"I don't know why he suddenly approached me!"
Bumungad sa akin ang boses ni Mimi nang makapasok ako sa loob ng classroom. I'm not saying that she has a loud voice, but yeah. She's just near the doorway. "He even handled me his cappucino. I was surprised also, hindi ko nga alam ang gagawin ko. Nabingi na lang talaga ako sa sigawan ng mga babae sa cafeteria," pagtutuloy niya sa kwento niya sa mga kaklase namin ngayon sa klase namin sa Literature.
"Matt is so hot as hell. Naiinggit ako sa'yo, Mimi. Buti ka pa." Hindi ko alam kung bakit pagkatapos sabihin iyon ni Faye, biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang mga sinabi ni Gian. What does he mean na it's meant for us to see each other again? Nalaman na ba niya na ako ang tinatawag niya noong si Mine? Or he's just trying to flirt with me?
"Remember, he had a group of friends? Bakit sila tinaguriang mga hot gangsters ng campus? Ang layo ng itsura nila sa mga real life gangsters na tambay sa kalsada." Myca joined the conversation. Hinayaan ko silang mag-usap-usap. Mukhang hindi pa nila napapansin na nakarating na ako.
"And I heard, 'yung leader nila sobrang gwapo rin. Literally a bunch of nice food." If only I can tell her that it's too early to daydream, but I think I will sound rude.
"They call them gangsters kase nga, minsan, may nagaganap na underground fights do'n sa secret place nila. 'Yung Room of Demise ba 'yon? I heard that their leader requested that para roon maganap ang mga gang fights at argumento nila, since kabilang sa rules ng school na bawal ang public fighting schemes."
Their conversation and the topic don't make sense to me. Gangsters and gang fights? Why does it sound cheesy and cliché to me? And a bunch of nice food? Baka a pack of basagulero at mga walang magawa sa buhay na mga estudyante na gwapo lang pero wala sa vocabulary ang manners. Literally a flock of nonsense and immaturity.
"Oh, Bea! Andyan ka na pala." Finally, may nakapansin na rin sa akin.
"Yeah, Faye. Kanina pa. I'm silently listening to your conversation. Pero may question ako. Nagawa niyo na ba 'yung activity natin sa Entrepreneurship? Kapag hindi niyo iyon nasumbit today, hindi kayo makakasali sa next activity dahil connected 'yon."
Biglang lumapit sa amin si Kristel at may binulong. "Hay, nako. Ako gagawin ko na lang 'yan mamaya habang nagdidiscuss si Miss Birdy. I'm sure mabo-bore lang na naman ako sa klase niya. Hindi niya kaya i-try buksan nang maayos bibig niya para naman malakas na lumabas ang mga salita na sinasabi niya."
Bahagya kaming natawa sa binulong niya. Ang mga kaklase ko talaga, kung ano-anong kalokohan pinapairal. Miss Birdy ang nickname ng professor namin sa Literature. Para raw kasing tuka ang bibig at mahina pa ang boses. Sila lang naman ang tumatawag sa kaniya nang gano'n.
Nag-ayos kami ng upo nang dumating si Miss Yang. May nilapag siyang makapal na pile ng mga papel sa mesa niya. Mukhang may surprise quiz kami. Lagot.
"Make sure your desk is empty or I'll throw away everything you put on top of it." Ayan na naman siya sa kasungitan niya.
"It's obvious. She has a period." bulong na naman ni Kristel sa amin. We laughed a little because of that.
"I also forbid laughing in my class," Miss Yang said while looking our way. Obviously, she heard us. Natahimik tuloy ang row namin at tinabi na ang mga gamit na nasa table maliban sa pen namin. Bitter siguro siya at iniwan kaya nakakunot lagi ang noo.
"Before I start passing the test papers, please take your bags and put them at the back." Kaagad naming sinunod ang sinabi ni Miss Yang atsaka na bumalik sa aming mga seats. Pagkatapos no'n ay pinapasa na niya ang mga test sheets para sa surprise quiz namin. "Erasure means wrong. If you're not so sure with your answer, leave the space provided blank. All are identification type of test. Let's see if you learned something from the discussion the whole week."
"I hope so. Kung malakas din ang boses mo, Ma'am, baka narinig at naalala namin nang maayos ang lesson," I heard Mimi sigh.
The test was not a joke. Ultimong 'yung exact words na binanggit ni Ma'am sa discussion kasali sa test. Good thing I made myself used to take down notes. Matapos kong magsagot at magpass, hinayaan na akong lumabas ni Ma'am sa kwarto. Dahil kaklase ko pa rin sina Mimi sa next subject, hinintay ko na sila sa labas hanggang sa matapos sila.
"Hey," Napalingon ako nang may magsalita.
"Gian? Anong ginagawa mo rito?" I asked him. Napakamot siya ng ulo atsaka inayos ang pagkakasakbit ng kaniyang shoulder bag. He's looking up like he's trying to say something but he's shy.
"Um... Labasan niyo na ba?" tanong niya. Napayakap ako sa mga hawak-hawak ko na libro.
"Hindi pa, eh. Ikaw, ba't nasa labas ka na?" Naglakad ako palayo sa classroom at nakasunod lang siya sa akin. Baka kasi marinig kami ng mga kaklase ko at mapagalitan pa ako sa professor namin. I was standing near the window earlier.
"Vacant kasi ang last subject namin. And I just want to ask you to go out with me? Maybe we can hang out after class?" Matapos niyang bigkasin iyon, hindi ko alam bakit bigla na lang kumabog nang napakalakas ang puso ko. It's not him asking me for a date, right?
"Para saan?"
"Nothing. Just having a conversation. Maybe we can be friends? I just... want to know you more. Wala pa kasi akong gaanong nakikilala since I'm a transferee. You're the first person to approach me so... yeah. Do you want to go or not, it's okay if you're not, I'm just—"
"No, no. I understand. Thank you, Gian. Okay lang sa akin," bigla ko na lang nasabi. Baka kasi isipin niyang I'm a snob. Dahil do'n lalo pa akong kinabahan.
"So that means yes?" tanong niya ulit. I shyly nodded at him.
"Okay, I'll wait for you in the parking lot. See you later!" sabi niya atsaka na tumakbo papalayo. He left me shocked there. Nakatayo lang ako for a few seconds before someone tapped my shoulders.
"Anong ginagawa mo riyan, girl?" When I looked the other way, I saw Mimi and Faye.
"Ah, wala. Nagmumuni-muni lang. Tapos na kayo? Punta na tayo third sub?" tanong ko sa kanila. They just nodded kaya nagpatuloy na kami sa third subject namin. On the way, we were talking how was the test and they keep on telling that it was really hard.
Mabilis lang lumipas ang isang oras sa Chemistry. Tumayo na ako sa aking seat at inayos na kaagad ang mga gamit ko na nakapatong sa mesa. I saw in my peripheral vision that Mimi and Faye are walking my way.
"May balak ka today, sis?" tanong ni Mimi. Usually when she says that, they're going out and they want to invite me.
"Oo, eh. I'm... going to the mall." I lied. I can't tell them that I'm meeting Gian! I don't know why I'm feeling shy about it. Baka ano pa ang isipin nila. Gian doesn't know me yet.
"Uy, sama kami!"
"No!" I immediately responded. They gave me weird looks after that.
"May i-me-meet kang someone, no?" tanong bigla ni Faye. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at mabilis iyong dineny.
"Hindi kaya! May bibilhin lang ako para sa Art Class ko! Who will I meet!?" I said, and I think I sounded overreacting. They're probably suspecting me now. They get annoying sometimes.
"Eh bakit ayaw mo kaming isama?" tanong nila nang halos magkasabay pa.
"Okay, okay, fine. Mayroon kasing transferee student na nag-aya sa akin na lumabas. He said that he's still adjusting and needs help. He told me I was the first person he interacted with," sabi ko. Ngumiti sila nang nakakaloko sa akin atsaka pa ako tinuro.
"Lumalablayp na ata ang manok ko," sabi ni Mimi atsaka pa umakbay sa akin.
"Sino ba 'yon?" tanong ni Faye. Palabas na kami ngayon sa kwarto at papunta na sa parking lot.
"Malalaman niyo rin kapag nando'n na tayo," sabi ko sa kanila. They are the ones who informed me that Gian is coming back to the Philippines and he's studying here in Crisostomo University. They will recognize him for sure.
Ilang beses ko silang pinaalalahanan na huwag akong i-expose sa lalaking iyon dahil hindi pa talaga ako tuluyang kilala. Nagtataka nga sila kung bakit ko nasabi iyon at tinanong pa ako if kilala ba nila 'yon. Mukhang nawala na sa isip nila si Gian.
Nang makarating kami sa parking lot, naabutan namin ang maraming sasakyan. Hindi nga pala nabanggit sa akin ni Gian kung anong sasakyan ba 'yon. Agad kasing umalis, eh! Now, I have to look for him.
Someone went off of his car and closed its door. Tumingin pa siya sa paligid na parang may hinahanap. Nang mapatingin siya sa direksyon namin, he waved his hand to call our attention.
Nakasunod lang sa akin ang mga kaibigan ko hanggang sa makalapit kami sa sasakyan. Pinahintay ko muna sila sa isang tabi at kinausap si Gian na ngayo'y nakasakay na sa shotgun.
"Sorry, ha? My friends keep on bugging me and they want to tag along. Is it okay?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Kumunot pa ang noo niya but he agreed. He told that his driver will take us there kaya sumabay na lang kami, that's why I contacted my personal driver to take me later instead after the dinner kung saan mang restaurant kami kakain.
Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng sasakyan atsaka na sumakay. Faye and Mimi followed even if they don't know what's happening. Tahimik lang kami buong biyahe hanggang sa makarating na kami sa lugar na iyon. It was just near the university.
Bumaba na kami atsaka hinintay lumabas si Gian. Mukhang kinausap niya muna ang driver saglit. Nang bumaba siya, he went towards us and was about to say something when Mimi and Faye interrupted him.
"Gian!?" sigaw nilang pareho, mukhang gulat talaga sila. Takang tinignan sila ni Gian.
"How did you know my name? Oh, right. Maybe Bea introduced me to you. Nice to meet you." He extended his hand to offer handshake pero hinila ako nina Mimi palayo imbes na tanggapin nila iyon.
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na nagkikita na pala kayo ni Gian? Ikaw ha! Humaharot ka nang walang pasabi," paunang bigkas ni Faye. Mukhang nagulat din si Mimi.
"Hindi niya pa rin ako kilala. Huwag niyong sasabihin siya ang kababata ko, malalagot kayo sa akin!" I warned them.
"Bakit naman?" bulong ni Mimi na para bang ayaw iparinig ang usapan kay Gian kahit malayo kami sa kaniya.
"Not now." I just said atsaka na sila hinila ulit papalapit kay Gian. Nginitian namin siya na parang walang nangyari.
"By the way, this is Faye and Mimi," pagpapakilala ko. They shook hands after that.
"I'm Gian Troye," he said and smiled. "Let's go inside?" aya niya sa amin atsaka naman ako tumango. Pumasok na kami sa restaurant at pumili ng table na malapit sa glass wall. Gian ordered food and asked us what we like kaya tumingin kami sa menu para pumili.
We just talked about random things. Mabuti na lang at hindi gaanong madaldal ang dalawa pero sila lang ang gumagawa ng topic. Wala kasi akong maisip na sabihin. Gian also asks things about me na sinasagot ko naman.
"So anyways, kamusta sa Canada?" Mimi asked suddenly. Napatigil ako atsaka napatingin sa kaniya. Not her asking the wrong question!
"How did you know that I went to Canada?" biglang natanong ni Gian. Hindi pa naman niya iyon nabanggit sa akin at sa conversation namin.
"I..." Napatingin sa akin si Mimi. I glared at her. "I just assumed because... you sound Canadian!" she said. That didn't made me feel relieved, tho.
"I do? Canadians have accent?" tanong ni Gian.
"Well I have a friend, and he's a Canadian. You sounded like him," palusot ni Mimi and chuckled a little. Gian just nodded and continued eating. That was close!
"Anyways, a few minutes more and we really need to go. Nagtext na si Mama. Pinapauwi na kami," sabi ni Faye atsaka uminom sa kaniyang drink.
"Yeah, right. Parents." sabi naman ni Gian. I just smiled and finished my food. A few more conversations at natapos na rin kaming kumain. I asked how much was the bill but Gian insisted that he will pay instead, kaya hinayaan ko na siya. The two looked happy because of that.
Lumabas na kami atsaka na kanya-kanyang nagpaalam. Kaagad na dumating ang driver nina Mimi kaya kaagad silang nagpaalam. Nagpaalam na kami sa kanila atsaka na sila umalis.
Hindi kaagad umalis si Gian dahil sinabi niyang hihintayin na rin niya ang sundo ko lalo na't gabi na. That's so gentleman of him. I tried to call my personal driver but he isn't responding.
A few minutes later, I received a call from an unknown number. I was hesitating to answer but I did it, baka kasi si Manong iyon at nagpalit lang ng number kaya hindi ko macontact.
[Ma'am, pasensya na po. Nasiraan po kasi ang sasakyan at nalowbat ang phone ko. Nakitawag lang po ako. Mukhang matatagalan po ito, eh. Pasensya na po.]
"Okay lang po, Manong. I'll just book a cab home. Huwag na po kayong mag-alala." I said over the phone. He was worrying about me. I ended the call after I said I was fine and he sounded okay.
"He can't pick you up?" Gian asked.
"Oo, eh. Nasiraan daw ang sasakyan namin. I'll just take a cab—"
"No, I'll just ask Kuya Ben to take you home. I heard it is unsafe to take taxis nowadays. Baka mapano ka pa. Malalim na ang gabi."
"No, it's fine. Nakakahiya naman, you took us here and paid for the food. Tapos ikaw pa ang maghahatid sa akin. I am worried that I'm inconveniencing you already." I told him. Pero hindi naman siya nakinig sa akin and he told me it was alright, kaya sumunod na lang ako sa kaniya.
I told them the address and the directions before going. Kuya Ben, his driver, seems familiar with the place I mentioned kaya hindi na siya masyadong nagtanong. Tahimik lang ako buong biyahe at nakatingin lang sa labas ng sasakyan. Nang tumigil ang sasakyan, napatingin ako sa harapan at napagtantong nakarating na pala kami.
Lumabas si Gian and he opened the car door for me. I felt I was blushing because of that.
"Thank you, Gian."
"No problem. So, you live here?" tanong niya.
"Oo, bakit?" I asked back, getting curious why he suddenly asked that.
"Wala lang," he said and laughed. He's scratching his head again. "Can I have your number?" That made me stop for a while. Kumakabog na naman ang puso ko. God, he's making me crazy. My feelings are developing again?
"Hand me your phone." I said, and he took it out of his pocket. I don't know what are his intentions but I gave my number anyways.
"Thanks. I'm going now," paalam niya atsaka naman ako tumango. I smiled at him bago siya sumakay sa sasakyan. Kumaway ako bago tuluyang makaalis ang sasakyan nila.
Bago ako pumasok, I heard my phone ding kaya ko ito nilabas. I suddenly smiled when I read a text.
From: Unknown Number
It's me, Gian.
We're now friends, right?