"Kelly! Let's go!" I heard my friend, Rhian call me. She was at the door of our classroom.
"Wait! I'm not yet finished!" I said as I encircled the answer of the last item on my test paper.
"Miss Alejandro, please take your time. Don't mind your friend," Sir Herrera, our professor in Auditing Problems said.
"Sorry, Sir! Haha!" Rhian laughed.
I turned my sight around the room. Oh my gosh! I was the only student left. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was already 4:25 PM and our examination would end at 4:30 PM. Good thing I was done already. I wrote my name on top of the first page of my test paper and reviewed it for the last minute. I stood up and passed it to our professor.
He smiled at me and spoke. "Good job, Miss Alejandro."
"Naku, Sir! Huwag muna, we don't know the results yet," I stated, feeling shy.
"Just think positive. It would be fine."
I nodded. "Thank you, Sir."
I took my bag, dropped my pen inside, put my manual calculater back as well. I then went out of the room after I said a good bye to him.
"Ang tagal mo naman. Perfect ka na siguro sa exam na 'yon," Rhian said while we were walking the hallway. We were at the fourth floor by the way.
"As if that would happen, Rhian," I replied. "Never pa nga ako nakakuha ng perfect score sa subject na 'yon. Well, tayong lahat yata."
"You're right," she agreed. "Tara! Bilisan na natin. They're already waiting for us na roon sa baba."
Nagmadali naman kaming bumaba ni Rhian sa stairs. We almost stumbled pa nga noong nasa second floor na kami.
"Hey! What took you two so long? Kanina pa kaya kami naghihintay dito!" Melissa complained nang makarating kami sa baba.
"Sorry," Rhian apologized. "I waited for Kelly pa kasi. Inubos niya talaga 'yong three hours. Haha!"
We all laughed dahil doon. Ako kasi 'yong laging nahuhuli sa tuwing may mga quizzes, tests and examinations kami eh.
"Let's go!" We all shouted in relief. Finally, natapos na rin ang tatlong oras na examination namin sa Auditing Problems ngayong hapon. This morning kasi was two minor subjects. Nakakapagod talaga kahit i-disregard pa 'yong dalawa sa umaga. Sobrang hirap ng Auditing Problems para sa akin. Ewan ko if others felt the same way kagaya ko.
"Manong!" Evva called sa lalaking pinara niya. Siya kasi 'yong laging pumapara ng masasakyan namin. Among the five of us, pinakamahusay 'yan magkipag-negotiate sa mga drivers. "Sa Jacinto Boulevard po kaming lima."
"Sige, tara!" Sabi naman ng driver.
"Pero manong, tig-pitong piso lang po kami. Naubos 'yong pera namin pambayad ng test paper kanina eh. Ang haba kasi ng exam namin at ang mahal ng bayad," palusot ni Evva. May pambayad naman talaga kami. Naawa tuloy ako kay Manong.
"Ayos lang. Sakay na kayo!" As soon as he said that, nag-unahan pa kaming sumakay. Actually, six seats 'yong pwedeng isakay sa cab pero lima lang kami. I was sitting on the front seat, beside me was Evva. Kaharap ko naman si Rhian na katabi si Francine. Melissa was at the backride.
"Thank you, Manong!" We all said in chorus pagkababa namin. We paid him at the normal fare rate. Naawa kasi kami kung tig-pitong piso 'yong ibabayad namin. Ang kuripot namin masyado. Tapos, ang bait pa ni Manong. Nakakakonsensiya! We knew and felt it kasi nakipagdaldalan naman siya sa amin and halata naman. Sana, lahat ng drivers ay katulad niya.
Nilakad namin 'yong papunta sa Mang Inasal. Malapit lang naman sa boulevard 'yon eh. Nagkagulo kasi kami kung saan kami papunta. Jacinto Boulevard was so large kaya. In the end, we agreed na kumain na muna.
"Kuya!" Malanding tawag ni Evva sa isang crew while we were eating. Crush kasi niya 'yon kaya todo ang pagpapansin niya. Natatawa na lang talaga kami sa kaniya but we were just stopping ourselves lang kasi ayaw niyang mabuking. Also, this was one of the reasons why we chose to be here, dahil kay Evva. "Isa pang cup ng rice, please!" Malambing na sabi nito nang makalapit sa amin 'yong gwapong lalaki. I bit my lower lip na talaga kasi parang hahalakhak na talaga ako anytime. Haha!
"Okay, Ma'am," he replied, smiling and gave Evva a cup of rice.
"Thank you, Kuya!" Evva happily said at ngumiti naman 'yong lalaki.
Nagulat ako nang siniko ako ni Francine kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Sis, ask for his name, please. Nahihiyang magtanong 'yong bruha nating kaibigan," she whispered at me and laughed.
I cleared my throat before speaking. "Kuya, what's your name?"
Tila nagulat 'yong crush ni Evva sa tanong ko. We were all looking at him, waiting for his reply. I realized na nakakahiya pala talaga 'yong ginawa ko.
"Zaimon, Ma'am."
"Zaimon?" Melissa added. I guessed she was asking and waiting for his last name.
"Zaimon Reyes po." He then left after telling that to us because another customer was calling him.
"Oh my gosh! Thank you, girls! Mwah!" Evva excitedly said and gave us a flying kiss. We just shook our head in disbelief.
"Grabe ka talaga, Evva. Kami pa talaga pinatanong mo. Pwede namang ikaw. Napahiya tuloy ako," I complained. Never in my life I have asked for a guy's name talaga. Ngayon pa lang.
"Gusto ko pa ng rice. Tawagin mo ulit, Evva," nakangising sabi ni Francine.
"Alright, sis!" Aba! Game na game ang bruha. "Kuya Zaimon!" She called out. "Another cup of rice for my friend, please!"
Lumapit naman ulit si Zaimon at nilagyan 'yong plato ni Evva ng rice.
"Sorry, ha? We're hungry talaga." Si Evva.
"Ayos lang, Ma'am." Ngumiti na naman si Zaimon. Well, gwapo nga talaga.
Pagkaalis ni Zaimon, agad namang kinuha ni Francine 'yong rice sa plato ni Evva. "Para sa akin ang rice pero sa 'yo binigay."
"May gusto siguro siya sa 'kin, sis! Ang pogi talaga niya!" Kinikilig na sambit ng kaibigan naming may crush kay Zaimon.
"Hoy! 'Wag kang assumera, ha? Have you forgotten the famous principle of accounting? Don't assume unless otherwise stated. Okay?" Pagtataray ni Francine pero deadma lang siya. Haha! Bruhang 'to.
"Ah, basta! He definitely fills the GAAP in my heart talaga. OMG!" Kinikilig pa ring sabi ni Evva na hawak-hawak 'yong manok na kinakain niya.
"Wow! Humuhugot ka na ngayon, ha?" I said sarcastically and burst into laughter kaya ginaya na rin nila ako sa pagtawa.
The moment we got out of Mang Inasal, Evva immediately opened her Instagram account and searched for Zaimon's account while the four of us were watching at her phone. We looked like bubuyog here on the street. Haha!
"Ay! Hala! I forgot na wala pala akong load!" Evva uttered. Napasapo na lang kami sa noo namin.
"Bruhang 'to!" Inis na sabi ni Rhian. Nilabas niya 'yong phone niya at binigay kay Evva. Ni-logged in niya 'yong account niya at sinearched ulit.
"Hala, sis! Ang pogi talaga niya, oh! Wala siyang girlfriend! OMG! Sana maging jowa ko 'to!" Kinikilig na sambit niya at hinahampas pa si Francine.
"Aray! Sakalin kita eh! Makahampas ang babaeng 'to!" Si Francine na nagrereklamo.
Ang pogi nga ni Zaimon. Evva followed him agad. Pati 'yong Facebook account ng lalaki, hindi nakaligtas sa kaibigan namin. Haha!
We went to karaoke bar. Nag-inuman pa kami. Sobrang ingay namin. Aba! Dapat lang kaming mag-enjoy, no! Nakaka-stress kaya 'yong exam. Medyo sumakit nga 'yong ulo ko kanina pagkatapos eh.
Nilakad ko lang pauwi 'yong papunta sa apartment ko. Hanggang doon lang ako sa may kanto bumaba. Malapit lang naman kaya keri na 'to. Medyo nahihilo yata ako nang kaunti kaya mas binilisan ko ang paglakad hanggang sa makarating ako. Agad akong sumampa sa kama sa sobrang pagod.
Nakatayo ako ngayon sa tabing-dagat. I was feeling the cold breeze of air. A man approached me.
"Kelly! 'Wag ka masyadong maglasing. Delikado sa daan pauwi."
"Minsan lang naman eh!"
"Kahit na. Paano kung may mangyari sa 'yo? Wala ako kaya umayos ka."
"Wala ka naman lagi eh. I'm always alone after parting with my friends kaya don't act like you're here. You're never here!"
Pagkasabi ko noon ay tumulo ang luha ko. Pinunasan niya 'yong luha ko sa magkabilang pisngi gamit ang mga kamay niya. I was about to touch his one hand pero he suddenly vanished.
"Mister? Nasaan ka? Mister!" I screamed.
Nagising na naman ako mula sa isang panaginip. I dreamt of him again. The man in my dream? I didn't know him nor I see him in person. I had no idea who he was. Palaisipan sa akin mula pagkabata hanggang ngayon kung sino siya, kung bakit lagi ko siyang napapanaginipan.
Minsan nga, natatakot ako. Minsan din, masaya ako. Minsan naman, nalulungkot ako. I felt different emotions. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. I told my friends about it na. My family? Nope. I had no family. I had no mother, father and siblings. 'Yong auntie ko lang ang nagtutustos sa akin since I was young. Nasa ibang bansa si Auntie ngayon.
I didn't know why I had no family. I didn't ask her about it either, about what happened. I had no intention din naman na magtanong. I was just waiting for her to tell me. Kaya rin siguro napaka-loner ko kapag wala 'yong mga kaibigan ko sa tabi ko. Nag-iisa lang ako.
Back to the man in my dream, since I was young, ganoon pa rin 'yong hitsura niya sa panaginip ko. To judge him fairly lang, he almost looked perfect. Charrot!
Ang ganda ng shape ng mukha niya. Fair lang naman ang complexion niya. His hair was black and it was a clean cut. His brows were thick. Mapupungay 'yong mga mata pero medyo kulay green. Hindi siguro siya Filipino. Mahaba rin ang eyelashes niya, matangos ang ilong and kissable lips. His jaw was clear also kaya he looked so manly, dagdagan pa ng Adam's apple niya. Plus, he had his beard perfectly shaved off. Lalaking-lalaki talaga.
He was also tall. Maganda 'yong pangangatawan. Napapaisip nga ako na baka modelo ang lalaking 'yon. To make the description short, ang pogi niya. Siya na yata 'yong pinakagwapong lalaking nakita ko sa buong buhay ko. 'Yon nga lang, sa panaginip ko lang siya nakikita. Isa pa sa nakakadagdag pogi points sa kaniya, 'yong boses niya. Ang manly din.
Napaupo ako bigla mula sa pagkakahiga. "Ba't ko ba naiisip ang lalaking 'yon? As if he exists!"
I was talking to myself na like crazy in the middle of the night. Nagka-crush pa nga ako sa bwisit na 'yon mula noong high school ako. Sino ba naman ang hindi magkakagusto sa kaniya eh nasa kaniya na lahat. Hanggang ngayon, crush ko pa rin siya. Ang bait din kasi niya sa 'kin kahit sa panaginip lang.
I sighed. "Ano kaya ang pangalan niya? Hindi ko man lang natanong sa tuwing napapanaginipan ko siya."
Baka mamaya, ma-in love ako bigla sa kaniya niyan, ha? Gosh! Panaginip lang siya! I screamed. I couldn't get him out of my mind. I couldn't go back to sleep either. Bwisit talaga!
Kinabukasan, I woke up at 9:00 AM. Grabe! What time kaya ako nakatulog ulit kagabi? Agad akong naligo, nag-ayos ng sarili and all. I did the daily routine. I came to school late kaya pinagsabihan na naman ako ni Ma'am Lopez, instructor namin sa Sociology. Late ko kasi nakuha 'yong subject na 'to.
Masyadong boring 'yong topic kaya I decided to continue what I was reading on Wattpad these past few days. It was entitled 'Chasing in the Wild' by '4reuminct'. Kinikilig ako nang sobra kay Sevi my love kaya todo 'yong ngiti ko na halos mapunit na 'yong bibig ko.
"Miss, nakita ka ni Ma'am." I heard my seatmate, Philip whisper kaya I immediately put my phone inside my bag na lang baka palabasin pa ako bigla. May pagkamasungit pa naman si Ma'am Lopez.
"Oh, where is Ma'am Lopez?" I asked him when I saw no one was in front of the class. Nasa huling row kasi kami nakaupo.
"Joke lang. Lumabas si Ma'am kanina. Hehe!"
Agad ko naman siyang hinampas sa braso kaya napaaray siya pero tinawanan lang niya ako.
"Bwisit ka talaga! Naudlot pa 'yong pagbabasa ko," I complained, leaning my back on my chair.
His brows furrowed. "Ano ba kasi 'yang binabasa mo at abot hanggang tainga 'yang ngiti mo?"
"Why? You want to read it, too if sasabihin ko sa 'yo?" I blurted out, raising a brow. I even crossed my arms.
"Oo," he replied. "Gagawin ko rin para sa taong gusto ko. Mukha kasing kikiligin siya 'pag ginawa ko 'yang ginawa ng lalaki riyan sa binabasa mo." He then laughed.
"Wow! I didn't know you were that sweet."
I took the pen he was holding and I wrote the title and author on his notebook that was left open on the arm of his chair.
"Oh, hayan!" I then gave back to him his pen.
"Thank you, Miss." Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. Inaasar lang yata ako dahil mas tumodo pa 'yong ngiti niya kaysa sa 'kin kanina. Mukhang nabo-bored din yata sa subject na pinasukan namin kaya ako ang napagtripan. Ako lang naman kasi ang katabi niya.
I went to the school canteen after my class. Hindi ko pa natapos 'yong binili ko pero nagulat ako nang bigla akong hinila ng dalawang babae palabas.
I didn't know them kaya nagtataka ako. "Wait! Who are you? Where are you taking me?"
"Here she is!" The girl with a mole on her left cheek said. Binitawan na nila ako.
I was now in front of a girl with big eyes. She was an inch taller than me, I guessed? She was also tan but I could conclude immediately na mas maganda ako sa kaniya based on her looks. Charrot!
"What do you want from me?" I asked innocently. Totoo naman, I had no idea why I was dragged in here. I even noticed na namula pala 'yong forearm ko mula sa pagkakahila ng dalawang babae kanina.
He rose a brow. "Wala ka talagang alam, no?"
"That's why I asked." My gosh! Mapapaaway yata ako nang wala sa oras. My friends, where are you? I need your help. Hindi ako marunong sa physical fight. What am I gonna do now?
She smirked. "Nag-away lang naman kami ng boyfriend ko dahil sa 'yo. Alam mo, nakakainis ka talagang bruha ka!" She was now raising her voice kaya more people caught our attention. Nasa open na lugar pa kami ng school kaya mapapansin talaga.
I bit my lower lip. What was she talking about ba? Sino ba ang boyfriend niya? Wala naman akong naaalalang may ka-flirt akong lalaki. Mapapa-guidance pa yata kami nito nang wala sa oras.
I sighed. "Excuse me, Miss. If you fought with your boyfriend, labas na ako roon. I don't even know the two of you. Ano naman ang kinalaman ko sa away niyo? Aber!" Nakapamaywang na ako ngayon. This seemed like a high school quarrel. OMG! So childish. I thought wala ito sa college. Buong college life ko, I had not been into something like this. Ngayon lang.
Nakapamaywang na rin siya ngayon. "Aba! Look! Dahil sa mukha mong 'yan, nili-like palagi ng boyfriend ko ang mga posts mo sa Instagram. May pa-comment pa na ang ganda mo eh mukha ka namang aswang!"
"What?" My jaw almost dropped down doon sa sinabi niya. Ano raw? Mukha akong aswang? Ouch! Sa ganda kong ito?
"Pati mga profile pictures mo sa Facebook, lagi siyang naka-heart react! Kasalanan mo ito eh! Bwisit kang aswang na bruha ka!" Galit pa niyang sabi. What kind of excuse was that ba na nagawa pa niya akong pagtarayan ngayon? Ang nonsense naman ng pag-aawayan namin.
I flipped my hair to the right. "Hindi ko kilala ang boyfriend mo and I did nothing wrong. Is it my fault now that I'm more beautiful than you? Wait, are you even beautiful? Alikabok ka lang yata sa ganda ko." Kung mataray siya, pwes! Mataray din ako. Minsan ko lang nilalabas and now is the time.
"Aba! Sumasagot ka pa, ha?" Bigla na lang niya akong sinugod at sinabunutan kaya medyo naglo-loading 'yong utak ko. I didn't expect this would happen to me. Napaka-childish talaga nito. Eskandalosa pala ang babaeng 'to.
"Aray! Ano ba? Let go of my hair! Ouch!" Nagsisigaw na ako sa sakit ng pagkakasabunot niya. Pilit kong hinahawakan ang buhok ko para hindi niya masabunutan pa nang sobra. Inawat naman siya ng dalawa niyang kaibigan pati na rin ng ibang taong nasa malapit na nakakita sa amin pero hindi pa rin siya bumibitaw.
"Aswang ka! Hindi mo ako madadaan sa pag-e-English mo! Bwisit kang babae ka! Hindi talaga kita tatantanan hangga't hindi kami nagkakabati!" After that, she pushed me kaya tumama 'yong ulo ko sa semento. I felt something pa na may tumulo sa noo ko. Because of the strong force, I felt dizzy. I heard noices and moments later, everything went black. I didn't know what happened next.
"Kelly, are you alright?"
I didn't answer him. I just cried instead.
"Huwag ka ng umiyak. 'Wag kang mag-alala, malapit na tayong magkita. Just keep holding on."
He hugged me and pat my back. I was about to hug him, too but he suddenly vanished.
"Mister? Mister!" I screamed.
"O-ouch!" I uttered when I woke up. Napahawak pa ako sa ulo dahil medyo sumakit. I dreamt of him na naman. Nagulat pa ako when I realized na puro puti ang nakikita ng mga mata ko. "Am in heaven now?"
"Tsk! Heaven ka riyan. Ba't ka ba nakipag-away sa babaeng 'yon?" I heard someone speak sa may right side ko so I turned my sight at him.
"Philip?" I said, surprised. I moved a bit. Tinulungan pa niya akong makaupo nang maayos sa kama. Nasa clinic pala ako ng school. Second time ko na rito ngayon. My first time was when I got hit by a ball two years ago. Nahimatay kasi ako noon.
"Lumabas muna 'yong nurse. Ano ba ang nangyari?" He asked.
Napahawak ako sa may pwet ko. Ang sakit! "Nakakainis! Sino ba kasi ang babaeng 'yon?"
"Nasa guidance room na siya. Marami kasing nakakita sa inyo at nalaman agad ng nakatataas." He sat on the chair na nasa tabi ng kama.
I sighed and told him what had happened.
"Who the hell ba kasi ang boyfriend niya? Naging kasalanan ko pa na nag-away sila." I glared at him.
"Oh, bakit ganiyan ka makatingin sa 'kin? Hindi ako ang boyfriend ng babaeng 'yon!" He defended himself.
"Sigurado?" Matigas kong sabi, assuring he was not the boyfriend.
"Oo."
"Okay."
"Ikaw lang naman ang gusto ko," mahinang sabi niya.
Hindi ko naman narinig kaya tinanong ko. "What did you say?"
"Wala. Ang sabi ko, ang ganda mo kasi kaya nag-away ang magjowang 'yon dahil sa 'yo." Ginulo naman niya ang buhok ko pagkasabi niya noon. He smiled.
"You're right!" I agreed, showing my thumb to him. I smiled, too. Natahimik kami bigla. "Ahm, you want an ice cream? My treat," pagyaya ko sa kaniya, breaking the silence. I was now playing with my hands.
"Sige!" He said cheerfully at nauna pang tumayo kaysa sa 'kin.
We went out of the clinic na. Nagpunta kami sa ice cream shop malapit sa school.
"Were you the one who brought me to the clinic?" I asked out of the blue. He just nodded.
"Thank you," I said, gratefully while sarap na sarap siya sa pagsubo ng ice cream.
"Saan?"
"For helping me kanina." I was talking about him bringing me to the clinic. It was a kind gesture and big deal sa akin 'yon since only a few people cared for me. "Just think of this as showing my gratitude."
"Ah, wala 'yon." He smiled kaya I smiled at him, too. Doon, may napansin ako sa kaniya.
"Ang gwapo mo pala." Nagulat ako bigla sa sinabi ko and it seemed like ganoon din siya dahil natigilan siya sa pagkain ng ice cream at napatingin sa akin.
I bit my lower lip and looked away. I thought I said it with my mind. Lumabas pala talaga sa bibig ko.
I heard him chuckle. "May gusto ka na sa 'kin niyan?"
Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya sa narinig ko. I raised a brow. "What?"
He just shook his head as if he said nothing. Todo ngiti pa ang mokong. Sus! Pa-cute!
"Ahm, Miss," he called. I pointed myself, making sure if he was referring to me. He nodded and handed me his phone. "Pwede bang hingin ang number mo? Hehe!" Napahawak pa siya sa batok niya at parang nahihiya. Haha! Ang cute!
He was a good man naman kaya inabot ko 'yong phone niya. I typed my phone number and saved it as 'Pretty Kelly'. I gave it back to him. He just chuckled when he read my name.
Nabusog ako sa ice cream na kinain namin ni Philip kaya I decided not to have a lunch na lang.
Malapit na 'yong subject namin na Auditing Problems kaya pumasok na ako sa room namin. Napagod pa ako sa pag-akyat. Bakit ba kasi nasa fourth floor ang room basta accounting subjects?
"Sis, napano 'yan?" Francine asked, pointing the bandage on my forehead.
"You didn't know?" Tumango naman si Francine sa tanong ni Melissa. "Our friend is so pretty. That's why she got into a fight. Nag-away daw kasi 'yong magjowa kaya hayan! Sinugod ng babae si Kelly."
"Wow! Ikaw na talaga, sis!" Hinampas pa ako ni Rhian.
"Baliw! Nagkasugat na nga ako," inis na sambit ko.
"Pero may chismis ako. Yiiee!" Kinikilig na si Melissa. Ano na naman ang nakalap na balita ng bruhang 'to?
"Sus! Hindi na naman 'yan totoo," natatawang sabi ni Evva. Yeah, madalas kasi sa mga chismis ni Melissa, puro walang katotohanan.
"It's true kaya! Nakita ko kanina kahit malayo." Si Melissa.
"Sige nga. What is it ba?" Evva asked.
"Binuhat si Kelly ng gwapong lalaki kanina papunta sa clinic and I heard na Business Administration 'yong course ng lalaki! Anak pala 'yon ng may-ari ng isa sa mga huge companies dito sa atin!" Melissa said in a fastest way at tumili pagkatapos. I was startled about her chismis.
"Uy! Ayiiee!" They were teasing me na at sinundot pa ako sa tagiliran kaya pilit kong inalis ang mga kamay nila.
"My Knight in Shining Armor ka na, sis!" Si Evva na nababaliw.
"Tigilan niyo nga ako!" Naiinis na sabi ko.
They just stopped when the bell rang and our professor went inside na.
I saw my classmates' faces turned into sadness when they got their test papers our professor was giving. Masaya naman 'yong iba. Nakapasa siguro sila.
"Miss Bernabe, Miss Diaz, Miss Diego, Miss Magbanua and Miss Alejandro." Si Sir Herrera while giving out the test papers to us.
Napatingin kaming lahat sa klase kay Evva nang bigla siyang umiyak. Sinundan pa ni Melissa.
"Hoy! Napano kayo?" Francine asked them.
"73 kami!" They answered. Kinabahan naman kaming tatlo ni Rhian at Francine. We didn't take a look at our rating pa kasi.
"Oh my gosh! I passed!" Francine said happily.
I heard Rhian naman na nag-sigh sa tabi ko. I guessed she failed, too. Dahan-dahan ko namang tiningnan 'yong akin.
"74," I whispered.