Maybe If, Maybe Then

MI 05 : Age Cut Off

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"Uhm, he's in his class."

For the nth time, Jas got completely flummoxed by what Tom said. "Class? Wala na tayong on-going class, ah. May tinake ba siyang additional?"

"Additional?"

"Yes. We're now just waiting for the final announcements ng school board, right?" Then Tom hit him, finally getting what Jas was trying to say.

"Hindi ba namin nasabi sa 'yo? I'm sorry kung hindi. Third year palang si Gelo, hindi pa siya graduating."

Just.. what the hell?

"Oh.. I see." Nagpaalam na muna si Tom at may gagawin pa raw siya. Wala naman sa sariling naglakad si Jas. Going in the elevator, pressing the button, Jas was feeling down. Bakit naman kasi hindi sinabi kaagad? Nagugulat tuloy yung tao. Boung akala niya, Loloy was just like them, waiting for their end days in college. But no, may isang taon pang natitira si Loloy. He's still in third year.

May nabunggo pa nga si Jas ng makalabas na sa dorm building kaya sorry siya ng sorry. Sa tapat lang ng building, may naglilinyahang puno. Sa pagitan ng mga yun, may mga chocolate colored bench, at naupu ron si Jas.

"Hey, bitchy. What seems to bother you?"

Naupo si Abby sa tabi niya. Kakagaling lang nito sa practice ng ballet dancing. Yes, Abigail Avila is a ballerina. She's been one since the moment she started to get up on her own feet. Successful siya sa larangang yun at right after ng graduation nila, meron silang kailangan na i-attend na international show at kabilang sila sa magpapakitang gilas.

"Loloy's still.. in third year?"

Lito namang tumingin sa kaniya si Abby. "Who's Loloy?"

"Tom's roommate."

"Oh! You mean Gelo? Michaelangelo." Abby laughed a bit. "Pati nickname niya changed narin? Grabe, pinanindigan talaga."

Jas looked at her. "Ano bang kinalaman ng pagbabagong yan kay Loloy? Para yatang hindi kayo makapaniwala."

"Hindi naman talaga yun masipag mag-aral, ayon sa mga ipinapakita niya ngayon. He's a bit.. naughty? Hindi siya gangster o gagong nagpakalat-kalat lang sa school. I mean, his real issue back then was he's always with different girls and always skipping classes." Abby said.

Jas arched her brow and stared at Abby.

A comment made in her mind: Really? Well then I must say he's being responsible for his change thing na kahit ako pinapalampas na niya, when the fact is paiba-iba siya ng babae noon. Gwapo niya talaga, ah.

"I see. Alam mo ba kung nasan siya ngayon? I need to talk to him." The girl beside her was puzzled. Like, why does the two seem to click and act like they've known each other for so long? Eh, it was only days ago when the two first met, because Tom brought his friend something for breakfast and Jas tagged along.

"Uh.. he's in the Architecture building? I'm not sure which room but I think it's on the third floor." Jas just kissed her cheek and walk her way through. Bakit nga rin ba niya kailangan puntahan? Para lang tanungin kung bakit 'di niya agad sinabing third year palang siya? No. It wasn't just that. There's more to discuss.

Napahinto muna saglit si Jas matapos maabot ang third floor ng Archi Building. Maraming hagdan rin yun. At ang malayong daan papunta dun. Ng makabawi sa lakas at hininga, dahan-dahan ng naglakad si Jas. Humilig nalang rin muna siya sa railing ng corridor. She looked at the time on her wrist watch. Sigurado siyang ilang minuto nalang at magdi-dismiss na ang klase ng Archi. Why? Canny, her previous crush, used to be in this building.

Of course she didn't have time stalking and trying to talk with Canny before. Studies first nga siya di ba. Nasanayan na kasi niyang makita sa isang certain period of time si Canny na matapos ng class, sakto rin sa class schedule niya kaya para lang magkasabay silang matapos ng klase.

Gulat ang ekspresyon ni Loloy ng makita sa hindi kalayuan si Jas. Dalawang room pa ang pagitan nilang dalawa. Dun lang talaga napiling tumigil ni Jas. Pagod na siya, eh. He was about to turn around and walk away like he didn't see her but she shouted his name.

"Loloy!" May ilan pang lumingon kay Jas pero nawala rin ang atensyon rito. Loloy stopped. "Are you free? Let's talk for a while." Jas said as soon she got near him.

"I'm not free. And there's nothing to talk about." He looked at her one time and passed her.

"Oh, c'mon! Don't be so rude!" Habol ni Jas kay Loloy. Hindi siya nito sinagot. Sabay silang bumaba at ng makarating sa grounds, hinawakan ni Jas ang laylayan ng damit ni Loloy.

"Okay. Fine. Let's talk at my dorm. Wala si Tom ngayon." He finally agreed.

"It's okay if Tom's there, though. I don't mind. Pwede rin naman na dito nalang tayo mag-usap. It's nothing heavy. Just a light conversation and a few questions." She said and gave him a smile.

At the end, sa may malapit nalang na bench sila na-upo. Tanaw nila ang nagsisidaanan na mga estudyante.

"So, you're still in third year? Akala ko parehas kalang sa 'min na graduating na. Kabarkada mo kasi sina Tom? So.. that's what I thought." Jas started.

Ilang minuto pa muna ang lumipas bago nagsalita si Loloy. "Why? What is it to you if I am still in third year?"

"Wala lang. By the way, how old are you?"

Matagal bago ulit nakasagot si Loloy na akala mo tinanungan ng isang difficult Math question. "Twenty."

"Really? I'm twenty-one."

"And? Ano naman ngayon?"

"Naisip ko lang kahit na may isa ka pang year na dadaanan, at bata ka ng isang taon, hindi yun sagabal sa nararamdaman natin sa isa't-isa. Right?"

Napatingin naman sa kaniya si Loloy. "What are you even talking about? Anong nararamdaman sa isa't-isa? It's just you who's interested in someone."

"I see. You're still in the In Denial Stage. 'Tsaka interested ka rin to someone. At yun ay ako." She said, smiling sweetly at him. He just shook his head. "And.. thank you dun sa sweater. It really helped."

Loloy was taken aback. Oo nga pala, yung sweater niyang ipinasout kay Jas. Muntik na niyang makalimutan.

"Pagkatapos mong labhan, ibalik mo na sa 'kin." He said. Gulat namang tumingin sa kaniya si Jas.

"What? Sa 'kin na yun. Grabe ka. Kahit graduation gift mo nalang sa 'kin. At may memory ako dun."

He sighed. "Okay." Tumayo na si Loloy. She did, too. "I'll go now."

"Huh? Uh, okay." Nagsimula namang maglakad papalayo si Loloy. "Just don't forget, our age doesn't matter! It doesn't affect our love for each other!" She shouted at his back. Napailing-iling nalang si Loloy sa mga pinagsasabi ni Jas. She totally is interested in him. Sobra pa nga siguro.