Love Moves

*one

Jake’s POV:

“Uy Jake! Jake, si AJ, nakikipag-away!” ang nambulabog sa akin nung lunch time na.

“HA!?” I asked. “San!?”

“Dun sa may library!” sabi ni Sam.

“Tsk. Naman o…” I muttered and stood up, sprinting out of my seat towards the door to go outside.

Jake to the rescue! Okay. My name is Jane Mikela Yumul. Pero ayoko yung Jane, kasi common. Ayoko yung Mikela, kasi masyadong pambabae. I told everyone to call me Jake. Panlalaki man, unique naman para sa isang babae. A combination of Jane and Mikela. Call me weird, but I like it that way.

I was panting already when I reached the library. Crowded na yung place. Mahirap nang sumiksik.

Mga echosera. Kaasar.

“M-makikiraan lang ho…” I said.

Wala eh.

“Makikiraan lang ho!” sabi ko.

Siniko pa ko nung tao, kaya muntikan na kong mahulog. Bwiset to ah. Sino ka bas a buhay ni AJ ah!? Tae.

Ba’t naman kasi ang liit-liit ko eh!?

Kaasar.

“EXCUSE ME!” sigaw ko.

Kaso walang namamansin sa akin.

Bwiset naman o.

“EXCUSE ME KUNDI TATAWAGIN KO SI MA’AM REYES!” I shouted.

Tumigil lahat ng tao. Silence filled the air as they all looked at me. Go ahead, look at the KJ. Narinig lang si Ma’am Reyes, yung guidance counselor namin, natahimik na.

I made my way through the crowd and saw them.

AJ is panting, looking tired, but still angry. I looked at the other person. Sino ba namang aawayin ni AJ? Oh shoot. It’s Ethan.

“AJ, ano ka ba naman!?” I said. I looked at Ethan. “I’m sorry. I’m really, really, really sorry about this.”

Tinitigan lang ako ni Ethan.

“Look,” I said. “Can… c-can we talk this out? Umm, sorry talaga!”

I dragged AJ away from there.

“Ano ka ba naman, AJ!? Ba’t ka biglang nakipag-away!?” I scolded him.

Me konting pasa siya sa mukha. Hala. Mahirap itago to sa mga teachers. Maliit lang naman yung pasa. Nothing too obvious for the meantime. Pag nagblack na, dun pa lang siya magiging dehado.

“Ang adik mo talaga!” I said.

“Kasalanan naman nung bwiset na yun ah!”

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko.

“Ewan ko sa’yo! Dapat hindi mo na lang pinapatulan…” I said.

We’ve known each other since we were in Nursery School. Noon pa kami bangayan ng bangayan. As in walang katapusang pagtatalo. Pero ewan ko ba sa mga tao. Pag napapahamak siya, ako yung tinatawag, eh ang dami namang willing na mag-alaga sa mokong na ‘to. I mean, we’re not friends. Far from that, actually. Lagi nga niya kong inaasar eh.

“Alanga namang hayaan ko yun!?” sabi niya.

I groaned. “Kasi naman! NAMAN! Fourth year na tayo, ganyan ka pa rin! Ayus-ayusin mo na kasi yang buhay mo! Pano pag nalaman pa ng teachers na napaaway ka!? Eh di suspended ka na nga ng one week, another major offense, tapos hindi ka pa magmamarch sa graduation. Gusto mo yun!?”

“Eh ano naman ba sa’yo!?” he snapped at me.

“Wala! Pero iniisip ko lang po kasi yung kapakanan ng mga unggoy ngayon. Endangered na kasi species niyo,” sabi ko.

“Tinatawag mo kong unggoy ngayon, ah!?” sabi niya.

“Ay hinde, hinde! Tinatawag kitang fairy, grabe.” Ba’t naman fairy pumasok sa utak ko? Haha. Ewan. Weird mo talaga, Jake.

“Tss,” sabi niya. “Di mo pa kasi aminin na concerned ka.”

Oh syett. Di pa ba kasi obvious yon, no? BULAG. “As if,” pambabara ko.

“Oh eh di hindi ka pala concerned. Ba’t ka pumunta-punta? Eh di sana dumudugo na ilong ni Marquez ngayon!”

Arrgh. “Eh di sana hindi ka na nakasama sa graduation!” I shouted back.

“Tss. Matatanggap ko naman yung diploma ko either way. Isa pa, why does it matter to you, ha?” tanong daw niya.

ERR. Sarap ding batukan, ano?

“It doesn’t. Yung problema nga lang, ako palagi yung pinipilit tawagan kapag nasasabak ka sa gulo. Every time na lang. Tulad nung grade 2, kasi napaihi ka sa shorts mo, ako yung tinawag nung mga kasama mo. Nung grade 6, nung nagclosing party tayo tapos muntikan ka ng malunod, ako pa rin yung tinawag. Nung 1^st year, nung natamaan ka ng basketball habang may laban kayo, sinong kumaladkad sa’yo galing sa court hanggang sa Faculty Office, ha!?”

Napakamot siya sa ulo. “Naman, pati yung mga kabalbalan ko nung 19 copung-copung pa, nauungkat na ngayon.”

“Talaga lang. Matalas ata memory ko.”

Nakabalik na kami ng classroom.

“Ewan ko sa’yo! Diyan ka lang ah.” Tapos nilapitan ko si Francine, yung pinakaflirt sa klase.

“Frans, pwedeng peram nung concealer mo?” I asked her.

“Oh, sure. Bakit?” sabi niya, habang kinakalkal yung bag niya.

“Ah, alam mo naman. Napaaway na naman si AJ.”

She smiled as she handed it to me. “Here.”

I grinned. “Salamat.”

She may be a flirt, pero hindi siya biatch.

“O. Amina, patingin ng mukha mong panget,” I said.

He rolled his eyes. “Ako? Panget? Manigurado ka muna ah. Kasi akala ko ikaw yung panget dito.”

ARGH. I pressed his bruise. HARD.

“ARAY!” Napangiwi siya. “Naman o! Be a little more careful!”

Inirapan ko siya. Then, in an obviously fake voice, I said, “Sorry, hindi ko SINASADYA.”

He glared at me.

Umupo ako sa harapan niya. Tapos, unconsciously namang napapalapit yung mga mukha namin kasi I wanted to take a better look at the bruise.

With my index finger, I started to put some concealer on his bruise. Dahan-dahan lang, baka magreklamo si Mr. Sungit eh. Fortunately, natago nga yung bugbog niya. Hindi na mapapansin ng mga teachers yan.

“Pwede na yan,” I murmured.

Then our eyes met. Ang lapit ng mukha namin, SHUCKS. I looked away kaagad. Tapos nagback off na ko. “Ibabalik ko na to,” I said, talking  about the concealer.

I gave it back to Francine.

“Thank you ah.”

“No problem,” she said.

Umupo na ko sa upuan ko, na katabi ng upuan ni AJ. He was looking at me, so I looked at him. “A-ano!?” I snapped. Sungit, no?

“Salamat,” sabi lang niya, then humarap na siya sa mga kabarkada niya.

Pinigilan kong mapangiti.

Ethan’s POV:

“Look,” the girl said. “Can… c-can we talk this out? Umm, sorry talaga!”

She walked away, kinakaladkad si Cruz. Who was that girl again? Napakunot na lang noo ko. Ang weird niya. Everyone tries to stay away from me at all costs, pero that girl…

She actually said that she’ll talk to me sometime later.

Tss. Probably, she won’t keep her word.

AJ’s POV:

She carefully dabbed the concealer on my cheek. Ang lapit ng mukha niya, di niya pansin, busy eh. Tinititigan ko lang naman yung mukha niya. Jake’s actually pretty. Pero hindi ganun ang tingin ko sa kanya, if you’re wondering.

Pero kung ganon, why is my heart beating faster than usual as I stared at her?

Oh fvck.

‘Tol, imagination mo lang yan.

Tama.

It’s just my imagination.

Jake’s POV:

“Umm… Francine!” sabi ko. “Pwedeng hiramin ulit yung concealer?”

“Ha? Bakit?”

“Ah, basta,” sabi ko.

“O sige.”

Binigay na niya yung concealer sakin. Lalabas na dapat ako ng classroom, pero may pumigil sa kin.

“Hoy, san ka pupunta?”

Napatingin ako. TSSS. Si AJ lang pala. “Wala,” sabi ko.

“Anong wala? Eh lumalabas ka eh.”

“O, eh di pumupunta ako sa labas. Common sense,” I muttered before going out of the classroom.

Kung di ako nagkakamali, Section B si Ethan. Kelangan ko ring matakpan yung mga pasa niya sa mukha. Baka pag may nakapansin na may pasa siya, sabihin niya na nakipag-away sa kanya si AJ. Eh di bukin na rin yung kabalbalan ni AJ?

Kabilang room lang yung Section B, kaya obviously, paglabas ko, nandito na ko sa room nila.

Sumilip ako sa loob. Napatingin si Riza sa kin. Ngayong year lang na to ko siya hindi naging kaklase, kaya magkakilala kami. “O. Sinong hinahanap mo?” she asked me.

“Umm, pwede kay Ethan Marquez?” I asked.

She looked shocked. Pero agad siyang bumawi, “W-wala dito sa room eh.”

“Oh. Sige, salamat na lang.”

Naghanap-hanap muna ako sa kung saan-saan.

PAGOD NA KOOO. Arrgh. Teka, siya ba yun!? Siguro yun na nga! Nilapitan ko, sabay kalbit. He turned around.

Siya nga.

“Hey!” sabi ko.

He looked at me weirdly.

“Tara,” sabi ko, tapos hinila ko siya papuntang Sci Park. Umupo kami dun sa isa sa mga sheds.

“Ano bang problema mo?” sabi niya sa akin.

“Teka lang naman. Saglit lang to,” sabi ko.

“Aalis na ko,” sabi niya, sabay tayo.

Hinila ko siya paupo. “SAGLIT NGA LANG EH.”

“Ano ba!?” sabi niya.

“Sshh,” sabi ko. “Ingay mo.” Tapos I examined his face. Buti naman it’s nothing serious. Nilagyan ko ng concealer.

“H-hey! Makeup ba yan!?” He slapped my hand away.

“Aaargh. Saglit nga lang eh!” I said, tapos I resumed. “Para matago yung mga pasa mo.”

“Ano naman ba sa’yo ah?”

“Ah basta. Ang kulit mo naman eh.”

Ethan’s POV:

Definitely, this girl is weird.

Why is she talking to me so casually? Parang hindi siya bothered na ako si Ethan Marquez. Pwede bang hindi niya ko kilala? Imposible.

“Hindi ka ba nandidiri sa kin? Natatakot? Naiilang?” I asked her.

She gave me a weird look. “Bakit naman?”

Okay, she doesn’t know me… or at least she doesn’t know about my brother.

She sighed. “Kung sa tingin mo hindi ko alam ang tungkol kay Kuya Edriel, alam ko yun.”

I was shocked. Kung alam niya ang tungkol kay Kuya, bakit parang hindi siya naiilang sa akin?

“I just don’t see any reason for me to treat you like all the other people do,” I said.

“You’re not bothered about me being his little brother?” I asked.

“Hindi,” she answered.

I scoffed. “Imposible.”

“Posible. See? Eh di sana hindi kita kinakausap ngayon,” she said.

Hinawi ko yung kamay niya. “Wag mo kong lalapitan. Kahit kalian,” I said.

Her brows furrowed. “Bakit naman? Nung ginawa ko sa’yo?”

“Ayoko eh.”

It’s for your own good.

*two

Jake’s POV:

“Alis ka nga sa dinadaanan ko!” I yelled at AJ.

“Ayoko. Pwede namang dun ka sa kabila dumaan o!” sabi naman niya.

TSS.

Kasi naman, magtatapon lang ako ng basura, pinapansin pa nitong apog na to. Isipin mo, nung nakita niya kong tumayo, talagang lumipat siya ng pwesto tapos hinarang niya yung paa niya sa dadaanan ko. Sinong hindi maiinis dun?

“Sige. Eh di sa kabila,” sabi ko. Tapos umikot na lang ako.

Free time kasi namin ngayon. Palibhasa eh may meeting yung mga teachers at yung officers ng student body tungkol sa upcoming Prom. Lahat tuloy ng mga classrooms, maingay.

Nakapagtapon na ko, so hindi ko na pinansin si AJ.

“Huy, Jake,” puna sa’kin Priscilla.

“O?” I asked her.

“Wala pang nagtanong sa’yo for prom?” she asked me.

Napasulyap ako kay AJ, na kausap naman yung tropa niya, then I looked back at Prishe. “Wala pa eh.”

“Siya lang naman hinihintay mong magtanong sa’yo dib a?” she asked me.

I sighed. “Sino pa ba?” sabi ko naman.

I’m weird. I know that much already. Palagi akong inaasar ni AJ, kaya ewan. Naging crush ko siya. But I never admitted that to anybody except my friends. They know I like him. Pero kapag si AJ na yung kaharap ko, I can’t help but feel like a warfreak. Inaaway ako, e di awayin ko rin, diba? Hindi naman pwedeng hayaan ko na lang siya. Pero yun nga lang, I guess kaya pinaptulan ko pa rin yung mga pang-aasar niya eh dahil wala naman kaming ibang relasyon. No fights, no communication.

I guess somehow, I’ve always wished my life would turn out like those Koreanovelas, where the girl and the guy always fights, yet miraculously ends up together. Pero may ibang outcome siguro yung story namin, kasi sa mga Koreanovela, they both hate each other. Eh ako, crush ko siya eh.

“Why not ask him yourself?” tanong ni Prishe.

“Ano ka ba? May pride din ako, ‘no.”

She sighed. “Best, ito lang sasabihin ko sa’yo. This is the last time. Last time. You might as well swallow your pride. Fourth year na tayo, and last prom natin to. Make it special.”

I sighed.

-

Lunch time na kaya nasa labas kami nina Prishe, Gail, Karyl, Karoll (kambal and dalawang yan) at Elaine. As usual, dito kami sa Canteen kumakain. Wala kasing nagbabaon sa amin except yung kambal, pero the  rest of us, bumibili lang. Nakikisama pa rin sila sa amin kahit na yung mga baon nila ang kinakain nila.

“So, do you guys really think I should ask AJ out for Prom?” I asked them.

“Definitely,” sabi ni Prishe.

“Pero…” sabi naman ni Karyl.

“Yung problema nga lang, baka ireject ka niya…” tuloy ni Karoll.

“Or kung hindi ka man niya agad ireject, pagtawanan ka,” sabi naman ni Gail.

“Or pwede ring tanungin ka niya kung bakit,” hirit pa ni Elaine. “And you’ll be forced to tell him you liked him ever since.”

“GUYS. You’re only discouraging her,” saway ni Prishe. “Look,” sabi niya sa akin. “Di ba mas maganda na yung nalaman niya, kesa naman sa mag-ga-graduate tayo nang hindi man niya alam ang tungkol sa nararamdaman mo?”

“Right,” sabi naman ni Elaine. “You see, it’s better kung alam niya.”

“Kahit na he might reject you or something, it’s way better than not taking the chance.”

I sighed. “So… ang dami niyong dinakdak. Anong final answer?” sabi ko. Pero sa totoo lang, natouch ako sa mga insights nila. Talagang gusto akong tulungan.

“Jake, you should ask him,” they said.

I smiled. “Sige.”

After naming kumain, hinanap ko na kaagad si AJ.

Actually, pinipilit kong next time na lang, pero pinilit nila ako na ngayon na. Baka daw maunahan pa ko.

Successfully, nahanap ko naman siya dun sa Sci Park. Yun nga lang, kasama niya yung tropa niya.

Pwede na siguro.

Lumapit na ko. Pero nanginginig tuhod ko. Nung nakalapit na ko dun sa shed nila, napatingala sila.

“Pare, si Jake o,” sabi ni Lauren. “Hala ka dude, ambush!”

Ngek.

Akala nila makikipag-away ako.

“Anong kelangan mo?” sabi ni AJ.

I raised my fingers, nakapeace sign pa ko. “Umm, peace?” I offered.

Natawa buong barkada. Silang lima, pinagtatawanan ako.

“Lagot bro,” sabi ni Simcel. “Nag-o-offer ng peace. Trap yan!”

I shook my head. “Hindi! Sincere to,” sabi ko.

AJ raised his eyebrows. “Peace?” He scoffed. “Peace mo mukha mo.”

Laglag panga ako. What the hell did he just say!? Arrghh. “Look, seryoso ako—“

“Hey AJ!”

Napatigil ako and I looked behind me.

Ah lojon. Third year to ah, tapos wala man lang kuya yung tawag kay AJ? Ayos rin no.

“Yes. I’d definitely go with you!” sabi nung girl… what was her name again? Lianne?

Napangiti si AJ. As in infatuated na ngiti. And then realization struck me.

Oh shit. I shouldn’t have come!

“Great!” sabi ni AJ. Pag-alis ni Lianne, kinantyawan yung mokong ng mga kabarkada niya.

“Success, ‘tol!” sabi ni Greg.

“Ganda naman ng date mo sa prom,” sumingit ako. Nakalimutan na nilang nandito rin ako eh. “Yung Miss Intrams natin ang tinanong mo?” sabi ko pa.

AJ nodded. “Obvious na siguro yon, no? And hey, she said yes!” Nakipag-apir siya with Simcel. “Ba’t ka nga pala nandito?”

I bit my lower lip. Patay. I can’t possibly say I was supposedly asking him to prom right? Napasulyap ako sa mga ibang estudyante sa Sci Park, then my gaze fell on Ethan.

“Magpapa-alam lang sana ako,” sabi ko, balik atensyon sa kanila. “Sa Prom night, wag mo naman akong aasarin ah? Baka umuwi kang may black-eye eh.” LAGOT. Anong pinagsasasabi ko?

“Okay ka lang? Lalabanan mo ko ngayon? Makikipagsuntukan ka sa prom sa akin?” he asked me.

I shook my head. Lagot na talaga. Pero kesa naman sa pati pride ko mawala, eh nawala na nga yung dream date ko eh.

“Hindi. Yung date ko, baka hindi makapagpigil,” I said.

“May date ka? Someone asked you out?” AJ asked me sa tonong hindi makapaniwala.

I glared at him. “Eh pano kung sabihin kong meron ngang nagyaya sa akin!?” asik ko.

Natawa siya. “Yeah right. Sino namang bulag ang gagawa nung mortal sin na yun?”

Gago ka. “Si Ethan Marquez,” I replied. “He asked me out.”

Oh boy.

This won’t be good.

*three

Jake’s POV:

“Guess what?” sabi ni Prishe.

“Ano?”

“Tss. Guess what nga e,” sabi niya, pouting.

“Hmmm… Joseph asked you to go to prom with him? And you said no.”

Laglag panga siya. “How did you know!?”

WHOA. Now I didn’t see that coming. I was joking around, waiting for her to say “Eww” pero instead, this is what I get. I was actually right?

“Umm, l-lucky guess?” I said.

She sighed. “Oh right! How did it go with AJ kahapon?”

“Err, not good. He turned me down.”

“WHAT!?”

“No! Actually, hindi ko man siya natanong eh… I was about to, but then tumiming ng maayos si Lianne.”

“Lianne?”

“Yung Miss Intrams natin?”

“Yung third year?”

I nodded. “Yun nga. It turns out AJ asked her out…”

“Aww…” sabi ni Prishe. “Ayus lang yan. Not all students have dates.”

I groaned. “Sinong nagsabing wala akong date?” I asked her.

She raised her eyebrows. “Meron kang date?”

I nodded. “You’ll never guess who,” I muttered.

“Hmm… sino nga bang pinaka-unexpected…? Si Kent?”

“Eww,” I said. “Hindi no. Isip ka pa. Yung pinaka-unexpected talaga…”

“Hmmm… wala akong maisip eh.”

“Si Ethan. Ethan Marquez.”

She raised her eyebrows. “What!?”

I smiled. “But it will be worth it. Trust me.”

-

Sa Sci Park. Dito kami kakain today. Hawak-hawak namin mga plato namin, kaso lahat ng sheds may laman eh. Well… except yung isa. May tao, pero hindi puno. As in, isang tao lang talaga yung nandon. I squinted my eyes. Sino kaya yun? Ba’t walang nakikishare?

Ahh. “Tara, dun tayo,” I said.

“O sige. Uyiieee. Si Ethan yun no?” sabi ni Prishe.

“Anong meron kay Ethan?” tanong ni Karyl.

“Oh, he’s my date to prom,” I answered just as we got near the shed. Umupo na ko. “HEY ETHAN!”

He looked shocked. Tumingala siya. He saw Prishe and the rest. Tapos lalo pa siyang nashock nang umupo sila.

“Hey there! I’m Priscilla! Prishe na lang itawag mo.”

“Karyl.”

“Karoll! H-hi!”

“Hehe. Ako naman si Elaine.”

“Gail! Musta?”

Haha. Makakapal yan. Yes, they all know about Kuya Edriel, pero they don’t mind. As in, they’re actually happy na makakausap na daw nila si Ethan. Gwapo daw kasi (Elaine) kaso nakakatakot lapitan (Karyl). Haha. Tapos buti na lang daw siya date ko (Prishe), tapos cool pa daw siya (Gail). Pero yung isa naman, hindi ilang, nahihiya lang daw (Karoll).

“Uhh, anung ginagawa niyo rito?” he asked us. He was glaring at me like OUCH.

“Duh. Walang ibang upuan. Di mo naman binili tong shed no?” sabi ko. “The more the merrier! You look lonely eh.”

He shook his head. “There’s no way I’m staying here.”

Saktong dumaan sina AJ.

“Hahaha! Ang cool mo, no!” sagip ni Prishe. “Nakakatakot ka nga lang kausapin kasi you’re always alone! Pero really! You’re cool. We’re glad you asked our friend to be your date.”

AJ’s POV:

Nasamid ako sa iniinom kong Coke Sakto.

Ewan. Ayaw lang ng pandinig ko ang sinabi ni Priscilla.

“Pare, you’re dead. You’re going to be gay!” sabi ni Joseph. “Turns out he actually asked her out.”

I clenched my fist. “Hindi siguro,” I said. “Unless they go to prom together, I honestly won’t believe that he’s taking her.

Pero parang mas ayaw kong paniwalaan na she agreed.

Kasi may something na ewan akong nararamdaman.

Baka naman kasi may gu—NO. I just hate Marquez, that’s all.

Buong lunch time, nakatitig lang ako sa shed nila. Hindi naman ako kakain today e. Coke Sakto nga lang lunch ko o. Noon, pinaparinggan ako ni Jake every time nagsosoft drinks ako kahit hindi pa kumakain. She always goes: “Uy! Prishe, di ba hindi kumakain yung mga nagda-diet? Siguro yung iba diyan tatlo-tatlo yung bilbil kaya hindi kumakain, no?”

Tapos bibili naman ako ng lunch ko.

Right now, I waited for her to say those things. Hindi naman niya sinabi.

E di wag kumain.

“Ba’t di ka kumakain?”

That’s Jake’s voice. Napatingin ako sa kanya. Tinatanong ba niya ko? Did she notice me?

Nge.

Tss. Si Ethan pala kinakausap.

BANAS.

Ethan’s POV:

Nashock talaga ako nung umupo sila kasama ako. I mean, sino ba naman ang uupo with Ethan Marquez? Tapos, they’re talking so casually to me.

Parang weird lang.

“Ba’t di ka kumakain?” tanong bigla ni Jane Mikela Yumul sa’kin. Makulit ako, kaya ayoko siyang tawaging Jake. Ang layo sa pangalan niya e.

“Ayoko e,” sagot ko naman. “Paki mo ba?”

Bigla niyang binigay sa akin yung tinidor niya, and then she pushed her plate towards me. “Kain ka. Share tayo.”

I looked at her, then at the food. “H-hindi ako kumakain ng pakbet.” Hindi daw, e favorite ko nga ‘yan eh.

“So? E di ngayon kumain ka na,” pagkasabi niya’y agad siyang sumubo. “Try mo. Favorite ko yan no.”

Napailing ako, tapos I handed the fork back to her. “Ayoko ‘yan. May laway mo na e.”

“Naman e. Laway ko lang. Hindi naman ata toxic laway ko. Baka nga lalo pang sumarap o.”

I stood up. “Kakain na. Sige, bibili lang ako.”

“H-huy! Babalik ka, right? As  in hindi mo kami tatakasan?”

I didn’t answer her.

Sa totoo lang, ni hindi nga pumasok sa utak ko na takasan ko sila. Kung sanang hindi niya sinabi…

E di hindi ko sana ginawa.

-

Jake’s POV:

“Umm, si Ethan?” Hinanap ko siya sa room niya. Dismissal na e. Kaso wala nang ibang tao sa room nila kundi yung mga cleaners.

“Kelan pa tayo naging close para hanapin mo ko sa classroom ko?” I heard a voice from behind me.

I turned around, and there he was.

I smiled at him. “Kumain ka na?”

He looked shocked. Parang nabigla siya na yun lang ang tanong ko.

Dinugtungan ko, kasi parang hindi niya gets. “Sabi mo bumili ka tapos kumain. Kumain ka ba?”

He nodded. “Oo. Kung yun lang, pwede ka nang umalis.”

I smiled. “Ge ah.”

Paalis na ko ng biglang—

“AY TANGA. Hindi kita nakita e. Sorry. Liit kasi…”

Si AJ.

“Pulutin mo yung mga books ko! Kita mo!? Nilaglag mo e!”

AJ rolled his eyes. “Ba’t ko pupulutin e sa’yo ‘yan.”

“Naman e! Hindi na nga kita ginulo buong araw, tapos ganyan ka pa rin? Loko-loko ka talaga. ERR.” Pinulot ko na yung books ko, kaso bigla kong nakita si Ethan. “O, pano ba, Ethan? Tara na?”

I approached Ethan, and I gave him my best puppy-dog eyes look. Hindi naman nakikita ni AJ kasi nakatalikod ako.

Buti naman Ethan played along. He just nodded. Then we walked together on the corridor.

“So you like that guy?” sabi niya bigla.

I was shocked. “H-huh?”

“Well that explains a lot.” Nagpatiuna siya ng lakad.

I half-ran to catch up with him. “H-hey, anong ibig mong sabihin?”

Nakalabas na kami ng gate nun. Hinarap niya ko. “Kaya ka lang naman lumapit sa akin kasi alam mong ako ang pinakahate na tao ni Cruz, di ba? You pretended not to be bothered by my presence para mairita si AJ. Yun lang naman yung rason mo dib a?”

Napakunot-noo ako. “H-ha?”

“Look. Sige. Pupunta ako sa prom as your date. Pero till then, wag mo kong lalapitan.”

He walked away.

Ano daw!?

Praning pala yun e! I ran to him. “Hoy! HOY!”

He stopped and looked back at me.

“Baliw ka ba, ha!? Anong nilalapit-lapitan lang kita dahil hate ka ni AJ? Paki ko ba dun!?”

“E sa dami ba naman ng tao, ba’t ako!?” he asked me.

“E ikaw yung unang pumasok sa utak ko e! Kahit ako, hindi ko alam kung bakit ikaw, basta kabud lang. Tapos ikaw gumawa-gawa ka ng sariling rason!?”

“Ang ayus-ayos na kasi ng buhay ko, lalapit-lapit ka pa!”

“Panong naging maayos yun!?” singhal ko. Wala e. Warfreak mode. “You sit alone at lunch. You never participate in anything. No one talks to you. Saan yung maayos dun!?”

“It was peaceful!”

“It was living like you’re not alive at all!” I retorted.

“Well kesa naman sa nagkakagusto ako sa isang taong may crush dun sa pinakaayaw na tao ko!”

*four

Jake’s POV:

Napatigil ako.

Natigilian din siya sa sinabi niya.

Tapos lumunok siya, and then he turned around. “U-UMUWI KA NA!” he yelled.

Weird naman niya. “Huy!”

He didn’t stop. Naman e.

“Huy! Galit ka ba?” I asked.

Hindi siya sumagot. Tumakbo pa rin ako para habulin siya. Hindi ko alam bakit, pero ganyan talaga ako. Kung may problema, syempre hanapan dapat ng solusyon.

“Huy.” Kinalbit ko siya.

He shrugged me off. “Ewan ko sa’yo.”

I groaned and then held his arm. “Makinig ka kasi!”

He stopped tapos hinarap na niya ko. “Ano!?” singhal niya.

Galit ba talaga siya? “Gusto ko lang naman linawin sa’yo e. Totoong kaya kita nilapitan e dahil kay AJ. Pero hindi totoo na hindi sincere and paglapit ko sa’yo. Kung ano ang nakita mo, that was real. Talagang nakikipagkaibigan ako-”

“Di ba sabi ko hindi naman tayo magkaibigan!?” asik pa rin niya.

“LOOK,” I pressed, sounding angry. Nagtitimpi na lang kasi talaga ako. “Kahit anong sabihin mo, it doesn’t change the fact na nagpapakatotoo ako sa’yo. Gets?”

“Oo na, oo na.” He sounded irritated. “Alis ka na!”

Ethan’s POV:

I can’t believe this. I really can’t believe this. I mean, heck, I confessed to her. CONFESSED. Pero ni hindi man niya ininda yung sinabi ko. Ni hindi man siya nashock, at ni hindi man niya tinanong kong totoo. Anong tawag mo sa babaeng ‘to? Manhid nga ba, sabi ng iba?

Ewan.

Sana kalimutan niya sinabi ko.

Isa pa, kelan pa ko nagkagusto sa kanya!? Hindi ko naman siya gusto, dib a?

“Ba’t mo ba kasi ako pinagtatabuyan!?” she shouted.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa taong ‘to. “Ewan ko sa’yo!” I yelled.

She flinched, obviously shocked, and she took one step back.

Para siyang nabigla nang sobra.

Part of me wanted to apologize. Pero mas umiral yung personality ko at iniwan ko lang siyang nakatayo dun sa kalsada. Hindi na siya umimik.

I sighed.

I dared not look back. Kasi kung titignan ko pa siya…

I’m sure my feelings will waver.

Jake’s POV:

I was so surprised nung sinigawan niya ko. I didn’t expect for him to suddenly shout at me like that.

Ewan.

Parang may part sa kaloob-looban ko na nasaktan.

As he walked away, natayo lang akong nakatunganga dun.

“Huy. Ba’t ka nakamulala diyan?”

Napapitlag ako. I looked at the speaker, pero kahit na hindi ako tumingin, alam ko nang si AJ yon.

Hindi ko na siya sumagot, tapos naglakad na lang ako na wala sa sarili ko.

“Huy!”

“Wala ako sa mood,” I told him.

Naglalakad pa rin ako.

“Wuy. Hindi po diyan ang bahay niyo. Sa kabilang direction po kasi,” sabi ni AJ.

Nahimasmasan ako. “Oo nga pala…” I said. Tapos umikot ako and started walking.

“Ba’t ka muna sumusunod?” I asked AJ.

“Ay, akala ko kasi same subdivision tayo,” sabi niya.

Napakamot ako. “Papaglakarin mo muna ako nang five minutes bago ka magsimulang maglakad. Wala nga ako sa mood makipag-away.”

“Ayba. Gutom na ko e. Ikaw kaya magpahuli.”

“Ays.”

“Fine. E di sabay.”

Naglalakad na kami. One meter apart pa kami from each other.

Wala namang nagsasalita.

Nakarating na kami sa sakayan ng bus. Tapos nagtinginan ba naman kami.

“Sasakay na ko.”

“Ba, sasakay na rin ako,” sabi niya. Yun. Same jeep tuloy kami.

“Bayad po,” sabi ko. Tapos siya rin, nagbayad na.

“Ba’t badtrip ka? Red day mo?” tanong niya na binuntutan pa niya ng halakhak. He said that in a VERY LOUD voice na lahat ng tao sa jeep napatingin sa amin.

I flushed. Blushing red, “Hindi ‘no! Maniac,” sabi ko.

Tatawa-tawa pa siya. “Guilty?”

“Asa.”

May isang couple na college students na na matamang nakatingin sa amin. Parang pinipigilan pang magsmile. Tapos, sa harapan naman namin, mga high school girls kaso sa ibang school naman. They were looking and giggling and pointing at AJ. Apat pamo sila. Kababaeng tao, nagpapacute sa jeep.

Yung bwiset na AJ, nagsmile pa dun sa mga high school girls. “She hates me,” sabi ni AJ, turo sa akin.

The girls giggled.

I glared at him.

“See? She’s killing me with her stares,” sabi pa ni AJ.

ERR. Tinapakan ko paa niya.

“Ouch,” sabi niya, sabay alis sa bwiset niyang paa. “Told you girls. She doesn’t like me. See? Hindi pa daw siya maswerteng hinahatid ko siya pauwi.”

Nakakainis na ah.

I rolled my eyes tapos decided na wag ko na lang siyang pansinin.

“Tsk. Sabi ko na nga ba red day mo e,” sabi pa niya. Yung mga girls natawa. Ako napuno na.

“Ayos ka lang? Gusto mong ihatid na kita sa mental ngayon pa lang e!?”

“E di pinansin mo rin ako,” sabi niya.

“Ha!? Papansin ka kasi e!”

“O, Hon, wag ka ngang sumigaw. Tignan mo, pinagtitinginan tayo ng mga tao.”

“I-‘hon’ mo mukha mo!” I said. Pero nung nakita ko yung amused faces ng mga pasahero, I blushed and then looked away. Bwiset kang AJ ka.

Arrgh. Gantihan ko na nga. Hindi ko na sana papatulan e. Kaso pinahiya niya ko. Syempre dapat mapahiya siya.

“Alam kong medyo nagnenerbiyos ka,” sabi ko sa kanya. “It’s okay. Happens to everyone like you.”

Napakunot-noo siya. “Ha?”

“Aww. Did you forget, sweetie? Parating na ang pinakahihintay mong araw.”

Mukha siyang confused pero bumawi pa rin siya. “Pinakhihintay kong araw? Malapit na ba kasal natin?” he asked me.

Dang naman o. Hindi nauubusan ng bala. Yung mga girls tuloy, napahagikgik.

“Oh hon. Like you want to get married with me. Di ba, you told me hindi mo na kayang isuppress sa sarili mo at gusto mo nang iladlad ang truth na bakla ka?”

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Pati yung mga high school girls. Napataas pa yung kilay ni lolo dun sa dulo. Haha.

“Excuse me. B-bakla?” he asked me.

I smiled na parang naaawa sa kanya. “Sabi ko na nga ba ninenerbiyos ka e. Kita mo? Nakalimutan mong iaannounce mo sa prom yung—”

Tinakpan niya bibig ko. “Di ba sabi nila liars go to hell?”

Hinawi ko yung kamay niya and gave him a triumphant look. Tapos humarap na ko sa bintana. Huh! Get some of that!

At least yung menstrual cycle, normal lang sa babae. E yung pagiging bakla?

Mali kasi kinalaban mo e.

-

Ethan’s POV:

Lunch time. Hindi ako makatulog at all kagabi kasi I was thinking of Jane Mikela Yumul.

Di ko alam. Hindi ako mapakali dun sa ginawa kong pagsigaw sa kanya.

Kakalabas na kakalabas ko palang ng classroom, nakita ko na nga si AJ, na may hawak-hawak na notebook. Tinataas niya, habang si Jane Mikela naman e pilit inaabot. Nagtinginan kami ni AJ.

Napatingin si Jane Mikela sa akin.

I went to them.

“Give that back to her.”

Natigilan naman si Jane Mikela. Parang surprised sa ginawa ko. Pero kung siya nabigla sa paglapit ko, lalo naman ako.

“Bakit? Ano naman ba sa’yo? Problema niya kung masyado siyang maliit.”

I sighed and then glared at him. I really can’t stand this guy. “You know what? Kung kasing may gusto ka sa kanya, instead of teasing her, diretsahan mo. Hindi yung nagpapapansin ka kasi meron na siyang Ethan Marquez sa buhay niya.” Binawi ko yung notebook. Tapos I held Jane Mikela’s hand. “Tara na.”

Papalayo na nun kami.

Pero biglang nagstop maglakad si Jane Mikela.

Napalingon ako and then I saw AJ holding her other hand.

“Anong sabi mo?” AJ asked me.

“Ang sabi ko, tigilan mo na siya, kasi akin na siya. Masyado kang mabagal.”

He gave me death stares. “Sinasabi mo bang gusto ko siya?” Humagalpak siya ng tawa. “Yeah right! Sinong tanga ang magkakagusto diyan sa patpat na yan. Maliit. Walang shape. Warfreak. May mabubulag ba diyan? May baliw na ba para mainlove diyan? Saan, ipakilala mo sa akin ang wala sa matinong pag-iisip na nagkagusto diyan,” pang-aasar pa niya.

“Oo, meron. And you’re staring at him.”

*six

Ethan’s POV:

Napatigil si AJ.

“Kaharap mo ang tangang nabulag sa kanya. O, pwede na kaming umalis?”

Paralyzed na ata si Jane Mikela.

Wala sa loob na binitawan ni AJ ang kamay ni Jane Mikela.

I walked away with Jane Mikela behind me, our hands linked together.

“W-were you serious?” She stopped walking. Syempre napatigil na rin ako. Nasa Sci Park na kami.

Napasinghap ako. “Of course not. I just said that to shut him up.”

“Oh,” sabi na lang niya. Then bigla nagbalik siya sa cheerful self niya. “Salamat nga pala sa pagsave mo sakin!”

I gave the notebook to him.

“Wala yun.”

“Join me for lunch!” sabi niya.

Muntikan na kong um-oo, pero I said, “W-why would I?”

“Tss. Sungit mode ka na naman.”

Ang slow naman niya. Siya pa niyan yung sa first section ah.

“Anung course na kukunin mo?” she asked me.

I shrugged. “Architecture.”

“Wow,” sabi niya. “Saan?”

“Bakit, nung paki mo?”

“Naman e. Favorite line mo talaga yan. Lagi mo na lang tinatanong sa kin yan e,” reklamo niya.

“Wala ka naman kasing pakialam sa kung anong gawin ko,” sabi ko naman.

“Alam mo. The reason why you and AJ can’t stand each other is because you’re exactly the same,” sabi niya. “Narerepel niyo isa’t-isa e. Parang magnet.”

“Corny naman niyan. At anung part kami magkatulad ah?”

“Ayan! Pareho niyo kong sinisinghalan. Pareho kayong galit kaagad. Pareho niyo kong ayaw,” sabi niya.

Napatigil ako saglit. “Hindi naman ah,” sabi ko.

“Ha?”

Hindi naman kasi sa ayaw kita e. “Wala. Ignore me.”

In fact, I’m beginning to think it’s the opposite.

AJ’s POV:

Sabay pa silang naglalunch ah.

Di ko alam bakit, pero ARGH. Kaasar.

“Pare. Sinong tinitignan mo?” sabi ni Brent. Sinundan niya ko ng tingin. “Si Marquez? Si Jake ba kasama niya?”

“Tsk.” Nag-alis na ko ng tingin.

“O, bakit ka muna naiinis?” tanong ni Simcel.

“Hindi naman e,” sabi ko.

“Hindi daw. Init nga ng ulo mo e. Pwede nang magluto ng itlog diyan o.”

“AISH! Tigil-tigilan niyo ko!”

I started to walk off. Nakakairita na kasi e.

“Ba’t nga ba galit ka, bro?” tanong ni Joseph. “Hate mo si Marquez. Hate mo si Jake. Anung problema kung nagkasama sila?”

“Pare, hindi ko alam e,” sabi ko. “Naiirita lang talaga ako kasi… umm… e… k-kasi hindi na siya naiinda sa mga hirit ko e! Hindi na niya pinapansin yung mga atake ko sa kanya.”

“Ah… so KSP ka nap ala ngayon,” sabi ni Joseph. “You see, hindi ka lang pinansin, galit ka na sa kanya.”

“KSP, KSP. Hindi ‘no,” sabi ko.

Lauren sighed. “Pare, tatapatin na kita ah. Ganito kasi ‘yan. Bakit mo nga ba biglang ininis si Jake? Di ba simulang prep iniinis mo na ‘yan?”

I nodded. “Oo.”

“Pano ka ba nagsimulang mang-inis sa kanya. I mean, anong rason?”

“Ha? Kasi she wasn’t like all the other girls. Lahat nung girls nung prep nilalapitan ako. Siya hindi naman ako pinapansin. Nagpapansin ako.” Napakamot ako sa ulo. “Tae, KSP nga ako.”

Natawa si Lauren. “Pero that wasn’t my point. Ayaw mo yung fact na hindi ka niya pinansin. Bakit naman?”

“Ayoko lang na hindi ko kuha ang atensyon ng lahat,” sabi ko.

“Tapos, ngayon, naiinis ka lang ba na magkasama sila, o may iba ka pa bang rason? Like, another reason.”

Nag-isip ako.

I sighed. “Parang meron,” sabi ko.

“Ano?” tanong niya.

“Ayokong may iba siyang pinapansin other than me,” I admitted. Tapos yumuko ako. Nag-apir sila.

“Tumpak,” sabi ni Simcel.

“So, ano sa tingin mo yung reason kung bakit?” Lauren still asked me.

I was silent. Ano nga ba?

……

….

..

.

Oh shoot.

I can’t believe I only realized it just now.

“Sa tingin niyo…” I began. “…na gusto ko siya?”

Nag-apir na talaga silang lahat.

So… gusto ko si Jake?

All this time?

Dang.

Ethan’s POV:

Bakit ba ko pumayag na kumain kasama tong taong to?

Malay.

Basta kain na nga lang ako.

“Huy,” sabi niya. “Never mo pa kong tinawag na Jake, dib a?”

Hindi ko pinansin.

“Bakit?” sabi niya.

Tinignan ko siya. “Mukha ka bang lalake para Jake ang itawag ko sa’yo?”

“Hindi ba?” sabi niya, tapos ginawa pa niyang boses lalake yung boses niya.

Natawa ako.

WAIT.

Natawa ako?

Agad akong tumahimik.

“Ayan kasi! Bagay na bagay mo ngang magsmile e. Smile ka na lang palagi.”

“Ayba. Wala namang cute sa harapan ko,” sabi ko.

“E ba’t kanina? Tumawa ka? Hindi lang smile ah, tawa pa. That means kung smile, cute. Kung tawa, super cute?”

Napailing ako. “Baliw ka.”

“Talaga!” sabi naman niya. “Kung ayaw mo kong tawaging Jake, ano namang itatawag mo sa akin?”

“Di ba pwedeng Jane?”

She winced. “Common e.”

“E di ibig sabihin Mikela itatawag ko sa’yo.”

“Mikela? E pambabae naman yun e.”

“Di ka ba babae?” tanong ko. Sumubo ulit ako nung pagkain ko. Nasa canteen kami, by the way.

“Oo, pero…”

“Bahala ka. Basta ako, Mikela na lang itatawag ko.”

“Mikela…? Pero…” sabi niya.

“O gusto mo Yumul itawag ko sa’yo?”

“Sige, sige, Mikela na nga lang. Para namang special ka e.”

“Bakit?” tanong ko.

She smiled. “Ikaw lang ang pwedeng tumawag sa akin niyan.”

For some unknown stupid reason, something about her words tugged a smile out of me.

-

Jake’s POV:

“ETHAAAAAAN!” I yelled sa 4B (section nila).

Lahat ng tao nashock na tinatawag ko siya. Actually, when I said “lahat,” I mean LAHAT. Kahit si Ethan.

He stood up from his seat, looking annoyed. “Otis, ba’t nandito ka!? Stay away from me.”

“Lul,” sabi ko. “Uwi na tayo.”

Tumingin-tingin pa siya sa likod ko. Natawa naman ako.

“Wala naman si AJ ah,” sabi niya.

“Kelangan ba nandito siya?” sabi ko naman. “Dali na! Tara!”

Dun pa lang ata niya napansin yung gitara na nakasakbit sa likod ko na parang backpack. Tinititigan niya e.

“Marunong ka?” sabi niya.

I scoffed. “Loko ka pala e. Syempre, ako pa.”

He rolled his eyes tapos kinuha na na gamit niya. Sabay kaming naglalakad sa corridor.

Hindi na naman siya nagsasalita. As usual, I have to do all the talking. “Ikaw, marunong ka?” I asked him.

“Ano sa tingin mo?”

Nag-isip ako. Tapos saktong nasa Sci Park kami, naisip ko, “Tara. Tugtog tayo dun.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Akala ko ba uuwi na tayo?”

“E nagbago isip ko e. Dali na, tara.”

I dragged him, or at least tried to. Pero he didn’t budge. Ganun pa rin siya. Hindi man lang natinag. Grabihan. “Dali na kasi,” sabi ko.

“Uuwi na lang ako.”

I sighed. “Bawal nga. Tara na.”

“Anung bawal ka diyan? Sino ka ba?” he asked me.

I grinned. “Sino ako? Ako lang naman si Mikela.”

When I said those words, I was hoping I could get something out of him. Pero I didn’t know what that “something” was. I only realized it…

When he gave me a smile.

*seven

Jake’s POV:

Dinala ko siya dun sa isa sa mga sheds.

“Tugtugan mo ko,” sabi ko, habang tinatanggal ko yung gitara galing sa case. Nung nalabas ko na, I handed it to him. “I want to hear you.”

“Ayba,” sabi niya, and gave it back to me.

“Dali na.”

“Hindi pala ako marunong,” sabi naman niya, na super obvious na he was lying.

“Anung hindi!?” singhal ko. “Dali na.”

“Ano namang makukuha ko?” I asked her.

I shrugged. “Ewan ko ba.”

“Then swerte mo na lang kung pinangtugtog pa kita.”

I sighed. “You’re mean,” I murmured.

“Talaga,” he said. “Kaya nga lahat iniiwasan ako e.”

“Panong naging lahat kung kasama mo ako right now?” asik ko.

“Ay. Mali pala ako. Lahat pala ng matino ang pag-iisip.”

I scoffed. “Pakulit nga.”

“Bingi ka na pala,” sabi niya.

“AISH! Tugtog ka na lang kasi.”

“Ano ngang makukuha ko?” hamon niya.

“Hmmm, tutugtugan din kita.”

He shook his head, like saying You’re pathetic.

“Dali na…” sabi ko.

“Why?”

“Gusto ko lang marinig,” sabi ko naman. “I mean, not everything needs a purpose right?”

He sighed. “Fine. Pero ano nga muna makukuha ko?”

Nag-isip ako. Pero ayaw magwork ni brain kung kelan kelangan e. Ano na? Hmmm… “Wala akong maisip e… hmmm, fish ball, gusto mo?”

Natawa siya.

And heck. Ang cute niya kapag ganito siya kacarefree. I can tell he’s beginning to feel comfortable around me. He looked up, and the smile was still there. The moment our eyes met, my knees weakened, kaya umupo ako kaagad. Sinundan niya ko ng tingin, looking amused.

“Amina,” sabi niya, tapos kinuha niya yung gitara from me.

“Yay!” sabi ko.

“Anung song?”

“Ano bang alam mo?” tanong ko.

“Wala gaano. I stopped nung first year na tayo.”

“Oh…” nasabi ko lang. “Sige. Kahit ano lang. Kahit luma pa. Basta kanta ka ah.”

Sinimulan na niya yung mahinang pagtipa sa gitara. I can tell he’s really good, pero he stopped.

“May pick ka ba?”

“Meron.” I took the necklace off. Bata pa lang ako, nasa akin na tong pick na ‘to. As in, grade 3 ako nung makuha ko to. I didn’t even know how to play the guitar then, pero kung hindi ko nakuha tong pick na to, I wouldn’t have learned. Yung pick lang naman yung reason kung bakit nagustuhan kong matuto non e. Then later on, nagustuhan ko na talaga.

Alam niyo ba bakit?

Binigay ni AJ sa akin to e. Nothing special. Birthday ko kasi non. Tapos napulot daw niya, binigay na lang niya.

Tinitigan lang ni Ethan yung pick.

“Here. Kunin mo na,” sabi ko.

“Ayoko yan. Halatang luma na e. Ba’t di ka bumili ng bago?”

“Aba. Importante kaya sakin to,” sabi ko naman. “Bigyan mo na lang ako kung gusto mong palitan ko.” Kinindatan ko pa siya.

“Adik,” sabi niya. “Amina nga yan.”

Kinuha niya.

“Kelan pa to?” sabi niya, habang inaalis sa chain yung pick na ginawa kong pendant.

“Grade 3,” sagot ko.

He stopped, then looked at me. “Grade 3 ka palang marunong ka na?”

I shook my head. “Hindi no! Dali na, excited na ko. Tugtog ka na.”

“Dang, di na ata ako marunong e.”

Natawa ako. “Go Ethan! Kaya mo yan.”

He started playing it again. Matamang nakinig lang ako. I can tell that he’s good. As in… really good. Andaya neto. Mas marunong pa pala sa akin e.

He started singing.

Sandalan. 6-Cycle Mind.

Yun yung kinanta niya.

Kanina pa kitang pinagmamasdan
Mukha mo’y di maipinta
Malungkot ka na naman

Kanina pa kitang inaalok nang
Kuwentuhang masaya
Parang sa’yo’y balewala

Sandali nga
Teka lang
May nakalimutan ka
Di ba’t pwede mo akong iyakan

Sige lang
Sandal ka na
At wag mong pipigilan
Iiyak mo na ang lahat sa langit
Iiyak mo lang ang lahat sa akin

Andito lang ako naghihintay
Lagi mong tatandaan
Di ka naman nag-iisa

Andito lang ako makikinig sayo
Sa buong magdamag
Sa’kin di ka balewala
Sige lang
Sige lang sige lang

“…Wow,” I can’t help but say. Namesmerize naman ako sa voice niya! Grabe! “Huy! Ba’t tumaas balahibo ko!?”

“Ikaw naman,” sabi niya.

“H-ha?”

“Ikaw naman mangharana sa akin.”

OH MY! He termed it “harana.” First time akong naharana, my gawsh.

I took the guitar from him. “Hindi ako kasinggaling mo.”

Emotionless na naman yung mukha niya. Wala na naman yung smile niya e. No—actually… hindi exactly emotionless. More like… he’s amused, na tinatago niya.

Ano nga bang bagay na song?

“Kung nabingi ka sa boses ko, hindi ko kasalanan ah,” sabi ko.

He just tilted his head to one side. Naman e! Ba’t niya pinipigilan smile niya?

AHA. Found the perfect song for him.

And for me, actually.

Minamasdan kita
Nang hindi mo alam
Pinapangarap kong ikaw ay akin
Mapupulang labi
At matinkad mong ngiti
Umaabot hanggang sa langit

Huwag ka lang titingin sa akin
At baka matunaw ang puso kong sabik

Sa iyong ngiti ako’y nahuhumaling
At sa tuwing ikaw ay gagalaw
Ang mundo ko’y tumitigil
Para lang sayo
Ang awit ng aking puso
Sana’y mapansin mo rin
Ang lihim kong pagtingin

Minamahal kita ng di mo alam
Huwag ka sanang magagalit
Tinamaan yata talaga ang aking puso
Na dati akala ko’y manhid

Hindi pa rin makalapit
Inuunahan ng kaba sa aking dibdib

Sa iyong ngiti ako’y nahuhumaling
At sa tuwing ikaw ay lalapit
Ang mundo ko’y tumitigil
Ang pangalan mo sinisigaw ng puso
Sana’y madama mo rin
Ang lihim kong pagtingin

Sa iyong ngiti ako’y nahuhumaling
(Sa iyong ngiti)
Sa tuwing ikaw ay gagalaw
Ang mundo ko’y tumitigil
Para lang sa’yo…
(Para lang sa’yo ang awit ng aking puso)
Sana ay mapansin mo rin…
Ang lihim kong pagtingin
Sa iyong ngiti…

“O, what do you say?” sabi ko.

He was staring intently at me. Ang lamlam nga ng pagkakatitig niya sa akin e. Something about his stare made it impossible for me to look away from him.

“I feel like I might just kiss you.”

Ethan’s POV:

The words just slipped out, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t mean them.

Which is why I turned away, before I might just really kiss her. “Tara na.”

“E-ethan…?” sabi niya.

I looked back at her. “What?”

“Pwede naman e,” sabi niya.

Napalunok ako. Was she serious? Pwede siyang… halikan? I was confused, until she offered her cheek. AHH, sa pisngi lang pala. Dang ambisyoso mo, Ethan.

“Ba’t naman kita hahalikan? Joke lang yung sinabi ko, sineryoso mo naman.”

She grinned. “Joke lang yung sinabi kong pwede mo kong halikan, sineryoso mo rin naman,” sabi pa niya.

Nilagay na niya sa case yung gitara. Baliw din to.

ARGH. My head’s messed up.

“Amina, ako nang magdadala niyan,” sabi ko.

“Weh? Bait daw niya?” she retorted.

“Di wag,” I muttered.

“Joke lang. To na o,” she said, handing it to me.

“Tss. Ibibigay din pala…”

Kinuha ko naman.

“Mikela…” sabi ko.

Napatingin siya sa akin. “Mm?”

“P-pwede ka bang ihatid sa inyo?” DANG. Anong pinagsasasabi ko!? Nabubulol pa ko ah! TAE.

“She’s coming home with me.”

Napalingon kaming dalawa. It was AJ.

“H-ha?” sabi ni Mikela.

“Di ba same subdivision naman tayo? Tapos ikaw,” sabi niya sabay sulyap sa akin. “Di ba opposite direction ng bahay namin ang bahay niyo? Sige na.”

And he pulled Mikela with him.

Mukhang confused si Mikela.

She looked at me, like she was panicking, tapos she mouthed the words Sorry! Bukas na lang!

And I watched them walk off.

At that moment…

I wished I kissed her earlier.

*eight

Jake’s POV:

“May dress ka na ba para sa prom?” Prishe asked me nung magcall siya Wednesday ng gabi.

“Ha? Wala pa…” I replied. Ni hindi ko na nga masyadong iniisip yung prom eh. Hindi naman si Ethan yung makakasama ko, so para saan pa dib a?

“Patahi ka na lang kasi,” sabi niya. Haaaizt. Palagi naman niyang sinasabi yan eh.

“Makulit. Wala nga akong pera, okay?”

Kahit na sa phone lang, I can imagine her roll her eyes. “Libre nga kita e.”

Palibhasa mayaman. “No. Ayoko talagang magpatahi. Lalo na kung nag iinsist ka pang ilibre mo ‘ko. Kasi namin no. Bibili na lang ako.”

She sighed. “Well, bibili na lang rin ako.”

HA? “Hello!? Grade six pa lang tayo pinagpaplanuhan mo na yung dress mo para sa JS natin ngayon, tapos bibili ka lang? Haay. Ewan ko sa’yo. Babye na.”

“Sige, sige. Gagawin ko pa yung assignment sa Computer. Pero… teka. I’ll just inform you kung kelan bibili ng damit sina Elaine.”

“Sure.”

She hung up. Ay ewan. Bahala na yung dress na yon. One week pa naman bago yung prom.

-

Ethan’s POV:

Tinitigan ko yung gitara ko. I stared at it. Kabud lang ako nakatingin.

Matagal-tagal na rin nung last kong nafeel yung urge na tumugtog ulit. If not for Mikela, hindi ko na siguro maiisip na maggitara ulit.

Nung makulong si Kuya, hindi ko na pinansin yung gitara ko. Si Kuya kasi yung bumili nito para sa kin eh. Well, actually, bumili lang siya ng bago tapos syempre yung luma sa akin napunta.

I took it, examining it. Naman eh. Putol daw yung E string.

Iiling-iling kong binalik sa lagyanan. Ipapaayos ko na lang soon.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talagang meron eh. Pero when it’s Mikela, it feels different. Just different. She makes me want to change.

I’m not entirely sure, pero she really is different.

Ah basta.

After ng prom—after ng usapan namin about going to prom—wala na rin kaming connection. I can’t wait para mawala yung connection na yon. I really can’t wait for things to shift back to normal. Back to the point where I didn’t have to worry about her.

When I didn’t care that much.

-

Jake’s POV:

Friday.

Pupungas-pungas pa ko ng mata nung nagising ako dahil sa isang phone call. Aga-agang nambubulabog eh. Pano, 4:00 pa lang, eh nagigising ako 5:30? Tss.

“HI JAKE!”

Takte naman o. Lakas-lakas ng boses. “Sino to?” Gusto ko pang matulooooog.

“Si AJ,” the voice replied.

Bigla-bigla daw akong nagising. “A-anong problema mo?” I found myself combing my hair with my fingers. As if naman makikita niya kong mukhang may bird’s nest sa ulo through the phone.

“Well, gusto ko lang sanang magtanong.”

“Ano?” I asked him.

Panaginip siguro to. Oo. Otherwise, why would he call so early? Call ME, for that matter.

“Ay. Akala ko naman naalala mo.”

I blinked, confused. Ako nang hulyanin. Oo, I admit. I’m forgetful. Siguro dapat sisenta anyos na ko. Ewan. Basta lagi lang talaga akong nakakalimot. Unique case ng Alzheimer’s Disease (XD).

“Anogn date ngayon?” he asked me.

Bored, I answered, “January 28.”

“And?”

Hindi ko pa rin ma-gets.

One second…

Two seconds…

Three…

Four…

Five…

“Ah?” I asked him.

“H-hindi mo talaga matandaan?” he asked me.

I really didn’t answer. Ano bang aalahanin ko? Gusto ko lang pong matulog. Naman eh.

Ano bang meron?

…….

….

..

.

AH! January 28! It’s… it’s his birthday!

“B-birthday mo nga pala!” I said.

I can almost imagine him grinning from ear to ear. “Palibhasa hulyanin.”

Umirap ako, kahit na hindi naman niya nakikita. Mannerism lang talaga.

“Bat ka naman tumatawag, yun lang pala sasabihin mo?”

“Ay. Syempre, ipapaalala ko lang na kelangan mo kong samahan mamaya.”

Napakunot noo ako. “Samahan?”

“Sa Clique.”

Napakamot noo ako. “Bat mo naman ako dadalhin sa mall?”

“Bibilhan mo ko ng gift, duh. Sige. Dala kang pera mo, compulsory yung gift ah!”

“Teka, teka—”

Toot, toot, toot. Arggh. He hung up! Bwiset. Bat ba niya ko niyaya sa Clique?

Not that nagrereklamo ako. Pero ang presko niya eh. Yhhh! Nakakabwiset, pero nakakakilig din.

AJ’s POV:

Oyea. Haha. E di napilitan din?

Ang slow pa niyan niya, hindi man lang niya magegets kung ano yung totoon meaning nung pagsasama ko sa kanya sa Clique.

Bahala na siya sa buhay niya. Basta ako ayos na yung napilit ko siya.

Pwede na ako dun…

For now.

-

Ethan’s POV:

Lunch time. Nakaupo ako sa isa sa mga sheds sa Sci Park. Any minute now, I expect Mikela to show up. Palagi namang nandito para mambulabog yun eh.

May fifteen minutes na siguro yon, and she wasn’t showing up.

Ewan.

Dapat masaya ako.

Dapat magtatalon ako na parang baliw dahil wala siya.

Dapat hindi ako disappointed.

Dapat hindi ako nasaktan nung nakita ko siyang tumatawa at kumakain katabi ni AJ. Silang dalawa lang, sa kabilang shed.

Dapat hindi ko naiisip na ako yung dapat na kasama niya.

Dapat wala akong pakialam.

Pero ewan.

Things might have changed. And I just watch the two of them eat lunch together. I just watch her eating there like that—

Barely knowing someone like me exists.

*nine

Jake’s POV:

Lunch time na kasi. Tapos palabas pa lang ako ng classroom, may humatak sa akin.

“Hi Jake!” sabi niya.

I looked at him. Nakakairita yung boses niya. Halatang mang-iinis na naman siya eh. “Oo na, oo na. Happy birthday na. O, pwede na kong lumabas ng classroom?” I asked him.

“Ay. O sige. Ayaw mo palang sumabay kumain sa amin eh.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Ano to, trap?” Syempre, di ba nga mortal enemies daw kami? So pano ba yan? Ba’t niya ko biglang niyayang kumain kasama sila?

“Kayo nina Prishe. Sumabay na samin. Promise, hindi to trap.”

“E bat ka nagyaya kung wala kang balak na masama?”

Ngumisi siya. “Obvious ba? Di ba birthday ko?”

“Ahh… So?”

“Baliw. Ako nga manlilibre eh.”

Lumaki mata ko. “Weh? Manlilibre ka? Game ba!”

-

In the end, naglalunch kami sa Sci Park kasama yung tropa ni AJ atsaka sina Prishe, Gail, Karyl, Karoll at Elaine. Andaming nilibre ni AJ no? Tapos Chowking pa. O di ba solve na?

Someone moved from my right. Tumayo ata. I looked at that direction, only to find a familiar figure walking away. I looked at his retreating back. Familiar talaga eh—

Ethan.

I almost shouted out his name.

“Jake! Inuubos na ni AJ yung Chao Fan mo!” Prishe nudged me.

Napatingin ako sa pagkain ko. “H-hoy! A-ano ba…?” I asked halfheartedly. My eyes darted back to Ethan walking away. Something feels… wrong. Ewan. It really feels like something’s wrong. I just shrugged the feeling off.

Hindi naman siguro.

Wala naman sigurong mali…

Right?

-

“Grabihan! Andami nating tests. Yung sa Calculus, tapos yun pang sa Physics. Tahe. Magsu-suicide na talaga ako pagdating ko sa bahay,” I exclaimed na pasigaw habang nag-aayos ng gamit sa locker ko. Lahat ng mga kaklase ko natawa.

“Go Jake! Kaya mo yan!” sigaw nung isa kong classmate.

“Hoy! Di ka pa kaya uuwi!” may sumigaw directly sa tenga ko.

“ANO BA!? Kelangang manigaw!?”

He smirked. Yung nakakairitang smirk. “Akala ko kasi bingi ka.”

“Pag yung eardrums ko nasira, sisipain kita hanggang sa lamunin ka na ng lupa!” I shouted and angrily slammed my locker close.

“Sorry! Tara na.”

I nodded. “Oo na, oo na. Hindi naman ako nagdala ng pera para pambili ng gift sayo,” I told him. Actually, dala ko lahat ng ipon ko for this month. P 1300 nga lang eh. Ni medyas niya hindi ko siguro afford. Sorry, ganyan talaga.

“Aba! Kelangan meron kang gift!” he shouted.

“Wala ngang pera kako!” I yelled back. Two can play at that game kaya. Bleh.

“Ayyy! E di gamitin natin yung baon mo today! Tutal hindi ka naman naglunch!”

Hanep to. Pano kung wala talaga akong dalang pera, talagang madedrain ako? Pasalamat siya… TSSS.

“Aanhin mo kaya yung P 40? Aish.”

“Ewan. Tara!”

“Wala bang ibang kasama?”

“H-ha?” Napatigil siya. He stared at me.

“Ako lang ba?” I asked him. “Ito talaga. Nakakain lang ng Chowking kanina, nawawala ka na sa sarili mo. Siguro may toyomansi na pumasok diyan sa mga nerve cells mo.”

He blinked. “H-hindi ah! Pero oo. Ikaw lang.”

“Ngek. Bat ako lang? E di parang date yon?”

“H-hindi no! Palibhasa ambisyosa! H-hindi lang talaga pinayagan yung iba na dapat isasama ko…” he reasoned out. “Hay! B-ba’t ba ang init!?” And he walked out of the classroom.

“H-huy hintay!” I shouted.

“Oo, oo!”

-

Paglabas ko ng classroom, saktong lumabas din si Ethan. I caught his eye and he looked at me. I smiled at him. Syempre dib a nga fwends na kami ngayon? Lol. He was about to nod pero bigla siyang tumingin somewhere over my shoulder.

I looked behind me and saw AJ.

I looked back at Ethan pero he avoided my gaze and walked past me. Buyset yun ah! Bat ako iniiwasan porke kasama ko si AJ!? I mean, sure. Gets ko naman nag alit talaga siya kay AJ, pero bat pati sa akin? Naman eh.

He walked away.

At that moment, it felt oddly like he was walking away for good.

I was about to call his name nung napastop ako, realizing that a guitar is strapped over his shoulder. May gitara siyang dala. All the more reason to call him and tell him to stop. Pero AJ suddenly grabbed me.

“Don’t.”

I looked at AJ.

“Don’t call him.”

I blinked. Speechless ako kasi he sounded really serious. Really serious.

I opened my mouth to speak, pero he just cut me off.

“Just don’t.”

Of course, it felt like I had no choice. Even when I knew that I actually have all the choices I needed.

-

“Bayad po, dalawang estudyante.”

Hanep talaga tong bwiset na AJ na to. Ako pa talaga yung nagbayad sa jeep. Anong tawag mo sa lalakeng to?

Naman o. Tignan mo kaya siya, parelax-relax lang diyan sa tabi-tabi. Nakakairita talaga ah. Pasalamat siya birthday niya kundi itatapon ko tong hawak-hawak kong Physics book (na almost 700 pages) sa ulo niya mismo.

“Ba’t ganyan kang makatingin?” he asked me.

Inirapan ko siya and decided not to look at him. “Sorry. May sariling utak lang yung mga mata. Nanlilisik talaga kapag nandiyan ka,” I replied confidently.

“Sus. Nagpapacute ka pa.”

I glared at him. “Hindi ako nagpapacute. Para saan pa? Para sa’yo? Dream on.”

Natawa siya. “Dream on? Dream on, dream on ka pa diyan. Halata namang nagpapacute ka eh.”

“Anong nagpapacute? Sipain kita diyan eh, tignan lang natin kung sinong nagpapacute sa’yo,” asik ko.

Natawa lang siya. Tinapakan ko siya.

“Aray aray aray!” he shouted, making all the passengers turn towards us. Yung iba parang kinikilig, yung iba naiirita, yung iba no comment. Solid pahiya daw.

Argh. Bwiset na AJ.

-

Ethan’s POV:

I was stupid enough to even think about her.

Very stupid.

I was even stupid enough to make a song for her.

Stupid. Definitely stupid.

Masyado lang akong naninibago kasi walang ibang tao ganyan ang trato sa akin. No one has ever treated me like that.

So why change all that I’m used to now?

*ten

Jake’s POV:

“A-ano to?” he asked me, surprised na masaya na ewan.

“Tsokolet kek,” sagot ko.

“Ha?” sabi daw ng engot.

“Chocolate cake, sabi ko.” Sabay irap pa.

He grinned. “Yesss. Mayaman tayo ngayon ah,” he muttered.

I smiled. “Medyo nga.”

And then pumunta kami dun sa labas. Sa may fountain nung mall tapos dun namin nilaklak yung chocolate cake. “Ba’t alam mong favorite ko to?”

I shrugged. “DUH. Kaklase na kaya kita simula prep.”

“Sabi ko nga. Naninigurado lang kasi ako. Baka stalker ka pala.”

“Ah ganon?” I asked him. “Amina yang cake. Ako na lang kakain. Stalker pala ah…”

“OA mo. Charap naman ng pagkain lalo na pag libre.”

Hinayaan ko na siya. Bahala siya. Truth is, nagrerace pa kami kung sinong mas mabilis kumain nung cake. Junior size lang kasi yung binili ko eh.

“Yan na yung libre ko sayo ah.” I licked the plastic spoon.

“Bitin naman. Isa pa,” he said, pero meron pang kalahati yung cake.

“Ayba. Anong bitin-bitin ka diyan. Ubos na nga budget ko eh.”

“Ayy, hindi ka naman makakauwi sa inyo kung ito lang yung ibibigay mo.”

“Anong hindi? Adik ka ba?”

“Matagal na,” he answered, tapos ngumisi siya pa like an idiot.

Napahalakhak ako. LOL. Adik kasi ng taong to. He looked confused. “Ano?”

Kinuha ko yung salamin ko sa bag ko tapos hinarap ko sa kanya. He looked at himself and his smile faded. Medyo namula siya.

Tawa pa rin ako ng tawa. Nakakatawa kayang tignan yung crush mo na punung-puno ng chocolate icing yung ngipin.

He frowned and looked at me. Maya-maya, may evil grin na sa mukha niya. Tapos kumuha siyang icing at ipinahid sa ilong ko. “HOY!”

Bumunghalit siya ng tawa. Akala mo sinong matalino. I rolled my eyes, took out my handkerchief, and wiped the icing from my nose.

“Ayts. Meron pa kaya.”

Pinahid ko ulit.

Natatawa siya. “Meron pa rin.”

Lalo kong pinunas.

“Ano ba yan? Pula na, pero meron pa rin,” he said. Tapos kinuha niya yung panyo niya. Nilapit niya yung panyo sa ilong ko, pero bandang huli, tumawa siya tapos pinakapisil yung ilong ko.

“ARAAAY!” I yelled.

Natawa siya tapos parang super sayang binalikan yung pagkain niya ng cake.

“Masakit kaya yun no,” sabi ko habang hinihimas himas ko pa yun bwiset kong ilong. Bat kasi kelangan pa niyang pisilin?

“Sorry na. Kain ka na lang ulit.”

“Ay ayoko na. NaBV na kaya ako sayo.”

“Kain na.”

Eye-roll. “Ayoko.”

“Dali na. O gusto mo subuan pa kita eh.”

“Ay ewan ko sayo.”

Tinusok-tusok daw niya ko sa tagiliran ko. “Dali naaaa.”

“Huy ano ba!? Nakikiliti ako!” I pushed him away. “Kakain na, kakain na…”

Bandang huli, kumain lang ulit ako. Di bale na. Masarap naman yung cake eh. LOL.

-

“DITO? LUL, NAKAINOM KA BA NG GAMOT MO?” tanong ko kay AJ with super duper hyper extra extra wide eyes.

He frowned. “Gamot, gamot ka diyan. Batukan kita eh.”

“Wag mo nga kong niloloko. Tara na. Baka malate pa ko ng uwi,” I muttered. “Dali na.”

“Sira. Pasok ka na kasi.”

Here’s what happened. Sabi niya bilhan ko siya ng gift. Tinanong ko saan. Tapos dinala daw niya ko dito. O, gusto niyong malaman kung saan dito? Sa isang girls boutique, na may mga… girly stuffs. My gawsh, nalilihis ata ng landas tong lalaking (or binabaeng) ito.

“Anong bibilhin mo dito?” Sakto may nakita akong flyer, tapos kinuha ko at hinarap sa kanya. “Tong mga discounted earrings? Hello? Baka naman sa kabila yung ibig mong sabihin.”

“Hindi. Dito nga. Ayan. Piliin mo yung pinakamaganda diyan.” Tinuro niya yung mga set ng necklace, earrings, and bracelet.

“Hindi ko to afford. At kung pinapabili mo to para ibigay mo sa date mo sa prom para dagdag pogi points, ikaw na lang bumili no.”

“Ayy. Wala na kasing makulit. Pumili ka na lang.” He glared at me and made maktol-maktol.

“Bahala ka. Bukas, pag nakalat sa school na bakla ka, alam mo na kung sinong may pala.”

“Subukan mo lang magkalat ng mga kasinungalingan mo, tignan lang natin.”

Sus. Akala mo ang tapang tapang eh.

Ayun. I spent the rest of the time looking at the necklaces, pero I was still contemplating as to why this person wants to buy a jewelry set. Pero sige ah, ito yung sa tingin kong reason kung bakit niya ko pinapapili: Bibigay niya sa akin. LOL. Okay. Ako na’ang makapal. Pero kung ako lang din magbabayad, eh di walang sense? Baka naman bayaran niya? LOLJK. Makapal na makapal na talaga pagmumukha ko.

Maya-maya, napili ko yung simpleng set na super ganda. Yung pendant na dolphin. Maliit lang. Yung bracelet, simple lang din. May isang dolphin charm din. Yung earrings dangling na parang kabud lang lines.

“Ito?” he asked me.

I nodded. “Ang ganda kaya. Tapos yan lang naman yung afford ko.”

He scoffed. “O sige. Bahala ka.”

“Teka, AJ. Para san ba kasi talaga to?”

Hindi ko yata masisikmura na makikita kong may ibang may suot nito.

“Para sa akin ba to?” I even asked.

Natawa siya. As in solid lakas ng tawa niya. Super duper solid lakas. I blushed. Pahiyang pahiya kaya ako. Hello! Sinong hindi mapapahiya sa ginawang pagtawa niya right after tinanong ko kung para sa akin nga?

Hinampas ko siya. “Tama na.”

He smiled. “Ganito kasi yan. You know I don’t have a thing for choosing the right things,” he said.

OMG, OMG, OMG. He’s giving them to his date! OMG! I’ll have to suffer seeing the bruhilda wearing the jewelry set!

“So, I asked for your help. Di ba nung elem tayo, nagustuhan ni Mama yung binigay mong bracelet sa kanya? And that you have the same tastes? Kaya ayun. Naisipan kong ikaw na lang papiliin ko nung ibibigay ko kay Mama.”

Toinks.

Gosh, solid pahiya. L

“O siya, siya. Hindi naman talaga yan yung gift na hiningi ko.”

“E ano?”

“Basta.”

And then he paid for the set.

Dang dami ng sikreto ng taong to.

-

“Ahhh, so umuwi sina Tita for your birthday?” I asked him.

He nodded. “Yup. Kaya kahit papano, masaya ako.”

“E kung birthday mo, bat ikaw namimigay ng gift?” I asked him.

“Hindi naman. I just want Mom to feel special every time I’m with her. Remember, di ba nga minsan lang kaming magsamasama?”

I nodded. “Ahhh…”

“Saan tayo pupunta?” I asked him.

“Bibili akong T shirt.”

“Ako ba yung magbabayad?” tanong ko. Medyo may kamahalan kasi yung mga gustong T shirt ni AJ e. Lagi namang branded.

“Hindi. Ako nga yung bibili, dib a?”

Ayun.

Sa department store kami tumagal. Pero ayos lang. Masaya naman kami kahit papano. Nakakatawa nga lang talaga siya.

Nung napagod kami, bumalik kami sa may fountain.

“Hindi pa tayo nagdinner,” I said. “Yun na lang yung gift ko sa’yo. Dinner na lang. Kapos nap o budget ko.”

“Kuripot ka talaga,” he muttered. Mukhang naBV.

“E ano nga ba kasing gusto mong gift?”

“After dinner.”

Argh.

Ayun. We ate at Tokyo Tokyo. Singkagalingan nga kaming magchopsticks e.

“Sus, hindi ka naman pala marunong magchopsticks,” I mocked.

He tossed the chopsticks away. “Ayba, paki ko? Hindi naman ako Japanese para matutong magchopsticks. Palibhasa kasi, ikaw, may balak mag Japayuki.”

I glared at him. “Harhar. Nakakatawa.”

He laughed.

“Ang sabihin mo, hindi ka lang talaga marunong,” pagpaparinig ko.

Wala man daw siyang pakialam.

-

“Dito? Dito mo gustong mabili yung gift ko sa’yo?” I asked him.

He smiled.

Kasi, dinala niya ko ulit dun sa fountain. Gabing gabi na nga eh.

“Wala namang pagbibilhan dito.”

Yung fountain, pinakaevent center ng mall yun. Outdoors stage. Tapos mukhang may gig pa today, kasi merong mga tao na nakaupo sa harap nung stage. Hindi naman kami ganun kalayo sa stage, pero hindi rin kami ganun kalapit.

Parang at that moment, kami lang dalawa ni AJ yung mahalaga.

Somewhere in the backdrop, nagpalakpakan yung mga tao.

“Hindi naman kasi nabibili yung gift na gusto ko.”

Kinutuban ako dun.

Sa stage, nagsalita na yung lead singer ng banda na tutugtog. Something about the song dedicated to everyone who matters to him.

“E-eh anong gusto mo?” I averted my gaze from his.

It was swift. I didn’t see it coming. And maybe even if I did see it coming, I wouldn’t have done anything to prevent it from happening.

We kissed.

Just… like… that.

In the backdrop, nagkanta yung banda.

Sandalan. Yun yung song. The same song Ethan sang to me nung pinilit ko siyang maggitara.

It made me think of Ethan…

Of Ethan…

Of his voice…

I pushed AJ away.

He looked shocked. Like he didn’t expect that.

My eyes trained over to the stage, and I saw that familiar figure. I realized whose voice it was.

“J-jake…”

“I-I—” I began, then looked at AJ. The expression on his face was of shock and hurt.

“I-I’m sorry.”

*eleven

Ethan’s POV:

I must have been imagining it. I must have been.

Pero andiyan siya eh.

It wasn’t anything else. It was just… her. Just her.

Running. Running away. With tears in her eyes. The song ended. Nagpalakpakan yung mga tao, but my eyes were just trained on her.

Crying? Bat naman siya iiyak? Why would Mikela cry? Baka naman hindi si Mikela yun.

Pero I saw.

And I know what I saw.

Just like that, nawala na siya.

I pushed out all the desire to call out to her, to ask her what’s wrong. After all, I already told myself that I would forget about her. I would forget about her, and I woulnd’t bother ever talking to her again.

It had to end that way.

J’s POV:

I didn’t expect that.

I didn’t think she’d push me away.

I swear there were tears in her eyes when she ran off.

Pero if she pushed me away, then it meant that I didn’t have to know what she was feeling. That she didn’t want me near. That I shouldn’t chase her.

Pero why do I have the feeling…

That she doesn’t want me near anymore? As in, forever?

-

Jake’s POV:

The dress looked completely… ewan.

“Hindi ko to bagay,” I said kaagad.

Pagkakitang pagkakita ko palang sa dress, my mind was already rejecting it.

Prishe frowned at me. “Baliw ka ba? It suits you. Kahit color nga lang, saktong sakto.”

I sighed.

Maganda yung gown. Solid ganda.

Simple lang siya. Cocktail, stopping one inch above my knees (as estimated). Tapos spaghetti-strapped. Simple lang siya, pero maganda talaga. The color was a pale pink. Hindi siya exactly pink talaga eh. Something lighter. Almost as if white lang siya na may slightest hint of pink. Like a seashell.

“Pero hindi ko talaga afford eh.”

“Don’t worry. It’s my gift to you,” Prishe told me. “Sige na naman o. Tanggapin mo na. I had it made especially for you. Prom’s just around the corner, pero wala ka man lang ganang maghanap ng dress mo.”

I looked down. “Well, I really didn’t think much of it.”

She nodded. “Mauna na ko.”

“Di ka magdidinner dito?”

She shook her head. “Curfew, remember?”

Right.

-

“Jake?”

I looked up. It was AJ.

My first kiss. My first real kiss.

I stood up to leave.

“Jake. Listen.”

Nagstop ako.

“Yung nangyari two days ago…”

I sighed. “AJ. Don’t. Don’t even start.”

He scoffed. “It was just a kiss. A spur of the moment thing. I was just…” he trailed off.

“Exactly,” I told him. “It was just a kiss. Nothing big.”

“Nothing big? E bat hindi ka namamansin?”

“Aba, never naman talaga kitang pinansin ah. Kelan pa ba tayo naging ganon kaclose para everyday may pansinan?”

“It’s obvious you’re avoiding me because of the kiss.”

“AJ.” I looked at him. “It’s just that it wasn’t… It wasn’t meant to be. Like you said, it was just a spur of the moment thing.”

“Aish! Ewan ko!” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Ganito kasi yan.”

“AJ. I don’t—I don’t really care, okay? We kissed. So what?” tanong ko. I tried to blink back the tears. Naluluha na kasi ako eh.

“So what?” Yung tono niya, parang defeated. “You really don’t care?”

“No—Yes—Ewan. Siguro. I—I don’t know!” I shook my head, sniffed, and wiped my tears away. “Ewan ko talaga.”

He looked at me. Kakaiba yung expression niya.

I turned away and started to leave.

Maybe it was my imagination, or baka guni-guni ko lang, or maybe may ghost na tumatawag sakin. It could’ve been anything—pero I can almost swear I heard him murmur my name.

Ethan’s POV:

They… kissed?

They kissed. They kissed.

I walked along, not daring to stop and look at them. Mikela and AJ. I just walked.

My phone rang.

Sinagot ko.

“O?”

“Ethan! Wala lang. Si Jojo to.”

“Oo nga. Ahh, anong meron?”

I still walked. I clenched my fists. I was half-thinking of everything in that moment. I was still thinking…

They kissed.

“Jamming. Mamaya. Kina Xiawen.”

“Ahhh…” sabi ko.

“Punta ka?”

“Alangang hinde.”

“Sows. Ganito kasi yan. Masaya kami na pumayag kang tumugtog ulit kasama kami. I mean, dib a nung first year tayo, talagang pinlano na nating magbanda?”

“So?”

“It just wasn’t complete without you. Ngayong sumali ka na ulit sa banda, we’re just happy.”

“Ahhh. Okay.”

“Pare, ayos ka lang ba? Parang may something eh.”

“Wala. Wala. Ayos lang ako.”

He paused.

“Ano?” I asked.

“Sigurado ka ah?”

“Yup.”

“O sige… Bye.”

“Bye.”

He hung up.

I stopped walking along the corridor.

Mikela’s face flashed in my mind. And all I could think was an image of her kissing AJ.

Argh.

Ano ba to?

Why am I even hurt?

Shouldn’t I have seen it coming?

Isa pa, bakit galit ako? It doesn’t have anything to do with me. It never did.

I should never have cared.

I should have forgotten about her.

I should have… I should have…

ERR.

It’s complicated. SHE’S complicated. Wala naman siyang ibang ginawa kundi guluhin yung utak ko e.

Because of her, I don’t even know my own feelings.

Jake’s POV:

I stopped walking, my eyes blurred with tears. Buti na lang dismissal na at konti na lang yung tao.

A few steps away, I could see someone. Standing. Just standing.

Ethan?

Was it Ethan?

Could it be the person whose face flashed in my mind the second AJ kissed me?

Hindi ako makasigurado with all the tears. Pinahid ko paalis yung mga luha ko.

But by the time I could see everything clearly, wala na siya. Wala na yung taong nakatayo lang dun. Wala na yung taong pinakuna kong naisip na masasandalan ko.

For a second, I suddenly realized I never really saw things clearly… even without the tears.

Hindi ko alam… Hindi ko talaga alam…

Because one second, he was just here, and the next, he was nowhere to be seen. It felt like he’s leaving me. Truly leaving me.

*twelve

Jake’s POV:

Tanga. Tanga. Tanga ka talaga.

See? Wala man akong number ni Ethan. Iniiwasan niya ko sa school. Bukas na yung prom, pero ni hindi man ako sure kung siya pa nga ba yung date ko o hindi. It was like, at one point, parang may nag-iba. Lumayo siya.

Ah shucks. Ano nang gagawin ko? I might just show up without a date.

I sat in my room and closed my eyes.

Nung birthday ni AJ…

I can remember it. The kiss. The song. I can even remember the sound of Ethan’s voice. Hindi ko lang alam, but it sure did sound like him.

Turning point yung birthday ni AJ.

Why?

1. The kiss wasn’t what I expected.

2. I wasn’t supposed to think of Ethan.

3. I DID think of Ethan.

4. I didn’t feel any spark the moment AJ’s lips touched mine. No fireworks I dreamt would explode. No… nothing.

5. Bat nababagabag ako sa pag-iwas ni Ethan? Surely, it’s not anything, right?

Aish.

Ewan.

My life’s a huge mess right now, tapos nai-stress pa ko dahil sa bwiset na prom na yan. What was wrong with Ethan?

Akala ko pa man din he was finally opening up to me.

I sighed. Saan ko ba kasi siya mahahanap? He doesn’t have any friends, so wala akong kakilala na pwedeng may number niya. It’s frustrating. Nakakabanas. I feel almost helpless. There’s just this feeling na baka mag-iba lahat.

-

“Huy Ela,” Ate Rachel called me.

Sa bahay kasi, tawag naman sakin Ela e. “Ano?”

It was 5:00 p.m. Sakto pa nga e. Ate Rachel called me nung pababa na ko galing sa kwarto ko. Wala tayong magagawa, ginutom ako bigla e. Meron pa yatang natirang pandesal kanina.

“Bili ka ng pansit. Bihon.”

Napakamot ako. “Bibili pa ko? Aish. Ayoko.”

“Dali na.”

I grumbled past her, pero wala naman akong choice e. “Ilang balot?”

“Mga dalawa siguro. Tapos daan ka na ring palengke. Bili kang pansahog. Carrots, bell pepper, atsaka sibuyas pa. Meron pa naman tayong ibang gulay, di ba?”

I nodded. “Oo na. Oo na. Pera?”

“Nagdadabog ka?” she dared me, a mocking expression on his face.

I smiled sarcastically at her. “Hindi po, ATE.”

She smiled at me, too. The same way I did.

Lumabas na ko, got on my bike, and whoosh. Ganun lang. Papuntang palengke pa yan ah. Biruin niyo, nagbabike pa ko.

Ethan’s POV:

I stopped for a moment. Delete number: Yes? No?

Frustrating. Completely frustrating. May two hours na ko sigurong nag-iisip kung idedelete ‘ko ‘yung number niya o hindi. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapagdecide e.

I shouldn’t even have her number in the first place. I shouldn’t have even dared figuring out ways on how I could get her number (I looked at her cell phone, by the way, when she wasn’t looking. I s-shouldn’t be sorry, right? Right…?).

“Huy Ethan. Nakikinig ka ba?” puna ni Jojo. “Sino ba yang katext mo at hindi mo na pinapansin pinaggagagawa natin?”

“Wala ‘no. Asa pa,” I muttered.

“Uy shu. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Jo clicked his tongue. “Kapag kami may nadiscover… Ikaw ah.”

“Ewan ko sa inyo. Wala nga e.” I glared at all of them. Kay Jo. Kay Lyle. Kay Gheremy. Kay Ken. Lahat kaya sila binibigyan ako ng doubtful look. “Ayy! Tara na nga, magpractice na tayo.”

I left my phone, picked up my guitar, and we started practicing.

Maybe fifteen minutes later, nagpaalam akong kukuha ako ng coke sa ref sa baba (nasa bahay kami ni Ken, na pinakamayaman). Try niyo kayang magkanta ng nonstop, tignan natin kung hindi kayo mauuhaw kaagad.

Jake’s POV:

Nagbababike na ko pauwi nun. As in nasa loob na ko ng subdivision. Yung bihon, tsaka yung gulay, nakasakwit lang sa kamay ko.

Kaso nung nasa may clubhouse na ko, nagring yung phone ko. Nagstop muna akong magpedal. Tapos chineck ko yung phone ko. Unregistered number e. I answered tentatively.

“Hello?”

Walang sumagot.

“H-hello?”

Wala pa rin.

Ibaba ko n asana, hanggang sa may narinig akong: “Hoy! Phone ko yan! Pucha, amina!”

“E-Ethan!” someone—a boy (or three boys ata e)—shouted, and the line went dead.

I stopped. Ethan. His voice. It’s his phone. His number. Napasmile ako sa sarili ko. I stepped off the bike, redialed his number and waited for him to answer.

Inulit-ulit ko. Nakakailang missed calls na siguro ako.

The only problem is…

Hindi naman siya sumasagot.

I sent him a text message.

ETHAN! Sumagot k nmn o. Pg nkta kta, mauupakan k sa kn.

–

Ethan’s POV:

Natapos na rin kami sa pagjajamming namin. I went back to the couch. I saw my phone. 27 missed calls from… Mikela?

And one text message.

I read it.

I scoffed after reading it. E di lalo na ‘kong hindi nagpakita sa kanya?

She’s still the same. She hasn’t changed.

Too bad I already changed.

I decided to text her.

Jump Park, 6:30.

Message sent.

“Uwi na tayo,” yaya ni Ken sa ‘kin.

“Dadaan pa kong jump park,” I told him.

“Ahhh. Okay.”

Naglakad lang ako papunta sa park. Habang naglalakad ako, I received her text message: Yes! Ppnta na ko.

I waited there. Waited for her. Waited for the time that I would have to tell her everything.

Jake’s POV:

I could see him. Binilisan ko yung pagbabike ko. Pagdating ko dun, I was panting.

“Ethan!”

He looked at me.

Kadiri siguro ako. All sweaty, and disgusting, and probably worse pa yung hair ko na kanina nakaponytail.

“Hi Ethan! Ang tagal na kitang—”

“Mikela.”

Napatigil ako sa seriousness ng boses niya.

“A-ano?” tanong ko.

“About prom tomorrow…” he began. Ayokong marinig kung ano man yung sasabihin niya. Ayokong malaman. I can’t shake off the feeling that it’s something bad. “I don’t think I could be your date.”

Napatigil ako.

“It just wasn’t meant to be.”

I looked down.

“Sige. Mauna na ko.”

He turned to leave.

“Ethan!” I yelled. “Pinagbike mo ko hanggang ditto para lang sabihin yon? Tignan mo nga ako, para akong narape! Ang gulo-gulo ng buhok ko, ang pawis pawis ko! Tapos you’re just saying na ayaw mo kong maging date!? Ganon? GANON?” I laughed bitterly. “Ethan. I… I…”

“Don’t worry. You look pretty, kahit na mukha ka ngang narape.”

I stopped.

“Ethan… Ano bang nangyari?”

I knew he heard me. Sigurado ako.

But he didn’t stop. He didn’t look back. He chose not to answer.

Fine. Have it his way. FINE.

I turned around and headed to the opposite direction…

Never wanting to turn back either.

*thirteen

Jake’s POV:

Magulo. Yan lang masasabi ko sa buhay ko ngayon. Lahat magulo.

Well, except yung buhok ko, na super ganda ng pagka-ayos. Da best kasing mag-ayos na buhok si Karoll e. Simple lang yung pagkakaayos. Medyo nakatwist sa likod, with wavy strands framing my face, and the rest of my hair cascading in large curls behind me from the twist. Parang ponytail na super complicated.

“Ayan. Suot mo na yung gown mo,” Karyl said. Silang dalawa kasama ko ngayon. Si Karyl at si Karoll.

“Pupunta pa ba talaga ako?” tanong ko. Hindi na kasi ako sigurado.

“Oo naman. Sayang yung effort diyan sa buhok mo no!” irap ni Karoll.

Natawa kaming tatlo.

I might have a very beautiful prom dress.

I might have the greatest hairdo in the world.

I could have everything in my grasp, if I wanted to.

Pero yung fact na naguguluhan ako sa sariling feelings ko…

It complicates everything.

“Ang ganda ng dress mo, sana damit ka na lang.”Karyl told me when I emerged from the bedroom.

Inirapan ko siya. “Heh!”

“Makeup naman,” sabi ni Karyl, gersturing for me to sit in front of the mirror.

“Go.”

Grabe. Kapag pala naguguluhan yung tao, pwede silang magbuhay prinsesa.

…Prinsesang walang prince charming.

–

I looked at myself.

Ang ganda talaga nung gown, with that pale, shell pink. When light strikes it, dun lang nahahalata yung pagka pink niya, otherwise, you’d think it’s almost white.

And yung makeup, na light lang yung pagkakaapply pero maganda yung effect. Even my hair.

“Salamat,” I told both of them.

Mas maganda sila kesa sa akin. Simple lang yung dating ko. Bongga talaga sila.

Karyl has her fluffy, yellow full gown. And nakalugay lang yung curled hair niya, pero once you see her, maaamaze ka talaga. She’s so beautiful na mukhang doll na super gentle.

Karoll has a full gown too. The colors shift when you look at it in a different angle. Parang yung green violet something kapag nakakakita ng peacock. Ewan. It’s so beautiful, with her hair on an eloquent twist na bagay na bagay niya.

They’re the kinds of girls na pagpasok nila, mapapatingin ka talaga.

Sure, you can say I look pretty too (for a change), pero simple lang yung dating ko. Like how I want it to be.

My last prom.

The last big thing before graduation.

And we all know what would happen after graduation.

Matagal na naming alam, so we’re making the best out of everything. I just wish prom was perfect, as how I pictured it.

Malayo. Malayong malayo yung mangyayari sa prom later, sa naimagine ko.

Pero it’s, as honest as I can be, enough.

–

We arrive at the venue. A restaurant big enough to hold us all Juniors and Seniors.

The moment na pumasok kaming magkakabarkada, I felt different.

Like… this could mean everything in the end.

My eyes meet AJ’s. Kasama niya yung date niya. Si Lianne, our Miss Intrams. Black cocktail dress. Maganda rin. Bagay na bagay niya.

I smiled at both of them. Kahit papano, right?

AJ walked to me, after excusing himself from Lianne.

“Babae ka na pala,” he said. Like nothing ever happened. Like… everything was normal.

“Matagal na,” I answered. “Yung date mo, baka amagin dun.”

“Saglit nga lang o. Asan na yung date mo? Di ba sabi mo Ethan asked you out?” He smirked. Pero iba yung glint sa mata niya. Basta iba.

I looked down. “Well, Ethan… he…”

“I’m here.”

Napalingon ako, and I saw him there. Just standing there, looking carelessly gorgeous.

“Pero I didn’t ask her out,” nilaglag niya ko.

I looked down.

“Y-you didn’t?” AJ sounded surprised. I guess kahit papano, he thought na date ko talaga si Ethan, kahit na iniinis-inis lang niya ko.

He shook his head. But then, he started walking away.

AJ glanced at me.

I smiled. “Go. Baka magalit na yung date mo.”

Tumango siya. “By the way, you look pretty.” And he walked away too.

Prishe nudged me. “O, ayos ka na dun? He told you that you look pretty!”

“Alam ko no. Hindi ako bingi.”

Prishe rolled her eyes. “Sungit.”

Talaga.

After dancing with a couple of boys (oo, marami ding nagtanong sa akin, but that’s because I’m friendly, and I have lots of friends who happen to be boys). Masaya rin. Even AJ.

“Jake? Sayaw tayo?”

“Baka naman may hidden agenda ka. Baka naman itulak mo lang ako or something.”

“Sabi mo e. Gusto mo gawin ko?” Sungit mode na naman siya.

“Tss.” I made a face. “Tara na nga. Tapakan kita sa heels ko.”

“Subukan mo lang, ilalaglag talaga kita.”

Ayun. Iginiya niya ko sa gitna. We started to dance.

“Uhhh, Jake?”

“Ano?” Sungit mode na naman ako.

“Bat ba ang sungit mo? Tapos kapag kay Ethan, tawa ka lang nang tawa na parang baliw.”

“Paki mo?”

Something inside me shifted nung narinig ko yung pangalan ni Ethan.

“Ganon? Ganon?”

Inirapan ko siya. “Oo GANON.”

“Sungit talaga.”

“Ewan ko sayo.”

Ayun. Nakakatawa, kasi bangayan lang kami habang sumasayaw. And yeah, kahit na medyo kinikilig ako, medyo lang talaga.

After niya kong sinayaw, lumabas muna ako.

Medyo malamig ah.

I was hoping na lalabas din si Ethan.

After five minutes, tinext ko na siya. There’s no harm in trying, right?

Labas ka.

Yun lang sinabi ko.

After fifteen minutes, hindi pa rin siya lumalabas.

Nangawit ako, kaya umupo ako.

Dun ako sa may garden nung resto. May maliit na manmade pond, tapos may bridge para makapunta dun sa isang parang open cottage na maliit lang.

I stood waiting by the bridge.

Hindi ko alam bakit. But I just wanted to see him. Talk to him. Say something.

Pero wala.

Another ten minutes passed, hindi man siya lumabas.

I sighed and sat at the cottage-like structure.

Bahala na.

Ethan… There’s just something about you…

I think… crush ko rin siya.

Kahit medyo lang.

Moments passed.

“… Mikela?”

I looked up eagerly.

It wasn’t Ethan.

It wasn’t him.

“A-AJ.”

He looked at me.

Hindi ko na napigilan non. The tears just fell, for no reason at all. AJ wasn’t startled kahit na umiyak ako. Feel ko he somehow expected this. He sat beside me, inakbayan niya ko. The song from inside was playing. More Than a Band-Lemonade Mouth. One of the songs I like.

We swayed with the song as I silently cried.

“Ayos ka lang? Should I call your friends?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want them to know I’m crying.

Natapos na yung song. Nawala na rin yung tears. Hopefully, hindi nasira yung makeup. Hindi naman ata.

“AJ…? Why did you call me Mikela?” I asked him.

“Because he asked me to.”

I looked at my gloved hands. “E-Ethan did?”

“Oo.”

I nodded. I guess that’s all there is to it.

“Thanks,” I told AJ.

–

“Hi! Anong pangalan mo?”

I looked up, medyo hindi ko inexpect e.

First day of College. I moved to Bataan.

“Oh. Ako si Zarehn. Ito, si Freja. Wala lang. Hi.” She smiled.

Napangiti na rin ako. “Jane Mikela. But you can call me Ja—Mikela.”

“Mikela? Ayaw mo yung Jane?” Freja asked me.

I smiled. “I prefer Mikela.”

Because he said so.

–

Before graduation.

Ethan’s POV:

“Ethan!”

I looked at her.

It’s Mikela.

“What?” I asked her.

She also looked at me. She eyed my guitar. May something sa mata niya na hindi ko inexpect. Wala na kaming ginagawa sa school kundi practice para sa graduation e, pero marami rin kaming free time.

“Tugtugan mo ko.”

Napakunot noo ko. “Ikaw? Tugtugan ko?”

“Hello? May luga ka ba?” she grabbed my hand. “Tara, dali!”

Dinala niya ko sa Sci Park.

“Why are you pretending like everything’s okay?” I asked her. “Why?” I tried not to sound bitter.

“Ha? Isn’t everything okay?” she asked me innocently.

“I thought I made things clear nung prom.”

She shook her head. “You didn’t make things clear, Ethan. You made me think differently. In fact, ginulo mo nga lahat e.”

I scoffed. “Ikaw nga nanggulo ng buhay ko e.”

“Ako?” she asked me. “How?”

I bit my lower lip.

“How?” tanong ulit niya. This time, her eyes started to fill with tears. “Ethan, because of you, naguluhan lang ako. Obvious na siguro yon.”

“Mas naguluhan ako, Ela. Ang ayos-ayos ng buhay ko, and then you show up. You had to show up. Kasalanan mo na bigla akong nagkagusto sa’yo when I shouldn’t have,” I told her, my voice steady. “I like you, and you’re to blame.”

She closed her eyes and teardrops fell.

“Guess what? I like you, too. And you’re to blame,” panggagaya niya sa’kin, her eyes closed.

When she reopened her eyes, she was staring at me.

I was paralyzed. Not just because of her words, but because she smiled at me. A sad smile.

“Bat ba kasi ang tangkad mo?” she muttered. She arched up and stood on her tiptoes. She kissed me on my cheek.

Ewan, namula ata ako.

“Ethan, I just wanted to tell you about this. Na dun sa time na nagkasama tayo, parang nagustuhan kita. I like you. I had to tell you, kasi I’m leaving. I’m leaving for Bataan soon.”

“W-what?” I froze. Napailing ako. “W-what are you talking about, Mikela?”

She smiled again. “Wala. Adik. Atsaka… it’s Jake, not Mikela.”

She started to walk away. Just… like… that.

“Wait.”

She stopped, turned back, and raised her eyebrows. She was already wiping her tears.

“You’re still Mikela,” I told her. “You’re still named Mikela. And… if you’re wondering… nung prom… You were beautiful. You always were.”

She smiled. “Salamat!” Back to her cheerful self. “Ikaw din. Super gwapo ka nun.”

“Babalik ka ba?”

She shrugged. “Siguro kung nakatrip ako.” She flashed me a mischievous smile. “Dapat tugtugan mo ko.”

Which reminded me…

“Sure. Pero siguraduhin mong dala mo yung pick mo.”

She raised her necklace. Yung pick. “Ito?” She looked at me doubtfully. I nodded. “Bakit?” tanong pa rin niya.

“Remember when you told me that AJ gave it to you?”

“O? Di ba nga napulot DAW niya? Feel ko sinadya naman niyang bilhin e, nahihiya lang siguro yun na sabihing sinadya niyang bigyan ako ng gift para sa birthday ko.”

I shook my head. “When he said napulot niya yan, napulot talaga niya.”

“Why are you so sure?”

I shrugged, and for the first time in months, I smiled at her. “Because I remember dropping it back then. It was mine. All along. What are the chances na mahuhulog ko yon, at mapupunta sayo in the end?”

She looked shocked. Hindi rin niya siguro inexpect. “Coincidences happen,” she murmured, almost inaudible.

I nodded. “They do. For a reason.”

She smiled. “Alam mo ba, yung nagkita ulit tayo—If we ever meet again… I’m sure that we’re meant to be,” were her last words before she ran off.

If we ever meet again.

I watched her walk away.

Something wasn’t quite right, but it felt okay.

For the first time in years, my mind was cleared. Coincidences happen for a reason, and I knew she’d be back someday. And that statement lingers. Already, I knew a part of the lyrics of the song I’d sing to her when she comes back—

If we ever meet again.

-end of Love Moves