MUTCS 24: Michelle

"Ugh." I groaned habang nagaaral ngayong alas-nuwebe ng gabi para sa upcoming first semester finals examinations namin.

Magulo ngayon ang kama ko dahil sa mga binder notebooks at libro ko. May mga highlighter din at reviewer na nagkalat. Basta ang gulo ngayon ng kwarto ko. May mga pagkain din dun sa lamesa na nasa gilid ng kama ko ngayon. At syempre, yung cellphone ko na pinapatugtog ko ngayon.

I don't know why pero mas nakakaconcentrate ako sa pagaaral kapag may kanta lalo na kapag classical. It ease the whole mood. Tyaka mas nakakapag-concentate ako sa mga binabasa ko. I also don't strain and force myself too much when I review, mas napapagod kasi ang utak kapag ganun.

Reaching out for my phone beside my bed, I immediately opened Twitter. Tamang scroll lang, tamang basa ng tea ngayong gabi. Sinandal ko yung ulo ko dun sa may headboard at doon na nag-cellphone pa lalo.

Review who? I only know cramming.

I was probably like that for a whole straight damn 7 minutes or so. Sa pagsscroll kong iyon ay todo autoplay naman ang mga vids nang biglang nagplay ang isang video na may naungol. Pota.

Magkasalubong ang kilay ko sa aking narinig at kasabay nun ang biglang bukas ng pintuan ko. "Hoy, Ate! Bumab—" Napatigil naman ito sa kaniyang narinig na nagmumula sa aking telepono. Putek. Dali-dali ko namang tinanggal yun at humarap sa kaniya. "Um, baba ka daw ate." Sabi niya at dahan-dahang sinara ang pintuan.

"Aljon!" I tried calling for his name to explain pero umalis na ito at sinaraduhan na nang tuluyan ang pintuan. Napasapo naman ako nang wala sa oras. Ano ba naman ito, bakit ganto? Mabait na bata po talaga ako.

Hay, buiset. Pinatay ko naman ang cellphone ko at inayos ang mga gamit na nakakalat sa kama ko. Pagkatapos ay bumaba na ako. I tried looking for my mom pero she was nowhere to be found. Patay na ang ilaw sa may salas at ang liwanag lamang na nakikita ko ay ang galing sa kusina.

Pinuntahan ko yun pero wala ding tao. I called for her but there was no response until I heard some murmurs outside. Binuksan ko ng bahagya yung bintana sa may kusina na nakapwesto sa may lababo kung saan makikita mo ang labas.

I squinted my eyes hoping that I would see them much more clearer pero it was no use. Sobrang dilim sa labas at ang tanging liwanag lang ay ang buwan na nasa taas. Hindi ko maaninag yung mukha ng lalaki masyado. He was wearing an all black formal clothing. Tas sakto nakaglasses pa siya kaya mahirap talaga siyang makita.

Their voices was faint, that's why I couldn't hear them clearly pero I tried listening. By the way, kids, don't do this. Masama 'tong ginagawa ko pero dahil chismosa ako, sige go lang.

"Mitch, you can't hide them forever." Saad nung lalaki na nagpakunot naman ng noo ko. His voice kinda sounded familiar to me. Naririnig ko 'tong boses na ito pero saan? My thoughts were cut off when my mom responded.

"I know. I know, okay? It's just that...I'm scared..."

"Mitch, we know that. But you can't hide it forever and after what happened last two months—"

"I get it. Sooner or later I have to tell them pero hindi muna ngayon. I just can't risk it once again, Symuel." Symuel? Sino naman yun? Tyaka anong risk bang sinasabi ni mama? Tyaka sino ba 'tong Symuel na 'to?

"Pero, Mitch—"

I tried going nearer by humping on the counter pero mukhang may nadali ako, causing it to have a loud sound. Shit.

Napatigil naman yung lalaki at tumingin ito sa lugar ko kaya dali-dali akong nagtago at inimis yung basong nahulog. Pisteng basong 'to. Sa pag-aayos kong iyon ay bigla naman akong nakarinig ng pagandar ng sasakyan at dun naman biglang pumasok si mama na nakatingin sakin habang nakataas ang kilay.

"Michelle? Kelan ka pa diyan?" Ang takang tanong nito sakin habang humahakbang papalapit sakin. "Uh, Ma! Um, sabi po kasi ni Aljon na hanap niyo daw po ako?" Sabi ko dito pero mukhang hindi siya kunbisinado sa sinabi ko. "Nahulog yung baso habang kinukuha ko. Sorry po."

Pucha. Anong klaseng palusot 'yun? Okay. Bobo ko talaga kahit kailan. At sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan ay mukhang tinanggap niya naman ang naging rason ko. "Mag dahan-dahan ka na lang sa susunod, 'nak. Pero hindi ka pa ba matutulog? Gumawa kasi ako ng snacks niyo. It's already quarter to 10." Saad nito na lumalapit sakin.

"Salamat po pero kakatapos ko lang po mag-aral, matutulog na po ako. Goodnight, ma." Ngiti kong sambit dito na hinalikan sa kanang pisngi bago magpaalam papunta sa taas, sa aking kwarto.

I flopped onto my bed as soon as I opened the door. I turned off all the lights inside my room and the only light that you would see is the light coming from the moon.

Tamang nakatingala ako sa kisame habang iniisip yung paguusap nila kanina. I'm in no place to butt in pero I was just really curious to the point na pinakinggan ko ang buong paguusap nila. Well, not really, naputol sila ng dahil sakin. Sighing it all off. I closed the lid of my eyes and fell asleep after.

It was a long night for me. Nagising na lang ako sa huni ng mga ibon na nasa labas at sa araw na sumisilay galing sa labas. I tried opening my eyes pero hindi ko kinaya. Inaantok pa ako. 5 minutes pa, I groaned to myself bago mag-alarm yung cellphone ko.

Tinry kong hindi pansinin ito pero tunay na nakakabuiset yung tunog kaya wala akong ibang nagawa kundi kunin ito para patayin. It was already 5:25 in the morning. Mamaya pang alas-otso ang klase ko kaya tinulog ko muna ang natitirang oras bago mag-alas-seis.

It was the usual Monday morning you could think of. Tamang maliligo tas magsusuot ng damit at kakain pagkababa. Ulam namin ngayong umaga? Ham and egg lang naman na syempre may kasamang kape.

Nauna na si Aljon at six ang pasok niya. I killed time by reviewing and well, surfing on the internet. Si mama ay maaga ding umalis, kung tutuusin ay hindi ko naabutan pa ito. Nakita na lang namin na may pagkain sa lamesa na nakatakip.

Habang nagbabasa ako, bigla ko namang narinig ang pilit na pagbukas sa may pintuan. Kumunot ang noo ko sa aking narinig. I was alarmed of what's happening right now. Mamaya magnanakaw na pala, hala. Huwag naman sana.

I went nearer to the door and took a deep breathe pero bago yun ay kumuha muna ako walis na nasa gilid ng pintuan para kung sakaling may mangyari man ay hahampasin ko na lang ito. Kaso it's broad daylight tyaka madaming bahayan dito, kaya why would they steal from us? Wala naman kaming gaanong pera.

Saktong pagpihit ko ng doorknob ay ang biglang pihit nito mula sa kabila na niluwa si Kuya Simon. "Kuya Simon?" Gulat kong sambit dito nang makita ko ang pagmumukha niya. Isang matalim na tingin lang din ang binigay niya sakin nung makita niya ako. "Michelle? Nasa loob ka? Nandito ka parin? Bakit ka nandito?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong sakin na hindi ko naman nasagot agad.

"Mhm. Mamaya pang alas-otso ang pasok ko. Bakit ka nandito? Wala si mama dito." Ang balik kong tugon sa kaniya. Tumango naman siya sa aking sinabi ngunit hindi nakalampas sakin ang kaniyang suot-suot ngayon. He was wearing a formal attite. A corporate attire to be exact. Nakashades pa ito at mukhang mamahalin ang relong suot-suot niya. "Hindi ba nasa school ka dapat? Why are you wearing that at tsaka kaninong sasakyan yang nasa may tapat ng bahay?" Magulo kong tanong dito na ikinalunok niya. He swallowed hard. What the fuck is happening?

"Look, Michelle—" Kuya Simon started pero he was cut off by someone na ang tinig ay nanggagaling mula sa gilid niya na ikinatunog naman bigla ng cellphone na nasa may counter. "Symuel, pinapatunog ko na yung cellphone ni Lady Silva. Parinig mo?" Isang pamilyar na boses ang narinig ko.

Lumaki naman ang mata ko sa nasaksihan ko. It was CeeJay! My junior highschool friend. One of my bestfriends to be exact pero as soon as I transferred out wala na akong narinig mula dito at pati narin kay na Ruby at Kurt. "CeeJay?" I muttered out of confusion na ikinagulat naman niya.

Umawang ang bibig nito nang makita niya ako. Nagpapaling-paling ang tingin niya saming dalawa ni Kuya Simon at sakin. I saw how his mouth mouthed a curse. Lumingon ako kay Kuya Simon na nakasapo ang kamay sa may noo. "Anong nangyayari? And did he just called you, Symuel? Sino si Symuel? And why are you here?" Lisik kong tanong sa kanila.

I don't want to sound rude pero it was weird and so out of the puzzle and kahapon ko pa naririnig yang pangalan na yan. Yan yung kausap ni mama eh. Who the fuck is Symuel? I swear to the love of cheesecakes that I heard CeeJay called Kuya Simon, Symuel. The fuck? "Look, Michelle, I don't know who is Symuel, sino ba yun?"

"Ewan ko. I just heard CeeJay called you Symuel."

"Who? Me?" Gulat na tanong sakin ni CeeJay na ikinairap ko. "Ah, hindi. Baka yung puno, CeeJay." Sarkastikong balik ko dito which made his gasped.

"And bakit ganyan ang mga suot niyo? Kuya Simon, shouldn't you be teaching by now? And CeeJay, hindi ba dapat nasa school ka ngayon at nagaaral?" Tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa na ikinatitigan lang nilang dalawa. "And kaninong kotse ba yan?" Turo ko dun sa Jaguar na nasa labas.

Imposible naman kasing kay Kuya Simon yun at mas lalong imposibleng kay CeeJay yan. "Kay, uh, sa kaniya yan." Ang biglang turo ni Kuya Simon kay CeeJay.

"Akin?" Ang di makapaniwalang tugon nito. Na tinuturo pa ang sarili. It took him 3 seconds para tumikhim at umayos ng tindig. "Ah, yeah, akin nga yan."

"What the fuck, CeeJay?" Ang biglang hulas ko dito na ikinagulat naman niya.

"Michelle, language." Kuya Simon said.

"Excuse me but can you stop calling me CeeJay?" Ang mahina niyang banggit sakin. I raised an eyebrow at him, not buying what he's saying right now. "Um, Michelle, right?" He asked which I didn't even responded to.

"My name is Tyrein Villazquez and yes, I do own that car. Sinasamahan ko si Sym—Simon para kunin yung naiwan na cellphone ng tropa namin and if you don't mind." Pinatunog niya ulit yung cellphone at pumasok naman sa loob ng bahay para kunin ito. He said sorry as soon as he got the phone.

"But I don't get it—You look like him! You are him!" I defended. Imposible naman. He looks exactly like him. Their voices even sounded the same. Except from him being sarcastic, he ain't fucking sarcastic. CeeJay was nice to me.

"Michelle, alam kong matalino ka. And you probably know that people are most likely to have 7 people in the world that look just like you. Maybe, just maybe, isa ako dun sa kamukha niya. The planet Earth is a small world after all." Ngisi nitong banggit bago yayaing umalis si Kuya Simon. My forhead is still creased and can't process anything that's anything.

What just happened?

"Oh, and Michelle, you stay safe. Okay? Maliit ang mundo. May mga bagay kang hindi mo aakalaing mangyari and when that time comes. Be ready. Take care." Ngiti nitong sambit habang nakadungaw sa may bintana.

Pinaharurot na niya yung sasakyan at tuluyan nang umalis. And here I am, still confused on what's happening. Well, that went quite unexpected. Normal Monday morning my ass. Speaking of morning, anong oras na ba?

I fished my phone out of my pocket and holy shit. It was already 6. Dapat nasa may school na ako nang bandang 7:30 dahil traffic. I took all of my belongings and went straight off to my school.

It was a long ride indeed. Though, nakarating naman ako nang sakto sa oras. It was already quarter to eight when I got inside the classroom.

Bumungad naman sakin sina Xerna at Lino na maingay na nag-aaway sa loob. "No! Lino, we've talked about this already."

"Ang ingay mo, Xerna. Agang-aga."

"Kasi naman—!"

"Alam mo? Para kang aso." Banat dito ni Lino na mayroong ngiting aso sa mukha na ikinairap naman ni Xerna.

"Indeed, agang-aga. I don't have time to fuck around with you—"

"Para kang aso kasi agang-aga, kahol ka nang kahol." Ang pagtapos nito sa kaniyang sinabi.

Halata sa mukha ni Xerna na inis na inis ito sa sinabi ni Lino. Lino quickly ran away from out of the classroom. Xerna couldn't do anything but to stomp her feet on the ground. I giggled seeing them like the usual.

After kasi ng intrams biglang tumahimik ang paligid. Everyone got fired up and became serious. It was probably because of the upcoming finals.

I settled down my things on my usual seat st pumunta sa direksyon kung saan sila naguusap-usap lahat. "Morning." Ngiti kong bati sa kanila na ginantihan lang nila ng ngiti.

Casty was talking to, if I'm not mistaken, he was talking to this guy named Rossi ba ata. Liel Kayron? Ah ewan, basta 'yun. Pero kung hindi rin ako nagkakamali, malaki ata ang galit niya dun. Kinaiinisan niya. Isa sa mga bukambibig niya tuwing magrarant siya samin. Pero they look kinda calm and serious kahit papaano.

"Hi, Michelle." Balik na bati sakin ni Julie.

"Musta naman pagrereview natin these past few days?" Tanong ni Jillian sakin which I groaned to.

"Ugh. Annoying. Ang daming sauluhin, pati na formula sa math." I ranted. I then saw how Jillian giggled at my question. A brow raised up when I saw her reaction. "Bakit? Anong meron?"

"Oh, well." She giggled again before continuing her reply. "Ikaw kasi nagrereview tapos kami hindi. Hindi uso yan dito, Michelle." I awkwardly laughed at her retort. Hindi ko kasi alam kung seseryosohin ko ba o ano.

"Don't mind her. Magreview ka na lang, sa ikakabuti mo pa yan." Ika ni Enrike habang nagbabasa ng pocket book.

Ilang segundo pa ang nakalipas habang nakikipag-usap ako sa kanila ay ang bigla namang dating ni Casty na ngayon ay halata sa mukha ang pagkagigil. Enrike and I looked at each other but just both shrugged.

Nothing really much happened. The teachers just did their jobs and students? The students just also did their own job and business. May mga nakikinig, take down notes, nagdadaldalan and may natutulog, and also may nakain. Including me.

"Ang ingay mo, hindi mo ba pwedeng kainin yan nang tahimik?" Inis na tugon sakin ni Fraizer habang magkasalubong ang kilay.

Psh. Minsan na nga lang kami magusap nito, ganito pa ang ugali. Sarap itapon, eh. I tried munching my food much more quieter and well, slower. Habang nakikinig sa klase at nagsusulat sa kuwaderno namin ay marahas namang ibinaba ni Fraizer ang ballpen at tumingin sakin. "Can you not eat kahit isang minuto lang? You're disturbing me." Gigil na saad nito sakin.

Tumigil ako sa pagkain at hinayaan siyang gawin ang ginagawa niya. 1 minute diba? I was quietly writing hanggang sa humupa na ang tensyon samin at kumain na ulit ako. I was eating some crackers kaya medyo crunchy talaga at maingay pero sa ingay ng klase, hindi ito masyadong pansin at parinig.

I noticed how Fraizer gave a face palm at kinuha ang pagkain ko, wait bo scratch that, hinablot yung pagkain ko. "What the hell, Fraizer? Anong trip mo?" Usal ko dito at tinry kunin yung pagkain ka na nasa kanang kamay niya.

"No." Ang tanging sagot nito habang inilalayo yung pagkain ko sakin. I tried reaching for it but it's no use. Mas malakas siya sakin to the point na napipikon na ako sa kaniya. "Fraizer, ibalik na yan." Magkasalubong kong kilay na sabi sa kaniya but instead of giving it back, siya na lang ang kumain mismo ng pagkain ko.

Paborito kong chichirya yun, eh! Apakahayop mo, Fraizer. Karmahin ka sana. Hinayaan ko na lang kainin niya ang pagkain ko habang nagkaklase. Karmahin ka sana talaga nang bongga.

Ilang saglit pa ay may biglang nagsalita sa gilid naming dalawa. "Enjoying your food, Mr. Zackermore, I see." Mataray na tugon nito na nagpapaling sa ulo naming dalawa. He was in state of shock to even blink an eye while here I am trying to hide my laugh.

Ambilis talaga ni karma, pft.

"Ms. Tenya, this is not mine." I flinched hearing those words. Potanginamo. It's yours, kinuha mo sakin diba? Edi sayo na yan. "Pero ikaw ang nakain, Mr. Zackermore." Stated by Ms. Tenya which I agreed to.

Right, right. Siya ang nakain, siya ang may hawak, so therefore sa kaniya yan. Burn the bitch down, Ms. Tenya! "Pero hindi po talaga 'to sakin." Ang giit na sagot nito tinuro ako bigla. Ako? Bitch? "It's hers!"

"Mine?! Eh ikaw ang nakain, kapal mo naman." Ang bigla kong depensa sa sarili ko.

"See, Ms. Tenya? Defensive."

"Alangan. Hindi naman talaga sakin yan tas isusumbat mo sakin? Hell no."

"It's yours."

"Not."

"Yours"

"No. Yours."

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"I said no, Michelle!"

"And I said yes!"

Sigawan naming dalawa sa room na nagpatahimik sa buong klase na halatang ikinagulat ni Ms. Tenya. Hindi namin ito pinansin kundi nagpatuloy lang sa bangayan. To the point na napuno na ito. "Both of you! Get out! Detention for both of you! I don't care kung kanino yan pero labas sa klase ko. My gosh." Napatigil naman kami sa bigla nitong sigaw at hindi umibo dahil sa gulat. Hala.

"I said get out!" Muli pa nitong sambit samin.

Dali-dali kong inayos ang gamit ko while Fraizer just clicked his tongue and went out leaving his bag behind. Sinundan ko naman ito papalabas ng classroom.

He was already walking his pace out nung makita ko siya. "Hoy, teka lang." Aniya ko dito na sinundan ko. I ran to quickly match his pace and so I did.

Walang umimik saming dalawa. Ako? I wasjust silently following him towards the detention room or so I thought nang bigla itong lumiko making me stop from my tracks. "Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ko dito na ikinatuloy niya lang sa paglalakad.

"Cutting."

Lumaki naman ang mata ko sa aking narinig. Did I heard it right? Cutting? Zackermore? The top 1 of our class? Wow. "Ikaw? Cutting? It's much more better to go to detention. May iniingatan kang position baka nakakalimutan mo."

He stopped on his tracks not bothering to even look at me. "Michelle, baka nakakalimutan mong isa akong Alpha." He sighed.

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko sa aking narinig. "Baka nakakalimutan mo din na it's just a silly game for us students?" I stated at him habang nakapamewang. I mean it's true. This whole caste system is just a silly game that was made by students. At sa ngayon wala na silang pake.

He turned around and looked at me. Smirking at what I've said. "Michelle," He called giving me chills. What now? "I'm not an Alpha for nothing." Ang huling tugon nito before he looked away and continued walking, leaving me behind.

It sent me chills down to my spine. Yawa. What now, Michelle? I was just literally dumb founded, not knowing what to do. A part of me wants to follow him—wait, no. I want to follow him.

You know what? I'd say fuck school and fuck rules.

Mabilis ko namang sinundan ito at we then walked side by side. It was awkward at first pero he didn't mind, so I did the same.

Tamang sinusundan ko lang siya hanggang sa makarating kami sa may puno doon sa likod ng school. May iilan ding estudyante dun, most of them are junior high school students and of course, elem na mga naghaharutan.

He sat down and so did I. It may sound creepy pero I was observing his next move. Well, natulog lang naman siya habang nakasandal ang ulo sa may puno habang ako naman ay nagmumukhang tanga sa kakatingin sa kaniya. Umiling na lang ako sa aking mga naiisip at kinuha ang libro sa calculus.

Calculus was never a friend of mine. Math was never a friend of mine. Isa sa mga weak points ko ito. Although ironic it may sound but I used to love math back then in elementary. Tamang counting numbers lang tas ngayon find y kay x achuchu.

I was trying to solve some equations stated in the book and turns out. I only got 9 out of 15 questions correct. I mean, atleast I got to meet the passing score, right?

Ugh. Groaning in defeat. Charot. 'Di pwede. Graduating student ako, remember? Kaunting kembot na lang at matatapos ko na 'to. Kaya cooperate with me calculus and stop being an attitude bitch, babe.

"Ang ingay mo." Bigla namang sabat ni Fraizer sa likod ko na medyo ikinagulat ko. Akala ko ba tulog na ito? Tyaka ako? Maingay? Di nga ako nagsasalita.

Humarap ako dito na nakasimangot and then he looked at me with an eyebrow flicked. "Wala akong ginagawa sayo. Matulog ka na lang diyan." Suway kong sabi dito at ibinalik ang tingin sa libro at nagsagot na muli.

"Paano nga ako makakatulog kung nag-iingay ka?" Ang muli niyang reklamo na hindi ko pinansin kahit yung totoo, medyo nabubuiset na ako rito. "Calling calculus an attitude bitch won't do anything, Michelle. Stop whinning." Stop whinning. Ang panggagaya ko dito. While I was cursing him to death kasi akala ko tapos na siya sa pagrarant kaso bigla akong napatingin sa kaniya ng may ihinabol itong salita.

"Babe."

"Ano?!" Gulat kong tugon sa aking narinig. It was obvious that he looked so shocked from my reaction. Babe ampotchi.

Diring-diri ko ito tinignan na ikinatawa lang niya. Nababaliw na ata ang isang ito. Mahirap talagang maging matalino paminsan-minsan. "Bakit ka natawa?" Madiin kong tanong dito.

"I just repeated what you've said. You called calculus your babe. Di ko alam na you're the jealous type. Don't worry, I won't take Calculus away from you." He smiled and continued laughing once again, wiping his tears away. I don't know if he's being sarcasm or ano pero all I know is that, naaasar ako sa aking nakikita.

"Babe. Babe. Pinagsasabi mo?" Tanong ko dito habang magkasalubong ang dalawang kilay.

He just smirked and mimicked the things I said earlier inside my head. "Kaya cooperate with me calculus and stop being an attitude bitch, babe." He laughed after saying those habang ako ay naguguluhan.

Did I just said my thoughts out loud? Kingyawa naman. I just clicked my tongue and tried focusing my attention to what I was doing earlier.

For the whole 3 minutes I was just answering the equations not until someone decided to annoy the fuck out of me. "Wrong." He said. Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ba ako o ano.

True. Magiling siya sa calculus. Yun ata yung strong points niya, and also general science. I didn't bothered to throw him a look rather I just changed the solution on which I think is wrong. Kaso,

"Still wrong."

I pouted, erasing the whole solution I just made. "Oh, bakit mo binubura?" Tanong niya sakin na ikinibit balikat ko at palihim naman akong napa-irap. "Sabi mo kasi mali, diba?" Medyo may pagkasarkastiko kong tugon.

Habang binubura ko yun ay bigla siyang lumapit sakin. Our faces was inches away from each other. Nasa likod ko siya na ngayon ay nagsusulat sa papel ko. I felt how my body stiffened with the sudden movement he did. I could feel how my heart was uncontrollably thumping and how my cheeks were heating.

Hindi ako makapagisip nang matino. Potangina. Baka magkasakit ako sa puso nito. Hoy, ayoko pang mamatay, chill the fuck out my heart. I gulped hard with how the things are currently happening. I was dazed. Siya kasi bigla-bigla na lang gaganun, parang tanga.

"—Chelle." I snapped upon hearing my name. Tilting my head towards his direction na mas lalo pang naglapit sa mga mukha namin. "Nakikinig ka ba?"

"Ha? Uh, yeah." Charot.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay bago umayos ng upo. "Talaga lang ha? Then do this equation." Ang hugot nito bago kumuha ng papel at doon nagsulat ng equation.

I hesitated kung kukunin ko ba yung papel na binibigay niya. "Take it and answer the equation already. Walang mangyayari kung tititigan mo lang yan." Saad nito upang mapa-irap ako.

Okay, fine. Sabi ko nga barbie, diba? Heto na sasagutin ko na. Kinuh ko yung papel at nagsagot. He was observing me for fuck's sake. Na-aano tuloy ako sa mukha ko. Kaya mabilis ko itong sinagutan at ibinigay sa kaniya.

He scanned it for 15 seconds bago'y ibinaba ulit ang papel sa gitna naming dalawa. He pointed at one part and said, "Tama ka na sana pero mali lang ang naging sign mo."

I looked at it and tama nga siya. Instead of a negative, naging positive siya. Okay, ang bobo ko sa part na yun. "And also this," Habol pa niya ay itinuro ang isang part. "Mali din ang ginawa mong pagsosolve. It should be like this."

Kinuha niya yung ballpen ko at nagsulat habang nagtuturo. I was listening to him the whole time to the point na we were already having our own lesson under the tree.

"Gets mo na?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Last." Ani Fraizer at gumawa ulit ng panibagong equation. Walang ano-ano ay sinagutan ko kaagad yun pagkatapos niyang magsulat.

I was silently answering nang bigla itong magsalita. "Hey," He called na hindi ko naman masyadong pinansin. "Wanna stay in my condo for a week?" Biglang tanong niya sakin na ikinagulat ko.

"Stay? Titira? Sino? Ako? Nahihibang ka na ba? Anong nakain mo? Ba't mo naman ako papa—"

"Shut up. I didn't actually mean for you to stay in my condo. What I meant by that is kung gusto mong mag-aral sa condo ko."

"Study? Anlayo ng study sa stay ha."

"They're the same. Parehas na 'st' at 'y' ang hulihan nila."

"Hindi kaya!" I prosteted na ikina-irap naman niya. Ano? Fight me. This betch.

"Just answer the damn question." Giit nito sakin na nagpa-isip sakin. "This week?" Tanong ko na ikinatango niya.

"Alangang next week. Eh, exams na natin sa monday." He sarcaticaly remarked at me.

I squinted my eyes at him getting iritatated but rather he just shook his head off and looked at me once again. "So? What do you think? I can also get help from you on our Fil language."

Psh. Sa talino mong yan? Ugh, whatever. Bahala na si batman samin—sakin.

"Sure. Whatever you want."