop.

"Phil, practice muna tayo bago tayo umalis papuntang next class."

"Oh."

I took a side glance at my right side and saw the Philippe guy talking with another dance club member. His classmate, I guess.

He cooly drinks his water and wipes the excess water with the back of his palm. Nagkasalubong ang tingin namin, at ang freshman na 'to, pinagtaasan lang ako ng kilay.

I was about to approach him when his other members came first. "Tara, Phil." He just nods and threw his water bottle in his open bag.

I sighed and threw mine as well and decided to take a long break. Dance club pa naman ang focus ni Kuya Dren.

I walked my way to the school cafeteria and ordered a cold chocolate drink. After paying, dumiretso na ako sa rooftop ng isa sa mga buildings dito sa campus. Hindi naman siya restricted para sa mga estudyante, bihira lang talaga ang pumupunta dito. Those who wants alone time for themselves, or those lovers.

Naglabas ako ng isang stick ng sigarilyo at sinidihan. Ito na ang ginagawa kong snacks kung stress ako.

" You think you're cool?"

That Philippe guy. There's something in him that makes me so curious of him. But then, like what I did last night, sinubukan kong hanapin siya sa Facebook, but found none under his name. I just found some related post about him.

Kilala siya sa Freshmen, at marami ang nagpopost mg tungkol sakanya. He's a private person. He's not using any social media media, except Instagram. At ng hanapin ko ang account niya ay napagtanto kong walang silbi ang paghahanap ko. He's a boring person. Period.

"Pero, bakit ko nga ba siya ini-stalk? Pero, stalking ba 'yun?", I talked to myself.

Frustrated, I threw the second stick of cigarette I'm holding and stepped on it. As I was about to sip on my drink, a cough break my silence.

I look back and found that guy waving his hand to avoid the smoke.

" 'Di mo ba alam na masama ang manigarilyo? Kung gusto mo magsunog ng baga, go on. Pero, huwag kang mandamay." He glared at me then.

I threw my chocolate drink to avoid getting caught of my habit. It's embarrassing.

I cleared my throat and tried to get back my cool.

" Well, I was alone before you came. Hindi ka naman nagsabi na pupunta ka rito." I mocked him. "Ikaw ang nakakita sa aking naninigarilyo, ba't hindi ikaw ang mag- adjust?"

Wala na siyang naisagot at humalukipkip na lang. He just stared at me blankly. I decided to leave the place and leave him alone too.

"Next time, don't smoke."

I was taken aback when I heard him. Nang lingunin ko ay naka-upo na siya at naka earphones na. His tone, hindi siya galit, more like, nagpapa-alala. With concern. I shake the thought away.

"Don't mind others business, will you?" Kahit naka- earphones ay sinabi ko yun sakanya. Who is he to tell me what to do anyway?

I got mint strips and ate it to lessen the smell of cigarette with my breath and went back to the practice room.

At 4:30 PM, we are all packed up, after Kuya Dren decided to end the practice for today. I remembered, wala nga palang pasok ngayon ang magaling kong kapatid. Walang magagalit dahil naghintay ng matagal sa parking.

"Phil, mauna na kami. Ingat ka pauwi."

Nagpa-alam na ang ibang members at iilan na lang kaming tira. I found Philippe staring at me. Agad naman siyang umiwas ng mahuli ko ang tingin niya.

He then went out, without bidding goodbye.

"That freshman. Kapatid mo ba yun? Magka-ugali kayo, eh." Natatawang ani ng isa sa mga kasamahan namin. Dalian ang pagtanggi ko.

" If he's a relative, I won't treat him like this. Magkamukha ba kami para maging magkapatid?"

And I don't want someone like him to be my brother either.

A text message brings me back from my thoughts. It's from Gianna.

Gianna:
I'll be cooking for tonight's dinner. Uwi ka ng maaga, Kuya!

I smiled and hurriedly bid my goodbye. Minsan lang tupakin magluto ang babaeng yun, kaya samantalahin na natin, though Manang Minda is always at home, baka sinapian lang talaga si Gianna ng kasipagan ngayon. Sakto at gutom na rin nga ako.

Pabukas na sana ako ng pinto ng kotse ko ng makarinig ako ng kalabog sa malapit. I was just going to ignore it when I heard a familiar voice.

"Freshman ka pa lang, pero kung maka-asta ka, parang alam mo na'ng lahat."

Another thud and I decided to butt in, and found out it was Philippe who was being beaten up.

"Hey! Tumigil nga kayo! Pwede ba?" I endured the pain when someone kicked my leg and continued blocking the junior from their attacks.

"Oh, Leon. Kilala mo ba yang tinutulungan mo?"

"Kilala ko siya. Ako nang bahala makipag-usap sa kanya. Ako na."

Binigyan pa muna ng matalim na tingin ng isa sa mga senior si Philippe bago sa akin.

"Siguraguhin mong makikilala kami ng batang yan, huh? Kung hindi, damay ka sa susunod."

Hinintay kong maka-alis  ang grupo nila bago ko daluhan si Philippe.

"Aray! Tsk!"

Isinandal ko muna ang katawan niya sa kotse at saka tiningnan kung saan siya napuruhan. His white uniform is now full of dirt. His hair is messy, but why the heck does he still look good. Like a freaking model.

Did I just compliment him? At this state? Get yourself together, Leon.

"Why did you do it? Why did you help me? Akala ko ba 'mind your own business?'", he spat angrily.

I raised an eyebrow, "So you've heard it, eh?"

Agad ang pag- iwas niya ng tingin.

"How many times do I also need to tell you to mind your own business? Ano na naman ang ginawa mo at napa-away ka?" My brows are knitted together while looking at him. He's really a mess.

He just shrugged and tried to stand, but end up failing.

"Kotse mo ba 'to? If so, can you even drive?", I asked concern, while helping him stand.

"I can manage. No need to help me." He said and remove my hands at him. I just shrugged and let him fumble his car keys, and got inside the car.

Minutes passed, his car is still not moving, with him inside, sighing and groaning in pain.

"Tsk! You know what? I'm just a concern citizen..."

I leaned at his car window and said, " I can drive you home. And from now on, I'm minding your business too."