He's not here.
I figured after having a thorough look of the area this time.
"Anong sa 'yo, Kila?" napalingon ako kay Tricia. Her body is slightly angled towards me while scanning the food displayed on the canteen's counter.
"The usual," I simply said.
Tumango siya saka sunod na tinanong naman si Clarissa. Humakbang ako ng isang beses nang umusad na ang pila.
It's Monday, and recess. I have considered the fact that I might not run into Mavin here. Pero wala namang mawawala kung magba-baka sakali ako. However, it might be weird if I bump into him here all of a sudden because over the passed months I never once came across him in this particular canteen of the juniors.
"So pumunta ka nga sa parke noong Linggo?"
On guard, I glance over my shoulders to look at Clarice.
"What is it again?" I asked, feeling kind of nervous.
Hindi nila ako tinigilan kaninang umaga nang nadulas sa bibig ko ang pagpunta ko sa trade fair kahapon. It was as if the amount of rants and sneered I got from them wasn't enough. Bakit muli na namang hinalungkat ni Clarissa?
"Hmp, kainis! May pa-surprise-suprise ka pa kasing nalalaman. E 'd ikaw itong na-surprise ngayon?" aniya.
I awkwardly smiled. "Oo nga. I won't do that again next time…"
I only realized it by now that if I haven't come across with Mavin Jaranillo and his friends at that time, I might decided to just go home. And blessing in disguise na rin siguro ang nangyari. At least I got new acquaintances added to my short list of acquaintances.
Speaking of, they are also attending this school. Nasaan kaya sila?
"Mas maganda ang parke sa gabi, Kila." Napukaw ang atensyon ko. "Mamayang gabi pupunta kami ng mga pinsan ko. Coco jam!" si Tricia habang kinakain ang kaniyang banana cue.
Naiwan sa isipan ko ang una niyang sinabi. Suddenly remembering the photo of the park's night view Mavin sent me, a smile curls into my lips unconsciously.
I must agree. A night view is indeed better.
"PNE ha, Tricia! I-video mo ha…" Clarice goes on blabbering instructions to the now inattentive former.
Napailing nalang ako. "A calm before the storm…" I whisper under my breath.
Pagkarating sa classroom ay kinain na namin ang binili naming meryenda. And after the break, the room's atmosphere turns serious again. It's because today marks the start of the examination week. Ramdam na ang pressure. Pero siguradong dodoble pa ito sa examination proper sa susunod na araw.
When we had our afternoon recess, Mavin suddenly pops into my mind again. I need to pay him back for what I owe him yesterday. But I don't know how to…
Masyadong malawak ang school para magkasalubong kami. And I am contemplating whether to just send him a text message or to visit him personally in his classroom. The latter takes too much work… and might even cause malicious rumors so I am crossing out that idea. But…
I overview our text conversation. After my gratitude for his thoughtful deed, there's nothing comes after. I tried to compose a message. Pero ang mga tinipang mensahe ay agad ring nabubura.
"Ha? May ka-text ka ba, Akila?"
Agad kong naitago ang cellphone ko sa pagkagulat sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Clarice. I cleared my throat when she suddenly looked at me suspiciously.
"A-Ah wala, Clarissa. Chine-check ko lang kung ilan pa ang battery ng cellphone ko." Does it even sound plausible?
She hummed in suspicion but didn't say anything more. Nang makita ang hawak niyang plastic bag na naglalaman ng mga biniling pagkain ay inaya ko na siyang bumalik sa classroom.
In the end, I also pushed back the idea of texting him. Magba-baka sakali nalang ulit ako na baka makasalubong siya sa school bukas.
But the next morning, it rained. Dahil dito ay limitado ang mga galaw. Again, I haven't settled what I owe to Mavin. And it's bothering me because I don't like the feeling of being indebted to someone. Hindi ko naman alam na mahirap palang mahagilap ang isang Mavin Jaranillo. Not even a single strand of his hair I have seen for the last two days.
Ngayon, I doubt if I could find the time to seek for him dahil ngayon na unang araw ng first quarter exams. Though I have only three exams to take, the exam schedule of every section varies.
Marahas akong bumuga ng hininga habang binabaybay ang daan pabalik sa junior high school buildings. My exams are already done hours ago but I am being told to stay behind because the SSG had an emergency meeting. Isinama ako ni Julien sa meeting dahil ako daw ang P.R.O. Now it's already three in the afternoon.
Kung ako ang papipiliin, mas gusto kong maging spectator nalang kaysa ang maatangan ng responsibilidad. For the reason that I am not someone good in handling responsibilities.
Wala sa sarili kong nilingon ang dinadaanang open basketball court nang marinig ang hiyawan ng mga naglalaro. Because I'm still at the area of the seniors, I assumed that it's the seniors that were having a game. I'm impressed by how they still manage to play despite the on-going exams. Rinig ko'y mas mahirap daw ang subjects nila.
"Miss, ilag!"
I was confused by what's happening. When I already comprehend what they are trying to say, I saw the ball coming to my direction. It all happened to fast. The next thing I knew, there's someone catching his breathe before me, holding the ball to his side.
"Okay ka lang ba?" hinihingal na tanong ng lalaki.
Humakbang ako ng isang beses upang kumpormahin kung tama ba ang hinala ko. Paghakbang ko papunta sa gilid niya ay sakto namang magbaling ng ulo niya sa akin. I was fazed upon our eyes met. But contrary to my reaction, Mavin seemed to be relieve. A hint of smile is visible to his face.
"I-I should be the one asking that…"
I regained my composure.
"Are you alright? Hinabol mo iyong bola…"
"I'm fine. Just a little out of breathe," he replied with a grin at the end.
Lumibot ang tingin ko sa kabuuan niya. My brows slightly creased as I eyed his clothes. He's still in his uniform, less the polo and leather shoes. Instead, he's just wearing his white undershirt tee and some running shoes. Umangat ang tingin ko sa mukha niya. He's sweaty… The tip of his hair that's reaching his brows were damp.
Inilabas ko sa bulsa ng skirt ko ang dalang panyo at inabot sa kaniya. "It's clean…" ani ko.
Bahagyang umawang ang bibig niya habang ang mga mata niya'y nakatuon pa rin sa akin. "C-Can I really use it?"
I pursed my lips. What's with Mavin today?
"Yeah, you're drenched with sweat…" I pointed out.
"Thanks, Akila." he drawled before taking my handkerchief.
He stare at it for a second before he brought it to his forehead. I shamelessly watch him wipe his sweat. Was Mavin this attractive before? I already know he's really attractive but today he seems to be different.
"Jaranillo! Bola!"
Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa kaniya nang may sumigaw mula sa basketball court. Ramdam ko ang biglang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko nang matanto na pinapanuod pala kami ng mga nasa court. I was so trap in the moment that I even forgot that they are other people here.
"Ah… Saan ka nga papunta, Akila?" tanong sa akin Mavin, binabalewala ang sigaw ng kasama.
I fight the urge to frown. "They are calling you," I pointed out in case he wasn't able to hear it.
He slightly pursed his lips. "They can wait. So, saan nga?"
Umawang ang labi ko. Was he really this unfazed? Those guys are obviously seniors and he won't even bulge? Wow. He's really something, I must say.
"Pauwi na ako. Sige na, bumalik ka na do'n. They are waiting."
If he can ignore those gazes, well I can't. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang mga tingin nila, lalo na iyong tumawag sa pangalan ni Mavin kanina. Hindi ko alam kung mabuti ba na hindi ko klarong kita ang mukha niya.
"Alright." he finally said after some seconds of silence, and him just staring at me.
"Bumalik ka na sa laro niyo..."
He stab the insides of his right cheek and nodded his head. "Ingat ka sa pag-uwi, Akila."
I blinked. "You, too."
Dahil mukhang walang balak gumalaw si Mavin hangga't nanatili ako sa harap niya ay nagpasya na akong tumalikod. But not until I got to wave at him to say my good bye. Nang nakailang hakbang na ako papalayo ay muli siyang tinatawag nong kasama niyang tumawag rin sa kaniya kanina. I decided to look back. Pero likod na niya ang naabutan ko.
"Such a prick. Damn, Josue Valduciel!" I heard him say.
I slightly angled my head. Patalikod na akong humakbang habang inihahatid ng tingin si Mavin. Saka lang ako umikot nang makitang nasa court na siya.
"I guess it's really true when they say that it only appears when no one's seeking…" I muttered.
Pagkarating sa bahay ay agad ko nang sinimulan ang pagre-review sa subjects na ie-exam bukas, with only eating and bathroom breaks as the pause. Sa kalagitnaan ng pagre-review ko sa pangalawang subject ay nawala ang konsentrasyon ko nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.
I mindlessly pick it. Nang mabuksan ay saka ko palang binalingan. Napakurap ako nang makita ang isang 'di inaasahang text message. I tap the notification and it directed me into our conversation.
Mavin Jaranillo:
Thank you for lending me your handkerchief. I'll return it you by tomorrow.
Napasandal ako sa upuan ko pagkabasa ng text niya. Even in text, he use the English language.
I think of a reply. But only got to compose one after some minutes.
Ako:
Aryt. Then I should pay the money I owe to you tom also.
Hindi pa nagtatagal mula nang ibaba ko ang cellphone ko ay tumunog na ito.
Mavin Jaranillo:
You owe me? When?
My mouth gape in disbelief. Noong Linggo lang iyon, don't tell me nakalimutan na niya agad?
Ako:
The one I owe you when we're at the burger resto.
Now, my attention is solely in my phone.
Mavin Jaranillo:
Right, naaalala ko na. You don't have to pay me back. It's fine, really.
I sighed.
Ako:
But I insist. Please?
I hesitated whether to add the last word because I'm not really used in saying it. But when I remembered that Mavin said it so easily and normally, I figured that I might also start normalizing saying 'please'. It doesn't hurt saying please, right?
Nagulat ako nang biglang sunod-sunod ang pagtunog ng cellphone ko.
Mavin Jaranillo:
Akila.
You can't say 'please' easily like that.
Don't ask why. Just… don't. Alright?
I frowned. Why not? Bago pa ako makareply ay may sumunod na ulit.
Mavin Jaranillo:
You can just treat me then.
It took me some time to digest his recommendation. I didn't see anything wrong with it so eventually I agreed. We then talk about the details. At natanto ko na halos hindi magkasundo ang aming schedule. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na mas late pala ng limang minuto ang recess nila kaysa sa amin.
Ako:
I'm only available to eat out during Fridays.
I suggested without further thinking about it.
Mavin Jaranillo:
It's settled then. Friday lunch?
Ako:
Friday lunch.
Kinabukasan ay sa exams ko na ulit ibinigay ang buong atensyon ko. Only when it's our break that I got to rethink the compromise Mavin and I agreed upon to settle my debt. It won't be only the two of us, right?
I felt my phone inside my skirt's pocket vibrated. Inilabas ko ito at nang makita ang ang pangalan ni Tita Emilia sa screen ay agad kong sinagot ang tawag.
"Tita," I greeted.
"Excuse yourself in your class. We're going home…"