Nakarinig muna ako ng kaluskos at tahimik na pagtikhim bago tuluyang narinig ang boses niya.
"Whom did you hear it?" It was low, almost silent and calm... as always been.
The truth is I'm surprised to hear the calmness in his voice. Na para bang inaasahan na niya itong mangyari. Did he though?
I cleared my throat silently and turn my rolling chair to face the window of my room. Bagaman hindi na kasing lala ng kanina ang nararamdamang kaba ay nanginginig pa rin ng bahagya ang mga kamay ko. This time for a different reason. Right now my mind is screaming, "I am phone calling a boy in the middle of the night!" Because it's been ages since the last time.
"My friends," I drawled. "They even told me that the whole school knows about it... and it's just that they don't talk about it because it's a 'common knowledge'." I didn't like the way I said it. Para akong batang nagsusumbong.
At nang marinig ang mababang paghalakhak niya sa kabilang linya ay nakumpirma kong ganoon nga ang labas ng pagkakasabi ko noon. I bite my lower lip as I feel my cheeks getting hotter by a second.
"I'm not sure, Akila," his voice has a hint of smile. "Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not... I don't really mind though. For me, I'm just my name. Without any attachments to my grandfather or any of my family."
Sa sinabi niya'y natahimik ako.
For Mavin to say that, it only means that he wasn't tied by his family's name. He was only himself... just Mavin. Not a grandson of the former governor. Not a member of the Jaranillo clan.
And it's refreshing. I mean it's my first time meeting someone who already have a sense of individuality at a young age. But on the other hand, I can't help not to feel bad for myself. I'm the opposite. I don't know who I am without being a Mazariegos or a Tresvalles. A teen without a dream and sense of individuality; what's more worse than that?
"Well, I d-didn't know..." I whispered, feeling suddenly inferior. I don't really know what to say to him right now.
"Now you know..." I heard a shift on the other line. "Did it change a thing on how you perceive me, Akila? I hope there's not..."
Kumunot ang noo ko. Did I?
"Nagulat lang ako sa kaalamang iyon, Mavin," page-explain ko sa sarili. "So what if you're the grandson of the most loved and respected governor of this province? You are still you for me." You're still Mavin, my friend.
I heard him smirk. "That's good then. Anymore, Akila? Baka alam mo na rin ang dahilan ng paglipat ko ng eskwelahan. Did you also hear me punching my classmate that happens to be the senator's son?"
Napakurap-kurap ako. Did I actually hear him say he punched his classmate who's a son of a senator?
"What the heck, Mavin Jaranillo?" I blurted without thinking. Bigla namang natahimik ang kabilang linya. But it didn't stop me. "So that's the reason why you transferred in our school? Because you punched the senator's son?"
I have known Mavin Jaranillo as someone who's composed and calm. I didn't take him for a violent person that's why it's too shocking for me. And also, partly it's because the kid is a senator's son. Senator! Not just a governor or a congressman.
"So as a solution, pinalipat ka nalang ng school?" dagdag ko nang hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita.
Silence.
"...No," he cleared his throat. "It's not it, Akila. It's my choice to transfer school. Not as a penalty for punching that... that bastard's face."
I bit my lower lip and reach for my scrunchie and played with it. Why do I feel like I should say something about me in return...
"Have you heard of Killian Tresvalles, Mavin?" I said after a moment of deliberation.
A beat. "I think I heard his name from somewhere... Just a second. Lemme just google him--"
"He's my father," putol ko sa kaniya.
"...Come again, Akila?" I smiled to myself when I heard the confusion in his voice.
"Architect Killian Tresvalles, he's my father. Meanwhile... my mother's in Rome. She's a chef. The reason why I move here two years ago was because they decided to go on separate ways. So right now, my guardian is my aunt, Emilia Concepcion. She's a supervisor in RS--"
"Akila, did I make you feel the need to tell me this things 'bout you?" he sounds serious. He sounds serious!
Itinikom ko ang bibig. Hindi ako nagsalita. Flustered that Mavin pointed out what I exactly felt a moment ago.
"Actually, I'm glad that you told me those things about you. But on the other hand, I don't mind if I you didn't tell me those... I prefer it more if you tell me your favorite food, or your favorite movie. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable now that we're getting closer. Are we clear here, Akila?"
Napanguso ako. "Ilang taon ka na?"
The other line gone silent for a second. But a second later, Mavin cracks a low, soft laugh.
"Seriously, Akila Tresvalles? I'm giving my sentiments here..." he said with a hint of smile.
It brought a smile to my lips. "Well I'm curious. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay ang tanda-tanda mo na. Seriously. Come on, tell me..."
He hummed. "Sixteen."
Napakurap ako. "Did you start late or something?"
"Yeah," he breathe. "Got held back because we stayed for a year abroad when Lolo entered politics. Magulo noon at talamak ang pagpapatumba sa mga karibal sa posisyon."
Nabahala ako bigla sa kaalamang iyon. "Pero ngayon wala namang mga threat sa buhay niyo o sa former governor? Do you have bodyguards guarding you around?"
He hummed in suspicion, a hint of smile is obvious. "Getting curious now, aren't we?" he teased.
Pinamulahan ako. "Pumasok lang sa isipan ko!" pagdepensa ko sa sarili.
Pumailanlang ang halakhak niya. "To answer your question, no. I don't have a bodyguard following me around, Akila. So ease your mind. No one secretly watched us if that's what bothering you."
"Hey! I haven't thought about that. Baka ikaw?"
"Oh yeah? Maybe it's me who's bothered by it," he playfully said.
I sneered. Nag-usap pa kami ng ilang sandali bago binaba ang tawag. When I put my phone back on the desk, I caught myself smiling at the faint reflection of myself at the window. Hindi ko pa man tuluyang naibababa ang cellphone ko ay tumunog na ito. A new text message coming from him.
Mavin:
Hangout tomorrow after class?
I shifted on my seat.
Ako:
Can't tom. What about Friday?
Mavin:
Friday it is.
And so it happened. Sa buong linggo ay hindi ako tinigilan ng mga kaibigan tungkol kay Mavin. Some of my classmates even dared to ask me about him. Sinasagot ko naman sila, vague nga lang. It wasn't like there's something goin on between us except being... friends.
Mula sa pag-aaral sa pattern ng ceiling ng shop ay napabaling ang tingin ko sa cellphone ko nang tumunog ito.
Mavin:
I came with some people. Gusto ka daw makilala e. Is it alright?
Napatitig ako rito. Nauna na kasi ako sa mall dahil sumabay ako sa mga kaibigan na papunta rin dito dahil dito ang sa sakayan nila. Dahil napagkasunduan na magko-coffee shop kami ngayon ni Mavin ay dumiretso na ako sa shop. I'm already seated in a table for two.
Ako:
Of course
Pagkasend noon ay kinuha ko ang bag sa kaharap na upuan. Bitbit ito ay nag-ikot ako sa shop upang maghanap ng pang-maramihang table. Luckily I found one at a corner with a mural wall, a table for four. Hindi gaanong marami ang customer ngayon kay maraming bakanteng tables. Pagkapwesto isa sa mga table ay sakto namang pagtunog ng cellphone ko.
Mavin:
We're here.
"Akila?" lumipat ang tingin ko sa nagsalita.
Nagtaka ako nang makita si Eula sa harapan ko na ngiting-ngiti. Sa likod niya ay ang dalawang kaibigan. Kimi akong nginitian ni--I can't remember her name--noong kulay brown ang mahaba at salon-straight na kaibigan niya... at ni Giovanna? Yeah, I think that's the name of her friend with a bob black hair.
"Hi. What a coincidence meeting..." nabitin sa ere ang sinasabi ko nang makita ang pagliko ni Mavin papunta sa kinaroroonan ko. Patingin-tingin siya sa paligid, kunot ang noo. Pero nang sa wakas ay mapatingin sa direksyon ko ay biglang umaliwalas ang mukha niya. But he haven't seen me yet. "...you here," pagtatapos ko sa sinasabi.
My brows slightly crease as I wait for Mavin to come near... us. I figured it's either Eula or her friends that Mavin has spotted when one of his hand drape over Eula's shoulder upon reaching us.
"Hindi niyo ako hinintay," aniya sa kaniya o sa kanila.
"Ang bagal mo kasi. Ang haba-haba ng biyas pero kakupad maglakad!"
Hindi ko matanggal ang mata ko sa kanilang dalawa. What is this I'm seeing? Mavin Jaranillo and Eulace Mariano...? Sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan ay nakaramdam ako bigla ng estrangherong pakiramdam. I have never felt this way so I'm not sure what to exactly call it. All I know is it's an ugly feeling.
Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at nagkunwari nalang tinitignan ang mga cake sa glass display cabinets. Earlier, I reserved the last two slices of blueberry cake, thinking that it will be just the two of us. Now I'm thinking if I did the right thing...
"Hi," a figure suddenly block my line of vision. It's Mavin... with his eyes smiling.
Tipid akong ngumiti kasabay ng pagtuwid ko ng pag-upo. "Hi..."
Lips pressed together, the corner of his lips lifts. Umayos siya ng tayo at mula sa pagtingin sa akin ay lumipat ang tingin niya kina Eula.
"Hmm, I'm not sure if I would still introduce you to each other because you already told me that you know each other but..." he glance at me to Eula. "It's her."
Naguluhan ako sa huling sinabi ni Mavin. Anong 'ako'? Nagtaka rin ako nang umangat ang isang gilid ng labi ng Eula kasabay ng pagtaas ng isang kilay niya pagkasabi noon ng huli. They gave each other a look. It was almost like they talked through their eyes. Pero si Mavin ang unang nagbitaw ng tingin.
He looked at me and tip his head off to Eula. "Here are my friends, Akila. Eula, Gia, and Kassidy. We are all in the same class."
Friends, he says. Humugot muna ako ng malalim na hininga bago tumayo mula sa kinauupuan, making me tower the three girls. It's fascinating how they all seem to be on the same height.
"Akila Fiorella Tresvalles," I extended my arms to them.
Kapwa naman napakurap-kurap ang tatlo. Nasaksihan ko pa ang paglapit noong dalawa kay Eula. Gia and Kassidy--Gia is the one with the bob and Kassidy the one with long brown hair, if I get it right--looked at me as if I said something... intimidating. Because the reaction of their faces seems like it.
"He-he. Eulace Christine Mariano," at tinanggap ni Eula ang kamay ko.
"Giovanna Ella Perez..."
"Kassidy Janessa Dominguez..."
Bahagyang tumagilid ang ulo ko sa pagtataka. What's up with them?
Napunta ang mata ko kay Mavin. Lumabi naman siya at nagkibit-balikat. Tila sinasabi na hindi niya rin alam. Mayamaya ay iniba na ni Mavin ang usapan. He asked me if I already ordered something. Sinabi ko naman na nagpa-reserve lang ako ng cake. After that, he asked me, then Eula, then Giovanna or Gia, and lastly, Kassidy what would our drinks be.
"Teka Mavin, naandito na daw sila. Hintayin nalang muna natin," mahinhing saad ni Kassidy.
I look at Mavin questioningly. Ibinuka niya ang bibig para siguro'y sagutin ang katanungan ko. Pero nang mamataan ko ang isang pamilyar na kulot na buhok kasunod ang lalaking naka-army cut na may malamig na tingin ay tila nasagot na ang katanungan ko.
"Nagtanong kasi sila kung nasaan kami. Hindi ko naman alam na nandito rin pala sila sa mall. Okay lang ba, Mavin? A-Akila?" dagdag niya.
Napakurap ako.