seven

𝗗𝗘𝗘

𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟮, 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟳:𝟭𝟱 𝗮.𝗺.

I walked alone sa main hallway papuntang Roku. Gwen and Helen were with me earlier but they were called by the captain of Mangakas Guild for a short assembly. I had no idea what that assembly was for.

Most of the students na nakakasalubong ko looked at me funny. At first, nagtataka ako kung bakit, then I realized as I neared our building that it was probably because of Shishi. Kahapon pa na hindi mawala sa isip ko yung pag-uusap namin. It was the first almost real conversation I ever had with him.

Hanggang sa party sa Batangas, that was all I could think about. Nakwento ko na kila Gwen at Helen ang nangyari and nainis sila kay Shishi. But there was nothing we could do. I had to deal with him.

I had no clue why that conversation was such a big deal. During my few weeks here in Miwako, I learned that most students were too shallow-minded. So what if Shishi verbally bullied me in front of the class? I should be the only one making a fuss about it. They were owning my moment, eh.

So here I was, medyo famous na rin sa school salamat kay Shishi at sa verbal abuse niya. Kung pwede nga lang na magpapalit ng partner sa project, ginawa ko na talaga. But Mrs. Kajo said na bawal na raw. I asked her yesterday kasi when she dismissed us.

Siguro it would be best kung iiwas na lang ako sa Vandalics na 'yan. They had got nothing but trouble with them.

Okay, that was stretching it. Kyo was very okay. Mabait 'yon, eh. Si Paris, kay Helen lang naman siya may issue and he was very nice to me and Gwen. 'Yang Shishi na 'yan lang talaga ang hindi maintindihan.

I put my headphones on and listened to music to drown out my schoolmates' whispers. Napakabababaw ng mga tao sa Miwako. Simpleng bagay, parang Christmas agad.

The whole room was silenced when I entered. I jutted my chin and walked to my seat. Pero sobrang nagmadali ako kasi they watched my every step. I felt so small because they looked at me like I had AIDS or something infectious na nakuha from a pathetic reason kaya they were talking about me. Sana pala hinintay ko na lang sila Gwen at Helen sa clubroom.

What surprised me was Shishi's presence inside. Usually kasi, late siyang pumasok. It was so early pa kasi for him to be here. Mamayang eight pa ang start ng class. Anong nakain n'yan?

Nakatingin lang siya sa labas ng bintana mula pagpasok ko sa room. He did not even bother to look at me, unlike everyone else. Magka-stiffed neck sana siya kakatingin niya sa bintana. But like him, sa labas ng bintana na lang din ako nag-focus because I forgot to bring a manga with me.

When the song playing from my headphones changed, I groaned inwardly.

Not this one.

It was Fall Back Into My Life by Amber Pacific. The first and only song that Zach taught me to play on drums. This song carried so many memories with it. And its lyrics were just as stupid as those memories were, based on the context that concerned the two of us.

"Hoy!"

Nagulat ako sa sigaw ni Shishi. Nakaharap na siya sa akin at sobrang lalim ng pagkakasimangot niya. Ngayon ko lang napansin na ang haba na ng buhok niya compared sa first time na nakita ko siya. Yung curls niya, nasa noo niya na.

So early in the morning to be hotheaded, kulot.

And of course, our classmates had to have their moment. They whispered among themselves like bees flying over a honeycomb. I wanted to tell them to shut up and get a life but Shishi's stare made it hard to take my attention away from him.

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag," naiinis na sabi niya.

Inilayo ko yung isang speaker ng headphones ko from one ear but yung isa, nandoon pa rin para naririnig ko pa rin yung music. Inappropriate, I knew, but I wanted to listen to the song continuously.

"Bakit?" I asked politely and calmly.

"Tanggalin mo nga 'yang nasa ulo mo! Kinakausap kita, eh!" Bigla siyang tumayo at lumapit sa akin. Tinanggal niya yung headphones ko and binalibag 'yon sa desk ko. Naupo ulit siya sa seat niya after that.

I clenched my fists. Like, how could he? Helen was right, salbahe siya. I tried to match his stare and gave him a glare but instantly, I felt myself backing down. I really hated how the look in his eyes reminded me of Dad's. Ayoko sa tingin na 'yon. Wala akong kalaban laban do'n. Huminga ako nang malalim and counted up to five. "What?"

"Yung project."

I had to admit na nagulat ako pagkarinig ko ng sinabi niya. I was also delighted kasi finally, mukhang magkakaroon na rin ng cooperation between us. I tried for a smile, hoping na magkakabati na kami. "Oh? May idea ka na ba?"

"Wala pa."

My jaw dropped. Umaasa pa naman din ako na siya 'tong maraming ideas because he was a fucking musician!

"Isara mo nga 'yang bunganga mo," nakasiring na sabi niya kaya nawala na talaga yung pag-asa ko na magkakasundo kami. "Mamayang pagkatapos ng klase, sumama ka sa'kin. Pag-uusapan natin 'yang project."

How badly I wanted to shake his hand and congratulate him for being able to reach this far. At least, that was a start. But the downside was the fact that I would not be free after classes. I had to go to our club because finally, after giving it so much thought, I decided to join Cosplayers Guild. Kinukulit na rin kasi ako ni Ate Jessa. Pati yung vice-captain na si Miko Baliad.

"Can we do it tomorrow na lang?" I asked, hoping he would be cool with it. But because I was never really lucky, nagalit na naman siya. Napalunok ako. "May dadaanan kasi ako mamaya, eh. Pupunta ako sa club ko. Pwedeng bukas na lang?"

"Anong hindi ka pwede?" Tumaas na naman ang boses niya. "Sunugin ko 'yang club niyo, eh. Mamaya lang ako pwede, 'wag mo 'kong artehan. Busy akong tao."

"Fine," mahinang sagot ko. I might look calm but I wanted to spank his face.

Umayos na siya ng upo at humarap na ulit sa chalkboard.

But I still had to ask him something so I gathered all the patience I had left in me. "Sorry, Shishi, I just—"

Bigla siyang humarap nang nakasimangot pa rin. "Ano?"

"Umm, pwede bang sumaglit lang ako sa club ko mamaya? May importante lang akong gagawin. Saglit lang naman."

Kung tutuusin, ayokong sumama sa kanya. Nakakatakot siya, eh. And also, I should not be asking for his approval sa mga plans ko sa buhay.

His left eyebrow arched. It was so damn hot to see a guy na magtaas-kilay and I mentally nagged myself for fangirling at such time. "Anong gagawin mo?"

"Basta. Important lang talaga."

"Ano nga?" He raised his voice na naman. Naiinis na ako sa pagsigaw sigaw niya but hindi ko naman siya kayang sawayin.

"Magpapa-register sa Cosplayers Guild. It's needed kasi sa club namin."

"Ilang minutes?"

"Ha? I don't know."

"Ten minutes. Naiintindihan mo? 'Pag lumampas ka d'yan, patay ka sa'kin. Ayoko sa lahat yung pinaghihintay ako."

"Oo na," sabi ko na lang. Talo talaga ako sa kanya. "Debil."

"May sinasabi ka?"

Sabi ko, moron siya. But I could not tell him that so instead, I said, "Chill. Wala."

╔═════ ∘ ═════╝

"Hoy."

Bitbit ko na yung bag ko at paalis na sana kami ng friends ko papunta sa OT. But here was Shishi, nilapitan ako.

Hello, may pangalan ako. Dominika, if you don't like Dee. Hindi ako si Hoy.

"Tara na," yakag niya.

I took a deep breath. "Pupunta pa ako sa club ko, 'di ba?"

He frowned. "Two thirty-five na. Kapag forty-five na at wala ka pa sa quadrangle, magtago ka na."

Nagulat talaga ako sa sinabi niya. Threats came out of his mouth too easily. And I could not believe he was serious about the ten minutes he gave me earlier. "Are you for real? What do you expect me to do? Maghe-hello lang ako sa mga clubmates ko? Come on—"

Paalis na siya no'n, but he glared at me over his shoulder. "Tumatakbo ang oras."

And he went out of the room na.

"Tang ina talaga nitong si Shishi, nakakapikon din minsan, eh," sabi ni Paris before giving me an apologetic look.

"Just don't mind him too much, Dee," Amy told me with a small smile.

"Right," sabi ko na lang. Parang kailangan ko ng meds sa sobrang sakit ng ulo ko kay Shishi. "I must be going na. Ten minutes lang ang ibinigay ni Your Highness."

"Tara," sabi ng mga kaibigan ko.

"See you tomorrow, girls," masiglang paalam sa amin ni Amy paglabas namin ng Roku. Then she even locked arms pa with Gwen. "We'll meet Emma na."

Pagkaalis nilang dalawa, naiwan na lang kaming tatlo nila Paris at Helen. I asked them kung ano ang plan nila, but mukhang clueless din si Paris kasi tumingin siya agad kay Helen.

Huminga nang malalim ang friend ko after niyang irapan si Paris. "Don't look at me. Ikaw ang musician d'yan, eh. And may class ako ng three."

Sa akin naman tumingin si Paris. He stepped back at nagtago pa siya sa likod ko. Nakita ni Helen 'yon so she pulled me close to her.

"Don't get near my friend nga. Baka mahawa siya ng virus mo."

"Malinis kaya ako," sabi ni Paris. "Sama na lang kami sa inyo ni Shishi, Dee. Brainstorm na lang tayong apat."

So that was the agreement we came up with, then we headed to OT's clubroom na. A part of me felt excited because I would be able to spend time with Shishi later kahit I was sure na hindi naman kami makakapag-usap nang maayos because he was always in Super Saiyan mode. He was mean, but he was still Shishi fucking Dominguez of Pale As fucking Dead. Achievement 'yon in some ways.

Kyo was surprised that the three of us were together, but we were surprised kasi nandoon siya instead of helping out our classmates na na-assigned na groupmates niya.

"Walang lumalapit sa'kin," he said with a look of genuine confusion. "Sino bang kasama ko?"

"Aw, we don't know," sabi ko. "Baka nahihiya sila sa'yo? But I'll ask around tomorrow."

Ate Jessa was already in the lobby so when I told her I was joining their guild, napatayo pa siya at napapalakpak. She ran inside their room agad and came back with a form in less than a minute.

I was halfway through the form when the door slid open. Shishi strode in, the look in his face very black.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito, Kuya Shishi?" Kyo asked.

"Susundo lang ng papatayin ko."

Napahawak ako sa noo ko pagkarinig ng sinabi niya. Biglang sumakit talaga ang ulo ko. Seryoso ba siya? Jesus.

"Gago talaga," mahinang sabi ni Paris.

Shishi stopped in front of me. Parang mabibingi ako sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. For fuck's sake.

"Anong sinabi ko? Forty-five dapat nasa quadrangle ka na, 'di ba? Forty-seven na."

I gawked at him. Seriously? Two minutes pa lang akong late, mamamatay na agad ako? Lalong sumakit ang ulo ko.

"Sama kami sa inyo, tol," Paris said. "Wala pa rin kaming naiisip, eh."

"Mangongopya ka lang." Tumingin siya sa'kin. "Tara na!" At lumabas na ulit siya.

Napatingin na lang ako sa mga kasama ko.

"Sige na, babe," Helen said. "Ako nang bahala sa form mo. I'll give it to you tomorrow. Call me agad kapag inaway ka no'n."

Napatawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Sige, thank you. Ingat kayo pauwi, ah. Alis na 'ko," I said and kissed her cheek.

"Sayang, akala ko makakatambay tayo," Paris said and gave me a high-five. On my way to the door, narinig ko pang sinabi ni Helen sa kanya na bukas na lang din sila mag-isip ng sa kanila kasi ilang minutes na lang din siyang free.

Shishi was still outside. Nakasandal siya sa katapat na pader at nasa pockets ng hoodie niya yung hands niya. Of course I had to look away para mukhang chill lang din ako.

"Ang bagal, peste."

Nauna na siyang maglakad at sumunod na lang ako sa kanya. Hindi ko binilisan ang lakad ko and I maintained my pace na nasa likod niya. Ayoko siyang kasabay maglakad.

As expected, nang mapadaan kami sa maraming tao, nagtilian na ang lahat ng fangirls. Seriously, 'yan lang talaga ang role nila dito. Dinaanan lang ni Shishi ang mga fans niya without even acknowledging them. Kung ako sa kanila, I would just admire him from afar instead na masaktan ako kapag ini-ignore niya ako.

Siguro nainis na rin si Shishi sa mga nagkakagulong girls sa kanya kaya bigla niyang binilisan ang lakad. I had no choice but to hurry because I did not want to fall so much behind. Mamaya, magalit na naman 'yan.

"Shishi, teka lang—"

He glared at me. Napangiwi ako at binilisan na lang din ang lakad para makahabol sa kanya. Sa sobrang pag-e-emote ko dahil naaawa ako sa sarili ko because of my kamalasan, I did not notice na yung main hallway pala ay may step na pababa kapag papunta na sa door ng main building. I knew na it was there but nawala talaga sa isip ko. So dirediretso ako until I fell.

"Oh, fuck."

The students near us who saw what happened muttered 'ooohh' like they knew how much it hurt. It hurt alright, but sobra. Solid yung pagkatumba ko. Baka magka-bruise pa ang tuhod ko.

Lumingon sa amin si Shishi. Tumigil siya sa paglalakad when he saw me sitting on the floor, holding my hurt knee. Then nakasimangot siyang tumingin sa iba kaya everyone went on with their lives. They were scared siguro na magalit si Shishi sa kanila.

"Hoy, tumayo ka d'yan. Ano ka, Disney princess?"

I fought back a laugh kasi benta sa akin yung sinabi niya. Kakatayo ko lang when he started laughing his head off kaya napalitan agad ng inis ko yung sinabi niya kanina. Gusto ko siyang sipain kasi sobrang nakakaasar pakinggan ng tawa niya.

"Tatanga-tanga ka kasi." He laughed again. Nakakapikon siya. He did not help me stand up na nga, tinawanan pa ako. So heartless.

"Excuse me, Gaston?" I raised an eyebrow, putting my hands on my waist. I would have to apologize but si Gaston kasi ang unang male Disney villain na pumasok sa isip ko.

But bumaba rin ang kilay ko on its own while I watched him laugh. He looked so happy. His face looked so alive. And my heart pounded against my ribcage.

"Hoy, Disney Princess. Natulala ka na d'yan."

His voice pulled me back to my senses.

"Tara na. At wag ka nang tatanga tanga."

Nakakaasar talaga siya.

Pinagpag ko muna yung likod ng skirt ko before following him. "Sorry," I quietly said.

Tumawa na naman siya, this time medyo mas kalmado compared sa unang wave ng tawa niya. "Tang ina. Natawa 'ko do'n."

Gusto ko siyang tanungin ng, Okay ka na? Happy ka na? But magagalit lang siya, I knew.

Bigla niya akong hinila papunta sa shoe lockers namin. "Bilisan mo nga. Umbagan kita, eh."

I wanted to protest kasi he did not have to drag me like that but I would not deny na medyo kinilig ako because he was holding me. Nadadala na ako ng hype ng fangirls sa kanila. I decided to forever hold my peace about it.

It felt so weird, though. One moment, naa-amazed ako sa kanya at nacu-curious. Then the next, naiinis ako sa kanya. Now, may panibago na naman. At ayoko ng bago na 'yon. Ayokong makaramdam ng kilig sa kanya.

Sinubukan kong bawiin yung wrist ko na hawak niya noong malapit na kami. "You don't need to pull me."

He let go pero hindi pa rin niya ako nililingon.

Halos magkalapit lang yung lockers namin. Sa katapat na set ng lockers yung sa kanya, four doors to my right.

"Shishi?"

"Oh?"

"Can't we let Paris and Helen join us?"

Napatingin siya sa akin saglit, nakasimangot siya. Then he put his attention back sa indoor shoes niya na ibinabalik niya sa locker niya. "Bakit tayo sasama sa kanila?"

"Wala lang," sagot ko habang ibinabalik din yung shoes ko sa loob ng locker ko. "Friend mo si Paris, so I thought gusto mo siyang kasabay gumawa ng project. And friend ko si Helen."

"Bakit, may kinalaman ba sila sa project natin?" He slammed his locker door shut and faced me. "Silang dalawa lang ang magka-partner kaya sila lang ang dapat magkasama. At kaagaw natin sila sa pinakamaraming likes. Common sense nga."

"Competitive si Helen, so hindi siya gagaya sa idea natin. And ka-band mo naman si Paris."

He clucked his tongue. "Bakit ba? Ayoko nga, eh."

Nauna na siyang lumakad papalabas ng main building. I followed him, pero nasa likod niya pa rin ako. "Saan ba tayo pupunta, Shishi?"

"Sa bleachers na lang."

Siniringan ko siya secretly. Kung makapagpamadali siya sa akin, akala mo naman sa malayo pa kami pupunta. Sa loob ng school lang din naman pala.

Napatingin ako sa students na tumatakbo sa field on our left side. Nasa tapat na kami halos ng garden ng school. Yung bleachers, medyo malapit siya sa gate. On our right, tanaw yung acacia tree sa harap ng garden.

Paikot ang map ng Miwako. When you entered the main gate, you would be greeted by the quadrangle. Sa left side ng quadrangle, there was the parking lot para sa students who brought their own cars and for the members of the faculty. Then right next to the parking lot was the garden. To the right, there was a low building there which Paris told us during the tour na parang storage daw ng mga old school furniture. Next to it were the bleachers, the field, then the pool. Sa pinakagitna ng dulo ng quarangle, yung main building na. Sa likod ng main building ay yung mga building for classes. The gymnasium was beside Ichi and San.

I was too busy watching the students do their laps sa field that I did not notice it when Shishi stopped walking. Bumangga ako sa likod niya. Napahawak pa ako sa ilong ko kasi medyo masakit, ang tigas ng likod niya. But because of what happened, napalapit ako sa kanya at naamoy siya. Amoy alak na naman siya. At amoy usok ng sigarilyo. Kaya pala ganito 'to, lasing na naman. I snorted.

Ano bang ginagawa niya sa buhay niya? At least, sana magbisyo na lang siya kapag walang pasok.

"Bakit ka tumigil?"

Nilingon niya ako saglit as he rubbed his nose. Parang lagi siyang may sipon. "Kailangan bang lahat itatanong mo?"

Napasimangot ako ulit. "Ang sungit mo."

"Talaga." Lumakad na ulit siya. Kung marunong lang talaga ako, na-roundhouse kick ko na sa ulo 'tong Gaston na 'to. Sobrang nakakainis.

Finally, we reached our destination. Dumiretso agad siya sa pinakatuktok ng bleachers. Gusto ko mang magreklamo, I decided to stay quiet and just endure it. But sobrang hingal ko when I finally got to the top. Umupo ako sa tabi niya pero siguro, mga isang ruler ang layo ko from him. Yup, nasukat ko 'yon. Believe me. Hawak ko ang dibdib ko habang hinahabol ko ang hininga ko dahil sa sobrang hingal.

"Anong nangyari sa'yo?"

"Wala," sagot ko na lang before taking a deep breath.

"Oh."

May ibinato siya sa akin na nahulog sa lap ko. A bottled water that he took out from his backpack. Napatingin tuloy ako sa kanya. What had gotten into him at binigyan niya ako ng tubig?

"Oy, wag kang maarte," nakasimangot pa ring sabi niya. "Hindi ko pa naiinuman 'yan. Baka bigla ka na lang hindi makahinga d'yan, kasalanan ko pa."

Ayaw na ayaw niya sa madaldal but he was one. But this was another thing that I would add to my growing list of things that made Shishi a mystery.

"I know." Binuksan ko yung binigay niya and gave him a grateful smile. "Salamat, ah."

Umiling-iling siya at tumingin sa malayo.

Natigilan ako sa pag-inom kasi napatitig na naman ako sa kanya. Ang sarap mag-fangirling habang tinititigan siya. He looked so cool. Hindi siya yung sobrang gwapo, in fact mas gwapo pa si Paris para sa akin, but ang lakas ng appeal niya. Lalo kung hindi mo alam na kapatid din pala siya ni Goku, maa-attract ka talaga sa kanya.

I shook my head vigorously and continued drinking hanggang sa kalahati na lang ang laman ng bottle.

Medyo malayo na sa pwesto namin yung garden and nasa harap naman namin yung parking lot. May napansin akong familiar na car na naka-park doon. A black Jeep Wrangler. Napatingin ako kay Shishi saglit, he was reading a text from someone and he looked like he was not liking what was in the text. Lumabas siya sa messaging app niya kaya for a second, nakita ko yung wallpaper niya. It was Spider-Man! I did not expect na may nerdish side siya.

I closed my eyes for a second and enjoyed the cool breeze kasi baka makita pa niyang nakatingin ako sa kanya. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam ng hangin. Nawala rin naman agad yung hingal ko at okay na rin ang breathing ko.

"Shishi?"

Nakasimangot na naman siyang lumingon sa akin. "Oh? Tawag ka nang tawag."

He never stopped making me want to pull all my hair off. Nagsisimula na naman siya.

Some students looked at us as they passed by. Mga palabas na sila ng gate at pauwi na. Yung iba naman, papunta sa cars nila, pauwi na rin. It was a good thing as well na kaonti na lang ang students dahil uwian na. Yung iba, nasa clubs pa nila. Wala rin masyadong nagkakagulo kay Shishi ngayon. Though may ilang fangirls siya na pasimpleng kumukuha ng pictures niya at kinikilig. Buhay fangirl nga naman. Congrats sa kanila, may iba na silang role sa story bukod sa pagtili.

"So what's our plan? Saan tayo magre-record at tutugtog ba tayo o gagamit ng minus one?"

Siniringan niya muna ako. Good Lord. "Mamimili muna tayo ng mga kanta. Yung recording, sa Berserker Noise tayo. Label namin yun, sa kanila kami nagre-record. Sa mismong kanta, nakausap na namin nila Paris sila Chico. Sila na ang tutugtog para sa'tin. Tulungan lang kami dito kaya umayos ka. Naiintindihan mo?"

"Yup. Copy, sir."

Kahit ang hirap niyang kausap at kasama, swerte pa rin talaga ako dahil siya ang ka-partner ko. Hindi ako babagsak sa project namin dahil heaven and hell might switch places but never lalangawin sa school namin ang music na co-created ni Shishi. All I had to do was endure his Dao Ming Si complex.

"Hoy, marunong ka bang kumanta?"

Napalunok ako and tried my trusted puppy eyes on him. "Hindi, eh."

He looked at me in disgust. "Umayos ka nga. Hindi bagay sayo magpa-cute. Nakaka-umay ka."

My eyes bulged out of their sockets. Napahiya ako doon, ha.

"Gagamitan na lang natin ng autotune 'yang boses mo."

I looked up, forcing myself to contain my frustrations. Kung makapagsabi siya na gagamitan na lang ng autotune ang voice ko, it was as if narinig niya na talaga akong kumanta. Okay, panget ang boses ko but he did not have to take my word for it too easily. Ang bilis niyang maniwala.

"Bakit ikaw, marunong ka bang kumanta?" I challenged. Nakakarami na kasi siya, eh.

Tinaasan niya lang ulit ako ng kilay. I noticed na out of impulse niya ginagawa 'yon. Kahit pangbabae na habit 'yon, it still looked attractive sa kanya.

Shit. Ayokong ma-attract sa kanya.

"Wala ka na do'n. Basta parehas natin gagamitan ng autotunes para balance ang kakalabasan ng kanta."

He could have admitted na lang na panget din ang boses niya. Baka sakaling mabawasan pa ang bad trip ko sa kanya.

"Okay," sabi ko na lang. "Anong kanta?"

Tumayo na siya bitbit ang backpack niya. "Maglista ka ng mga kantang gusto mo. Maglilista rin ako ng sa'kin. Saka tayo mamimili ng tig-isa."

"Sige."

Tumingin siya sakin. "Bukas ko kailangan 'yan. After classes bukas tayo mamimili. May practice kami bukas sa Cantu Chords. Sumama ka para makausap na natin mga kabanda ko."

Tumango-tango ako. "Sure."

"Good. D'yan ka na nga." Bumaba na siya at umalis na. I watched him walk to the parking lot, getting something from his pocket. Then lumapit siya sa Jeep Wrangler na nakita ko doon kanina. It was the same car he was leaning against noong gig nila. So it was his car nga. Iniwan niya lang doon yung dala niya before he walked back to the school.

Will everything turn out alright?

∘ ⸻ ∘

𝗚𝗪𝗘𝗡

𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟮, 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟰:𝟭𝟱 𝗽.𝗺.

Emma decided na sa clubroom na lang ng Kapisanan kami mag-meeting for the project. We grouped sa corner kasi there was an L-shaped couch there. I was amused kasi may dalawang guys na nakaupo doon pagdating namin but tiningnan lang sila ni Emma and umalis na sila. Amy typed something sa phone niya and showed it to me, pretending it was a meme, and it said: family nila yung biggest donor ng school so takot yung iba sa kanya especially the scholars.

So far, we had agreed on Tide is High by Atomic Kitten for the first song. We were still hung up on whether we would do a Britney Spears song or something from One Direction and change the pronouns para applicable sa amin na girls kasi Amy said it would be cool. Emma never suggested anything, saying she would go with whatever plan we would come up with. It was Amy who suggested the first song din. The only thing that Emma gave her opinion on was the genre we would change those songs into. She wanted us to do rock infused with sentimental ballad. We agreed that was a great idea.

"So ano nang progress ng iba niyong classmates?" Emma asked, leaning against the couch. She propped her arm on the backrest pa. "Sila Paris at Helen?"

"I don't know," I said. "Wala pang nasasabi si Helen sa'min."

"Paris said they were supposed to go with Shishi and Dee, but ayaw raw ni Shishi," sabi naman ni Amy.

Emma tilted her head to Amy. "Wait, sinong partner ni Shishi?"

"Dee, my other best friend."

"Oh." Emma cracked a grin. "Talaga? I don't know kung anong worse. Babae na partner niya na pupunyetahin niya o lalake na baka makasuntukan niya."

Natawa kami dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Nice naman si Shishi kapag hindi gaya ng ibang groupies who throw themselves at him," Amy said.

"Sa bagay," sabi na lang din ni Emma with a shrug.

"I'll just buy drinks, ha?" Amy stood up. "What do you guys want?"

Emma said it was Gatorade Fruit Punch for her and I said it was Coke for me. Pagkaalis ni Amy, nabalot kami ng medyo awkward na silence ni Emma kasi wala naman talaga kaming pwedeng pag-usapan. She played with the ring on her thumb. Actually, she had a lot. Bawat daliri niya yata ay may ring. She had metal bracelets din and they always made silent clangs every time she moved her arms.

"Okay ba dito sa school?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Yeah. Okay na okay."

"Ayos." She leaned forward, her forearms resting atop her thighs. "Eh yung nakita mo sa bar, nagustuhan mo ba?"

"What?"

She laughed. "Nah, I'm just kidding. Ikaw yun, 'di ba?"

Hindi ako sumagot kasi it became uncomfortable bigla.

"Namukhaan lang kita kaya ko natanong. I didn't mean to offend you. Sorry."

"It's fine. Just don't... ask weird questions like that out of nowhere."

Itinaas niya yung hands niya and sumandal siya ulit. "Yup, yup. Sorry."

I studied her for a while habang busy siya sa phone niya. Beside the school logo on her blazer was a II na pin. She was older than us pala. Or older than my other friends. Baka same age lang kami.

"Ano kayang nangyari kila Shishi at sa friend mo? Curious ako." Emma laughed silently, but sa phone niya pa rin siya nakatingin. "Mahirap kausap yung si Shishi, eh. Pero mas okay siyang kausap nang seryosohan kesa kay Paris. Puro biro kasi alam ni Paris. Mukha pa namang pikon si Helen."

"Yeah, hindi nga sila nagkakasundo, eh. They always snarl at each other kapag nagkadikit sila."

Tumawa siya ulit. "No surprise. Suplada ba si Helen?"

"Umm, hindi naman," sabi ko. Medyo naiilang ako na sagutin yung tanong niya, especially dahil kilala ko si Helen. "Hindi lang siya gano'n ka-friendly or approachable."

"Ah." Emma nodded twice before tossing her phone across the couch. "Mukha nga."

Bumalik na rin si Amy but may kasama siya. Si Kyo. When I saw him walk in beside her, para akong kinabahan kasi lumakas yung heartbeat ko. Halos every night kaming magka-text. Sometimes, we talked on Skype din kasi he was showing me his collections. Sometimes, I drew while we talked. We never talked about anything other than geek stuff naman, but I always looked forward to our conversations. Lagi siya yung nauunang mag-text, but there was one night na inaantok na ako and he still had not contacted me so I just texted him good night. Tumawag siya and we watched a movie in HBO from our own beds.

"Sorry, natagalan," nakangiting sabi ni Amy as she handed the bottle of Gatorade to Emma. Then she sat beside me again.

It was Kyo who gave me my drink. He was drinking Gatorade din, but the blue one. Napatingin siya saglit kay Emma, who was smirking at him coyly, tapos umiling siya. But there was a ghost of a smile sa lips niya. He sat on my other side kaya natawa si Emma. She did not even try to hide it.

Kyo asked how our project was doing, but Emma reminded him that we were competitors. He said wala pa nga siyang nakakausap sa mga ka-group niya kaya hindi siya enemy, so natawa kami sa term na ginamit niya. Since we had already established at least one song to cover and Emma said she would play it on her piano at home para ma-practice niya, nag-decide kami na it was enough talk about the project for the day and nagkwentuhan na lang kami about other things.

We got to talking about PAD's first name before becoming PAD. The Insecticide daw sila dati kasi favorite nila Chico and Clark ang The Beatles. Si Warren lang daw ang nag-iba kasi baka raw hindi sila seryosohin ng record labels.

"Eh mukha niya pa nga lang, hindi na seseryosohin," sabi ni Emma.

While we laughed, napansin ko na nauntog yung knee ni Kyo sa knee ko. Lalo kong pinagdikit yung legs ko kasi nahiya ako dahil I might be taking up too much space sa couch. It happened again kaya I scooched over to Amy's side and rubbed my hands against the sheer fabric of my black tights.

I knew na napa-glance sa akin si Kyo even if I was not looking at him, but bigla siyang nag-scooch over palapit din sa akin. Napatigil tuloy ako sa pagtawa.

The topic then switched to dropping the corniest music puns we could think of. I was not such a music lover so wala akong na-contribute but I laughed too hard sa bawat entry nila. It was the ka-corny-han na nakakatawa, eh. Not the joke itself.

"Eto, eto." Kyo cleared his throat. "Bakit mahirap buksan ang piano?"

"Bakit?" Emma asked, slightly challenging. Maybe because it was her turf.

"Kasi nasa loob yung keys."

"Fuck you," sabi ni Emma bago siya tumawa nang malakas.

Habang natawa kami, na-notice ko yung isang finger ni Kyo na nag-twitch kaya dumikit sa finger ko. Nasa ibabaw kasi ng lap ko yung hands ko, siya naman nakakapit sa knees niya. Like kanina sa mga tuhod namin, naulit ulit yung pagdikit ng mga daliri namin. And this time, nagkatinginan na kami. Ngumiti siya sa akin, kaya nginitian ko rin siya.

We spent the remainder of the hour until five o'clock sa ganoong kwentuhan. I received texts from Helen and Dee na nauna na silang umuwi so I waited for my kuya sa parking lot. Nag-text na rin ako sa kanya, asking him if we could drop by the ice cream parlor na madadaanan namin pag-uwi. While I waited, I received a call from Kyo.

"Moshi moshi?"

I smiled. "Hello."

"Hi." He must be smiling right now. Okay, ambisyosa lang. "Nakauwi ka na?"

"Hinihintay ko pa si Kuya. Ikaw?"

"Tinatapos lang namin nila Kuya Shishi 'tong lesson sa bagong members."

"Do you teach din?"

"Sa gitara. Pero nakakailang. Kasi yung iba mas matanda pa sa'kin." He chuckled. "Kaso nakakahiya namang tumanggi. Hey, Gwen, may itatanong pala 'ko."

Oh, gosh. Para akong masusuka. Ewan, kinabahan na naman ako.

"Gwen?"

"Yeah?"

"May gagawin ka ba sa Sunday? Gusto mong lumabas?"

There really was a reason to celebrate with a tub of ice cream.