I walked through the school gate. Marami akong nakasabay, 'yung iba ay nagmamadali makapunta sa kanilang building, 'yung iba naman sa gym ang punta dahil siguro sa kanilang PE class. Today, may class starts at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. So, there's no need for me to rush.
"Oops, ingat ka!" I looked at the guy beside me. He stopped me from getting bump to a thick wood that a school staff is carrying towards the school stage. It's Gio Casano, isa sa mga kaklase ko. I glance down to his hand who rests on my shoulder, agad naman niya 'yong tinanggal. "You look distracted."
Ngumiti lang ako at nanguna sa paglalakad. Nilingon ko ang bandang school stage. Agad namang bumungad ang salita mula sa malaking tarpauline, "Foundation Day".
I don't have any school activities left, thus I have something to worry about; and that is the upcoming school event, the foundation day.
"Handa ka na ba sa foundation day?" Gio asked beside me, glancing at the stage as well. Nando'n pa rin pala siya, akala ko ay umakyat na ito.
I chuckled and continue to pick up my pace, he followed me. "Sinong maghahanda sa araw na 'yan? Some activities can be predicted, but some may put you in the most humiliating spot," I respond. Mabubulaga ka na lang na may biglang hihila sa'yo para sumali sa isang activity na hindi mo naman sinalihan. You can't refuse, or else you'll look pathetic.
Sinabayan ako ni Gio sa paglalakad patungo sa elevator. "Are you still upset about last year? Lalo na nu'ng ininsulto ng judge ang section niyo for losing tag of war?" I glance at him. I should have known that he's already staring at me, kung gayo'n, hindi ko na ito nilingon.
Gio is towering me a little, so I have to look up a bit whenever I talk to him. Maputi ito, katamtaman lang ang katawan, at bagay na kinaiinggitan ko sa kaniya ay ang mapupungay at nangangausap nitong mga mata. He's the top student in our section, mahilig sa computer games, at nahihirapan magsalita sa unahan.
When the elevator dings and the door opened, inilahad nito ang kaniyang kamay upang paunahin akong makapasok. I gave him a smile as if that's my 'thank-you' respond for his gentleness.
"I'm not upset. Totoo namang incompetent ang section namin no'n. Plus, our class president said something to that judge that made the fire inside her to come out of her mouth. Besides, palpak ang strategy namin na halos marami ang nainis," tugon ko sa kaniyang inusal kanina. He just nodded as if the subject suddenly bored him.
Every school year, hindi mawawala ang foundation day. Actually, it's fun, yes. Hindi ko kailangan magmadali sa pagpasa ng paper activities dahil more on field activities ang mangyayari, lalo na para sa aming mga ABM students. But I think it won't be the same as last year. Gaya ng mga grade 12 last year, kailangan namin sumabak sa 'tinda-tinda' activities.
Maraming on-hand jobs 'yon, kailangan asikasuhin ang mga materyales na gagamitin sa pagtinda, kailangan estimated at calculated ang sales and profit, marami ka dapat nahahakot na customers dahil isa iyon sa criteria sa competition, at higit sa lahat, hindi p'wedeng incompetent ka dahil makakatanggap ka ng insulto mula sa isang judge na nakaupo ro'n.
The elevator stops at the 2nd floor. Ilang estudyante rin ang pumasok dahilan upang mapunta pa kami ni Gio sa dulo. When I glance up, I was startled when I saw a familiar image walking towards the elevator door.
Mag-sara ka na! I screamed inside. But he was just right in time. Saktong pagpasok nito ay 'tsaka pa nagsara ang pinto ng elevator.
"Why are you covering your face?" Gio asked, a teasing smile plastered to his face. "Akala mo sasara na agad 'yung elevator at maiipit 'yung lalaki?" He laughed to his own thoughts. Binaba ko ang aking kamay.
"No," I respond, whispering. Tinulak ko si Gio patungo sa aking harapan at kumapit sa bag nito. "Just stay like that," madiing bulong ko muli. Hindi naman na kumibo si Gio. I secretly glance at Matthew who's with us inside the elevator. Nakatingin ito sa kaniyang phone. Few seconds when he pocketed it, naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng aking phone mula sa aking bulsa.
Did he sent a message to me?
"4th floor," anunsyo ng babae na siyang naghahandle ng mga button.
"Excuse," Gio lead the way out. Nang mapansin ko ang paglingon ni Matthew sa aking gawi, I bow my head down and quickly step out of the elevator.
Sigh.
Gio looked at me confused. But he didn't say something and just walk.
The reason why I avoided Matthew, is because I told him corny jokes last night. Atsaka, if I let him see me, what will I do? Smile? Greet him? No way. Hindi ako ganu'n kadaldal unless we're in social media.
"Hah! I knew it!" Bungad sa akin ni Clover nang marating ko ang ika-apat na palapag ng gusali. As usual, nauuna itong pumasok kaysa sa akin. "Good afternoon sa'yo!" Clover clung to me like a worm and rest her head on my shoulder. "Hi, Gio!"
"Hi!" bati nito pabalik kay Clover.
I know why she's being like this. Siguro akala niya ay hindi ako OK dahil sa narinig niya sa bahay kagabi.
"How's your sleep?" she asked when we reach the front of our classroom. Tinignan muna ako ni Gio bago ito pumasok.
"Good," I replied with a short chuckle as I turn my attention to my friend. "Ikaw?"
"Better. Eto, kainin mo!" Inabot nito sa akin ang dalawang maliit at kulay asul na kahon. Bungad agad ang pangalan ng shop na kaniyang pinagbilhan, moonlight pastry. "Kabibili ko lang niyan kanina, mainit-init pa ang cinnamon roll lalo na 'yung cupcakes." She gave me a warm smile.
I sighed after plastering a thankful smile at her. "Thank you, Cloe!" I hugged her. What she heard last night probably made her worried. And that she knows what I'll be today.
Sometimes, Clover have her own instincts like a separate one made for me. She knows when I don't feel good, or if I do feel happy. Hindi ko na kailangan sabihin sa kaniya. If she feel like I don't feel good, eto ang gagawin niya. Bibilhan niya ako ng pagkain.
"I'm good, Cloe," thanks to Matthew and his spectacular jokes and story telling. Nakatulog ako kahit magka-usap pa kami. We talked about a lot of things last night, I showed him my hyper-side which is why I badly want to avoid him. " I don't have a plan to enter to my mom and aunt's arguments. Gaya dati, ganu'n pa rin ang pinag-aawayan nila," saad ko. "I just let them do whatever they want. Sila naman ang may problema sa isa't-isa."
Clover shrugged her shoulder. "Alam ko 'yan, what concerns me is you. No one's tough when the subject is about the people you lost on the way. Alam kong alam mo 'yan." Naupo kaming dalawa sa aming pwesto sa loob ng silid. "I pictured you crying beside your bed, on the floor just like the time---" she stopped midway and bit her lower lip. She remembered the time I lost my father and stayed at the corner for the whole night. "Dapat ay ni-replyan mo ako! Para hindi ako nag-alala! Nabawas tuloy ang beauty ko kagabi dahil sa puyat!" she laugh nervously.
Hinawi niya palikod ng kaniyang tainga ang mahaba at kulay kape niyang buhok. She's wearing a yellow hairpin and wearing a yellow ID lace. May color coding si Clover araw-araw. You'll see that on her hairpin, ID lace, and school bag; they all matches the same color each day.
"Nag-chat ka ba?" I went to the messenger app to check. Bumungad ang mensahe ni Matthew na bumabati ng 'good morning' with a smiling emoji. It was 3 minutes ago. Tama nga na ako ang sinendan niya ng message kanina. I immediately turned the screen off. "Sorry, hindi ko napansin," paumanhin ko na lang sa kaniya.
"I will accept your apology kapag nilibre mo ko mamaya ng milktea!" Pinandilatan ako nito ng mata. I was going to tease her when a woman enter our room, si Ms. Fugal.
Nilapag nito ang kaniyang gamit sa teacher's desk mula sa harapan. She then walk towards the table and crossed her arms, scanning at each of us. Sinilip ko panandalian ang aking dibdib upang i-check kung suot ko ang aking tie, gladly, I am.
I tried to think if I left something, pero walang sumagi sa isip ko.
"Stand up," mahinahong an'ya. Lahat kami sumunod. "Looks like, all of you have learned your mistakes for the past weeks. I can see y'all wearing your uniform complete and appropriate." She smiled for the first time. Ikinagulat naming lahat iyon. Last week, parati itong galit sapagkat hindi kumpleto ng uniporme ng ilan sa amin.
As you know, Ms. Fugal here is as strict as the head of military. It's obvious to her arched brows and pouty lips. You can't speak to her unless she says so, hindi ka p'wedeng tumawa, hindi p'wedeng hindi kumpleto ang uniporme mo, no speaking tagalog dahil nagtuturo siya ng English Literacy, and the worst of all, you can't forget everything she told you--- or else, mauuwi ka sa school library, magbabasa ng novel at magbibigay ng reflection sa kaniya before the school ours end.
Kahit mahilig akong magbasa, I rather stay here and listen to her lecture, kaysa gawin iyon sa isang araw lang. I don't have the power to read a thick book just half a day.
"What did I told tou to bring last meeting?"
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa tanong nito. Nilingon ko si Clover ng palihim at tinanong ito kung ano iyon. "Newspaper," she uttered with her voice on mute.
"Ba't 'di mo ko sinabihan?"
Clover shrugged her shoulder. Sumenyas uto na bibigyan niya na lang daw ako.
"Newspaper, Miss!" tugon ng lahat ng sabay-sabay.
"OK, good. Bring them out, so we can start—"
Clover handed me a piece of newspaper. Naiwan sa kaniya ang isa. But as I fold it, Clover nudge me multiple times on the elbow nand pouted her lips towards te professor's direction. Natigil ako at tanging taking lamang ng sapatos nito ang naririnig ko na unti-unting lumalakas.
"Ms. Forjendes," she called. Her chilling voice made my internal organs shiver.
Dahan-dahan akong lumingon. Bumungad sa akin ang nakakakilabot nitong ngiti.
-
Bagsak ang balikat ko nang pumasok ng school library. Bitbit ang aking gamit mula sa akig kaliwang kamay na para bang napilitang palayasin sa bahay. Well, she ordered me to go out of the room.
My phone chimed. "I'm sorry, Mav. Kasi naman ikaw eh!" usal nito sa kaniyang mensahe.
"Goods lang. Gusto ko rin umidlip. 'Wag ka na magreply baka sumunod ka pa sa akin dito," I replied with laughing emoji but my face stays poker.
Bwiset. Sabi ko na nga ba may nakalimutan ako, I said to myself. Naghanap ako ng bakanteng upuan. Nang mailapag ang aking gamit, nagtungo ako sa shelves. I narrowed my eyes down the small paper Ms. Fugal gave me.
"Look for Romeo and Juliet's book on the library," she'd say. "And give me a reflection paper of how how the main characters' were constructed by the author," and kick me out of the room.
I crumpled the paper and placed it under my skirt's pocket. "Newspaper lang naman iyon, kailangan pa akong pabasahin ng cringe story ng dalawang bata na namatay dahil sa katangahan nila!" inis na saad ko sa sarili.
"Ssh!" suway sa akin ng estudyante mula sa kalapit na mesa. I smiled apologetically and started to look for the book. I went to look at the novel book section, dahil kanina ay nasa science category ako. Hindi naman ako nahirapan sapagkat nakita ko agad ang hinahanap.
I was about to grab the book, but then, someone grabbed it before I could. Nilingon ko agad iyon and my eyes bulge out.
Thump. My heart skipped a beat.