chapter 11

"OMG! Excited na ako sa feild trip natin! Buti na lang at van ng daddy ko Ang gagamitin natin, at iba ang sa mga teachers!" Masiglang tili ni Zandra.

Today is our field trip day. Gagamitin namin Ang van ng Daddy ni Zandra. Though, Sabi niya hindi na daw Ito ginagamit kaya naparenovate niya iyon. And speaking of renovate, Ang ganda talaga. Alam mo yong aesthetic vibes?

The van was painted white. Pink lathered down the middle and around it. The windows were clear. And the van was good for 10 to 13 people. We are 15 all in all kaya kailangang magsiksikan.

"Alam mo ba Ang daan?" Tanong ko ng nakalapit Kay Zandra. Sabi kase ng prof namin ay Umuna daw kami doon at susunod sila. Pero hindi nila kami sinabihan Kung saan dadaan.

"Duhhh, we use waze!"

Mga ilang oras kaming nagbabyahe. Sabi ng prof namin mga kalahating oras lang daw. Pero kanina pa kami paikot ikot Kung saan. Dumaan kami sa isang gubat na may pathway, sabi kase ni Zandra na short cut raw iyon. Halos dumilim na nga eh.

"Zandra, sure ka ba sa dinadaanan natin? Kanina pa tayo dito." Si jane.

"Hindi ko nga alam eh, hehe. . Sinusundan ko lang ang waze." Natatawang aniya tsaka nagkamot sa ulo.

"Eh, tumigil kaya tayo rito sandali. Ang sakit na ng pwet ko kakaupo dito!" Si Jigz

Itinigil ni Zandra Ang sasakyan. Lahat Naman kami ay lumabas.

Finally, fresh air! Halos masuffocate na kami doon ah!

Nag explore ako sa gubat. Dumaan sa mga puno. May bangin rin akong nakita. Gusto ko sanang tumingin sa ibaba, kaso natatakot akong baka bumigay iyon at mahulog ako.

Bumalik ako sa kinaroroonan ng aking mga kaklase. Gumagawa si Jigz ng bonfire habang sina Zandra at Harold ay nagbibigay ng jacket.

Dating mayor kase ang ama ni Zandra. Kaya mayroong mga jacket sa van nila. Hindi rin Naman iyon nagamit dahil nag retire na ang Dad Niya.

Natanaw ko si Aadiv sa gilid nakasandal sa ilalim ng puno. Nakatingin lamang siya sa kawalan na parang malalim ang iniisip. Kaya lumapit ako sa kanya.

"Hey!" Masiglang bati ko at tinapik Ang kanyang balikat.

"Hey. . " Umupo siya at umupo na rin ako.

"Mukhang Ang lalim ng iniisip mo ah?" Napatingin siya sa gawi ng aming mga kaklase.

"I'm thinking about my cat."

"What? You have a cat?" Nagugulat kong tanong.

I mean, sinong hindi magugulat? Si Aadiv? Mayroong pusa? Wow! Haha.  . Kahit kailan di ko na imagine. Wala rin Naman akong nakitang pusa noong nandoon ako sa bahay Niya.

Humalakhak ako.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. . "

"What's funny?" Nakakunot noong tanong niya.

"Nothing. . . Hindi ko lang kase maimagine. . Ikaw? Mayroong pusa?" I said in between laughs.

"I'm worried about it. Mukha kaseng hindi tayo makakauwi ngayon. . "

He's right. Gumagabi na. Our prof must be very worried about us. Baka kanina pa yon sa coloseum. Wala rin naman kaseng signal dito. Ano naman kaya ang kakainin namin dito?

Saan rin naman kami matutulog? Hindi kami kakasya sa van. Wala namang sleeping bag na dala si Zandra.

"Anyway. It's boring here. I'll take a walk." Aniya at tumayo. Pero bago pa siya makaalis ay hinugot ko Ang kanyang papulsuhan.

"Hey, I'll come with you." Tsaka tumayo na ako.

* * * * *

"Yo, who do we have here?" Tanong ng isang matabang lalaki. I must say, mukha siyang naka drugs. His eyes were bloodshot, his lips was purple and his breath stinks!  And would you guess Kung sino ang kasama niya? Si Jarred!

Si Jarred Yung ka chat ko!

Kanina pa kami naglalakad dito ni Aadiv ng makasalubong namin sila.

"Oh! Nice to see you, Humpty Dumpty!" Yung matabang lalaki sabay halakhak.

What is wrong with this guy? And who's Humpty Dumpty?

"Aadiv?" Tanong ko sabay hawak sa kanyang kamay.

Nakita kong napakatalim ng pagkatitig Niya sa lalaki na parang gusto niya iyong suntokin.

"Di mo ba kami ipakikilala sa Girlfriend mo? Ha? Aadiv?" Tanong nung lalaki tsaka tinuro ako.

"Why would I?" Pabalik na tanong Ni Aadiv.

Waahhhh!!! Ako? Girlfriend ni Aadiv? At talagang nag confirm siya. . Parang sinabi na rin Niya na girlfriend Niya ako pero in an indirect way. Waahhhh! Though I must say, this isn't the time to party, but I'm feeling like it!

Hahahahah. . .

Napatingin naman ako Kay Jarred na nakatingin sa kin habang naglalaki Ang mga mata. Mukhang hindi rin niya ako inaasahang makita.

"Sigyn. . . " Sambit niya at umabot sa king kamay.

Ngunit bago niya pa ako maabot ay inilayo ako ni Aadiv at tinago sa kanyang likod.

"Jarred. . Uh, what are you doing here?" Mahinang tanong ko at dumungaw sa likod ni Aadiv.

Hindi niya ako sinagot at umiwas lamang ng tingin sa kin tsaka tumingin sa kasama niyang mataba.

"You know him?" Seryosong tanong ni Aadiv sa kin. Tumango naman ako.

"Alam ba ng girlfriend mo Kung ano ka?" Muling halakhak nung matabang lalaki.

Yay! Girlfriend Niya ako!

"Stop talking bullshit." Mariing Sabi ni Aadiv .

Did he just cursed?

"Really? Sabihin mo Jarred. Tell his girlfriend." Aniya tsaka tumingin Kay Jarred.

"Aadiv? What are they talking about?" Tanong ko pero hindi parin siya sumasagot.

"Jarred?" Tanong ko.

This is really driving me insane. Nakakalito Ang mga nangyayari. What happened? Bakit magkakilala sila? Anong nangyari Kay Aadiv?

"Jarred!" Sigaw nung mataba

Napatingin ako Kay Jarred na nagaalinlangang magsalita. I saw his lips trembled.

"J-jord-" napatigil siya ng magsalita si jord, Ang kanyang kapatid. Magkahawig kase sila kaya napagtanto kong magkapatid sila.

"If you won't tell them then I will. How dare he live such a peaceful and happy life while all this time we are still mourning!" Napasabunot siya sa kanyang buhok. He pointed at Aadiv.

Ano ba talaga Ang nangyayari? Mourning? Why? Did they lost someone?

"Ang lalaking Ito!" Napaturo siya kay Aadiv.

"Ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng aming kapatid."

Huh? Si Aadiv? Bakit naman? May pinatay siya?

Hala!

Pero hindi naman ganiyang klaseng tao si Aadiv. Alam kong hindi ko pa siya kilala nv lubusan pero base on the way he treatse and acts. . . Wala namang mali ah? Yes he's cold and not that open to me pero masasabi kong matino siya.

"Let's go." Aniya tsaka hinila ako pabalik sa Kung saan Ang aming mga kaklase.

"I will surely make your life hell!" Pahabol na sigaw nung Jord.

Nagpatianod lamang ako sa pagkakahila. I noticed that his grip got tighter. It felt like a barb wire on my wrist.

"A-aadiv. . " I mumbled to make him stop.

Hindi pa rin siya tumitigil. Hinihila parin niya ako. I stared at him. He looked so grim. Parang namatayan.

Was it really true? Yung sinabi nila?

But it can't be. . . Or can it?

Nang makarating kami ay Wala kaming nakita ni anino nila. But I'm sure they're drunk. May mga nakalatag na bote ng beer at iba pa sa gilid ng bonfire. But we heard noises from the van.

Umupo siya. Umupo na rin ako. The night breeze was chilly. Kaya mas lumapit pa ako sa bonfire. I stare at him.

He's handsome.

Why do I keep thinking that his handsome?

He's really in a deep thought. Nakatingin lamang ako sa kanya. I wanted to ask him about earlier. But I think it's better if I not. Mukhang seryoso Kasi yun.

I'm really curious though.

Ano ba talaga Ang nangyari? Did Aadiv killed their sister? But why would he do that? He's not murderer. Baka yon Ang dahilan Kung bakit confidential Ang kanyang katauhan?

I really want to ask him. I want to talk to him. Gusto kong basagin Ang katahimikan. But what should I ask? Baka hindi siya sumagot?

Napasinghap ako. "Aadiv?"

Napatitig ako sa kanya. Napatitig lamang siya sa bonfire. It took some time before he answered.

"Hmm?" It was more like a whisper but enough for me to hear.

"What's your favorite song?" I asked. Sorry pero Wala nang ibang pumasok sa isip ko.

"War is love. . " Aniya

"Can you sing it to me?" I asked softly. Natatakot akong baka tumanggi siya. Pero wala rin naman akong karapatang mamilit kung ayaw niya.

"I'll sing it for you. . . " Aniya.

Napangiti Naman ako at lumapit sa kanya. I felt our arms touched. Pero walang umiwas. I looked at him. He looked at me.

"You'd rather leave it broken. . .  Then own an empty heart. . . "

"We were better left unspoken. . . Than a million miles apart. . "

"It's torture here in the space between. . . As you are loving and leaving me. . ."

His voice was cold. . . . Yet it felt comforting. It was like the moon shining on the night sea. . . .  Like the sea hitting the sand. . . Like the seafoams splashed.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naihahambing ko Ito sa dagat at gabi, but that's how it felt to me.

Who thought I managed to make my crush sing? Well, I never expected it either.

"You said there's nothing left to fight for. . . . Cause it feels like too much. . "

Sumandal ako sa kanyang balikat. He didn't seem to mind it. And I felt relieved.

"Your heart is so afraid to want more. . . Of the pain you're left to touch. . . "

"You only win. . If you don't give up. ."

"Cause love is war. . And war is love. ."

Tumigil siya. Aww, I want more!

"You have a nice voice." I said cheerfully.

"I never really sang infront of anyone so. . ." He hesitated. I felt him caressed his nape.

Napahalakhak naman ako.

"So I'm special?" I said.

He sighed.

"Maybe. . " He said doubtfully

Well I'm sure I am.

Nagkatitigan kami. I wanted to look away but there's something pulling me. Hindi rin siya kumalas. I saw him look at me like he's memorizing every little detail of my face. From my forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, cheeks, chin, and my lips.

While he's looking at me I looked at him too. From his thick eyebrows, to his long nose, perfect lips, curly hair, beautiful brown eyes. . .

"You know, I never expected to love every minute being with you. . . . I like it this way." I said.

He then look away. He sighed again.

"Why do you keep on sighing?" I asked. Kapag palagi akong nakaaligid sa kanya ay palagi rin akong nakakarinig ng kanyang mga buntong hininga. Why is that?

"I know someday you'll distance yourself from me. . " He whispered

|The song title is : war is love | by: Bobby Andonov |