Chapter 1 
ROE
Malakas akong napabuntong-hininga nang tuluyan akong makarating sa dulo ng pila. Nakahinga nang maluwag dahil sa wakas nakapila na ako. 
Tumayo ako nang maayos mula sa pagkayuyuko at saka sinipat ng tingin ang harapan. Napasimangot ako nang makita ang haba nito. Kahit pala magmadali ako ay hindi rin pala ako makasasakay kaagad dahil araw ng lunes at oras din ng biyahe ng mga nagtatrabaho. 
I roamed around the whole terminal and quickly sighed as I heard loud noises and murmurs, this will take long, I’m sure. I then looked away and slid my hand inside my blouse's pocket and grabbed my earphones. The other hand slid into the other pocket and grabbed my phone. 
I quickly plugged my earphones on my phone and browsed for music. I can’t let this long and noisy passenger line ruin my mood and comfort. 
“Oh! Ayan may sumingit na naman!” hindi nakatakas ang malakas na sigaw na iyon pagkaraan ng ilang minutong paghihintay.
Nang balingan ko nga ng tingin ay nakita ko ang dalawang babae na nakayuko hindi kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko, nahihiya at bumaling na lang sa pag-uusap kahit halos tignan na sila nang masama ng mga tao. 
“Kanina pa kami rito! Ang iba sa ‘min mali-late na sa trabaho tapos magpasisingit lang kayo!” naiinis na dagdag ng nasa harap ko. 
Napailing-iling na lang ako habang tinitignan sila. Naging mitsa naman iyon nang mas matindi pang ingay. Dahil halos lahat ng nasa likod ng dalawang babae ay malakas nang nagreklamo sa ginawa nila. 
That made me release a sigh of annoyance of their noises and curses. They kept on nagging each other other and it aches me. I tried to increase the volume of my music but it already reached its full volume. I sighed again. 
If only Papa wasn’t in the opposite route, I would love to be driven to school. 
“Caldoga!” a call amidst the annoying noise caught my attention as it called me. 
I quickly turned my gaze to the owner and immediately saw a guy smiling sweetly to me. 
I know him, he’s my classmate.
“Perez,” I called back and removed one of my earphones. I smiled a little. 
I then looked at his side and saw his city bike. His both hands are resting on each side of the handlebars. 
“You’re early,” I said without looking at him. 
“I doubt that, it’s already 7 am.” he replied with a smile. 
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya at mabilis na tinignan ang relo ko. Halos mapamura ako sa nakita. It’s already 7:02 am and I am still in the same place as I was a while ago. 
Napukaw ng atensyon ko ang paggalaw niya kaya bumaling ako sa kaniya at tinignan ang kilos niya. Nakatingkayad at malikot niyang inilinga-linga ang tingin sa harapan. 
Nang makontento sa nakita ay ‘tsaka niya ako binalingan ng may pag-aalala. “Class’ about to start. Makaaabot ka ba n’yan?" tukoy niya sa 7:30 am class namin. 
Nag-aalangan akong ngumiti sa kaniya. “Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam. Hindi pa rin dumarating ang susunod na jeep, e.” 
Tumango-tango siya. “Gusto mo ba sumabay na sa akin?” tanong niya. “Papunta na rin kasi ako, e.”
I would love to accept his offer but I suddenly remembered that we are not that close. We often bumped into each other inside the classroom but crashing in a scene like this was really a new thing to me. 
I remained silent. As for Perez, he is also silent while he waits to my respond.
I looked at him with a small smile plastered on my face. I cleared my throat before speaking up. “No, it’s okay. But, I do appreciate the invite.” I said. 
Perez looked at me and nodded. “Hm, then, have a safe trip.” he said and smiled at me. 
I smiled back at him before I looked away. “You, too.”
Tinikom ko na lang ang bibig ko dahil hindi ko rin naman na alam ang susunod na sasabihin sa kaniya. 
Pero bigla parang gusto kong bawiin ang desisyon na ibinigay ko. Lalo na nang magkagulo na naman sila sa pila. Muli na namang umugong ang ingay. Kanina pa kasi hindi dumarating ang susunod na jeep at halos ma-stuck na kami sa mga kinatatayuan namin. Dagdag pa na may sumingit na sa amin sa pila. 
Nilamon na nang buo ng maiingay na pasahero ang ingay na galing sa earphones ko. Hindi ko na halos maintindihan ang mga pinagsasabi nila. 
Iilan sa kanila’y nagmumura na sa pagkairita at ang iba naman ay halos makipag-away na. 
Napabuntong-hininga ako nang marahas. Lumingon ako sa likuran para sana tignan ang taong tinanggihan ko kanina. 
Hindi pa naman ga’nong nakalalayo si Perez. 
Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa hindi umuusad na pila at kay Perez na hindi pa tuluyang nakalalayo. 
Gusto ko nang makapasok pero sa lagay ng mga nangyayari ngayon ay sa tingin ko, mabibigyan na lang ako ng yellow late slip kung ipipilit ko pa ang paghihintay sa jeep. 
Kaya kahit nahihiya ako, umalis ako sa pila at mabilis na nilakad-takbo ang distansya namin ni Perez na sa tingin ko’y hindi na pinapansin pa ang nasa likuran niya. 
Nang ilang metro na lang ang layo namin at hindi ko na kayang maglakad-takbo pa at tinawag ko na siya. 
“Perez!” sigaw ko. 
Humihingal akong huminto at habol-habol ang hiningang hinihintay na lumingon siya. 
Nang ilibot ko pa nga ang tingin ko ay halos maubo ako sa gulat dahil ang ilan sa mga paseherong nakapila ay nakatingin sa akin. 
Bigla naman akong na-conscious at nailang kaya mabilis akong tumuwid ng tayo at saka nilingon si Perez kahit pa humahangos pa rin ako. I faked a cough to clear my throat as I felt something in it.
Lumingon siya sa akin. “Oh, Caldoga!” gulat niya pang sabi. 
Binalingan ko siya ng tingin. Malakas akong naglabas ng hangin bago tuluyang naglakad palapit sa kaniya. Huminto ako sa gilid niya at saka nag-aalangang ngumiti sa kaniya. 
“Is it okay if I change my decision?” I asked. 
Perez looked surprised as I caught his eyes widened in a few seconds but quickly regained its consciousness and smiled at me. 
“Sasabay na ako, okay lang ba?” nag-aalangan kung tanong ulit. 
Parang bata siyang nagtatango-tango at saka ngumiti nang matamis. “Oo naman.”
“Salamat.” sambit ko, bahagyang nahiya sa kaniyang pinakitang reaksyon. Napayuko ako para iwasan ang tingin niya ngunit may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi.
“Sakay ka na.” aniya.
“Sige. Salamat ulit.”
“Walang problema. Mabuti nga at sumabay ka na, e.”
Sumakay nga ako sa angkasan ng city bike niya.
“Hawak ka, a.” aniya.
Tumango ako sa kaniya kahit hindi niya ako nakikita. Kumapit ako sa laylayan ng school uniform niya. Mukhang naramdaman niya naman iyon kaya mabilis niyang pinaandar ang bike. 
Habang nasa daan kami at malakas na tumatama sa amin ang hangin. Hinahangin sa gawi ko ang mabangong amoy ng perfume ni Perez. Pamilyar ang amoy dahil parehas sila ni Papa. 
“Perez, thank you!” I said breaking the silence in our trip. 
“Wala iyon. I’m glad pa nga na we will go to school together.” he responded. 
Matapos kong sabihin iyon sa kaniya ay napangiti na pang ako buong biyahe. 
I took his words light as cotton that touches a person's heart because of the kindness they have received. 
Tahimik na ulit kami kahit noong makarating kami sa school. I quickly removed the helmet and got off his bike. I handed him the helmet and he immediately accepted it. 
“Salamat ulit, Perez.” saad ko sa kaniya nang hindi siya tinitignan sa mga mata. 
Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ang nakararamdam pero matapos naming makarating at nang makababa na ako ng bike niya ay bigla akong nahiya at nailang na tignan siya. 
Kanina naman habang nasa daan kami ay wala ito, pero ngayong nakarating na kami rito sa eskwelahan ay roon ko lang naramdaman. 
“You’re welcome.” 
I can even feel his smile without even looking at him. 
“Glad, we’re ten minutes early.”
When he said that, I quickly looked at my wrist watch and saw that it only took us almost fifteen minutes to get here. 
Napatingin ako sa kaniya at saka ngumiti. Ngumiti rin siya sa akin at saka inilagay ang helmet sa basket ng city bike niya. 
“Thank you ulit,” muli kong sabi. 
That made him chuckled, a heartfelt chuckle. “You don’t have to thank me this much. I’m glad we got here.” he said. 
Tumango-tango ako. Inayos ko ang bag ko sa likuran at saka siya nginitian nang matamis. Muli na naman siyang natawa kaya lalo ko tuloy naramdaman ang paglapad din ng ngiti ko. 
Magaan sa puso at dibdib ag una kong naramdaman matapos kong magpasalamat kay Perez. Hindi kami gaanong close at halos hindi rin nag-uusap sa loob ng classroom kaya hindi ko rin alam kung paano pakikisamahan ang katulad niya pero ngayon na nakasama ko siya sa isang mabilisang biyahe naramdaman ko ang gaan kahit pa noong una ay may ilang. Mabilis naman iyong nawala dahil sa tawa niyang nakagagaan ng pakiramdam. 
“Okay, what is the meaning of this?”
I flinched when someone from my behind suddenly spoke. Mabilis na nagbago ang emosyon ko. Kanina lang ay nakangiti ako kay Perez pero bumalik ang ilang dahil sa biglaang pagdating ng taong iyon.
Hindi ko iyon nilingon at hinayaan na maglakad siya palampas sa akin. Alam kong lalapitan niya si Perez dahil sa tunog ng takong ng sapatos niya. 
“Oh! Si Caldoga pala ito!” komento ni Yason Estrella matapos niyang itabingi ang ulo niya at sinilip ako. 
“Stop that, Yason!” Sean said, annoyed. 
“Sabay kayo pumasok? Anong meron?” tanong niya at saka ako nilampasan. 
Napayuko ako lalo at hindi na nag-angat pa ng tingin dahil sigurado ako na ang mga mata nila ay nasa akin. 
In my peripheral view, I saw Cairus Zafra, and Allen Gomez walked past through me after Yason Estrella. 
I cleared my throat after a few moments and looked directly to Perez. 
I can still feel their eyes on me but my eyes are stilled in Perez. “Thank you ulit.” I said and bid my good bye to him. 
Tumalikod na ako at saka naglakad na papuntang classroom. 
“Caldoga is with you. Anong mayroon, dude?” dinig kong muling tanong ni Estrella. 
“Will you shut up already, Yas?” lalong nainis si Perez. 
“Bakit? I'm just asking, bago kasi sa paningin.”
Tuluyan na akong nakalayo sa kanila at hindi ko na rin napakinggan pa ulit. 
I heaved a long sigh when I reached the door of our classroom. But it quickly stood up properly as I saw our class representative, Hazell Tolentino, blocking the entire space of the door. Her eyebrows are furrowed. Her face is serious and her lips are formed in a thin line. Her arms are crossed. 
I was stunned and stopped. I looked with uneasiness lingering in my system. 
I don’t know what is her problem and if it’s me, then what did I do wrong? 
“Caldoga! Class’ about to start.” napalingon ako nang biglang magsalita si Perez mula sa likuran ko. 
“Hm, I was about to go inside.” saad ko at muling binalingan si Tolentino na mabilis na nakaayos ng tayo. 
She moved over the side of the door and quickly fixed a smile. She tucked some strand of her hair on the back of her ear. “Sean, there’ll be a cluster meeting of players with our adviser, will you go?”mahinhin niyang tanong. 
“Hm, pupunta ako.” tumango si Perez. 
“It’s about the upcoming Intramurals, huh? Last meeting kasi you weren’t there.” she said, determined. 
“Oo nga, pupunta nga ako.” Perez nodded. “Tara na, Caldoga.” kaagad siyang bumaling sa akin. 
Naiilang naman akong tumango sa kaniya at nanguna nang maglakad. 
I would love to go straight inside, kanina pa. But Tolentino being a block on the door really stopped me to. 
I passed through her and I saw her on my peripheral view making face as I walked.
Hindi ko na lang iyon pinansin at saka mabilis na dumiretso sa loob. 
Even though it’s just a glimpse of her behavior I can tell, she likes Perez that’s why she acts like she’s annoyed with me. 
Nang mag-lunch break, pumunta lang ako sa canteen ng inumin dahil wala akong ganang kumain. I took a bottle of water and a can of soda. 
The water is for me but the soda is for someone else, Perez. It is just a gift of appreciation and gratitude of his gestures a while ago. 
I would’ve have been scolded by Ms. Hillary if I was late. 
Pero hindi na muna ako pumunta ng classroom. Pinili kong ilaan ang oras sa likod ng stage kung saan may maliit na bakuran. May mga halaman na nakalagay sa malalaking paso na mayabong na nakatayo ang mga dahon. 
Umupo ako sa maliit na katawan ng naputol na puno at doon nagpalipas ng oras. 
Saktong pag-upo ko nga ay ang paglagaslas ng hangin sa mga dahon na lumikha ng nakakakalmang tunog. 
I tucked the loosen strand of my hair behind my ears and remained silent. 
I stayed there for a few minutes, silent and calmed by the sound of the splashing and dancing leaves. 
“So, you’re here!” a voice suddenly came in the picture. 
Mabilis akong lumingon sa likuran ko at nakitang si Perez iyon. He’s smiling sweetly, just like how he smiled at me at the terminal. 
Marahan siyang naglakad palapit sa gawi ko. ‘Tsaka ko siya nilingon nang tuluyan siyang huminto sa gilid ko. 
Inaangat ang tingin sa kaniya at nabungaran pa rin nang matamis niyang ngiti. “May I?” he asked. 
I quickly nodded as a respond and moved a bit to make space for him. Mabilis naman siyang umupo roon. 
After he sat down beside me within a foot distance,  I looked away from him and stared at the plants blankly. 
I tried to entertain myself to prevent feeling the awkwardness and uneasiness with his sudden appearance. 
“Caldoga!” he called. 
I turned to look at him and I saw his eyes are on the plant I am looking at a while ago. “Hm?”
“I always have this question in me inside of my mind.” 
“What is it?” I asked with a furrowed eyebrows. 
“Do you like being alone or you just can’t let yourself with people?” he frankly asked that made me looked at him with shock evident in my eyes. 
I almost gasped for air as it hit the right spot in my heart. 
His words are sharp as knife without even getting killed but damages a certain part. 
My heart twitched and it sting inside me. I don’t know what seems to be the problem about his question but my body reacted this way. 
“Y-Yeah, I crossed the line. I-I’m sorry, Caldoga. I’m really sorry.” Sean panicked as I remained silent. He may have seen my lips twitched that made him think I was uncomfortable. 
I heaved a deep sigh and looked away from him. It took me a while to say a word but Perez seems to just wait for me patiently. “Probably, both,”a forced laugh dominated our awkwardness. 
I took another sigh and looked at him in the eyes. 
“Back to square one.” I shugged. “Hindi naman talaga ako nasanay na mag-isa. I was always with someone for a very long time. Half of my existence was with him. But he left. To pursue his studies away from me. With just a bid good bye before they went to the airport was the last time we ever talked. He’s my only friend, and his departure was a rock that was thrown at me. Left me on the ground with no hand in front to offer.” I opened up. 
I saw his eyes wide open. Surprised of my sudden burst of story. 
“So, maybe both. I’m in between of those.” I smiled at him. 
“I-I didn’t know,” he said with evident shock in his tone. 
“That's okay, I never said anything to anyone,” I chuckled. 
“But, if only I knew it first, I wouldn’t get to ask insensitive questions,”
Nang marinig ko iyon sa kaniya, ay napangiti na lang ako nang matamis. Perez might seem to be a social butterfly with a facade of carelessness and jumping-out-without-thinking side but he’s cautious, sensitive, and caring. 
I heaved another deep sigh but my lips was formed into a smile. It’s been a while seen I’ve talk to someone. And I wasn’t aware how much it gave me relief and solace. 
It was just a friend who I lost, but he is the only one I have the entire time and me without him was a suffering. Nangapa at natakot ako sa lahat kasi nasanay ako na siya iyong may tapang at ako ay nasa likod lang. Kaya nang mawlaa siya parang bigla hindi ko na alam ano ang dapat gawin.
“Perez,” I called him. 
“Hm?” nilingon naman niya ako. 
“Here,” I handed him the soda can.
He lowered his eyes to my hand and looked back at me with a knitted eyebrows. Confused. 
“Take this.” I said and motioned my hand closer to him. 
“T-Thanks,” tinanggap niya ang soda can kahit pa nababakasan pa rin ng pagtataka ang mga mata. He looked at his hand holding the can, still confused. 
“Thank you kasi sinabay mo ako kanina.” umiwas na ako ng tingin sa kaniya. 
“Oh, now I get it.” he said. “It’s okay. It made me glad that you chose to go school together with me kasi alam ko kung gaano pa katagal ang dating ng mga jeep, e. Madalas kasi kapag maaga akong nakaalis ng bahay nakikita ko na kung gaano kahirap at katagal makasakay roon.” kwento niya. 
“Yeah,” I agreed and chuckled. 
“Caldoga?”
“Roe,” I spoke. 
“Huh?” takang tanong niya. 
“Call me, Roe.”
“Okay, then call me, Sean." he said with a playful but detemermined voice. 
“Sean.” I nodded. 
“Roe.” Sean happily said. 
After that little conversation about how we should call each other we were back in silence, but unlike a while ago, we were comfortable with the silence we have now. 
I didn’t know that initiating for a ride to school will turned to this, but I am glad I did. 
I smiled widely. 
------------------ 
Hi, this is cheery! So I’ve decided to edit the entire story as I feel like there is no way for me to be happy with the one I did before. Now that FameInk gives author a chance to revise their work, I did it and it took me months to do it. 
I was honestly  anxious of revising it again but I am halfway of finishing it. Please, give me support as I am really working hard to edit the entire chapters to make it more likeable and satisfying (in my part lol). This is a developing revision. Please allow me to have a chance to make it a better one as I want to share their story to you. There might be some errors progressively occuring but I promise once I finish the revision of each chapter, I’ll take care of every misspelled words 
I’ll try my best to update it every day after work just to keep up with Rome and Roe. 
Happy reading and thank you for being here. Your presence are much appreciated if only you can see it. 
See you on the next chapter. 
Sincerely, 
cheery