"Ano ang mga tourist spots niyo doon?" tanong ni Clarissa sa pagitan ng pagkain.
My eyes moves to her from the iPad. "I'm not sure..." I trace the last word and continue reading the reviewer notes I made weeks ago.
"But this really taste great. What is it called again?"
She's referring to the delicacy I brought from our province.
"Royal bibingka," I answered without looking at her.
Although I still have the hang up of the long drive, I figured that I must have my exams on the remaining subjects I wasn't able to take last week, today. Ngayon kung saan ang pagta-tally sa mga test item scores lang ang gagawin buong maghapon.
"Saan ka pupunta? Magte-test ka na?" puna ni Tricia nang makitang inilalagay ko na sa bag ang mga nakalabas na gamit.
Nilingon ko siya saka tumango. "Nasa faculty nila si Mrs. Arzabal, 'di ba?"
She nodded. "Hindi naman umaalis ng faculty nila iyon. Syempre free air con..."
I hope all of our subject teachers are stuck on their respective faculties. Nagpaalam na ako sa mga kaibigan at binaybay ang daan papunta sa MAPEH faculty. I have to take at least five tests today. This might make me the worst great grandchild around, but I reviewed my notes every now and then during the wake. That's why I am this confident on taking the tests.
Beaten, I took the vacant seat across my friends. Katatapos ko lang sa pangatlong test. It supposed to be an hour and a half but I managed to finish it in half an hour. Hindi dahil madali ang exam, kung hindi ay oras na para sa lunch break. I thought Clarice and Tricia might be hungry already. Although it's Monday, I ought to eat here at school for that reason.
"Anong subject nalang ang hindi mo pa na-take?" tanong ni Clarissa habang naglalagay ng kutsara at tinidor sa plato ko. Nasa karinderya na kami na suki nilang dalawa.
"Just A.P and Math..." Nagpasalamat ako sa staff nang inihatid na niya ang sabaw sa mesa namin.
Tinikman ko ito. They soup taste good even though it's almost clear.
"Focus more on math. May idinagdag si Ma'am na topic na 'di pa ata niya nai-discuss," si Tricia pagkatapos sumubo.
"What topic?"
She look upwards; her mannerism everytime she try to remember something.
"Quadratic functions?"
Agad na kumunot ang noo ko. That lesson was not until the module two... which supposed to be pag-aaralan palang namin for the second quarter. Why did our teacher added that topic on the exam?
Iniba ko ang pagkakaupo. "Ilang items?"
Sinulyapan ni Tricia si Clarice. Siguro upang humingi ng tulong.
"Lima ata. Hindi ko sure..." sagot naman ng huli.
Imbes na kumain ay iyon ang inaalala ko. I am not really that good in math. But among the three of us, I have the higher grade in that particular subject. I asked them how they got to answer those test items, but I am left bewildered when they said they just input something to make it appear they had answers.
Natulala ako sa mga naka-display na pagkain sa counter. Katatapos ko lang mag-test sa A.P, math nalang ang kailangan kong i-take. But that's the reason why I am spacing out. I tried to study the quadratic functions after we're done eating, my friends also tried to help, but to no avail, we just made ourselves more confused that ever. It sucks to be not-so-good in math.
"Miss, oh," agad na gumalaw ang paa ko at lumapit sa may counter.
Inabot ko ang milkshake at tinanong ang presyo nito. The lady said the amount and I got the exact amount in my wallet. Pagkaabot ng pera ay bigla kong naalala si Mavin. Oo nga pala... My debt wasn't settled yet.
Somehow, Mavin hasn't come to my mind until now. Masyado akong na-busy kaya siguro ay ganoon. I wonder how he's doing. Pagkatapos ko kasing mag-'good night' kagabi ay wala na siyang paramdam.
"Akila." My head abruptly turned.
"Oh... Eula," I muttered upon recognizing her.
Lumipat ang mata ko sa dalawang kasama niya. The girl with dye-made brown locks look at me curiously, while the other one with black bob is busily scanning the food displayed at the canteen's counter. I'm on my way to the exit habang sila naman ay kakapasok lang ng canteen.
"Good to see you again," she grins. "Pabalik ka na sa classroom niyo?"
I reciprocated the smile. "Uh, yeah..."
Bukas ko nalang siguro ite-take ang test sa math. I'm not that confident that I would able to answer the questions correctly. Lalo pa at may mga items pa na hindi ko alam kung paano i-solve.
"Ano 'yan?"
I was baffled when the girl with bob said those words while looking at me. I mean, is she pertaining to me?
"Ako?" hindi ko siguradong saad.
The girl look confused for a moment. "May iba pa ba dito bukod sa 'yo at kaming tatlo?"
Napakurap ako matapos ang ilang segundong pagtitig sa kaniya. That girl... I don't like her tone.
"Gia!" Eula turned to me, looking apologetic.
"Pagpasensyahaan mo na, Akila. But please don't take the wrong idea. Medyo harsh lang talaga siyang magsalita... Uh, ito pala ang mga kaibigan ko... Si Giovanna," she pointed the girl with bob. "...at Kassidy," and the girl with brown locks.
It took me a second to make a movement. I nodded and, "Akila," I simply stated.
I glance at my wristwatch. "Mauuna na ko. Nice... to meet you... Uh, see you around?"
It's only Eula that responded. She nodded, her expression says she's concern. "See you around, Akila."
Gumalaw na ang mga paa ko paalis doon. Nang makalayo ay saka ko palang pinakawalan ang pinipigilang hininga. I didn't realize that I am holding my breathe. Itinaas ko ng bahagya ang milkshake. Nang makitang bahagya nang natunaw ang ice nito ay muli na naman akong napabuntong-hininga.
It's not really my nature to waste money but because I'm suddenly in a sour mood, I feel like to just throw this thing away. Agad kong nilapitan ang unang namataang basurahan. I don't know why I am extra sensitive today. Is it almost my monthly period?
"Itatapon mo lang 'yan?" gulat kong binalingan ang nagsalita.
Umawang ang labi ko at agad na inalala ang pangalan niya. "Uno?" hindi ko siguradong saad.
Napangisi muna siya bago umalis sa pagkakaupo sa isang concrete bench sa gilid ng covered pathway at nilapitan ako. "Mukhang hindi mo pa nagagalaw, ah. Itatapon mo na? ... Let me have this one then. I'm thirsty."
Bago pa ako makaapila ay nakuha niya ito sa kamay ko. He was about to sip on the straw but he suddenly halted. "Can I?"
I slightly tilted my head. "Fine," not that I have a choice. But at least he asked for my permission.
"Thanks," he muttered before finally sipping on the drink. "Oreo?" his brows creased.
I turned on my heels and started to walk away. Sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakita ko siyang sumunod sa akin.
"Nasaan si Siggy?" tanong ko nang maalala.
"Probably in the classroom..." he mumbled.
He's friends are also speaking the language naturally. I mean it's no surprise for me that they speak the English language in casual conversations. But I find it strange... I observed that here in school, it wasn't a common thing. Ang mga kaibigan ko nga e naoobliga lamang magsalita ng lenggwaheng iyon dahil sa akin.
"Ano nga pala ang section mo?" nilingon ko siya.
Natigilan siya sa pag-inom sa milkshake at tinignan ako na para bang na-offend siya sa sinabi ko.
"Totoo pala talaga ang sabi-sabi..."
My brows creased. "Anong sabi-sabi?"
Natawa naman siya at napailing- iling bago muling sumipsip sa iniinom. "That Akila Tresvalles doesn't know anyone except her classmates."
Napaawang ang labi ko.
"Hey! That's not true..." Geez. That's offending.
I heard him smirk but he didn't say anything afterwards. We're silent until we reached the hallway that would lead us to my classroom.
"9-03," I glance over my shoulder. "That's our section. I mean, me and Siggy... We're in the same class."
Napatitig ako sa kaniya. But then my eyes move passed by him. My eyes caught the familiar pair of orbs. He's standing few meters away. He's looking at us. His body slightly angled to our direction; one hand in his pocket and the other holding his phone.
"I guess it's time for my exit..." Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Uno. I couldn't make up his words properly because I am kind of lost when I met those orbs. I look at him questioningly, pero ngumiti lang siya at umiling.
"Thanks for the free drink, Akila..." aniya bago ako lampasan.
Sinundan ko ng tingin ang pag-alis niya. Nang maramdaman na may nakatayo sa harap ko ay ibinaling ko ang ulo dito.
"What's up?" he greeted with a small smile.
Napalunok ako nang matantong napatitig ako sa mukha niya ng ilang segundo. He got a haircut!
"Er, fine," was all I could manage to come up with.
"Ikaw? You got a haircut..." I pointed out.
I didn't notice it last night on the photo he sent. Well that's because his hair is messy and the half of his face is buried on the pillow. And... hmm, also because I was too stunned to saw a sleepy Mavin Jaranillo.
His other hand touched his hair. "Had it last Saturday."
"Ah," I nodded and look at the other way. "Hmm nga pala, I already took the tests..." I brought my eyes back to him.
I caught his brows creased for a moment. Nang nakitang nakatingin na ako ay napakurap siya at bahagyang tinagilid ang ulo.
"Then are you done with your tests?" he moisten his lips after. Dahil doon ay mas lalo itong pumula.
Napatitig ako sa labi niya. But I snap myself out of it when I realized it. Umangat ang tingin ko. I choose to just look at his forehead.
"There's one more left to take, math. I am yet to take that one... Or perhaps tomorrow."
Now, his brows furrowed this time. "Why?" he asked and glanced at his wristwatch, this time it wasn't a leather-strapped. "You still got time... Pero kung sabagay, you already had numerous tests."
Napangiti ako ng wala sa sarili. He answered his own question. I turned on my heels, my side facing him, and stretched my arms downward. I don't know why Mavin's presence comforts and bothers me at the same time.
"Actually there's a topic included in the test that I don't know how to solve... Maybe pag-aaralan ko muna bago i-take ang test," nilingon ko siya at bahagyang ngumisi.
Unti-unti nga lang nalusaw ang ngisi ko nang makita ang seryoso niyang ekspresyon habang nakatingin sa akin.
"What topic?" he asked, seemingly thinking about something.
"Something about quadratic functions..."
A beat. "Do you need some help?"
Napakurap ako. "W-What?"
He adjusted his stance and licked his lips before speaking. "I had learned that particular topic so I think I could help you with that one..."
Umawang ang labi ko. "S-Seryoso ka ba?"
What is it? Mavin Jaranillo is good in math?
Wait--Come to think of it, that time, when we accidentally met at the library, he's holding a math book... Does it mean he's really being serious with helping me with math?
"Well I know a thing or two in math... So probably I can help you, Akila."