XVII.

Calm, this is what Tantan figured out after he left the church. For the first time someone took his attention away from structures. He always had this thing with them. Bagong salta si Tantan sa Metro Manila, he was in first year high-school back then, these gigantic structures sort of became his sentinels. Guards that would protect him from any harm, protection from his shyness. From then on, he always looked up.

Pero pagkatapos ng araw na'yun, wala sa istruktura ng simbahan ang atensyon niya. Nasa iisang tao. Bahala na ang drafting assignment! Bahala na ang dare! Because, for the first time he can say someone took away his attention from the sentinels of his shyness. And it was one of the warmest feelings he had.

Two days have passed. Tantan never went back to the church. Tambak siya ng gawaing bahay. He was able to accomplish the drawing. But something is lacking in the days that have passed.

He makes his way sa mga estudyanteng palabas ng school gate. He's covered in paint and sweat. And true enough his fears that he was already late is true. Sa abandonandong lugar kung saan sila madalas mag meet up ng magkaka-ibigan he saw an old chalkboard.

Tanaw na tanaw nya as he walks, ang pangalan niyang naka-sulat. TANTAN- 0 POINTS, LATE

Sinalubong siya ng tirik na mata ni Justine, mas tirik pa sa araw. "Sorry late na natapos pa-mural'' Tantan apologizes.

''Bakla, kami na. Tapos na ang laban. Akin na ang 500. Paloma ibigay mo na sakin!'' nilabas ni Justine ang mga palad niya.

Papaluin siya ni Paloma. ''Potahamnida ka, wala pa! Chingu-yah nag pointing system lang kami. Bale ako kasi nalaman kong ang buong pangalan ni kuyang cute ay Benedict Sales Balmaceda, caretaker nung simbahan at amboy ng isang bagong parish priest. 17 years old, paboritong kulay black, bias niya si Sandara Park sa 2ne1 so black jack siya. So nasa 10 points na ako kasi magka-usap na kami lagi dahil dinadaanan ko talaga siya dun sa may simbahan. Yung nga lang yung cellphone number....''

Itutulak ni Justine si Paloma. ''Ang cellphone number mga loser kong friends, ay wala kay Paloma nasa akin!'' He gets his cellphone at ipinakita ang exchange of texts ni Justine at ni Benedict. May term of endearment na din silla ''bAbhi3_kquouh'' Nginudngod ni Justine ang cellphone sa mukha ni Tantan and there he saw that they have already been exchanging ''I miss you's, much to his surprise.

''Kayo na?'' Tantan asks Justine with a stone-cold voice.

''In love na kami sa isa't-isa teh'' Aki laughs on the side. ''No!!'' he protests. ''Not yet!! In fact on pointing system, you're just 5 points! Unlike Paloma kasi, you haven't had a longer personal encounter with him! Besides. You told us, hindi ka pa nakaka move on kay Kevin!''

''Tse! Ito na naman si English department!'' pagtataray ni Justine.

''Zero yung score mo by the way. Kasi hindi ka sumasama sa meet ups natin'' Aki explains.

''Sorry kasi nag-away si Jennifer saka si Kuya eh. Naglayas, tapos ayun. Ako muna naka-toka kay Julius!'' Tantan frowns, oh how he missed so much! He only has one encounter with Benedict. The question is. Is he willing to disclose it?

''How about you Tantan? Baka you want to share something now? So you don't have to be zero anymore.''

Tantan thinks...He felt the heat of that day. The searing pain in his arm. The gentle touches of this boy....

....the moment was so genuine.

''Wala, sorry''

Like a treasure box, he wants to keep it for himself.

''Ikaw ba?'' Tantan looks at the board. A whopping 15 points for Aki. So, what did he do?

Aki smiles. ''I've had a couple of lunch breaks with him. Apparently, we're schoolmates!''

Tantan's world stops. What?? He's that close to Benedict?? This is a serious competition after all. He's no longer calm.