Lay Miguel, past tense.
Pag pasok ko sa classroom, sumalubong sa akin ang ingay ng mga classmates ko at umalingasaw ang iba't iba nilang amoy. May amoy sweet cologne, matatapang na pabango, may mabaho, though the room cooler este aircon is pacifying the different smell. Mainit parin.
May nagbabatuhan ng papel, naghahabulan, nagtutulakan, just a typical classroom setting. Pero someone got my attention, someone who is arranging the curtains amidst the chaotic room, really? Napangiti ako at lumapit sa kanya. Sinundot ko siya baywang at napasigaw naman siya ng,
"Ay palaka ka!" yeah, frog.
She's Harley Montegrico, a good company. We knew each other when I was in grade 11, at dahil sa yun sa Chippy, yung food. She was eating it during our class, seatmate ko siya tapos pinatayo sa ng terror na filipino teacher. She was so anxious that she trembled with fear at that time. Harley is a shy girl, na sarap niyang pektusan minsan, but she's a little coward, matatakutin at she hates being in a tight spot or embarrassment.
"Ms. Montegrico, are you eating during my class?!" bulyaw ng teacher namain.
"Ma'am kasi po--- " takot na sambit ni Harley na nahihirapang magsalita. I don't know, but I sometimes hate people without guts.
"Excuse me po, ah akin po talaga 'yan ma'am, I am really hungry , nanghinge lang siya. I am sorry hindi po mauulit" . Naka-kastress minsan ang mga taong pinangungunahan ng takot.
"Mr. Salvacion, just don't eat again in my class, at nandadamay kapa!". There, you can just simply admit it and say sorry and it will be done. I just smiled and take a seat.
Nagthank you si Harley sa akin na parang nai-iyak. At dahil sa araw na iyon, 'di na niya ko tinantanan. She always follows me everywhere, but she always keeps her distance. She always takes notes for me or make my assignments kahit hindi ko hinihinge.
Para siyang pusa na pinakain mo lang minsan, susundan ka kahit saan, hay,sorry that's mean.
Pinagalitan ko siya minsan, because I was so irritated , she isn't my maid to do stupid stuff like that, but she simply smiled and do it again. Hanggang hinayaan ko nalang siya and treated her nicely. Para naman makabawi, I do things for her sometimes 'pag di ako tinatamad. But as long she is with me, bullies are off-limits.
"We have two new classmates from other section daw, biglang lumipat daw dito kasi overcrowded sa ibang section.They actually volunteered, can you believe that?". Excited siyang nagku-kwento.
"We'll meet them later sabi ng mga teachers, yiehhh, new classmates" sabay pumalapak .
Harley is a cute midget. Bilog ang kanyang mga mata, bilog ang mukha, maputi at buti nalang pumayat siya ng konte, kung hindi magmumukha siyang siopao na may mukha.
"Ow, okay". I really don't care kung may bagong classmates, it's not really a big deal. Galing lang naman sila sa other section,it means nakikita din naming sila dito, right?
Nagulat nalang ako ng may biglang nagpunas ng mukha sa manngas ng uniform ko. Hindi ko na kailangan tignan kung sino gumawa 'nun, dahil kilala ko kung sinong kumag na dugyot na gumagawa palagi non. Halos maging brown na yung manngas ko sa stain mula sa mukha ng bwiset.
"Uy sorry, akala ko pamunas" Nakangiti ang aso. Nakita ko lang siya sa canteen kanina, ngayon andito na naman siya, pawisan at nagdi-drible ng bola ng basketball. I snatched the ball from him.
"Napadugyot mo talaga, Rivas!" I try to hit him hard with the ball, pero umiwas siya at iba ang tinamaan.
"Aray naman, Ces, first day ko palang dito, sinasasktan mo na'ko". That voice. Gusto kong masuka sa ka-corneyhan niya. Bumaliktad ata ang sikmura ko sa sinabi niya.
Ugh, guys should stop saying things like that, ang corney talaga.
He played the ball with his hands and passes it to Rivas. Rivas caught it and pass it smoothly again to me. I just glared at him and tried telling him telepathically,
Ano to pasahan ng bola?
Steven just shrugged and laughed naughtily. Parang nagets niya yung annoyance ko sa presence ng bagong classmate namin, and his face is mocking like he wanted to say, "what a reunion". Bwiset.
Kinuha niya ang bola sa kamay ko, sabay bulong, "awooh" naparang may multo at umalis ng umiiling. My gaze followed his back until he went out the door, before replying to this familiar stranger.
Ofcourse, I don't want to be seem bitter about our past, so I naturally said,
"Long time no see, Lay Miguel".
I often see him at school, pero wala na kasi kaming rason para magpansinan. Walang rason.
He is Lay Miguel. The Miguels are one of the richest family here in Mikaelson Academy. He is one of those students who have their own rides and priviledges. He was my classmate when I was 9th Grade . My seatmate for that whole year and
he was my first love, but he will never know it, hinding - hindi ko aaminin.
"Saan ka naka upo, tabi tayo". He asked shamelessly. Here he goes again, gago. I just raised my eye scornfully but he inoffensively waited for my answer.
Sumingit naman si Harley naparang naguguluhan sa mga nagyayari, "you know each other?".
When the bell suddenly rings, hindi sumagot si Lay at nagtungo sa mga bakanteng upuan sa likod at ako naman I went straight to my seat na nakasaktong malapit mismo sa tabi niya.
Wala akong permanent seat, basta kung anong naiwan na bakante sa likod ng upuan, doon ako. I like being at the back at hinahayaan ako ng mga teacher kasi malakas ako sa kanila.
"Sabi ko nga e', sa likod ka". He said, he seems please with it.
I silently prayed, that may our memories never hunt me again and never let our history repeats itself.