Chapter 2

"Syrbia, mag taxi na lang kayo."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Papa. Sabay-sabay kaming kumakain ng umagahan ngayon. Today's the continuation of our class so I woke up early to get ready. I was actually excited about it. Hell, yeah. I missed holding books and pens.

"What? No!" malditang sagot ni Coleen. She put her utensils down, pouting her lips like a duck who was ready to drink.

"Hindi ko na kayo mahahatid, Coleen. Nagmamadali ako."

Nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ng kapatid ko at nagpangalumbaba habang mahaba pa rin ang nguso. Ang cute. Parang human version ni Annabelle.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain at nakinig lang sa usapan nila. Maaga pa naman. 8 AM pa ang simula ng first class ko. I don't need to rush eating. I still have time.

"Pa, you know naman na I don't like ng smell ng air-conditioning sa taxi. It gives me headache!" Coleen continued.

Napailing na lang ako. Kahit kailan napaka-arte. Okay lang naman sa' kin mag-taxi. Inubos ko ang pagkain sa plato ko pero hindi muna ako umalis. I waited them to finish their foods too before I stood up.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Nang matapos, bumaba na ulit ako. I put some liptint on my lips first bago pinagpag ang suot kong uniform. It was a pair of black skirt and white blouse with a logo of BSMA, the course I was taking, beside its pocket.

"Ma, ayokong mag-taxi!" reklamo ulit ni Coleen. Sinundan niya si Mama sa labas habang bitbit ang pouch na lagi niyang dala bukod sa bag niya. I was certain it contains liptint and other cosmetic stuffs that she either bought or took from my things.

"Syrbia." Lumingon ako kay Papa nang tawagin niya ako. "Baka late akong makauwi mamaya. 'Wag mong isara 'yong gate, baka hindi na naman ako pagbuksan ni Ria. Alam mo naman 'yang nanay mo."

"Anong sinasabi mo?" Biglang sumulpot si Mama sa likod niya.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Papa at parehong nanlaki ang mga mata. He cleared his throat before giving my mother a smile. "W-wala. Ang sabi ko maaga akong uuwi dahil baka mamiss kita agad," palusot niya.

Tumalikod na lang ako sa kanila. They fight like teenagers. They would often fight but after minutes, they would be okay already. I sometimes want to nag at them but I was aware I couldn't do that. Si Mama pa!

My forehead creased when I looked at Coleen. She was sitting on the couch while a smile was being plastered on her lips. She seemed thinking of something that is flattering. I wondered if what was exactly running inside her mind. Kanina lang halos ay inis na inis siya, ngayon naman parang tangang nakangiti.

"Kayong dalawa, lumabas na kayo at nakakahiya kay Joaquin. Sinabi kong isabay na lang kayo. Pareho lang naman ang pinapasukan niyong University, Syrbia. Idaan niyo na lang saglit si Coleen sa school niya. Maaga pa naman."

I immediately turned my head to Mama when I heard what she said. Anong sabay? Umiling-iling ako. Ayoko! Mas gusto ko pang mag-taxi kaysa sumabay sa Joaquin na 'yon!

"Ma, mag-taxi na lang kami!" I insisted. Mabilis na tumayo si Coleen at kinurot ako sa tagiliran ko. Masama ko siyang tinignan.

She shook her head. "No way! Ikaw na lang kung gusto mo, sasabay ako kay Joaquin."

I blinked. Did she just call him only by his name? Without saying kuya? Or did I just misheard it? I rolled my eyes. This kid, I knew she was interested in him. What a brat.

"Bakit ka ba nagrereklamo, Syrbia? Sumabay na kayo kay Joaquin," pag-pilit ni Mama.

Tumingin si Papa sa' min pagkatapos maisuot ang uniform niya. "Ria, kung ayaw ng anak mo, h'wag mong pilitin-" Hindi na naituloy ni Papa ang sasabihin niya nang tignan siya ni Mama nang masama. "Sige na, Syrbia. Pumayag ka na, makakatipid ka pa. Sayang ang ibabayad mo sa taxi."

Napakawak ako sa ulo ko at napapikit. Ano ba? Umagang-umaga naman. Malakas akong napabuntong hininga at hindi na nakipagtalo. Siguradong hindi din naman ako mananalo. Oh gosh. Can't I just avoid that Joaquin guy?

Binuksan ni Papa ang gate. Bumungad sa amin si Joaquin na prenteng nakasandal sa pinto ng kotse niya. It was a white Chevrolet Camaro. I surveyed his clothes. He was wearing his uniform. White polo with black slacks. I frowned when I saw him smile.

Kaagad na lumapit sa kanya si Coleen na malaki ang ngiti at namumula pa ang pisngi. "Hi," bungad niya kay Joaquin.

He smiled at the kid before slightly nodding at me. I looked away. Is that his way to greet me a good morning? Bakit? Close ba kami?

"Umalis na kayo at baka malate pa kayo," sabi ni Mama. "Salamat ulit, Joaquin, ha?"

Joaquin smiled. "Okay lang po. It's no big deal."

Pagbubuksan pa sana niya ako ng pintuan pero inunahan ko siya. Feeling gentleman. Inirapan ko siya at sumakay na sa passenger seat ng sasakyan niya habang si Coleen naman ay pumasok sa backseat.

I kept my mouth close until Joaquin opened the shotgun seat. Wala akong sasabihin at wala akong gugustuhing sabihin sa kanya. Baka isipin niyang feeling close ako or something.

Nakalabas na kami sa village noong magsalita si Coleen. "Are you single?" she suddenly asked to Joaquin.

Hindi ko napigilang magsalubong ang kilay ko. Kailan pa siya naging interesado sa relationship status ng iba? Sinilip siya ni Joaquin sa rear view mirror at mahinang natawa.

"Why are you curious?" He was smiling.

She shrugged. "Nothing. But if you don't have a girlfriend then wait for me until I turn eighteen." Coleen giggled.

I faced her in an instant. This witch! Where the hell did she learn that? Flirting?! Really?!

I heard the annoying laugh of Joaquin. "If that's what you want," he jokingly answered, still laughing.

Muli akong bumaling kay Coleen. She was biting her lower lip. My god! She was blushing, what the fuck?!

The car stopped in front of my sister's school. Umikot si Joaquin at pinagbuksan ng pinto ang kapatid ko. Mabilis namang bumaba si Coleen, namumula pa rin ang mga pisngi.

"Bye! See you later!" she said and even did a flying kiss before running inside her school.

I held my forehead. For God's sake, she's only 7 years old!

"Cute, 'no?" Joaquin complimented my sister as he started driving.

"Yeah, whatever."

Tumawa lang siya, tutok ang mga mata sa daan. "Sungit."

Umirap ako at tumingin na lang sa bintana. Mas gusto ko pang makita ang matataas na building na dinadaanan namin dito sa Manila kaysa sa mukha ng kasama ko ngayon.

"Nagka-boyfriend ka na ba?" he asked out of the blue.

I looked at him with confusion on my face. "Bakit mo tinatanong?"

"Masama ba?"

"Wala pa. Hindi. Ayoko," I said. "I'm 'NBSB' for your information," I bragged.

"What? Am I your first kiss?" gulat at magkasunod na tanong niya.

Why is he asking so many questions like we're that close to each other? "No! Assuming," I told him.

But you're my first french kiss, dumbass!

"You told me you're 'NBSB'," he said the last word in a mocking tone.

"Oo nga! But that doesn't mean that you're my first kiss. Nahalikan mo lang ikaw na agad?" balik na sagot ko.

Totoo naman kasi. I could still remember Enzo, my childhood friend in Nueva Ecija who stole a peck on my lips. I didn't like that, of course. Gosh, I think I was only 10 years old back then!

I actually grew up in my mother's province. My age was already 10 when my parents decided to permanently stay here in Manila. I sighed. I miss N.E!

"Ang sungit. Kaya siguro walang boyfriend." Sinulyapan niya ako, nang-aasar.

I furrowed my brows. How dare he judge me like that? I had suitors before! The urge to slap him with love letters that I received from those guys was so powerful. Ang kaso ay nawala ko na ang mga 'yon kaya 'wag na lang.

"That's not the reason, stop judging me."

"Masungit ka naman talaga, ah?" He glanced at me for the second time.

"Sayo lang! Bakit? Are you expecting me to welcome you with open arms after what you've done to me? You kissed me and slapped my ass!" Habol ko ang hininga ko. Siya pa talaga ang may ganang mag-demand sa ugali ko?!

He sighed. "Okay, I'm sorry. I thought you were asking me to kiss you that day," kalmadong sagot niya habang sa daan pa rin ang tingin.

"Why would I ask for a kiss to a stranger like you?!" Hindi ko na talaga mapakalma ang sarili ko. Why would he think that I wanted a freaking kiss from him?!

"Bakit kasi ngumuso ka? As if you're asking to be kissed." He rolled his eyes.

"Wow, so it's my damn fault now?"

He shook his head. "Sige, half-half tayo. Para fair."

Oh my gosh, he's so annoying.

"Yeah. Stop talking to me," sabi ko na lang at hindi na nagsalita.

Ilang saglit pa, nakarating na kami sa parking lot ng University. Pagkapark niya, walang sabi-sabi kong binuksan ang pinto at bumaba sa sasakyan niya.

"Wala man lang thank you?" I heard him again.

I glanced at him. "Thanks. I hope not to see you again. Bye."

Tumalikod na ako at naglakad papasok sa University. Sinadya kong maglakad nang mabilis para hindi na niya ako abutan. I don't want other people to get the wrong idea.

Lumapit ako kay Zea nang makasalubong ko siya. "Ayos, ah. Mukhang balik landi na ulit." I slightly pushed her shoulder. Saglit niya akong tinignan bago muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa hawak na phone.

"Alam mo kasi, life is short. Kaya nga sinasanay ko na ang sarili ko sa langit," sagot niya, busy pa rin sa kaka-text.

"Sure ka tatanggapin ka ro'n?" panglalait ko.

Ngumisi siya. "Oo. Mamayang gabi na nga ang appointment ko papuntang langit."

Hinatak ko lang ang buhok niya. Malandi talaga. Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa building namin. Blockmates kaming tatlo nila Inna. Si Jhannus naman ay nalipat sa kabilang section last year, noong nag-second year kami. On the other hand, Yzza was a year older than the 4 of us. She also took different course so we weren't in the same building. Bandang likod pa ang building ng kaniya.

Pagkadating namin sa room, wala pa si Mr. Sable, prof namin sa income taxation, kaya medyo nagkakagulo pa ang mga kaklase namin at nagkakaundagaga sa pagrereview.

I sat on my chair calmly, knowing that I have nothing to worry about. I reviewed. I didn't have to cram like them. I just grabbed a pen inside my bag and wrote nonsense things on the last page of my notebook to entertain myself while waiting for our prof.

Ibinaba ko ang ball pen na hawak ko nang tumabi sa akin si Inna, nakasimangot habang hawak ang cellphone niya.

"Problema mo?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Tinawanan ni Zea si Inna. "M.U pa tanga." She was gleeful, parang ang saya pa.

"Ano bang nangyari?" ulit ko.

Si Zea na naman ang sumagot. "Wala na sila no'ng engineering student! Sabi ko naman kasi sayo Inna, 'wag mong ife-flex sa twitter. Header pa niya ih."

"Ikaw na demonyo ka pwede bang tigilan mo 'ko?" inis na sagot sa kanya ni Inna.

Sasabat pa sana ako pero biglang dumating si Mr. Sable kaya umayos na lang ako ng upo. "I'll give you 5 minutes to get ready for the exam," he told us before going outside the room to answer a call.

The class didn't take that long because the prof gave us a short but not actually that short period of time to finish the exam. Umiikot pa siya habang may hawak na timer sa kamay kaya medyo mabilis lang talagang natapos ang klase.

"Tangina, sa wakas!" sigaw ni Zea habang papunta kaming canteen. "Hayop talaga 'yang  income taxation na 'yan. Sakit sa ulo ampota."

Umupo kami sa table malapit sa pinto ng canteen. Si Inna na ang tumayo para bumili ng pagkain. Maya maya, natanaw ko na agad ang dalawa na papalapit samin. Jhannus took the seat beside me while Yzza followed Inna in the counter.

Tumaas ang dawang kilay ko kay Jhannus nang tignan niya ako nang nakakaloko. "Ano?" Nagkabit-balikat ako.

He grinned. "Nakita kita kanina. Sino naghatid sayo? Jowa mo?"

Nasamid si Zea sa sinabi ni Jhannus kaya inabot ko ang tumbler na nasa harap ko. "Putangina, may jowa ka na? Congrats, Kiela Syrbia Dela Vega, dalaga ka na!" she teased while clapping.

"Hindi ko boyfriend 'yon, mga tanga," paglilinaw ko.

Jhannus hit my shoulder a little. "H'wag ka nang mahiya, gwapo nga!"

Umiling ako. "Ang kulit n'yo. Hindi nga."

"H'wag gan'yan, sis. Kapag yummy, be proud!" dagdag ni Zea.

Hindi na lang ako sumagot. Bahala sila. Hindi naman totoo. That.. Joaquin, he isn't my type! I have no interest in him. Ugh. I knew people around me would get the wrong idea. Oh gosh, I didn't like issues!

Kinalabit ako ni Jhannus. "Diba siya 'yon?"

I put his finger down when he pointed at Joaquin who just went inside the canteen. "H'wag mong ituro!" mariin kong bulong.

"Siya ba naghatid sa' yo Kiela?" ulit na tanong ni Zea, nakaturo din kay Joaquin kaya hinampas ko ang kamay niya.

"Stop pointing at him! He might think that we're talking about him," I whispered, leaning closer to them.

"Siya naman talaga pinag-uusapan natin," kunot noong sabi ni Jhannus.

Sumandal si Zea sa upuan niya. "Oo nga naman. Ano ba pangalan no'n?"

Tignan ko ulit si Joaquin. Nakangiti siya habang may kasamang lalaki na naka-akbay sa'kanya. Kaagad akong nag-iwas ng tingin noong mapatingin siya sa gawi namin.

"Joaquin," sagot ko kay Zea.

Tumango siya. "Gwapo," bulong niya.

I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. Fine! He's really good looking but he's annoying, too. Naiinis ako kapag nakikita ko siya, anong magagawa ko?!

"Hoy, papunta siya dito!" excited na bulong ni Jhannus sa akin dahilan para muli akong mag-angat ng tingin.

Bakit ba siya lalapit?!

Malaki ang ngiti niya habang naglalakad palapit sa inuupuan namin kasama iyong lalaking naka-akbay sa kanya. My brows were furrowed when he stood in front of me.

"Kakain kayo?" Joaquin asked.

I looked at him. "Obvious ba?"

He chuckled before leaning closer to fix my furrowed brows using his hands. I moved my face away from him. What is he doing?!

"Go away!"

He shook his head, smiling at my reaction. Bakit ba ngiti siya nang ngiti?! May nakakatawa ba sa mukha ko?! He was making me feel conscious!

"Miss, 'wag ka masyadong masungit. Bahala ka, maaga kang tatanda n'yan," pananakot ng kasama niya.

I waved my hand and smiled at the man sarcastically. What a great tandem they have. Tinanguan ko silang dalawa, signing them to leave me.

Joaquin chuckled before nodding. "Let's go, Aid," he told his friend. Sumulyap pa siya sa 'kin kaya umirap ako.

Nakita kong bahagyang tinulak ng lalaki ang balikat ni Joaquin habang naglalakad sila palayo sa pwesto namin. I grabbed my tumbler to drink while I was watching them walking away.

"Crush mo ba 'yon?" rinig ko pang tanong no'ng Aid bago sila tuluyang makalayo.

Joaquin chuckled. "Medyo."

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