Romeo and Juliet

Last subject na ni Richard for this day. So far so good naman. First day niya ito bilang estudyante sa Tarlac. Kalilipat lamang kasi niya dito last month, as per request ng mga magulang niya. Sa Manila siya nagtapos ng high school kung saan siya nanirahan since six years old siya. Malungkot siya na kinailangan niyang iwanan ang mga kaibigan niya doon, but he's glad na lumipat siya dito sa Tarlac, kasama ang mga magulang at best friend niya.

Philippine Literature ang subject niya kaya nasa School of Arts and Humanities siya ngayon. Bigla niyang naalala iyong babaeng nakatabi niya kanina sa Philippine History. Nahiling niya na sana, makaklase niya ito sa lahat ng subjects niya. Naging boring na nga ang mga klase niya pagkatapos ng Philippine History. First time niyang hindi ma-bore sa naturang subject.

Pagpasok pa lang nito kanina sa classroom, she already caught his attention. Maybe it was the yellow blouse she's wearing. She literally brought the sun inside the room. And then the awkwardness. Halatang nahiya ito nang tumingin sa kanya ang lahat ng estudyante sa classroom. Paano naman kasing hindi siya pagtitinginan? She was like an angel in a sea of mortals.

Richard looked at the entrance and was stunned. In a good way. For in the light of the afternoon sun, there she is. The girl named Alex. And just like that morning, mukhang naghahanap na naman ito ng mauupuan. It's like a déjà vu; it made Richard think it wasn't real. Maybe he was just hallucinating because he really could not take the memory of that girl out of his mind? Or was it for real, like the smile she just gave him when she finally caught sight of him?

He smiled back. Yeah, maybe this is for real.

And it was really real. The next moment, Alex was standing in front of him.

"Excuse me. Is this seat taken?" tanong nito na ang tinutukoy ay ang upuan sa tabi niya.

"Nope."

"Can I sit there?"

"Of course."

Nginitian siya nito at saka ito umupo sa tabi niya.

"Akalain mo, first and last subjects natin, pareho," Alex said.

"Maybe that's what they call fate." Then Richard thought of what he just said. 'Aww!'

Inosenteng napatingin si Alex sa kanya. 'Don't freak out, please,' he secretly begged.

Alex smiled. "Maybe you're right."

Pakiramdam ni Richard ay lalong gumanda ang mundo.

"Welcome to our school," ang sabi pa ni Alex.

"Thanks. I'm actually starting to like it here."

"Talaga? Magsi-shift ka na?" she joked.

He laughed. "If only I can. May pre-med courses ba kayo dito?"

"Pre-med mo pala iyong course mo? BS Bio, right?"

Tumango si Richard. "My parents are both doctors."

"Wow! Lahi pala kayo ng mga doktor."

"How about you? Your dad's also into Arts?"

"Business," sagot ni Alex. "Pero wala akong hilig sa ganoon. Unlike si Ate. BS Accountancy nga ang course niya. Ako, Arts talaga ang hilig ko. Buti nga pinayagan ako ng parents ko na ito ang kunin kong kurso."

Itatanong sana ni Richard kung ano ang business ng pamilya nito. Pero dumating na ang kanilang professor at nagsimula na ang kanilang klase.

Nang matapos na ang klase ay hindi na tinantanan pa ni Richard si Alex. Hindi siya papayag na ganon-ganon na lang ang lahat. He has to make a move as early as possible. He has to make a move now.

"I really don't enjoy Literature that much," ani Richard, para lang makapagsimula ng conversation.

"I actually do," ani Alex.

𝘖𝘰𝘱𝘴! 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦. "Talaga?"

"You know what? I understand you. Completely."

"Enlighten me."

"Di ba nga dalawa yung klase ng tao? Base na rin sa dalawang side ng brain natin. Alam mo dapat iyan."

"I guess so." Of course Richard heard about it, but he wants to watch her speak. He likes watching her facial expressions habang nagkukwento and he likes the sound of her voice.

"Meron yung mga taong logical, iyong mga scientists, philosophers, mathematicians... Tapos iyong isa, iyong mga creative people. Iyong mga artists, writers, composers..."

"So you're saying na ang mga artists hindi sila logical?"

"Hindi naman sa ganun," Alex said. "They're just more inclined to things na mas may kinalaman sa Arts. Kagaya ko. I'm an artist tapos mahilig din ako sa literature. Pero yung mga memorization, iyong mga reasoning and all those stuff, I hate them. Tapos iyong mga katulad mo, you hate Arts. You don't like Literature. But you love memorizing History stuff."

Richard laughed at the expression on her face. Iyong parang diring-diri ito sa History.

"I thought you said you love hearing what happened before?"

"Oo pero... Tsismosa nga lang yata talaga ako."

They both laughed. Sa sobrang enjoy niya, hindi namalayan ni Richard na dumating na pala ang sundo niya. Dahil sa isang buwan pa lang siyang nasa Tarlac, hindi pa siya pinapayagang mag-drive ng sariling sasakyan ng mommy niya. Hindi pa daw niya kabisado ang mga daan sa Tarlac. Kaya naman for the meantime ay nakikisabay muna siya sa kanyang pinsan at best friend na si Bryan sa pag-uwi. Sa pagpasok naman sa school, hinahatid muna siya ng mga magulang bago pumunta ang mga ito sa hospital na pag-aari ng kanilang angkan – ang Tarlac General Hospital.

"Hi Cuz!" bungad sa kanya ni Bryan.

"Cuz!" Nag-apir silang dalawa.

Napatingin si Bryan kay Alex.

"This is Alex. Alex, this is my cousin and best friend, Bryan."

"You look familiar," ani Bryan.

"Ikaw din," and sabi ni Alex.

𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰! What does this mean? Serendipity? Bryan and Alex having that soul mate moment? 𝘕𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦!

"Gosh! I know I know you," ani Alex na pinipilit maka-alala.

Bigla namang nagbago ang expression ni Bryan. "I think I already know."

But before another word is spoken, isang babae ang biglang lumapit sa kanilang tatlo.

"Alex!"

Napatingin silang lahat dito.

"Ate!" Alex was still as jolly as ever, kahit na mukhang si Miss Minchin and dumating dahil sa masungit na aura nito.

"Now I clearly remember," ani Bryan.

Napatingin si Richard kay Bryan. He gave him a questioning look na agad namang nabasa ng huli.

"Richard, this is Angelica Martinez. Siya ang anak ng dalawa sa partners ng MPCF and Associates, si Mr. Benjamin and Mrs. Alicia Martinez. They're from Moonville."

And Richard clearly understood. This masungit girl is a part of their family's nemesis, ang mga Martinez. But, if Alex called her Ate...

Napatingin si Richard kay Alex. Nakatingin din ito sa kanya.

"Alex is her sister," patuloy ni Bryan. "Alexandra Martinez, if I'm not mistaken."

"That's right," Alex said. Nag-iba na rin ang aura nito. Malamang nakaramdam ito na something's not right.

"This is Richard Quinto," ani Bryan kay Alex. "He's the son of Dr. Ricardo Quinto, from the Quintos of Moonville."

Richard was just looking at Alex, who is also staring at him. Pareho silang ayaw paniwalaan ang nangyayari.

"Alex, let's go!" utos ni Angel sa kapatid.

Alex just continued staring at Richard. He could feel like the world is starting to crumble.

"Alex!"

Alex finally gave up. Tumingin ito sa kapatid.

"Okay," she said softly.

Richard felt she wanted to look at him for the last time, but she held back. He watched her go to her sister and leave. Naramdaman na lamang niya ang pagtapik sa kanyang balikat ni Bryan.

"Yes Cuz. Unfortunately, she's a Martinez."

Richard can't believe it. He still doesn't want to believe it. Sa dinami-dami pa ng magugustuhan niya, iyon pang kabilang sa pamilyang kaaway ng mga magulang niya. Ang lagay eh, you and me against the world? Parang sina Romeo at Juliet lang?

𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘵. Oo, parang silang dalawa nga iyon. A pair of star-cross'd lovers, from two families with ancient grudge. Pero kagaya ng dalawa, ang kanilang mga pamilya lamang ang magkaaway. 'Tis but her name that is his enemy. At sa tulong ng makapangyarihang pwersa ng pag-ibig, nagawa nilang ipadama ang kanilang nararamdaman sa isa't isa, kasehodang umakyat man si Romeo sa mataas na balkonahe.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. A thought suddenly struck him. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰.

♥♥♥ 𝙼𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎. - 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚖 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎 | 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙹𝚞𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚝 (𝙸, 𝚅, 157) ♥♥♥