Kabanata 2
Stay
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"Kahapon ang aga mo. Tapos ngayon hindi," Elise said.
I smiled at her.
"Let's go."
"Hindi ka pa kumakain. Kumain ka muna. Mahihintay naman kita," tuimingin sya sa relo nya. "Medyo maaga pa naman."
Umiling ako.
"Sa school nalang ako kakain."
I don't want to eat with my titas. I would rather be hungry than to eat with them. I really don't like them. Kahit kapatid sila ni Daddy, kailanman hindi gumaan ang loob ko sa kanila. I'm just comfortable with tita Florence because she's the only one who's kind to me out of the four of them.
"Sa school na naman. Paano kung hindi ka na makakain? Baka magsimula agad ang klase nyo," nag aalalang sinabi ni Elise.
"I'm fine. Don't worry. Makakain ako, promise."
Wala syang nagawa. Sabay kaming pumasok. At dahil sabay kami, hindi ko ginamit ang bike ko. Sa SUV kami sumakay. Marami syang kinukwento habang nasa byahe kami. Nakikinig lang ako sa kanya. Sabi nya hindi na sya binubully ni Mayumi. Natatakot na daw sa kanya. I smirked at that.
"I don't really know why they are afraid of me," Elise said.
I smirked more.
"What did you do the other day? Why are they so afraid of me?" She asked.
"Wala. Pinagsabihan ko lang."
"But why are they afraid? You must have done something!"
I chuckled.
"Tinakot ko lang ng kaunti. Tsaka ayaw mo ba nito? Hindi ka na nila sinasaktan. Mas mabuti nang takot sila sayo."
She pouted. Ngumiti ako at pinisil ang pisngi nya. She's very cute. I don't know why we have different habits. Mas mapapanatag sana ako kung kaugali ko sya. Palaban. Pero hindi. She's a very soft girl. Easily hurt. Easy to cry. Modest. Akala mo marupok na baso na kaunting galaw mo lang, mababasag na.
Unlike me who's strong, unaffected by what others say, brave, and able to defend myself. We're really far away from each other. Mukha lang ang pareho sa aming dalawa.
Nauna syang bumaba dahil nauuna ang school nya. Kumaway sya at nang medyo malayo na ang SUV namin, doon palang sya pumasok sa loob ng school. Agad rin naman akong pumasok sa school ko nang makarating.
It's still early so I still have time to eat. Nilapitan agad ako ni Jaz nang makarating ako sa classroom.
"Akala ko ba hobby mo ang pumasok ng maaga? Hinihintay kita kanina, eh," she said while pouting.
"Sorry. Gusto kasi ni Elise na sabay kaming pumasok."
She sighed.
"Nakakain na ako. Samahan nalang kitang kumain?"
Umiling ako.
"Hindi na. Sandali lang naman ako. Tsaka mukhang may ginagawa ka pa," nakita ko ang mga notes sa table nya.
"Oo nga, eh. Hindi ko kasi ginawa yung mga assignments natin kagabi," humagikgik sya.
Bahagya akong natawa.
"Kaya nga sige na. Kaya ko na. Ipagpatuloy mo nalang yang ginagawa mo."
She nodded.
"Okay! Balik ka agad!"
I left the classroom and headed to the cafeteria. I bought a sandwich and juice. After that, instead of eating there, I went out and visited their large field. I saw it yesterday and I was amazed. Gusto kong tumambay ngayon lalo na dahil hindi pa masyadong mainit.
I wish Jaz was here to talk to someone but she's busy. That's okay with me though because I also want to be alone.
Maraming tao sa field. May naglalaro ng badminton habang hindi pa nagsisimula ang klase. May naglalaro rin ng soccer, basketball, volleyball at kung ano ano pa. I sat on the grass and watched the people. Marami ring nakaupo sa damuhan, ginaya ko lang. May nakita pa akong couple na naglalandian. Napailing ako.
I don't like sports but I want to try at least one of them. Badminton or... volleyball? I also want to try swimming. But I don't have time because I will be busy. I still have a lot to study because I was a bit late in transferring. Maybe next time.
While I was sitting in my seat for a long time, I thought that this school is better than my previous school in Cebu. Dito tahimik lang. Even if you're alone, no one will laugh at you or fight with you. Sa Cebu, big deal kapag mag isa ka. Tutuksuhin ka nila na walang kaibigan. Tomboy. Basagulero. At kung ano ano pa.
Ganon nga naman ang ugali ko pero kailangan ba talagang sabihin? Maraming takot sa akin sa Cebu pero may kaunti pa rin na ang lalakas ng loob lumapit sa akin at pagsabihan ako ng kung ano ano. Hindi ko nalang pinapatulan. Kapag below the belt na ang mga sinasabi nila, doon lang ako napipikon. Dito, mukhang maayos naman. Everyone is friendly. It looks like I'm going to study well here.
I was halfway through eating my sandwich when I got bored. I should have brought a book to read. I can't do anything on my phone. Maybe Elise is already busy at her school so I can't text her. It's early but maybe she still has work to do. Tawagin ko kaya si Jaz?
I sighed. Wag nalang. Patapos na rin naman ako. Mabilis ko nang inubos ang pagkain ko. Magta-time na rin kasi kaya baka ma-late pa ako. Pangalawang aras ko palang rito. Hindi ako pwedeng ma-late.
Patayo na sana ako. I finished eating my food and finished drinking my juice. Pero minamalas yata ako sa araw na yon. Bahagya akong napa aray nang may tumamang bola sa ulo ko. Naramdaman ko agad ang pagkirot noon at napabalik ako sa pagkakaupo. Hinawakan ko ang noo ko at nakitang may dugo. Pumikit ako ng mariin.
"Oh my gosh! Are you okay, Miss?" Tanong ng mga babaeng lumapit at nakakita sa nangyari.
Hindi naman ako makasagot sa kirot na nararamdaman sa noo. Pinilit kong tumayo pero nahihilo ako.
"Oh my! She's bleeding!"
"Sino ba yung nakatama?"
"Miss!" Nakita kong nagtakbuhan yung mga lalaking naglalaro ng baseball kanina.
May lumuhod sa harapan ko at agad akong pinaharap sa kanya. Nakapikit ako ng mariin at nakahawak pa rin sa noo kong sobrang kumikirot. Sobrang sakit noon! I want to cry but that's not my thing. Kaya ko to.
"Miss, are you alright? Come here. I'll take you to the clinic," anang lalaki.
Hinawakan nya ako sa likuran at likod ng tuhod. Hindi na ako naka apila nang buhatin nya ako. I grabbed his shoulder but still couldn't help but close my eyes tightly to the extreme pain I felt on my forehead. Nahihilo ako pero pilit kong nilalabanan yon.
Sa gitna ng sakit na nararamdaman, pilit kong tinignan ang lalaking bumubuhat sa akin. Nagmamadali syang tumakbo pero nag iingat dahil buhat buhat nya ako. Nakasunod ang iilang kasamahan nya sa paglalaro. Bahagya pa akong nagulat nang makilala kung sino itong lalaki.
He was the owner of the ballpen yesterday. In the locker. Yung may nakabanggang babae. Hindi ko inaasahan na magkikita pa kami. At sa ganito pang sitwasyon.
Kunot na kunot ang noo nya habang nagmamadali. I can see the concern on his face. When he looked at me, I realized that I had been staring for a long time. I looked away and closed my eyes tightly to the pain I felt again. I don't know why the pain suddenly disappeared earlier.
We arrived at the clinic and he immediately laid me down on the bed. The nurse immediately approached and asked what happened. The man said what happened. Habang ako nakapikit na at hindi na kaya ang sakit. Gusto ko nang matulog pero natatakot akong hindi na magising. But because of the excruciating pain, everything just went dark.
Masakit ang ulo ko nang magising. Dumaing ako nang pagkagising palang, sakit ng ulo na ang naramdaman. Sinubukan kong tumayo pero agad agad akong pinigilan ni Jaz at nagtaka pa ako kung bakit sya nandito.
"Hey! Wag ka munang gumalaw! Baka kung mapano ka!" Nag aalala nyang sinabi. "Nurse! Gising na po si Victoria! Ano pong gagawin?" Natataranta nyang tanong.
Humiga ulit ako. Masakit pa rin ang ulo ko pero hindi na katulad kanina na sobrang sakit. I took a deep breath and for a moment, closed my eyes and squeezed my head. Naramdaman ko ang kung anong nakalagay sa noo ko. Malambot iyon at napagtantong pantakip yon sa sugat ko sa ulo. Naalala ko ang nangyari kanina.
"Are you feeling better now, Ms. Villanueva? Masakit pa rin ba ang ulo mo?" The nurse asked.
"Yeah..." namamaos kong sagot.
"Mawawala rin yan. Sa ngayon, magpahinga ka na muna. Excuse ka na sa lahat ng subjects nyo. Even Ms. Valderama. Sasamahan ka nya rito."
"What?"
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko at napatingin kay Jaz na maliit na ngumiti sa akin.
"H-Hindi naman na kailangan. Pumasok ka na--"
"Wag nang matigas ang ulo mo! Babantayan ka na nga, eh! Sige na! Matulog ka na ulit!" Si Jaz.
"Pero nandito naman ang nurse. Tsaka kaya ko naman na. Magpapahinga lang ako saglit."
She sighed. Alam kong susunod sya sa akin. Alam kong mahalaga rin ang pag aaral nya para sa kanya.
"Tsaka anong oras na ba ngayon? Gaano ako katagal natulog?" Tanong ko.
"Tanghali na. Tapos na ang lunch. Excuse ka na sa lahat ng subjects kanina. Ako ang nagbantay sayo buong oras."
I sighed. Tinignan ko ulit si Jaz at tumango sa kanya.
"Sige na. Hindi ko naman na kailangan pa ng bantay. Pumasok ka na."
She sighed again. Eventually she gave up and just nodded. I know she doesn't want to leave me but I'm fine. Hindi ko na kailangan ng bantay. All I have to do is rest. My head doesn't hurt too much anymore.
"Pero may isa pang magbabantay sayo rito," Jaz said.
"Huh? Sino?" Taka kong tanong.
"Mr. Lavarias will stay here. He said he wants to atleast take care of you since he's the one who didn't mean to hit you. He's outside, talking to somone on the phone," the nurse said.
What? Sino yon?
I looked at Jaz and she seemed to know the question in my mind. She answered my silent question.
"Sabi sya daw yung nagbuhat sayo kanina papunta rito. Sya rin ang nakatama ng bola sayo. He wants to stay here to watch over you and to apologize."
I sighed. I nodded slowly. Atleast, I want to hear an apology. Hindi biro ang nangyari sa akin kanina. I was hit on the head. I'm not angry but I deserve an apology.
"Okay. Pumasok ka na. Ang dami mo nang na-missed na klase," sabi ko kay Jaz.
"Sige. Rest well, okay? Bye," she hugged me before leaving.
Kasabay ng paglabas nya sa pinto ay ang pagpasok ng isang lalaki. I immediately recognized him. Sya nga yung bumuhat sa akin kanina and he's also the owner of the ballpen I found yesterday. When he saw me, he immediately approached and sat on the chair next to my bed. There's still concern in his eyes. He's worried. Dapat lang dahil sya ang nakatama sa akin.
"Are you okay now?" He asked.
Sandali pa akong tumitig sa kanya. After a while, I nodded.
"Yup. Thanks," sabi ko.
He sighed. Sinubukan kong tumayo at agad nya akong inalalayan. Nagulat pa ako nang hawakan nya ang braso ko para alalayan. Sa huli binalewala ko nalang yon at umayos ng upo.
"Kaya mo ba? Baka sumakit ulit ang ulo mo," he said worriedly.
Tinignan ko sya. Sandali ko ulit syang tinitigan.
"Kaya ko na."
He looked at me too. In the end, he sighed and sat down in his chair again. Kinunot ko ang noo ko habang iniisip kung paano kami nagkita kahapon. We only had a little conversation because I really just returned the ballpen. I didn't expect that we would have another interaction today.
"I'm sorry. Ako ang nakatama ng bola sayo. I didn't mean it. It's just an accident. I'm really sorry," he said.
I nodded slowly. Atleast he said sorry. Iyon lang naman ang gusto kong marinig. Ayos na sa akin yon.
"Are you sure you're really okay now? Hindi na sumasakit ang ulo mo?" Nag aalala nyang tanong.
I looked at him. I don't know if he's worried because he's guilty or because he's just really worried. But why would he worry? We don't even know each other. He's probably just guilty.
"Medyo nalang," simple kong sagot at iniwas ang tingin sa kanya.
Nakita ko ang pagtango nya at ang pagtitig sa akin. Hindi naman ako lumingon sa kanya. Sandali kaming natahimik.
"Are you angry? I'm really sorry..." sabi nya pagkatapos ng mahabang pagtitig sa akin.
Tinignan ko sya. Nag aabang ang mga mata nya. Nanibago pa ako because his eyes are always cold but now, all I can see is concern.
"Hindi naman ako galit," sabi ko.
"You look like one..." he almost whispered.
I smiled slightly at him to prove that it's really okay. Hindi nya na kailangan pang ma-guilty.
"It's really okay. I'm not mad. You said sorry and it's enough for me."
He stared at me for a moment. I looked away. I'm not friendly so I don't know what to say to him. Pwede kong sabihin sa kanya na umalis na sya dahil kagaya ni Jaz, siguradong may klase pa sya.
"You can leave now. Baka may klase ka pa. Ayos na talaga ako," sabi ko.
"No. I'll stay here. Babantayan kita," he said.
"Hindi naman na kailangan. Ayos na ako. Kaunting pahinga nalang."
"Then I'll stay while you're resting."
I looked at him, slightly irritated by his stubbornness. We're not close. We don't even know each other. Maybe he's just really guilty of what happened.
"Hindi na talaga. I'm fine, see? I can take care of myself. And besides, the nurse is just right there. I can call her when I need something," I said.
He sighed. He didn't speak. May palagay akong hindi sya susunod sa akin kaya mas lalo lang akong nairita. Tinignan ko ulit sya.
"Pumasok ka na," ulit ko.
"I'll stay here," ang kulit nya.
"Bakit pa? Ayos naman na ako at nagsorry ka na. Hindi mo na kailangang ma-guilty sa nangyari."
"Yes, I'm guilty. But I'm also worried. So please let me stay."
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. He's serious and cold again so I feel like nothing can change his mind. I just looked away and sighed in annoyance. I leaned my head on the headboard and slowly closed my eyes.
He stayed at the clinic and watched over me. Nakapag pahinga naman ako pero hindi ako nakatulog dahil nandyan sya at palagi pang nakatitig. Pero nakapag pahinga naman na ako. My headache is gone. Kirot nalang kapag nahahawakan ang sugat ko sa noo.
Bumalik si Jaz nang uwian na. Palabas na rin kami sa clinic. Nag aalala ang mukha nya at agad akong kinamusta.
"Ayos ka na ba? Gusto mo ihatid na kita sa bahay nyo?" She said.
Agad akong umiling.
"Hindi na. Susunduin ako ng driver namin."
She signed and nodded. I looked at Mr. Ballpen on my side, still not leaving until now. That's how I call him because I don't know what his name. I'm not interested to know so I didn't ask.
"Salamat sa pagbabantay," bahagya akong ngumiti dahil kahit papaano, na-appreciate ko ang ginawa nya. "Pasensya na sa abala."
"No problem," he's back again with his serious voice and cold eyes.
Tumango ako.
"Mauna na kami."
"Hatid ko na kayo."
Bahagya akong nagulat roon. Aapila na sana ako nang magsalita si Jaz.
"Sige ba! Libre mo na rin kaming pagkain sa ginawa mo sa kaibigan ko," she smiled.
"Jaz!" Saway ko.
Ngumuso sya sa akin at nanahimik na. Bumaling agad ako kay Mr. Ballpen.
"Pasensya na. Hindi na kailangan. Kaya naman na namin."
"No. I insist. Let's go," nauna pa syang maglakad.
Nasundan ko sya ng tingin. Gusto ko syang pigilan pero ang bilis nyang maglakad. Hinila ako ni Jaz at wala na akong nagawa kundi ang mapabuntong hininga nalang. Sya lang ang lalaking nakilala ko na napaka tigas ng ulo. Tsh.
Dala na ni Jaz ang mga gamit ko kaya hindi na kami babalik sa classroom. Dala na rin ni Mr. Ballpen ang bag nya kaya lalabas nalang kami. Nandoon na ang sundo ni Jaz pero hindi pa sya umalis. Hinintay muna nilang makarating ang sundo ko.
I glance at Mr. Ballpen and I always catch him staring at me. I quickly averted my eyes. My forehead frowns at the strange feeling I suddenly felt. I just ignored it.
Maya maya lang dumating na ang SUV namin. I guess Elise is not inside because she will definitely run out towards me if she's there.
"Ito na ang sundo ko. Thank you sainyong dalawa. Mauna na ako," paalam ko.
Tumango at kumaway si Jaz.
"Bye!"
Bahagya akong ngumiti at bumaling kay Mr. Ballpen na seryoso pa rin. Tumango sya sa akin.
"Take care," he said.
I nodded and got inside the SUV. Wala nga si Elise. Tinignan ko ang dalawang naiwan at nakatingin sa sasakyan ko. Nakita kong nagpaalam na si Jaz kay Mr. Ballpen at pumunta na sa sunod nya. Naiwan naman si Mr. Ballpen na nakatayo at wala pa yatang balak umalis. He's looking at our car. The car is tinted so he definitely can't see me. I then had the opportunity to watch him.
He's handsome. Malaki pa ang katawan. He looked like a real man. Yung iba kasing mga kaklase kong lalaki, mapapayat at hindi ganyan kaya masasabi kong lalaking lalaki sya sa dating nya. College na kaya sya? Sa laki ng katawan nya, siguradong college na sya. Ako nasa fourth year high school palang, eh.
Teka. Bakit ko ba ito iniisip? I tsked. Iniwas ko ang tingin kay Mr. Ballpen. Paalis na kami. Nang mawala na sya sa paningin ko, nagtanong ako kay manong driver.
"Bakit wala po si Elise?" Tanong ko.
"Hindi pa po sya tapos sa school, Ma'am. Sabi nya unahin ko munang sunduin ka dahil mas maaga ang uwi nyo," he said.
"Oh..." tumango ako.