David’s P.O.V.
Mabilis na lumipas ang oras at break time na naman—it was also a good thing na wala na kaming klase sa hapon. Ayoko nang dumaan pa sa stage at baka kung ano na naman ang makita ko roon.
I decided not to go home yet, kung kaya’t pumunta na lang muna ako sa Computer Room at nag-internet. Binuksan ko na rin ‘yong bagong e-mail address na ibinigay ni Vanessa para kunin ang mga picture nila na kailangan ko raw i-edit.
While browsing their photos, may isa sa mga ito ang nakapagpa-inis pa lalo sa akin. It caused me to narrow my eyes all of a sudden.
Silang dalawa na sobrang lapit ang mukha sa isa’t isa na parang may kung anong ibinubulong si Drew kay Vanessa! At ang girlfriend ko naman ay akala mong kung sinong kilig na kilig na nakalingkis pa sa kaliwang braso ng binata.
Pakiramdam ko ay nag-init bigla ‘yong mukha ko. I was really angry that I wanted to hit someone with my fist!
I then found myself logging out from Vanessa’s e-mail, but I printed the picture first before I went out of the Computer Room. Pupunta na lang ako sa Music Room dahil gusto kong paghahampasin lahat ng drums doon, mailabas ko lang ang sama ng loob ko.
Pipihitin ko na sana ‘yong door knob para buksan ang Music Room nang maulinigan kong may tao. Out of curiosity, dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto at sinilip kung sino ang nasa loob.
Si Helena.
Hindi ko namalayan na tuluyan na rin pala akong nakapasok sa loob dahil napako ang mga mata ko sa kanya. Mabilis akong nagkubli sa likod ng isang upuan at palihim pa rin siyang tinitingnan. Hawak niya ang isang gitara at sigurado akong kapag tinugtog niya ‘yon ay kakanta siya. Hindi ako nagkamali dahil iyon nga ang ginawa niya.
If I die young, bury me near you
Then, give me something blue
Do not forget to visit my grave
Send me away with your kisses
I frowned. Her soft and captivating voice somewhat seemed familiar.
Hmm, teka… ibig sabihin, siya rin ‘yong kumakanta rito kahapon? Siya ’yong nagpi-piano? At marunong din siyang mag-gitara, ha? Talented! Pero bakit ba ang lulungkot ng mga kinakanta niya? Gusto na ba niyang mamatay? Ang sarap kayang mabuhay!
Bigla siyang tumigil sa pagkanta at nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla siyang magsalita, “You don’t have to hide there.”
I was caught and so, she left me with no other choice but to come out.
“Mr. Rivera?” bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat.
“Ms. Delgado, what’s with that last name basis? You’re so formal. You can just call me David or Dave!” I pretended to laugh at her to hide what I was starting to feel. I didn’t know why but I suddenly felt uneasy with her presence. It felt truly awkward.
I guessed, it was a different feeling… a feeling I knew nothing about.
She let out a fake smile. “I don’t want to. You’re not even my friend and I don’t want to be friends with someone I’ve known to be my rival from the very start! Got it?” Tinarayan niya ako pagkatapos ay mabilis niyang inayos ang mga gamit niya.
Akma na sana siyang aalis ng Music Room nang magsalita ako, “Ouch! Walking out again, huh?” I even held my chest to pretend that I was really hurt on what she was doing.
Then, she stopped and threw me some deadly stares.
“You know what, Miss Delgado? I should be calling you, Miss Perfect. Why? Akalain mong na-perfect mo ‘yong exam natin kanina sa Physics? Mahirap din ‘yon ah! And for that, I was really surprised. Actually, it made me… admire you. But I was thinking that instead of Miss Perfect, I’ll call you something else na lang. Hmm… mas maganda siguro kung Miss Walkout Queen ang itatawag ko sa’yo tutal naman ay palagi kang nagwo-walkout!” I smiled when I saw her cheeks blushed.
But little did she know how I felt… when I told her that I admired her. Gusto kong batukan ang sarili ko dahil kung ano-ano na lang ang mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko.
“You’re talking a lot of nonsense and I can’t believe that I’m wasting my precious time here with someone like you. You’ll never worth my time,” ‘yon lang ang sinabi niya bago siya tuluyang umalis.
I found myself smiling alone. Kahit pa gaano niya ako tarayan ay nabawasan pa rin ang pagka-badtrip ko. I then realized that I was still able to smile because of her.
I just went out of the Music Room but I decided not to go to the canteen yet. Maybe, I would just loiter around the school garden and breathe some fresh air.
I quietly went inside the man-made garden when all of a sudden, the scene I never expected to happen would appear right in front of my face.