CHAPTER NINE:Fall

CRISTEPHARIE

Pagka-sabi niya nun ay nag-suot siya ng headphones at muling sinubo ang lollipop na kinakain niya bago binulsa ang mga kamay at nag-lakad palayo.

Habang ako, naiwang tulala habang pinagma-masdan ang likod niyang palayo sakin. Naka-kaasar yung unggoy na yun!

That very moment I felt like my whole body froze that I can't move even if I wanted to.

''Steff! What happened?'' I snapped back to reality when someone shouted and helped me stand up.

''Ok ka lang?'' Alala niyang tanong at tipid na tango lang ang sinagot ko.

''Let's go? Classes will start soon.'' sabi niya at inilahad ang kamay niya.

Inabot ko nalang yun at sumabay na sa kanya mag-lakad. Tama! Kung ayaw ako pansinin ni Joshua, then fine! Wag! Ibabaling ko nalang ang atensyon ko kay James. Tutal siya naman tong laging nandito para sakin. I don't want his efforts to be wasted.

''Do you want anything?'' Tanong niya pagdating namin sa classroom. Nilapit niya yung upuan niya sa upuan ko at nagpa-cute sa harapan ko. Hanggang ngayon, hindi padin ako maka-paniwalang nandito siya sa harap ko. Na ako yung babaeng nililigawan niya. Na sa libu-libong nagka-kandirapa sa kanya, ako yung napili niya.

Kung tutuusin, I don't deserve any of this pero He's here making me deserve it. Sa lahat ng ginagawa niya, unti-unti akong nahu-hulog.Eto din ang dahilan kaya mailap ako sa mga lalaki because I can easily fall with simple gestures. In short, marupok!

''Baka matunaw ako niyan? Kanina mo pa ko tinititigan'' Natauhan ako ng magsalita siya. Napa-iwas tuloy ako ng tingin.

''Iniisip mo ba kung pano mo ko bubugbugin mamaya dahil iniwan kita?'' Pabiro nyang sabi kaya natawa ako at napa-tingin ulit sa kanya.

''No. Iniisip ko lang na parang panaginip na nandito ka sa harap ko. It's all like a dream.'' sagot ko at napa-ngiti naman siya. He leaned closer then kissed my forehead.

''It's not a dream.'' sabi niya at ngumiti.

''Anyway we still have 10 minutes before the class starts halika nga dito,'' bulalas niya at pumunta sa likuran ko.

''W-What are you d-doing?'' Bigla nalang niyang sinuklay yung buhok ko at kinatikot yun. Maya-maya, binigay niya sakin yung cellphone niyang may picture nang buhok ko.

''Did you just braided my hair?'' di makapaniwala kong tanong at todo ngiti naman siyang tumango.

James Rivera. You always surprise me.

''Class, take your seats.'' agad syang napa-upo pagpasok ni Ms.Alvarez. Gaya ng dati, magche-check ng attendance at hindi mapa-pansing nasa harap na niya ako. But this time, parang mas magaan sa feeling. Dahil hinawakan ni James yung kamay ko at ngumiti.

Buong klase, wala si Joshua. I know it's a bit different pero mas ok na din kesa lagi akong may ka-away. Pero nali-lito padin ako. Kahapon, hindi siya um-attend ng Basketball Game to think na championship yun para sundan ako then hindi niya ko inaway, ni-yakap niya pa ako at ngayon? He's acting like he doesn't know me? Ang laki niyang abnormal! Haist ba't ko ba iniisip yung unggoy na yun?

''Hey steff!!'

''H-Huh?''

''Kanina ka pa pre occupied nag-palit na ng P.E uniform yung girls para pumunta ng Gym.''

''A-Ahm Sorry may iniisip lang. S-Sige mag-papalit na muna ko ng damit.''

Paalam ko at ngumiti naman siya. Dumarecho na ko sa lockerroom para mag-palit ng P.E. uniform. Napa-buntong hininga nalang ako. Ano bang nangyayari sakin? Dumarecho ako ng Gym at nandun na yung girls na may hawak na Volleyball.

So volleyball ang sport? Umupo muna ako sa may bench tutal wala pa naman yung P.E teacher.

''Look who's here?'' Napa-tingin ako sa nag-salita and It's Jessica. Yung muse sa classroom namin at sa likod niya ay iba pang classmate naming girls. Kelan pa nila ako napansin? Hindi ko alam na hindi ko gustong alamin.

"Akalain mo nga naman? Ni hindi ko alam na classmate kita?'' Sarkastiko niyang sabi. Sige bes! Pagka-landakan mo!

''Iba ka rin no? Hindi ka na nahiya sa sarili mo! Ang panget panget mo! Nerd ka tapos ang lakas ng loob mong landiin si James? At si Joshua pa!''

''Wala akong pake kay Joshua."

''Oh edi kay James! Ang kapal ng muka mo! Girls!'' Sigaw niya at naka-ngising lumapit sakin yung iba. Hinila niya yung buhok ko at binalibag ako sa pinaka-gitna ng gym. Nag-umpisa silang mambato ng bola. Yung una sa balikat ko tumama, yung pangalawa sa hita.

Gusto kong tumakbo pero wala na akong lakas dahil na din sa masakit na ang buong katawan ko. Ilang bato pa ng bola ang na-tanggap ko. Hanggang napa-dilat ako at bola ng basketball ang tatama sakin. Napa-pikit ako dahil alam kong sobrang sakit nun pag nagka-taon. Pero ...

Walang tumama. Ang naramdaman ko nalang ay may yumakap sakin.

''I'll give you girls 10 seconds to run.'' sabi ng pamilyar na boses kasunod nun ay ang tunog ng mga sapatos na nag-takbuhan. Napa-tingala ako sa nag-salita.

''J-Joshua ....''

''Don't you know how to fight back? You always make yourself look pitiful! And where the hell is that great boyfriend of yours?'' sigaw niya

''Bakit k-ka n-nandito?''

''Welcome Cristepharie," he sarcastically replied as he went to lift me up.

''Ibaba mo na ako, ok lang ako.''

''Ok lang? Can't you see that you're bleeding?'' sigaw niya. Oo na nga eh!

Nagu-guluhan na talaga ako dito kay Joshua eh! Kala ko ba hindi niya ko napansin?

All I can hear is the conversations of everyone asking who I am at ramdam ko lang ang pag-takbo ni Joshua. After that, everything went black.

JOSHUA

Silently leaving the clinic, Kirvie almost gave me a heart attack as he stood right before the door with his arms crossed on his chest.

"Where is that great boyfriend of yours?" He muttered copying the exact tone I had earlier.

"Can you please stop, man? That's disgusting!" I hissed.

He snapped his fingers right infront of me as he pointed at my face, "Exactly, Josh. Disgusting, right? Eh bakit mo ginawa? Bakit mo sinabi? Is this a part of your plan as well?"

"Yes! damn, man yes! Everything is a part of my plan. My plan to revenge on James, my plan to hurt him, to crush him until his tears turn to blood. He likes Steff and there's no way I'm going to let him have that happiness, that success, that satisfaction. Are you getting me?" Series of emotions flooded my whole system causing me to spit those words on Kirvie's face. I hate how he's been slapping me with reality. And I hate how his simple actions annoys me.

He whistled as he tapped my shoulder, "Woah, chill man. Chill! Masyado kang nag-aapoy. I'm just saying, you know. Okay, just let me give this piece of advice, okay? Be careful with your actions and decisions. Karma might haunt you down."

Muli niyang tinapik ang balikat ko bago ako tinalikuran. I clenched my fist as my eyes dropped on the figure running towards the clinic door, worry flashed on his face.

James.

CHRISTEPHARIE

I gently opened my eyes at bumungad sakin ang muka niyang puno ng pag-aalala.

''J-James?''

''Are you okay?'' Tumango lang ako at inilibot ang paningin ko sa paligid. I'm in my room. Panaginip lang ba na si Joshua ang nag-ligtas sakin kanina?

''Steff I'm sorry.'' naka-tungo niyang sabi.

''Sorry wala ako dun kanina sorry hindi kita nai-ligtas.'' Umupo ako ng darecho at niyakap siya. It's not his fault anyway.

''It's not your fault,'' mahina kong sabi. Kumalas siya sa yakap ko at hinaplos ang mukha ko. This is what makes me feel safe when I'm with him. Everything is gentle when it comes to him.

''James! Baba dito!'' Narinig kong sigaw mula sa baba. Nagpaalam si James pero maya-maya'y bumalik din ng may dalang tray ng pagkain.

''Eat first then inom ka ng pain killer.'' sabi niya bago pinatong sa side table yung tray at kinuha yung sopas, hinipan yun at itinapat sakin.

''I can eat by myself.''

''No! Maraming pasa kamay mo susubuan kita.''

Napa-iling nalang ako at kinain na yung sopas. After that, uminom ako ng gamot.

''Are you okay?'' Muling tanong nya at tumango ako ng naka-ngiti.

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa orasan... 7:35 pm? Ganun ba ko katagal naka-tulog?

''U-uhm J-James di ba kakanta kayo ngayon?'' Baling ko sa kanya kaya napa-tingin naman siya sakin.

''Hmmm, oo.''

''7:30 na 8 ata nag-uumpisa dun?''

''I won't sing today.''

''Bakit naman?''

''Sasamahan kita.''

''Eh? punta ka dun sasama ako.''

''But...''

''I'm okay now!''

''Fine.''

****

Mga sampung minuto din yata akong nangulit kela kuya para lang payagan kami In the end, talo padin sila! Mwahahaha

Ok naman daw as long as kasama ko si James, panatag sila. Ginayuma talaga neto ni James sila Kuya eh.

''Are you sure okay ka na?'' Tanong niya at mahigpit na hinawakan yung kamay ko.

''Yup!'' Masigla ko namang sagot. Not to mention, naninibago ako sa pagmu-mukha ko ngayon. Naka-braid kasi yung hair ko tapos naka-dress and doll shoes ako. Sisihin nyo si Kuya Toffer!

''Tara punta tayo sa backstage.'' Aya niya at hinila na ko papunta dun.

''Guys! Nandito na si Jam.'' sigaw nung isa nang makita si James.

''Jam?'' Clueless kong tanong sa kanya.

''Short for James.'' sagot nya at kumindat.

''Yo! Bros si Cristeph pala-----''

''Girlfriend mo?'' Putol nung isang may hawak na gitara.

''Nililigawan. But soon to be girlfriend'' sagot niya. Syete! Kinikilig ako!

''Hi Cristeph, I'm Nash'' pakilala nung may hawak na gitara.

''I'm Tripp, assigned with organ.'' sabi nung isa pa.

''And I'm Jinn the drummer'' dagdag nung isa kasabay ng pag-sample nito ng drum stunts niya.

''I'm Aldren assigned with the bass and this is Cathy my girlfriend.'' pakilala nung isa pa at kinamayan naman ako nung Cathy.

''...and the next band to sing us a song.. The Star Dreamers!'' sabi dun sa stage at nagsipag-bro fist na sila.

''Tara Cristeph dun tayo sa harap.'' aya ni Cathy at inalalayan ako.

''Hoy pusa! Ingatan mo yang mahal ko!'' narinig ko pang sigaw ni James. Shyete!!!! Ba't ganyan siya enebe!!!

''Ikaw nalang ipapahamak ko kesa tong babaeng to.'' natatawang sagot nya at sinabayan na ko maglakad. Sa pinaka-unahan kami umupo. Mula dito, kita ko sa likuran yung mga fangirl nila. Sikat nga talaga ang banda nila.

''Si Jam ang vocalist nila. Ang cool nya no?'' Bulong sakin ni Cathy habang kay Aldren naka-tingin. Napa-iling nalang ako.

''This song is for the girl I treasure the most. Alam kong nakikinig ka ngayon, I just wanted to let you know that I won't give up on you, maghihintay ako sa oo mo kahit gano ka-tagal, hindi kita susukuan. Maging tayo man, hindi ako susuko at panghahawakan kita kahit maraming problema ang dumating sakin. I love you and I always will Cristepharie Ignacio Tan." sabi ni James at nagsi 'ayiiehh'' naman ang paligid. Waaah kanina pa ko kinikilig !

When I look into your eyes

It's like watching the night sky

Or a beautiful sunrise

Well, there's so much they hold

And just like them old stars

I see that you've come so far

To be right where you are

How old is your soul?

Ang ganda ng boses niya!!

Well, I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space

To do some navigating

I'll be here patiently waiting

To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We've got a lot to learn

God knows we're worth it

No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily

I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make

Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use

The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake

And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend

For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn

We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in

I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up, I'm still looking up.

Well, I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)

God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)

We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)

God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

Hindi ko alam kung iiyak ba ko o ngingiti o kikiligin pero bes! Di ko to inasahan! I never expected that this moment na nababasa ko lang sa w*****d at nakikita sa TV, mangyayari sakin!

And this time, I'm not that sure with my feelings yet. Alam kong mabilis ang lahat, alam kong hindi ko pa ganoon kakilala si James.

but one thing's for sure...

I like him. I like James Ryan Rivera

TO BE CONTINUED