"HOY! May problema ka sa akin? Eh sa nakalimutan ko, ikaw ba hindi ka nakakalimot? Palibhasa feeling perfect ka kasi!" pikon na sabat ni Judy at marahang tinulak si Queenly sa balikat.
"Girls tama na 'yan, magkakapikonan na naman kayo." Pangunguna sa pag-awat ni Gale sa kanilang dalawa pero hindi nakinig ang dalawa at ipinagpatuloy nila ang pagbabatuhan ng argumento.
"Hindi ko sinabing perfect ako oi! Responsable lang talaga ako kaya hindi ko nakakalimutang may deadline sa practicum," dagdag ni Queenly na nakataas ang kilay na ikinainis lalo ni Judy.
"So sinasabi mo bang irresponsible ako, gano'n ba?!" Susugorin na sana ni Judy si Queenly pero humarang na kami ni Jonnah.
Nakakatuwa nga sila magkapikonan kasi parang magkasabunotan na hindi matuloy-tuloy. Ewan ko talaga sa mga babaeng 'to.
"Ganito nalang ha. Ako na ang bibili ng milktea tapos maghintay nalang kayo sa AVR. It's on me." Pambasag tensiyon ni Jonnah sa dalawa pero parang wa epek sa kanila.
Kita mo 'tong dalawa, nagkakasingkitan pa ng mga mata na para bang nagbabantaan sa mga isip nila. Kaya hindi talaga pwedeng iwan namin 'tong dalawa dahil baka magboxing pa kapag wala kami.
"Oh ano! Mag-aaway pa kayo o di ko kayo bibilhan?" Tinuro-turo pa ni Jonnah ang dalawa na parang mga bata.
"Tama na nga 'yan! Magpractice na tayo." Pumapel na ko kasi parang bystander ako na lihim na naaaliw sa tuwing mag-aaway ang dalawa. Supportive.
Actually, kanina pa ako nagpipigil ng tawa dahil sa mga reaksiyon ng mga mukha nila
"Oh tapos? Magbabati kayo o hindi? Hindi ibig sabihin na pareho niyong crush si Louigie ay makikipagkompetensiya kayo sa isa't-isa. Ang cheap ha! Maghunos-dili nga kayo!" Jonnah exclaimed kaya napaayos sila ng tayo at kahit labag pa sa loob nila ay nagshake hands sila.
Buti naman at natauhan silang dalawa. Binigyan ko ng thumbs up si Jonnah at sinuklian niya ko ng palihim na kindat. Iba talaga ang boses ni Ate. I laughed mentally then I veered my gaze at Gale who's raising her hand for a cheerful high five.
"Kaya naman pala parang may pinaghuhugotan kayong dalawa." Inakbayan ni Gale ang dalawa at ginulo pa ang buhok. Napasimangot naman si Queenly kasi nasira ang hairstyle niya.
"Oi bati na sila." I teased them a bit then I initiated the group hug.
"Sorry na." Halos maluhang sabi ni Judy. Balat-sibuyas ang bruha.
"Sorry rin," Queenly replied controlling herself to be emotional.
"Last na 'to ha! Friends na tayo, hindi na tayo mag-aaway. Nakakasira ng make-up eh."
Nagpigil naman ako ng tawa sa sinabi ni Queenly. Kaya pala nagpipigil ng luha ang bruha kasi nakamascara.
"Clear mascara kaya gamiton mo." Natawa naman sila sa suhestiyon ko at nagjoin sa akap nila.
Iba talaga ang akap ng magkaibigan.
Sa grupo namin si Queenly 'tong pinakamaarte, si Judy ang napakaenergetic, si Gale neutral na referee, at si Jonnah naman ang pinakamature mag-isip sa amin. Ako? Okay lang, maganda pa rin. Char.
After the drama, it's time to practice. Umalis na si Jonnah at dumiretso na nga kami ng AVR. Iniwan lang namin ang mga gitara do'n since nando'n naman si Adrian nakatambay palagi. Biglang tumigil sa paglalakad si Gale kaya napatigil rin kami sa pagpasok.
"Girls, si Christian ba 'yon?"
Napalingon kaming lahat sa tinuro ni Gale. Si Christian lang naman 'yon na may kaholding hands na babae na taga-ibang section.
"Okay ka lang Sofia?" alalang tanong ni Queenly sa 'kin.
"Of course... I'm fine," I answered with a smile to cover up the unfamiliar feeling that crumbled inside me.
"Sure ka? Kung gusto mo sasampalin ko 'yong makapal niyang mukha." Palaban na sabi ni Queenly at parang susugod talaga siya, no joke.
"Girls, no need. He's not one of my concerns anyway so no big deal," I answered plainly then tied up my hair in a ponytail, sign that I'm pulling up to maintain my posture and preventing my emotions to overpower my system.
Alam kong napansin nila 'yon kaya binalewala nalang nila at napilitang pumasok sa AVR kahit na nanggigigil pa sina Judy at Queenly sa nakita.
"Aba! Kanina lang magkaaway kayo tas ngayon magkakampi na. Nice transformation!" komento ni Gale at hinila na ang dalawa papasok bago pa gumawa ng eksena.
Before anything else, I tuned the guitar first including theirs while they're preparing the capo and printed lyrics of their chosen songs. Si Gale lumabas muna para sagutin ang tawag ng mama niya. After ensuring that the 3 guitars were tuned, we found our comfortable spots to practice. Judy and Louigie were both silent at the in-charge table. Gladly, they're not arguing this time.
At the right corner, Queenly is seriously rehearsing her song. 10 minutes passed and Gale went back together with Jonnah bringing the milk tea she bought.
I was mesmerized and astonished at the same time when Adrian started plucking the intro of the song. I closed my eyes as I reminisced the good times with my father from the melody I heard. How come he plucked those strings effortlessly? I didn't budge on my seat nor try to interrupt him until the song ends. Warm tears fell from eyes.
"Why are you crying?"
I immediately wiped it away dodging his question. He handed me his handkerchief, but I chose not to take it.
"I'm fine," I quickly answered not looking at him.
I don't want him to pity me or something. My eyes widened as he wiped my tears away using his thumb.
"Big girls don't cry," he said, but I don't know what he's trying to imply.
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THE Friday we have been waiting for eventually came. Some are prepared, some were also unprepared and that's the usual case.
"Who wants to volunteer?" our MAPEH teacher asked.
When it comes to jokes, gumagawa talaga ng ingay ang lahat though may ibang hindi nakakarelate. Very opposite when the teacher asks who wants to go first. Tahimik lang ang klase, nagtitinginan pa ang iba waiting for someone to raise a hand and save them.
Kapag walang volunteer, it's either the teacher will choose randomly or alphabetically. Buti nalang hindi A ang first letter ng apilyedo ko pero okay lang din naman kung kami ang mauna since enough naman 'yong last rehearsal namin ni Adrian yesterday.
Napatingin naman ako sa last row to check if nakarating na siya. Kinabahan ako when I found out na wala pa siya. Bakit naman ata siya late? First period na first period sa afternoon, 10 minutes late na siya ha. Hindi naman siguro niya nakalimutan na ngayon ang practicum sa music 'di ba?
"Volunteer Sir!" Nagpataas ng kamay ang katabi ko at dumiretso na sila sa center kasama ang partner niya.
"Go Queenly!" The girls cheered for her. Nagthumbs up lang ako before niya kinuha ang guitar.
"Family name?"
"Sedenio and Mercado"
"Okay class, please wala ng magpapractice. Please put down all your guitars." Our teacher announced and gestured the first pair to get ready.
Nag-excuse muna ako kay Sir para hanapin si Adrian, hindi pwedeng ganito. Buti nalang at pinayagan ako ni Sir kaya dumiretso agad ako ng AVR pero tanging si Sir Pasco lang ang nando'n.
"Good afternoon Sir, is Adrian around?" I asked the humorous AVR in-charge with a polite smile.
"Adrian, hinahanap ka ng girlfriend mo."
Teka ano raw? I draw a fake smile kahit sa isip ko, kung hindi pa siya staff ng school kanina ko pa siya nahampas. Iniluwa naman si Adrian mula sa comfort room na inaayos pa ang school uniform at dark blonde niyang buhok na parang kurtina na tinatakpan ang noo niya. Napatitig ako ng wala sa oras when he approached me.
He's very attractive today with that look and feature of his. Wait, what? Shocks! Did I just find him attractive? I shook my head to erase those thoughts.
‘Sofia, you have to focus on the practicum.’ I reminded myself.
"I'm sorry. May pinahabol lang na printouts si Ms. Cindy," he said in a warm tone which I found good to my ears.
"The presentation just began," I said avoiding eye contact.
"Tayo na," he said then grasped my arms instantly.
It's too late for me to pull out my hand from him when he ran quickly without notice. Am I running with him? Sa kamay at likod niya lang ako nakatingin the whole time we're running until we reached the classroom. Natameme ang lahat sa aming pagdating pati si Sir.
"Kami na," he announced in the whole class, and I was left dumbfounded.
Ano'ng pinagsasabi nito? Bumitaw agad ako sa pagkahawak niya to avoid misunderstanding. But it's too late dahil kinantyawan na kami ng mga kaklase namin at makahulugan ang mga tingin nila kahit ang mga kaibigan ko ay nakisali rin. I threw him a questioning look with my left brow arching up.
"Kailan naging kayo?" One of the girls asked with that irritating sarcastic tone.
"So nakamove on ka na kay Abby? Ayieee!" The boys teased us, and it was really disgusting.
Oh my gods! The whole presentation was interrupted because of what he said.
"What he meant was... we're the next pair to perform." I cleared up the whole issue for the sake of the current presenters.
"Ah! 'Yon naman pala." Tumango-tango ang iba buti naman at naagapan ko.
A frustrating sigh escaped my airways, and I can't even glance at him. The class recovered from the short interruption and fixed their attention in front as the practicum resumed.
"Very good! Appreciate everyone," Mr. Mark commended while finishing the marks on the rubric.
The whole class clapped and cheered then here comes the phenomenal AYIEE again. I maintained my composure and ignored the teasing crown to concentrate.
"Engracia and Martinez, ready?"
We nodded and shared a quick eye-contact, a signal for him to pluck the strings. I hummed for the intro as we constantly look at the frets when changing chords. Terrified by Katharine McPhee is one of my top lists and I hope we can perform it perfectly. I took a deep breath as soon as he strummed the guitar for the first verse.
I sang the first verse well until the first chorus then our eyes met as we both strum for the first chorus. As I sang the lovely song, we shared furtive glances that added a sweet mix on my voice. Hitting the right notes was not just the key in delivering the message of the song but the genuine emotions from the owner of the voice.
Now it's his turn to sing the second verse. I smiled when he looked at the audience while singing his solo that added a fine touch of romantic ambiance. Surprisingly, the crowd went wild as I play the second voice and melting them with the harmony of our voices in the second chorus.
He piqued everyone as he cued me to stand at the center with him. I just go with the flow like waves of the ocean wafting the cool air and I found myself lost in his dark eyes. Without losing the timing, my strumming increased intensity for the bridge. Remarkably, we shared a great duo, and it was far much better than our last rehearsal.
Silence filled the classroom as the sound from the strings faded. At that moment, I can't take my eyes away from him as if sparks surround us. A sweet smile was curved in my lips when I caught a sudden glint on his eyes. A glint that I want to dig deeper, an urge to know him better. Then he cued for the last chorus, and we strum to continue the duet.
The crowd went crazy right after the last strum but surprisingly it doesn't bother me just as my heart pounding loudly inside.
‘Adrian, I think I'm starting to like you.’ I whispered at the back of my mind as we shared that last eye contact.
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"Thank you Lord! Natapos rin ang practicum." Gale overstretched her arms in the air and let out a relieving breath.
Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad patungong canteen para bumili ng snacks. Just a normal Monday and a start for the 2nd quarter. Habang naglalakad kami pansin kong parang pinagtitinginan kami ng mga students, nagbubulongan pa ang iba.
"Ano'ng meron? Bakit parang pinagtitinginan tayo?" Jonnah asked out of the blue.
"Siguro kasi ang ganda-ganda ko ngayon!" sagot agad ni Queenly sabay flip hair.
"Wow! Confident!" Judy exaggerated.
"Ang feeling mo naman girl!" sabay irap ni Gale.
"Congrats Ate Sofia." Napatingin naman silang lahat sa akin when a Grade 7 student greeted me.
She smiled admiring me then walk ahead of us. The girls threw a questioning look at me and I shrugged since I also have no idea.
At the canteen, nahagilap na naman ng mga mata ko si Christian sitting beside the same girl na kalandian niya last week. They're enjoying snacks while we line up. It doesn't bother me at all seeing him with a girl where in fact he was so into me before. I'm glad na tinantanan na rin niya ako totally. No nuisance at last while I’m studying or before bedtime, after I take a bath and when I'm going home.
Lesson learned? Well, change is constant and the only permanent thing in this world is change. Pwedeng ngayon gustong-gusto ka ng isang tao tapos bukas pwedeng hindi na. Besides, hindi ko naman siya binigyan ng motive to keep pursuing me, and right from the start, I didn't give any response sa mga pick-up lines at mga banat niya sa text.
I was lost with all my thoughts at nagising lang nang may mabunggo ako. Napaangat ako ng tingin at the person before me. It's Adrian. My eyes widened when he threw that serious stare.
"Hey!" I smiled but he just walked away as if a blizzard passed me.
"Ai ang cold," bulong sa 'kin ni Queenly.
I thought something transpired between us, didn't he feel the same?