Nagsisimula na yung game. Kasali yung apat sa basketball. Kalaban nila yung Fidelity University. Yung isa pala ay yung nawawala kahapon na naghahanap sa faculty room.
Umupo kami ni Alvie malapit sa mga ka-teammates nina Glenn. Seryoso silang lahat.
Biglang napatingin sa pwesto namin yung lalake kahapon tsaka kumaway.
"HI SOL! PARA SAYO 'TO!" sabay ngiti niya.
Ano na nga ba kasing pangalan niya? Napatingin din sa akin yung apat, particularly, Glenn. Biglang nalukot yung mukha niya tsaka inagaw dun sa lalakeng sumigaw yung bola.
Both teams are really good. They are taking the game seriously. Glenn is guarding that I-forgot -his-name guy.
"Kilala mo yun?" Alvie asked.
"Err, hindi? oo? Yata? Diko alam. Siya yata yung lalaking nagpatulong sa akin kahapon."
"Saan naman?"
"Sa faculty. I helped him because he looks like a lost puppy."
"In fairness, he's cute."
Natapos yung third quarter kaya lumapit sa amin yung apat . Inabutan ko naman ng tubig si Glenn na nakasimangot.
"Mukha kang nalugi. Anong problema mo?"
Hindi siya nagsalita. Tumawa naman ng malakas yung tatlo kaya lalong nalukot yung mukha nya. Ano na namang problema nitong lalaking ‘to?
Pagkaupo niya sa tabi ko, bigla namang lumapit yung lalaki kanina sa akin.
"Sol!"
Nagulat ako sa kanya. Napatayo naman si Glenn habang nakatingin sa amin yung apat.
"Err, sino ka?"
Mukha namang nadismaya yung lalake kaya bumitaw siya sa pagkakahawak sa braso ko tsaka nagkamot ng ulo.
"Ang bilis mo namang makalimot. Kyle here. Remember?"
Natatandaan ko naman yung mukha nya, pero hindi yung pangalan nya. Basta ang alam ko lang, hawig sila ni Kim Bum.
"Ah."
Bigla akong inakbayan ni Glenn kaya napatingin sa kanya si Kyle.
"Kuya mo?" tanong ni Kyle.
Naramdaman ko namang kumuyom yung kamao ni Glenn kaya hinawakan ko.
"No."
Biglang nag whistle yung referee, meaning, start na ng fourth quarter kaya bumalik na sila sa court.
Badtrip pa din yung mukha ni Glenn. May pinag uusapan sila ni Kyle pero ‘di namin marinig. Lalong uminit yung game.
Nagsisigawan yung mga tao sa gym.Seryoso yung mukha ni Glenn.
Last 10 seconds…
Hawak ni Glenn yung bola. Mabilis siyang kumilos. Nakabantay sa kanya si Kyle. Kunwari ay ipapasa nya kay Chalk yung bola kaya nadistract si Kyle.
The buzzer buzzed. Everyone shouted, even Alvie.
3 point shot from Phoenix ended the game with 89-84 score.
We won. Si Phoenix, Kollin at yung captain yung halos gumagawa ng points. They are really good in many aspects. What else they don't know?
They shook hands with their opponent. Nilapitan kami nung apat.
"Nakita niyo yun?! Ako ang nagpanalo sa team namin!"
"Di ka nga naka-shoot kahit isang bola eh." pang aasar ni Alvie kay Jedd.
"Ang galing mo talaga Nix!"
"Siya lang?"
"Oo na Chalk, mas magaling ka na." sagot ni Alvie sa kaniya.
Tss. I look at Alvie and mouthed 'Ligawan mo na kasi' but she just rolled her eyes.
Pagkatapos ng game, hinatid na ako ni Glenn pauwi. Naglalakad lang kaming pareho.
"Tahimik mo?"
Sinilip ko pa yung mukha niya. Bigla tuloy syang nag iwas ng tingin.
"Tss. Nakakainis naman kasi."
"Bakit? Ano na naman bang pinoproblema mo, Glenn?"
"Ikaw kasi! Tsk."
Napahinto ako sa paglalakad. Aba, ayos 'tong batang 'to ah. Inaano ko na naman ba siya?
"Bakit ako?"
"Nawala lang ako ng isang araw, may kaagaw na ako."
Bigla akong natawa. Ang isip-bata talaga netong abnormal na 'to.
"Bakit ka nga pala absent kahapon?"
"Sabi mo kasi gusto mo ng minion."
"Ano namang konek ng minion sa pag-absent mo?"
Bigla siyang huminto tsaka may nilabas sa bag niya. Saktong nasa tapat na kami ng gate namin.
"Oh,” sabay abot nya ng malaking minion na stuffed toy galing sa Vendo Machine sa mall, “Pinaghirapan ko yan. Mahiya ka naman sa akin. Sinakripisyo ko yung pagpasok at pag spazz ko para lang diyan. Magpasalamat ka."
Bigla akong napangiti. Seryoso? So, kaya wala sila kahapon kasi binalikan niya 'to dahil sinabi kong gusto ko?
Magsasalita palang sana ako pero biglang bumukas yung gate at niluwa si Mama.
"May bisita ka pala anak, bakit ‘di mo papasukin. Ang pangit naman na dyan kayo sa kalsada nag uusap." sabi ni Mama.
Nagmano naman sa kanya si Glenn. Pinatuloy siya ni Mama sa loob. Sabi pa ni Mama ay sumabay na siya sa amin sa pagkain ng hapunan.
"Nililigawan mo ba yung anak ko?"
Halos mabilaukan ako sa tanong ni Mama kaya inabutan agad ako ni tubig ni Glenn.
"Yun na nga po. I'm here to personally inform you that I'm courting your Sol, Madame."
Biglang napataas yung kilay ni mama. Ano bang pinagsasasabi netong baliw na 'to?
"You're informing me, not asking?"
"Yes, Madame. If I'm going to ask you, there will be a possibility that you'll turn me down. Don't worry, I will not be a distraction to her. You can punch me if she failed."
Biglang ngumiti si Mama.
"Drop the formality, just call me Tita."
Napanganga nalang ako sa usapan nila. Seriously? So okay lang kay mama?
"Waaah~ Gusto kong pumunta sa KCon~ Gusto kong makita si Peniel labs ko." Sabi ni Alvie habang yakap-yakap yung poster ng BTOB.
Hindi namin siya pinansin ni Glenn dahil busy kami sa panonood ng music video. Walang klase dahil may emergency meeting yung faculty kaya nasa field kaming anim. Kakagaling lang namin sa KPOP Shoppe sa harap ng University kaya dumiretso kami dito para tumambay.
Busy sa paggigitara si Jedd habang sumasayaw naman si Chalk at Kollin. Magkatabi naman kami ni Glenn habang nasa harapan namin si Alvie.
"Sold Out na yung ticket." sagot naman ni Chalk na sumasayaw pa rin. Lalo tuloy nalukot yung mukha ni Alvie.
"Paano nalang ako? Kidnapin niyo naman siya para sa akin, oh? O kaya iregalo niyo nalang sa akin si Lee Jong Suk o kaya si Nam Joo Hyuk." Hirit pa ni Alvie kaya nilapitan siya ni Chalk.
"Tara sa mall. Dance Revo nalang tayo. " aya ni Jedd kaya nagsisunuran naman kami.
Nagpunta kami sa arcade tsaka sa Noraebang (karaoke room na Korean National yung may ari.) Feel na feel ni Alvie yung pagkanta habang sumasayaw naman kami. Bigla akong napahinto nung naalala ko yung usapan nina Mama at Papa kaninang umaga.
"Bakit ba kasi hindi mo nalang aminin? Huling-huli ka na, itatanggi mo pa? Tigilan nalang natin 'to." sabi ni mama habang naglalakad ng pabalik-balik sa sala.
It's only 3 am in the morning and maybe they think that I'm still asleep. Pupunta sana ako sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig. Kakatapos ko lang tapusin yung Descendants of the Sun kaya gising pa ako. Papa is sitting on the edge of the couch with his elbows resting on his knees, supporting his forehead.
"Let me explain. Hindi ko sinasadya." Papa said, grabbing Mama's wrist.
"Pagod na pagod na ako. Lahat naman ginagawa ko para sa pamilyang 'to pero bakit ganito pa rin yung nangyare?" she cried in pain.
Di ko kinaya yung nakita ko kaya bumalik ako sa kwarto.
Hindi naman magbibitiw ng ganung salita si mama kung simpleng away mag asawa lang yun ‘diba? Ni hindi nga sila nag aaway dati kasi sobrang mahal nila yung isa't-isa pero ‘yung away nila ngayon, sobrang tagal na.
"You okay?" Glenn asked.
Nginitian ko siya tsaka tumango. Bakit ko ba pinoproblema yung mga bagay na hindi naman dapat pinoproblema?
Pagkatapos naming magconcert, kinaladkad naman ako ni Glenn sa kung saan, habang bumalik ng arcade yung apat.
"Saan na naman tayo pupunta? Di ka pa ba pagod?" I asked while letting myself get dragged by him. Hindi naman nya hilig mangaladkad ‘no?
"Basta. Dali." sagot nya. Naiinis na talaga ako sa taong ‘to. Hindi ko talaga makausap ng matino.
Pumasok kami sa isang salon. Napakunot naman yung noo ko. So, balak pala niyang pumunta dito tapos kinaladkad pa ako? Wow. Ano ako, alalay?
Nagulat ako nung kinaladkad ako nung babae sa harap ng salamin. Umupo naman si Glenn sa tabi ko. Nakangiti siya ng napakalad. May binulong sya dun sa babae tsaka ako kinindatan. Tusukin ko kaya ng gunting yung mata niya?
Nakikipagdaldalan siya dun sa babaeng nanggugupit ng buhok nya. He's totally ignoring me. Naiinis naman ako sa babaeng nangingialam ng buhok ko. Naunang natapos si Glenn kaya nakipagkwentuhan muna siya sa mga staff samantalang ako ay nagtitiis mag isa.
"Tadaaa! Perfect!" sabi nung babae na nag ayos ng buhok ko.
Wagas naman makangiti si Glenn. Tsaka ko lang narealized na pareho pala kami ng kulay ng buhok. Ginupitan nila yung buhok ko ng bob cut with bangs tsaka kinulayan ng ash gray ombre. Ganun din yung kulay ng buhok nya tsaka nya pinaayos yung buhok nya na parang kay Luhan nung Growl era.
Kinaladkad nya ulit ako tsaka nagtingin ng contact lenses. Tawa siya ng tawa nung umiiyak ako habang tinatry yung lens na pinili nya. Sorry naman diba? Wala kasing ganito sa bundok!
"Okay lang ‘yan. Masasanay ka rin." He said then gave me a reassuring smile.
Di namin napansin yung oras. 8 pm na nung nakarating kami sa bahay. Pinatuloy siya ni mama sa loob. Wala si papa, baka nasa business trip na naman. Nagkwekwentuhan sila ni mama habang ako yung inutusan ni mama na magprepare ng dinner naming dalawa.
Nagpaalam si mama na may tatapusin sa kwarto niya kaya naiwan naman kami ni Glenn sa kusina. Di kami nag uusap habang kumakain. Tanging ingay lang ng mga kubyertos yung naririnig. Napansin yata niya yung awkward silence kaya bigla syang nagsalita.
"Ang cool ng mama mo." kumento nya.
Napangiti naman ako. Yes, she really is. Sobrang swerte ko sa parents ko kahit di ko sila madalas na makasama.
"They call me baepsae yokbwatji i sedae palli chase 'em hwangsae deoge nae garangin taengtaeng~" Natawa ako kay Jedd na sumasayaw at kumakanta sa harap ni Kollin na busy sa pagrereview. Malapit na kasi yung finals at busy lahat ng estudyante. Sinipa siya ni Kollin na iritang-irita na sa kakulitan niya. Nagrereview din si Chalk na tahimik at seryosong-seryoso sa hawak niyang libro. Nagrereview din kami ni Alvie samantalang si Glenn naman ay prenteng nakaupo habang busy sa paglalaro sa phone niya. "Putahamnida 'tong mukhang nag-aagaw buhay na ipis na 'to ah. Kala mo gwapo. Peste." Napatingin kaming lahat kay Glen. Bigla-bigla nalang kasing nagmumura. "Bakit? Sumali ka na naman sa warzone 'no?" Alvie concluded.
Kalma Sol, kalma. Bawal mahimatay, ‘di mo makikita mga asawa mo. Maingay kami sa van papunta sa MOA. This is it. Mamayang gabi na yung concert ng EXO. Akala ko talaga hindi na ako makakapunta dahil sobrang busy at napakadami kong problema lately. Hindi nga ako active sa social media at naubusan pa ako ng concert ticket. "Tae naman ni Suga, Lawin. Sana naging babae nalang ako. Napakagalante mo manlibre. VIP Ticket for real? Not one, not two but five! Five VIP tickets! Pwede bang magpa-ampon nalang sa inyo?" biro ni Jedd. Ninitian lang siya ni Glenn. Halos maglupasay na ako kahapon dahil akala ko talaga hindi ako makakapunta sa concert pero nagulat nalang ako sa ginawa ni Phoenix. Nasa kwarto ako habang yakap-yakap yung poster ng EXO at hawak-hawak yung light stick nung dumating silang lima. Wala sana akong balak na p
Tapos na yung exam at Christmas break na. Everyone is busy while I'm stuck here in the house cleaning alone. Mom and Dad are nowhere to be found. Darating ngayon yung mga pinsan ko from Cebu at dito sila magse-celebrate ng pasko. Busy din yung lima dahil may mga bisita din sila kaya di ko alam kung makikita ko sila.It's been a week since the concert pero halos mabaliw pa rin ako kapag naaalala ko. Tuwang-tuwa nga sina Mama nung naikwento sa kanila ng madaldal na si Alvie yung nangyare sa concert. Alam na pala nila yng plano ni Glenn at ako lang talaga yung walang malay sa nangyayari.Sobrang sweet at thoughtful ni Glenn to the point na pati si mama eh kinikilig sa kanya. Halos dito na nga siya tumira last week eh. He called me last night that he won't be able to see me because he will be visiting his parents in States and will be spending Christmas with them. Babalik nalang daw siya before n
"Okay ba yung suot ko?" tanong ni Kaleb. "Hindi. Mukha kang tanga. Ang panget mo talaga. Saang planeta ka ba galing? Sana ‘di ka nalang nabuhay." Sagot sa kanya ni Matt. "Edi panget ka din pala bobo. Kambal tayo baka nakakalimutan mo." Sigaw sa kanya ni Kaleb. Napasapo nalang ako sa noo ko. Nauna na akong lumabas sa kanila. Iniwan ko silang nagtatalo. Start na pala ng pasukan at ‘di ko namalayan na nakapag-enroll na pala yung dalawang baliw sa school na pinapasukan ko. "Sol! Wait!" rinig kong tawag nila kaya inis akong huminto. They are wearing polo na akala mo a-attend ng prom. May pa-shades-shades pang nalalaman kaya nagmukha tuloy silang bulag na musikero. Buti nalang talaga at ‘di ko sila ka-department. Kaleb is taking up AB English while Matt is taking up Information technology.
Medyo busy ako dahil sa mga activities sa school at sa article na pinapagawa ng prof namin. Buti nalang at tinutulungan ako ni Ronan. He's the assistant editor-in-chief kaya lagi kaming magkasama lately. Nasa field kami ngayon para ituloy yung mga articles na dapat tapusin."Aigoo~ masakit na yung utak ko~" reklamo ko habang minamasahe yung ulo ko.Kinuha naman niya yung laptop ko tsaka tiningnan yung ginagawa ko. Almost two hours na din pala kaming nakaupo dito. Di ko rin napansin yung tawag ni Nix kaya di ko nasagot. May PE sila ngayon at for sure break nila. Tinabi ko ulit yung phone ko tsaka tinuloy yung ginagawa namin."Kumusta kayo?" biglang tanong ni Ronan habang seryosong nakatingin sa laptop ko."We're fine. Masaya kami." Sagot ko.Ngumiti naman siya tsaka tumingin sa akin."I can see it in your eyes. I want to apologize f
I don't know what exactly is happening. Paggising ko kaninang umaga, umiiyak si mommy pero nung makita niya ako, bigla siyang pumasok sa kwarto. I asked the twin what happened but they only said that she's just overwhelmed by the kdrama she had watched last night. (Kelan pa nahilig manood si mommy nun?)Naglalakad ako papunta sa gym nung bigla akong hilain ni Jedd sa gilid ng registration office. Hingal na hingal siya na parang hinabol ng zombie."What?" Ano na naman ba?"Hehe, wala lang. Dito muna tayo." Kinakabahan niyang sagot kaya I goggled at him.Di ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan kaya lumingon ako. What I saw broke my heart. My boyfriend laughing with Eunice Park while walking to the library.Humarap ako kay Jedd tsaka ngumiti."Did you, perhaps, thought that I might get jealous when I saw them together?" I asked politely.Bahagya siyang tuma
Pinilit kong pumasok kahit sobrang sama ng pakiramdam ko. Dapat masaya ako kasi tumawag si kuya Zeck at sinabing isasama na niya kami sa Korea. Pero bakit wala akong maramdaman?‘Di ko siya nakita sa school nang dumating ako kaya dumiretso nalang ako sa classroom.Jedd, Kollin, Chalk, and Alvie came rushing to me. They all look worried. I inhaled all the possible strength I'm needing before smiling at them."Bakit ganyan mga mukha niyo? Luh, parang ewan.""Okay ka lang ba, Sol?" Jedd asked.Nginitian ko sila tsaka tumango. "Oo naman. Bakit naman ‘di ako magiging okay?""Anong nangyari sa inyo ng pinsan ko?" Inis na tanong ni Alvie."Di ko din alam. Sabi ko naman sa inyo. Mas gwapo si Suho ko. Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Teka nga, bakit ba parang kayo yung nakipag-break? Haha. Tsaka wag niyo namang awayin yung tao. B
Sol.We circled the bonfire. I'm holding my notebook and drawing something in it when Phoenix Glenn sat beside me.The cold wind blows, making me shake. I'm still wearing my dress which happens to be so thin."Don't you know how to play the guitar, Sol?" Kollin asked.He handed me his guitar and everyone looked at me. I heave a sigh as I try to recall the chords. It's been ten years since I played the guitar.I played the song I played when we had our first practice for the school festival in college.Stupid memories assaulted me and I closed my eyes real tight to push th
Phoenix"Come on, man! Put yourself together, will you?" Sujin tapped my shoulder.They've been cheering me up since the night I came back to the dorm. I ignored him so he just sit next to me. We're currently preparing for a concert."What's going on?" I asked, as soon as I arrived in the practice room."The CEO wants to talk to you." Less said.They all look bothered. I took a deep breath and went straight to our manager's office.He's sitting snugly on his swivel chair, waiting for me. Eunice is also here. I heave a sigh in annoyance as soon as I approach them."Take a seat," he ordered."I prefer standing," I answered."I told you to take a seat," he ordered sternly.I do as he says. I always do what he says.Eunice is fidgeting in her seat. She's staring
Sol"I thought you and Phoenix were okay now?"I look at mommy who's currently lying on the couch while watching TV. I visited their house because I'm bored.The kids are not there because they are still in school. Zeck and his wife are in the shop. Mama was left alone.I was washing the dishes in the kitchen but he called me. She pointed to the TV."Switch's leader, Phoenix Yu rumored dating with Singer Eunice Park"I laughed a little. She knows that we're okay again but I guess I did the wrong decision. She's expecting Glenn and me to get along. It was also been a few weeks ago when we last met ... when I was left alone in his house."We're okay, Ma. I didn't say that we're back together."I went back to the kitchen and continued what I was doing. I felt Mom's presence but I remained silent."You still love him, don't
PhoenixShe's back to her work when I finished taking a shower. She's not wearing any make-up yet she looks really gorgeous with her eyeglasses."Let's go."This caught her attention. Her brow creased, she looks at me like I've grown two heads."Where?""Uh, outside?"She stared at me then continued what she was doing. I sat next to her but she closed his laptop."You're not allowed to take a glance at it. You didn't even pay for the book you took."I laughed at her reaction. Speaking of that book ... it perhaps reminds me of what happened between us.The girl's sufferings after the guy left her and chose his dreams over her. How her life shattered after he walked out of her life without a word. How he stole her heart and break it into a million pieces. How her world collided and how she tries to put back every piece.As time goes by,
Sol"Sol?"I lost count of how many times have I heave a sigh. I know I should not expect but the pain is still there."SOL!""Oh, lisp!"Chan glared at me. I ignored him. I continued to draw even though I knew he looked bad on me.It's been a month since Phoenix had his unplanned visit. Since then, I have heard nothing from him. They are busy again on the world tour.I've seen in their schedule that they're in China today (don't think that I'm stalking him, it just happened that I'm up the net when I saw their schedule)."Are you okay, Sol? You've been spacing out the whole time.""I'm just tired.""You're doing nothing and yet you're tired?"I did not answer. It's tiring to wait for nothing. Wait. Who's waiting for who?I stood up and dragged Chan out. If I stay inside my house longer - I will go reall
PhoenixThe light coming from the window woke me up. I tried to open my eyes but shut it again when the light almost blinded me.I smell something that made my stomach grumble but I lay still on the bed.I have never been comfortable like this for a long time. I glance at the wall clock and the small hand hits 10. A curve lifts up on both sides of my mouth. At least she didn't kick me out during the dawn.I put on my clothes before getting out of the room. I found her sitting in the kitchen with a book in her hand. I captured a photo of her before approaching her."Good morning." I beamed at her but she didn't even bother removing her eyes on her book."Good morning." she finally said as soon as she finished the last page of the book she's reading.She prepared the meal while I took the book she's reading a while ago.She just kept quiet while we ate. She hardly even look
SolIt's been exactly three months since the day the bastard left. I should have not trusted him.I should not hope that he's really sincere when he says he wanted to find me.Who am I kidding?He loves his career pretty much sure than he loves anything and everyone else.I am indeed a fool for thinking he'll make his promises but who am I kidding? Pheonix Glenn will always be Pheonix Glenn. I don't even know why I trusted him. I don't even know why I believe him when he said he'll make it up to me.His group is on the news so I turned off the TV. It's almost midnight and I'm stuck in my new house doing nothing, waiting for my ideas to come pouring down.Mom cried really hard when she learned that I'm moving out. I feel bad for not telling her immediately but Zeck comforts me by telling me she'll understand and I'm too old and I can decide on my own.&
PhoenixI let myself fall on the floor as my sweat bathe my whole body. Sol is surely bloody mad at me right now. We almost fixed it but here it is again.If I could only punch my manager for being extra annoying, I already did as soon as I step afoot at the airport this morning.We talked about one week vacation but they suddenly sent me back. This comeback is pretty maddening. We already talked that we're coming back two months from now and they're suddenly telling me that we will move it in advance."Aren't you going back to the dorm?" Sujin asked me. He's the group's rapper.We're the only ones who were left in the practice room while the others went back to the dorm already. He can speak in English because he studied in California when he was in high school but he's a full-blooded Korean."Later. I'll just take a rest for a while."&nbs
Sol.We circled the bonfire. I'm holding my notebook and drawing something in it when Phoenix Glenn sat beside me.The cold wind blows, making me shake. I'm still wearing my dress which happens to be so thin."Don't you know how to play the guitar, Sol?" Kollin asked.He handed me his guitar and everyone looked at me. I heave a sigh as I try to recall the chords. It's been ten years since I played the guitar.I played the song I played when we had our first practice for the school festival in college.Stupid memories assaulted me and I closed my eyes real tight to push th
Pinilit kong pumasok kahit sobrang sama ng pakiramdam ko. Dapat masaya ako kasi tumawag si kuya Zeck at sinabing isasama na niya kami sa Korea. Pero bakit wala akong maramdaman?‘Di ko siya nakita sa school nang dumating ako kaya dumiretso nalang ako sa classroom.Jedd, Kollin, Chalk, and Alvie came rushing to me. They all look worried. I inhaled all the possible strength I'm needing before smiling at them."Bakit ganyan mga mukha niyo? Luh, parang ewan.""Okay ka lang ba, Sol?" Jedd asked.Nginitian ko sila tsaka tumango. "Oo naman. Bakit naman ‘di ako magiging okay?""Anong nangyari sa inyo ng pinsan ko?" Inis na tanong ni Alvie."Di ko din alam. Sabi ko naman sa inyo. Mas gwapo si Suho ko. Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Teka nga, bakit ba parang kayo yung nakipag-break? Haha. Tsaka wag niyo namang awayin yung tao. B