//Mr. Grade 10//ricemealx//
"Nandito na ba lahat?"
Tanong ko nang makitang onti palang kami, hindi ko naman kasi kabisado kung ilan ba kaming magkakaklase noon nung highschool.
"Excited na ako, Sayang lang dahil nasa ibang bansa ang iba at hindi natin sila makakasama," Nalulungkot na sabi ni Monica.
"That's actually great, may mga di ako kaclose nuong high school."
Saad ko at inayos na ang mga pagkain na handa. Nirentahan namin ang buong second floor ng isang restaurant at nagrent din kami ng videoke.
I glanced at the rain pouring heavy in the outside. Naalala ko pa noon, takot na takot ako sa ulan dahil sa trauma ko.
"Hindi kaclose or ayaw lang talaga makita yung isa," Pangasar ni Lila.
"Talk about him and swear hindi ko na ko na kayo papa-utangin." Banta ko.
Inayos na namin ang mga upuan at kanta, nagsisidatingan na ang iba pero malakas parin ang buhos ng ulan.
"Makakapunta pa ba sila Tiff? Ang lakas ng ulan," Nagaalala kong sulyap kay Tiffany na siyang inaayos ang lightings.
"Krizelle half of our batch owns a million of peso and dollars, for sure may mga kotse yan girl,"
Maya maya pa, nagsidatingan na silang lahat at nagsimula na kaming kumain at mag enjoy.
"I can't believe you're now a successful psychiatrist Krizelle, parang dati lang ikaw ata ang pasyente," Tawa ni Nathalie na naka akbay sa boyfriend niya.
Some are dancing and singing like they're owning a concert, some are emo na nanatili lang sa sulok dahil break daw sila ng jowa nila, nilapitan ko din naman sila dahil baka kailangan nila ng advice,
"Naalala niyo pa ba yung contest noon? Tapos nagparty party tayo nung nanalo si.." Naputol sa pagkekwento si Cess nang tignan siya ng lahat, #awkwardAF, "..si Mr. Grade ten haha,"
Tumawa na ang iba, nakitawa nalang din ako. Reminiscing the past is really interesting and it's fun, I even feel nostalgic sometimes.
Then suddenly all of us went quiet, lahat sila nakatingin sa likod ko which is nandoon ang main door, sumenyas si Denice na tumingin ako sa likod ko.
I looked at my back just to see that person. I don't want to call his name, let's just call him Mr. Grade ten.
Magkahawak kamay silang naglakad ni Dulce papunta sa lamesa. Agad nagbatian ang lahat at nagingay, pero ang nag agaw ng tingin ko ay ang baby bump ni Dulce.
It felt like a big dagger is buried in my heart. It just hurts, imagine I'm a psychiatrist but I don't know how to manage and settle my feeling about him.
"Look what we've got here, hey Mr. And Ms. Grade ten! Or shall we say, Mister and Misis?" Bench joked, I even had to lower my head to avoid the gaze of my friends. I know they're thinking about my feelings,
Umupo na sila at sakto na nasa harap ko sila, napatingin ako sa mga mata niya.
Hindi padin nagbabago ang mala tsokolate niyang mata.
I smiled with that thought. How nostalgic,
"Truth or dare?!"
Hindi ko namalayan na nasa akin na nakatapat ang bote. Lasing na kaming lahat at malamang may tama nadin ako,
"Truth!" I proudly answered.
"Okay! Krizelle Nogapez why are you such a masochist?"
It strucked at me, the question itself. All of us went silent, not until that guy breaks it, "Bakit? Anong meron at masohista siya?" Mr. Grade ten asked, probably confused.
"Maya na tanong! Krizelle! Why did you chose not to be remembered by him eh kung pwede namang gawan nalang ng ibang paraan?-" Tinakpan ni Lila ang bibig ni Bench.
I bit my lips, I'm in the urge of crying. But I shouldn't,
"Hey ang daya wala akong alam-"
"Shut up Mr. Grade ten!" Tiffany shouted at him. Rome was left, confused. Inalo naman siya ni Dulce.
I composed myself before answering, "As a psychiatrist, it's a must. I need to put aside the feelings and act professional. It's for the good-"
"Walang mabuti Krizelle! Why do you need to be the one who's sacrificing? Bawal bang sabay nalang kayo?" Sabat ni Kenneth.
"Stop please, nandito ang girlfriend niya." Umiling ako at inayos ang bag ko. I want to go home, I feel so sick.
Paalis na ako ng building nang may humablot sa kamay ko. I looked and it was him.
"Alam kong ako ang pinaguusapan niyo, tell me ano ang totoo? Fuck the therapy sabihin mo ang totoo?!"
Instead of answering, I ran towards the parking lot. Basa na ako ng ulan kaya nilubos ko na, sumunod padin siya.
"Krizelle, tell me the truth! Aside from being your treated patient and batch classmate what are we?!"
I closed my eyes, this is too much to bear.
This is for your sake.
"Krizelle.."
I love you, that's why I did this.
"Doc naman sumagot ka!"
I opened my eyes, in my shock he's already crying.
You helped me before, so I did help you now.
"Krizelle.." he held my hands.
Why did you save me when you can't save yourself?
"Doctora! Sumagot ka.." He was pleading.
It was a simple deal, you'll help me find myself, back to normal. But why did I end up being the one who finds you?
"I love you," That's all I can say. "You're my Mr. Grade ten." I left him.