"As all of you know since I've said this last week, Miss Castillo will be the representative of our section."
Tumayo ako at proud na tiningnan ang mga kaklase ko. May ibang pumapalakpak na nakangiti at may iba namang nakabusangot at napipilitan lang.
Well, hindi ko naman sila masisisi. Ako na naman kasi ulit ang representative ng section namin.
I even did a little wave para inisin sila lalo, na gumana naman. Tumawa ako bago bumalik sa pagkakaupo. Our teacher continued her announcement.
Every year, may ganap na quiz bee where each section will compete each other. At kung sino ang mananalo, siya ang magre-represent ng buong year-level against the others. At ako ang palaging nagiging representative ng section namin.
Alam kasi nila na maipapanalo ko ang quiz. Lalo na't hindi pa ako natatalo. Well, let's just say na natalo na ako once, but I don't want to remember that. I'll just pretend na hindi 'yon nangyari.
Ngayong second year college na ako, mas napapadalas ang pagre-represent ko sa section ko, hindi lang sa quiz bee. Kaya mas lalo akong nagiging competitive. I don't wanna disappoint my classmates and my adviser.
Nang ma-dismiss na kami ng adviser namin ay nagsilabasan na sila para mag-lunch. Nanatili lang ako sa room at may baon naman ako. Isa pa, I'm too lazy to go outside. Mabuti na lang at nagdala rin ako ng tubig.
"Taray mo. Sana all, representative ulit," sabi ng kaibigan kong si Yuna bago umupo sa tabi ko.
"Ano? Gusto mo ikaw na lang?" tanong ko.
She laughed and crossed her arms in front of me, "Ayoko nga. 'Yong subjects nga lang natin, tinatamad na ako. 'Yan pa na most probably na iikot sa history."
"Ulol, ang sabihin mo bobo ka lang," sabat naman ni Devi na hindi ko namalayang nakaupo na pala sa tabi ko, "dinadamay mo pa 'yong subjects sa excuses mong bulok."
Itinapon ni Yuna ang takip ng baunan niya kay Devi. The latter immediately avoided it while laughing.
"Wala ka talagang kwenta kaibigan!"
"Oh at least ako hindi ghinost ng crush kong senior high."
Napailing na lang ako nang magsimula na naman silang mag-away. I didn't bother stopping them, though. Sanay na ako.
Hindi lang kami ang kumakain sa loob kaya napapatingin sila sa amin sa kaingayan ng dalawa. But still, hindi ko sila sinuway. Sila ang mag-adjust, 'wag kami.
"Ano ba 'yan. Kumakain 'yong tao rito ta's ang ingay-ingay. Parang namamay-ari ng classroom."
Nagpantig ang tainga ko sa narinig.
"Oo nga eh. Kung makapagsigawan naman sila, parang sila 'yung reyna eh mukha namang alipin." I even heard them snicker.
Walang salita akong tumayo at lumingon paharap sa kanila. They looked shocked, hindi yata inakalang maririnig ko ang pinag-uusapan nila. Sino ba kasing hindi? Iyong bibig nila pwede nang pamalit sa megaphone.
"Anong sabi mo?" I asked them.
Bakas sa mukha nila ang takot. Alam kasi nila na palaban akong tao at wala akong inuurungan.
Hindi na nila sinagot ang tanong ko at nagligpit na lang ng gamit bago lumabas, siguro ay takot.
"Tss. Pussies."
Bumalik ako sa pag-upo. Pinatuloy lang namin ang pinag-uusapan namin kanina. Ni hindi namin namalayang malapit na mag-start ang afternoon class.
"Miss Castillo."
Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang may tumawag sa 'kin. Si Miss Lorenzo, adviser ko.
"Can you come with me, please?"
Nalilito man ay tumango ako. Nauna siyang maglakad at nakasunod kang ako sa likuran niya. Pumasok kami sa faculty room bago siya umupo sa pwesto niya roon.
"Bakit niyo po pala ako napatawag?" I asked politely.
Her hands on the table intertwined. She sighed before looking at me.
"The quiz bee will be cancelled."
"Po?" gulat kong tanong. This is the first time na hindi itutuloy ang quiz bee. Maybe something happened. Change of plans, maybe?
"We decided to cancel the quiz bee and have a friendly debate na lang. Don't worry, ikaw pa rin ang magiging representative. Though, it'll be a one on one with a schoolmate."
Mas lalo akong nagulat. I mean, there's no problem in me going on a debate but...
"Why is it so sudden naman po, Ma'am?" muli kong tanong, "Hindi ba po at tomorrow na ang debate? How can I ready myself if I only have a small amount of time to study?"
"Oh, about that. You don't have to study."
"Huh?" Napatunganga ako.
May kinuha siya sa ilalim at inilapag ito sa ibabaw ng mesa niya. Isa itong makapal na libro.
"Since friendly debate naman 'to. Your topic will be taken from a part of this book. All you have to do is read and analyze the story from each of the character's perspective to understand," she explained.
Hardback ang libro. Kahit may dust jacket ito ay nakikita kong kulay blue ang kulay ng cover. May dalawang taong nagyayakapan sa jacket. They both have black hair, and red eyes.
Eh? What kind of human being has red eyes?
I just shrugged. 'Di bale na. Story lang naman 'to.
Miss Lorenzo further explained everything I need to know bago niya ako pinalabas. I thank her before closing the door.
Napabuntong hininga ako. Mabuti na lang at walang masyadong assignments makakapag-focus ako sa pagbabasa ng libro.
Pagod ako nang makarating sa condo. Yes, I decided to live in a condo since mas malapit lang siya sa school namin. It's hard since I'm still young to be independent. But it's my decision.
Binagsak ko sa kama ang libro. I was debating if I should read, o 'wag nang basahin at mag-skip na lang bukas. But I don't want to doubt them. Saka ayokong isipin ng iba na naduduwag ako. That would hurt my pride.
After finding a comfortable position on my bed kinuha ko ang libro at inilagay sa lap ko.
Roxanne & Akihiro: The Ill-Fated Love Story
Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Pagtingin ko na lang sa orasan na nasa bedside table ko ay alas tres na pala ng madaling araw.
I closed the book and stretched my arms before letting out a yawn. Ganoon na ba ako ka-intrigued sa libro na nakalimutan ko kung anong oras na?
Sinara ko ang libro bago ito inilagay sa bedside table at humiga na. Possibly mao-overslept ako pero ayos lang naman, sa afternoon pa naman mangyayari ang debate. At saka masyado akong pagod para pumasok sa morning period.
As expected, na-overslept nga ako. It was already twelve in the afternoon when I woke up. Hindi ko narinig ang malakas na ingay ng alarm clock ko.
Inayos ko muna ang higaan bago pumasok sa bathroom para maligo. Since it's Friday naman, I wore a pair black slacks and a white spaghetti strap blouse. Nagsuot na rin ako ng itim na blazer para hindi ako ma-guidance for not following the dress code. I wore my beige one-inch sandals and tied my hair into a ponytail.
After being satisfied about my look, kinuha ko na ang bag ko pati na 'yung book. I plan on re-reading it again while on the ride. Sinara ko na ang pinto ng condo ko bago bumaba at naghanap ng taxi na masasakyan. When I got there, it was already three.
"Xandra ko!" sigaw ni Yuna nang makita akong pumasok sa gate. Katabi niya si Devi na tahimik lang na nakamasid.
Tumakbo siya palapit sa 'kin at binigyan ako ng mahigpit na yakap. "Bakit hindi ka pumasok kanina?" tanong niya.
"I overslept," sagot ko, "why? Ano ba na-miss ko?"
"Marami," sabi niya lang, not bothering to elaborate her answer. I squinted my eyes on her.
"Such as?"
"Rumupok ulit siya kay Yohan," si Devi na ang sumagot. "Bumisita si Yohan kanina sa room, hinahanap siya. Ayon, kilig na kilig naman si tanga."
Hindi ako makapaniwalang tumingin kay Yuna na ngayon ay masama ang tingin sa katabi.
"Devi pakyu bakit mo 'ko nilaglag!?"
"Bakit, totoo naman ah?"
"Ulol!"
Habang naglalakad at patuloy pa rin sila sa pag-aaway sa likuran ko. Napapatingin pa ang mga tao sa amin sa kaingayan niya. I just shook my head. Nakakahiya.
"By the way, didiretso ka na ba sa gymnasium?" Doon mangyayari ang debate. "Kumain ka kaya muna? May dalawang oras pa naman bago magsisimula. At saka after ng debate, wala nang klase. Kung magtatanong ka if nag-class ba kanina, hindi rin. Free time."
In the end, pumayag akong kumain muna since hindi ako nakapag-umagahan sa condo earlier. We ate at the karenderya in front of the campus. I just ate two hotdogs and rice with lemon juice as my beverage.
"'Nga pala, kilala mo ba sino makakalaban mo sa debate? Balita ko gwapo raw," I heard Devi squealing as she said that. I was too busy cleaning my hands when Yuna spoke.
"Oo nga eh, gwapo rin 'yong pangalan." she raised her head, thinking. "Hayro yata 'yon?"
Napatigil ako sa narinig.
Binatukan siya ng katabi. "Gaga, anong Hayro? Hiro!"
Doon na nila nakuha ang atensiyon ko. "Anong full name niya?"
"Hindi ako sure, pero Hiro Montecarlos yata."
Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Hiro... Montecarlos.
I don't want to assume things, but my gut feeling is telling me na si Hiro nga ang nakakalaban ko. Si Hiro na naging kaibigan ko. si Hiro na nakasama ko. Si Hiro na... minahal ako.
Buong lunch ay naging tahimik ako. Maski ang pag-uusap nina Yuna at Devi ay hindi ko na masundan. Hindi ko na napansin na maga-ala una na pala. Kung siguro hindi pa ako nila inaya ay baka maghapon akong nakaupo dito at nakatunganga.
Nang makapasok kami sa gymnasium ay halos hindi na kami makakaraan sa sobrang dami ng tao. Mabuti na lang at may nag-save ng seats para kay Yuna at Devi sa harap.
May dalawang upuan na magkaharap sa stage. Meron ding dalawang microphone na nakalagay sa stand. Someone was already seated on one of the chairs, probably my co-debater.
Hindi na ako naghintay pa na tawagin at umakyat na sa stage. Ni-adjust ko muna ang microphone stand para maka-level ito sa pagkakaupo ko.
Tahimik lang ako habang naghihintay na magsimula na ang debate. Ni isang beses ay hindi ko na muling binalingan ng tingin ang nasa harap ko. I'm too scared to find out if he's really Hiro, my childhood friend... and my first love.
Maya-maya pa ay umakyat na rin sa stage ang host. She tapped the mic a few times before silencing everyone.
"A pleasant afternoon, lads and lasses. As we all know, the yearly quiz bee was cancelled under the command of our head teacher, Mister Alonzo," she paused, "and of course, we won't let this day pass without a little fun."
"We are all gathered today, at the school's gymnasium, to witness a debate with the two most intelligent students of LEIHS. Miss Xandra Castillo..."
Everyone clapped when she called my name. Dinig na dinig din ang sigawan ng mga kaibigan ko.
"Wooh, kaibigan ko 'yan!"
"Kaya mo 'yan, Xandra!"
I smiled at them.
"...and Mister Hiro Montecarlos."
Unti-unting naglaho ang ngiti ko kasabay ng maingay na hiyawan ng nga estudyante.
"Omg Hiro ang gwapo mo!"
"Xandra mahal na mahal kita pero mas mahal ko si Hiro!"
May ilan pang sinigaw ang mga kaibigan ko pero hindi nandoon ang atensiyon ko, kundi nasa lalaking makakalaban ko.
Hindi tulad kanina, nakataas na ang kanyang ulo at nakangiti sa madla. That gave me a chance to stare at him.
Ni wala man lang nagbago. He still has those soft jet black hair and round eyeglasses. Kitang kita rin ang dimple sa magkabila niyang oisngi lalo na at nakangiti siya.
Hindi ko alam na nakauwi na pala siya galing Australia. Hindi niya man lang ako sinabihan, o baka ayaw niya talagang malaman ko dahil iniiwasan niya ako?
"Hiro..." bulong ko.
"The mechanics are simple. I will give you a topic and you will choose if you agree to that statement or not. Of course, defend your answer, the audience in front will be the to decide who will be the winner," page-explain ng host. "Since friendly debate lang naman, you don't have to be too formal with each other and no hard feelings, this is all only for fun."
"The topic will be taken fron this book," itinaas niya ang libro na binasa ko kagabi. "It's entitled, Roxanne & Akihiro: The Ill-Fated love story. You can buy this at any bookstores."
"Before we start the debate, I will give you a summarization of what happened." Isa-isa niyang tiningnan ang mga estudyante na tahimik lang sa panonood. "Roxanne and Akihiro are siblings. Akihiro was of pure blood of a royalty while Roxanne is the Emperor's child with his mistress."
Naalala ko 'to. Roxanne and Akihiro are enemies, they both wanted to be the heir of the throne. That's why they never get along, they hated each other to the core. Tuwing madadaanan nila ang isa't isa, kung hindi man magpaparinigan ay magkakasakitan pa. It was stressful for the Emperor lalo na at mahal na mahal niya ang dalawa niyang anak kahit pa na magkaiba sila ng ina.
"The story progresses as their relationship, after years of loathing each other, they finally got close. Of course, the Emperor was happy. Finally, his children are now in good terms. Then here come's the bad news..."
Roxanne and Akihiro fell in love. They hid their relationship because they knew it's wrong. Every night, tumatakas sila at pumupunta sa madilim na lugar para doon magkita. Alam nilang mali pero hindi pa rin nila tinigil, dahil mahal nila ang isa't isa. Kung hindi lang sila nahuli ng isa nilang kawal ay hinding hindi sila titigil sa ginagawa nila.
"The Emperor was so angry. It was wrong. He gave them a chance to stop this nonsense but still, they continued their love story."
Nang mahuli sila ulit, hindi na sila binigyan pa ng isa pang pagkakataon para magbago. The citizens also found out about this, and are demanding for them to be punished; death.
"Akihiro was beheaded and Roxanne was hanged, in front of everyone." Suminghap ang mga tao sa narinig.
Akihiro died at 23, and Roxanne at 20. And at the 25th day of November, their ill-fated love story came to an end.
"So, the topic is..." sabi ng host pagkatapos ng pagkukwento niya. "Is their love for each other acceptable, or not?"
Unang nagsalita si Hiro. "No, their actions will never be acceptable. Be it in the eyes of the people, or in the eyes of the Lord."
Sumunod ako, "Yes, their actions are indeed, acceptable."
Tumaas ang kilay ni Hiro sa sinabi ko. "How can you say that? It is clearly written on the book that they are blood-related yet they are romantically attracted to each other. Don't you think that's kind of weird? Considering that even in the modern time, as the law states, it is still considered as a crime."
Tinaasan ko rin siya ng kilay. "How can you say that it's weird? Also, as far as I can remember, incest wasn't even considered a crime not until in the late 1800s. And clearly, even though it is not stated, the story happened way before that timeline."
Tumayo siya at mariin akong tinitigan. "Even though the story took place tens or hundreds of thousands of years ago, it's still said that the emperor punished his children when he found out about their relationship. So obviously, at their universe, incest is a crime and is not justifiable by any of their reasons, including being in love."
Hindi ako nagpatalo at tumayo na rin. "Have you really read the story, Mister Montecarlos? 'Cause I clearly remembered that the emperor had no choice but to kill them as this was already decided not just by the imperial family but also by their subjects."
"Well, according to the bible―"
Hindi ko maiwasang hindi matawa nang sinabi niya ang linyang iyon.
"According to the bible? Seriously, Mister Montecarlos?" I levelled his gaze. "This isn't a bible study if you're wondering. So stop including God or the bible just to justify your answer."
Ang bigat ng tensiyon sa paligid. Pati ang mga manonood ay tahimik lang at para bang takot na gumawa ng ingay.
After a few minutes of debating. It was time for the votings. Almost everyone inside voted for me while a few voted for Hiro, most of them are girls. The host congratulated me and gave me a certificate as a mini prize which I'm still thankful for.
Sabay kaming tatlo na lumabas sa gymnasium. Yuna talked about how hungry she is and that may bagong bukas daw sa cafe sa boulevard. Nagreklamo naman si Devi na ayaw niya roon dahil gusto niyang mag-Chapters na lang kami. I agreed kaya no choice si Yuna na sa Chapters kami kakain.
Nilingon ko ang isang sulok ng gymnasium kung saan nakatayo si Hiro. Nakayuko lang siya at nakakuyom ang kamao. I wanted to say sorry, pero bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon? I don't owe him any apologies.
Tuluyan na kaming lumabas sa campus. I took one last look at him bago ako sumunod sa dalawa kong kaibigan.