Dennis…
“It’s very quiet.”, I told myself feeling indisposed while sitting in my cubicle.
Despite the overwhelming conversation of professors in the faculty room, I felt like I was drowning with silence. My table was piled up with activity sheets from my students that I didn’t know when I could finish checking. I didn’t understand why I felt so late in my syllabus despite being always on the rush with my lessons. And on top of it all, I felt like I was not accomplishing anything even if I met all the deadlines.
Sam hasn't bugged me in my cubicle for a while. Acquaintance party was fast approaching and everyone was getting busy. Even the Senior High School department was very busy. They were practicing a lot these past few days.
My class president, Valdez, informed me that they already think of an original presentation we could show at the party. I haven’t seen them practicing yet but I was confident that they will do great. Infact, I was planning to attend their practice this afternoon to watch.
Valdez told me about this covered court they were practicing for weeks now. He said they wanted to surprise the school on what they will present so they wanted everything to be a secret. And they were practicing after class at around six in the afternoon when it’s almost dark. I was intrigued about this presentation so I told Valdez that I was coming this afternoon.
“Zero text messages.”, I told myself wearily looking at my phone.
I was feeling uneasy. I haven’t felt my phone vibrating for days now. I didn’t text much. In fact, if Sam wouldn’t text me, my phone would be stuck inside my pocket for the whole day. I only use it for listening to music while I’m on a jeepney or when I'm walking.
My phone only became active when I exchanged numbers with “kulit”. There was no day that passed that I didn’t receive a message from him. Day and night. It’s peculiar that the past few days, “kulit” was very quiet. Before, he overflowed my inbox with his messages. But recently, nothing.
“Has something happened to that guy?”,
Few days ago, I replied to his text messages because I wanted to make sure if he didn’t know me at all. I was worried about his random message last time. I thought he was in the hallway too and looking at me from a distance. But because of our exchange of messages, I ascertained that he was not there.
“What am I thinking, did I really think that he was here too in the University?”
Kulit and I exchanged text messages that night and after that, I didn’t return the messages anymore. It was better that way. Stop what has to be stopped. I didn’t want to be involved in a situation that would get me in trouble. Good thing that after several unreplied messages, Kulit stopped texting me. Maybe he got tired of not receiving texts from me anymore and realized that it was best to stop.
But why did it feel like I was waiting for him to text me again. Seriously, his random messages were nonsense. I did know what was going on in this guy’s life. But funny as it may sound, I was waiting for his random texts. Not that I wanted to exchange texts with him again. It just woke me up from dull days like today. Sometimes, I found myself smiling when I read his messages. He never failed to ask if I already ate something which reminded me what time it was. Because most of the time, my work load consumed my lunch breaks. I could say, I missed his “take care” when I was about to leave.
Those messages meant nothing to anybody who did know him at all. But to me, it somehow served as stress relievers when I was. Truly, you would look for something when it suddenly gets lost. Even for a little. Even if it's a simple text message.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened my inbox. I looked for Kulit’s messages and started re-reading them again. There were plenty. A long list actually. It was a series of messages dated since last summer vacation and ended just two weeks ago. I wanted to reply to any of it. Even just a simple “hi” or “how’s it going” maybe. But I thought, why should I? I was thinking he might have lost interest in texting me because I felt that I had stopped it with what I texted that night.
But there I was, thinking of communicating with him. Again.
I was playing with my phone on the table when it suddenly vibrated. I was surprised that I almost slipped it on my hands. Luckily, I didn’t
“Sam is calling.”, I read on the screen. “Hey Sam. Where are you? Aren’t we eating lunch together? I’m hungry.”, I said.
“Oh boy. Den, that’s why I’m calling.”, Sam started talking. Though I already knew what he was about to say even though he hadn't finished it yet. “Still tied up here at practice with my student. They were working hard. I couldn’t leave.”
“Is that right. Okay then. I guess I’m eating alone again.”, I replied. “Just make sure you really are focusing on the practice and not with some student.”, I teased.
“Haha, you’re such a moron Den.”
I hung up the phone with Sam. I always eat with him. He made our lunch time worth eating all the time. I looked at the clock and since Sam was not joining me for lunch, I somehow lost my appetite for eating. I stood up from my cubicle and grabbed my mug to get coffee instead.
I was only a few paces away from my table when I heard my phone vibrate again. I rushed back to my cubicle and grabbed my phone. I was a little excited looking at who texted. My brows crossed when I saw an unknown number on it.
“Who is this now?”, I whispered to myself.
I opened the message and I immediately recognized whose the message was from. Not that I knew who exactly the message was from but who else would have a message “what’s up? Are you free tonight?”, would come from. The same old booty text.
I deleted the message as fast as I opened it. Grabbed my coffee mug again and went to the water dispenser to get hot water.
***
It was four in the afternoon already and Sam hadn’t gotten back yet. He was really taking their practice seriously. It seemed like I was leaving alone again. But it was okay since I told Valdez that I would be watching their practice later at the village court.
With a heavy shoulder, I packed my bag, closed my drawer and headed off the faculty room. I stopped by my classroom for a second to check if no one was still there. In just a minute, I reached the third floor by taking the stairs. From a distance, I saw Jefferson and Howard come out of the classroom. They were very happy, laughing at each other, like the last time I caught them in the corridor. They were walking towards my direction but they didn’t notice me. They kept on laughing at each other. It seemed like they were going to the practice as well judging by the gym bags they were carrying.
“Good afternoon sir Toledo.”, Howard greeted me when he saw me coming. Jefferson was looking in the opposite direction that’s why he didn’t notice me.
“Good afternoon sir.”, Jefferson greeted shyly. He couldn’t look me straight in the eyes.
I nodded at the two in response. “Are there any more students in our room?”, I asked.
“Not anymore sir. We already locked the room.”, Howard replied.
Both were standing still in front of me. Perhaps waiting for me to turn back and walk away.
“Sir, are you going to our practice too?”, Howard asked.
“Yes I am.”, I replied.
“We are going there now sir. Do you know where the court is?”, Howard said.
It suddenly struck me that I didn’t know where the court was. I just told Valdez that I was coming to watch their practice. I knew where the subdivision was but not the court they were practicing in.
“Not exactly. But I knew where the subdivision was. I guess I’ll just ask anyone when I get there.”, I said calmly. Not letting them notice.
“Sir, do you want to come with us instead?”, Howard invited.
I was a little surprised with Howard’s invitation. I had been noticing how alive this guy was in most of his classes. He may not recite in my class most of the time but I was told that he was very cooperative in group works, based on his other instructor’s feedback. Howard was very alive especially when he was with Jefferson.
“Yeah sir, come with us instead.”, Jefferson seconded Howard. “But sir, we are just walking to get there. Is that okay with you?”
“We are going to walk to get there?”, I clarified what he said.