told them to choose one style of booth among the three that Matthew sketched. They chose the sketch from the middle. Madali lang iyon gawin, kasi common style ng booth, except na medyo malaki ito at may mga counter sa gilid.
Tinignan ko muna ang gawi ni Matthew, he then gave me a nod.
"I have an idea kung ano'ng booth ang gagawin natin. Not sure if y'all will go with this kaya I need a minute to know if you approve," kinakabahan pang anunsyo ko. I looked at Matthew who's still staring at me from the door.
"Mayro'n na agad?" Rain asked, looking amazed. "Sabi ko sa inyo eh! Let's hear her out first." Nagsi-upo ulit ang mga ito.
I cleared my throat. "I know some of you will find this cringe or too old-fashioned, but I think this will be different from the common booths na naisip na ng ibang section." Clover raised her thumb, I smiled.
Matthew said I should think of something I love doing--- Writing. Something that relates to me and relates to the students generally--- Words they can't express.
"The theme will be vintage and retro style. My idea is, paano kaya kung ang booth natin is about writing a letter, they can write the words they can't express through that, and we deliver it to someone they want to give? Halimbawa, thank-you letters for the teachers, love letters for their crush or loved ones, letters for themselves."
I saw some of them nod their heads, but not really convinced at all.
"We can also add some small gifts that we can include on the letter such as pen, small-teddy bears, chocolates, candies, and fake flowers. We can make it with the trend, aesthetic style. They can purchase anything, hindi tayo magiging picky."
"That's not bad," tumatangong usal pa ni Irish. Ang katabi niyang si Diane at sumang-ayon rin. "Plus, I like how unique it is."
"Oo, lalo na't stress ngayon 'yung mga estudyante---" Joseph has been cut off by his seatmate.
"Hindi ka ba estudyante?" tanong nito sa kaniya at natawa.
"Hindi," tugon ni Joseph. "Hindi ako stress." Bumulalas ng tawa ang lahat sa klase na kahit ako na seryoso ay hindi napigilan ang tawa.
"I know some of us have unsaid words we can't really say. This can be an opportunity, lalo na sa mga hindi mahilig magsulat. Doing this once will be fun, and they will be guaranteed that the letters are sealed."
"Gagastos tayo rito ng malaki?" Klinton asked. I knew he'd say that. "Wala ka na bang ibang ideya?" and not too long, I felt offended. "I mean, we should be wise, right? Lalo na't hindi gano'n kalaki ang ibibigay ng dean sa atin."
"May idea ka?" Clover stood up. "Kung wala, shut your face." Natawa pa ang ilan dahil sa inusal nito. Klinton just looked at her.
"Kailangan nating mag-ipon ng unused books and newspapers, I will teach you how to design the paper kung saan makakapagsulat ang mga students. I will be in charge of the materials for seal, mayro'n ako sa bahay. Other materials aren't hard to find. We'll use recyclable papers. For other materials gaya ng gifts, I think it will be covered from the money that the dean will give us," mahaba at walang prenong wika ko upang hindi na sila magbato pa ng tanong.
Hindi ko ipagkakait na masiyado akong nadala ng emosyon. It's because I am offended. But I guess, it's worth it. Klinton looked at me and smiled awkwardly. I smiled back with full of enlightment, keeping my cool. Hope he gets that.
"If you don't want my idea, I'll drop it off. No worries," I said in a straight face, kinakabahan kung ano maaring maging tugon nila. Hinintay ko ang mga itong tumugon. Hindi nagtagal at lahat sila ay nag-thumbs up, it means they all approved. Then, I smiled in relief.
"See? You did well. Nakapag-isip ka agad ng idea. Not easy for a socially awkward but you did great. Strategy na lang kulang, sigurado akong panalo na tayo!" Julianna cheered. Mahahawa ka sa ngiti nito na sobrang lawak. "Tuloy ba tayo ngayon?" Sinuklay nito ang kaniyang buhok at sinilip ang sarili sa maliit na salaming hawak niya.
"Oo, tara na." Clover clung her arms to mine.
"Clover," tawag ko dito. Agad naman niya akong tinignan. Gusto ko sanang umuwi na lang muna. But I can't tell her that or else she'd be disappointed. Binibisita namin ang cafe lagi and we're not absent during the anniversary celebration dahil maraming dumadagdag sa menu. It's like our friendship's tradition to go there. "May bago ba sa menu?" pangungusisa ko. Naningkit ang mata nito.
"Secret pa. We'll figure out later. OK ba sa 'yo na kasama sina Julianna?" Nauna kaming lumabas na tatlo.
I shrugged my shoulder. "It was never OK to me," bulong ko. "Are you really going to invite," natigilan ako. "Well, that guy?"
"Guy?" Clover looked at me confused. "Ah? Matthew? Nasa'n na nga pala si Matthew, Julianna?"
Tinuro ni Julianna ang kaniyang likod. Kung nasa'n si Matthew. Mag-isa ito sa likod at okupado sa kaniyang phone na tila may kausap ro'n. I glance at him for a few seconds and I can't figure out if he's alright or not. Mahirap rin pala siyang basahin minsan.
Nang makarating sa Cafe, agad kaming sinalubong ni Tita Carmen, Clover's mother. She welcomed us with a warm smile on her face. Matangkad ito, payat, at malulusog ang mga cheek bones. I once envy Clover for having a mother like her. She makes sure you are comfortable, and she treated me like her real daughter ever since Clover and I met.
"Gumaganda ka lalo, Mavis!" an'ya pa.
"Salamat po, Tita. Kayo nga rin po, blooming!" She giggled. Maganda si Tita lalo na noong kabataan niya. She'd been to few commercials and movies in her 20s, kilala nga siya ni Lolo eh at napapanood daw noon sa TV.
"I'm fluttered. Anyways, I have something for you and Clover. Pero mamaya ko na ibibigay. Asikasuhin ko muna ang makakain niyo." Tumango ako at matapos kami kumustahin ay nagtungo agad ito sa counter. Tito's there too, okupado sa ibang mga customer na nakasabay naming dumating. I wave at him and he wave back.
Maliit lamang ang cafe, may mga table sa loob pati na rin sa labas. Maraming makukulay na balloons sa kisame, disenyo sapagkat ika-apat na anibersaryo ngayon nito. The glass window from the front enables the people inside to see outside. Umaalingasaw ang amoy ng kape at minsan ay naaamoy ko rin ang bango ng cinnamon cake.
"Kailan pa kayo magkakilala ni Matthew?" biglang tanong ni Clover. I thought she was talking to me, then she turned her head to Julianna. "Ngayon lang?"
Julianna shook her head. "Kaklase ko siya nu'ng last year. Naging close kami dahil bestfriend niya ang boyfriend ko."
"Hindi ba awkward 'yon?" pangungusisa ni Clover kay Julianna. "I mean, you know?" Hindi nito maihatid ang gustong itanong. Tinawanan ko ito. "What's funny, Mav?" I just shrugged.
"Nope, 'di kami talo ni Matthew. Plus, he's into someone these days." Binigyan niya ito ng nangungutyang tingin. Napakamot lamang si Matthew sa kaniyang batok. "Yieeee! Date with assign leader pala ah!"
Hindi ako ang kinukutya pero ako ang nakakaramdam ng init dito. Iniwas ko ang tingin kay Matthew when he tried to glance at me.
"Kaya nga! Ano bang nagustuhan mo kay Mavis?" Clover appeared curious.
"Hmm," napa-isip pa ito. Nagtama ang mga mata namin. I found myself waiting for his respond. "Secret," an'ya at tinignan ako na tila nangungutya. Napasigaw ang mga kasama namin.
"Keep your voice down, God!" suway ko. Apat lang kami rito ngunit ang ingay nila ay pang-sampung tao na.
Nagpatuloy sa pagtawa si Clover. "Alam mo ba, she can fold you into pieces," she whispered as if it was a warning. Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. Makulit talaga itong si Clover kahit ano pang pagka-mahiyain niya. "But she's cool. Mabait 'yang si Mavi kahit sobrang tapang minsan." She winked at me. Para bang utang ko pa sa kaniya ang compliment na iyon.
"I like her eyes." I was too stunned to speak and so as everyone when Matthew said that. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung saan titingin dahil sa sinabi niya. "May nakapagsabi na ba sa 'yo, na ang ganda ng mga mata mo?"