PORTION 02

TJ's POV

Hinanap ko sila sa cafeteria, mga bandang 12:20 na kaya lunch time na.

"Don't tell me pinapunta niyo lang ako rito para lang sa sticky note na 'to?" As soon as I arrived, I asked them, so disappointed.

I saw them looking carefully at a sticky note on the table.

Jaybi nodded, "Look!"

"Oh, tapos?" walang gana kong sabi, and I saw a sticky note with a number written on it, "I know it's a number, so?"

"Kanino kaya?" Jaybi asked, picked up the note and faced it to me.

Call me and I'll tell you something.

- Zack

That's what I saw.

I was shocked, "Tunay ba 'to? Seryoso?"

I can't believe what just happened! I saw the number and it's from Zack!

"So, what are you waiting for? Tawagan mo na!" Jaybi command.

Just like what he said, tinawagan ko siya. At sa isang tawag lang sinagot na niya 'to.

"There is no beating around the bush, anong oras matatapos ang klase mo?" he asked.

"8 pm."

"Okay, then. Wait for me at the music club."

And suddenly I heard the sound of hanging up.

I looked at my phone, "He hung up? Is he serious right now!?"

"So?" taas pa ng kilay nung dalawa.

"He said wait for him after class," I imitated how Zack said it.

"Owshi, yung kaibigan ko pumapag-ibig na!" Jaybi said, jokingly.

So the two of them just ordered for me, and while we're eating they keep bothering me with their questions. Like "What's happening between me and Zack?" "If I'm courting him na raw." Jusme kailangan updated sa life ko, eh.

After my classes, andito na ako sa music club.

As I looked around, as I'm trying to look for him. Until I turned around and saw him alone walking towards me from the door.

"Wait for me until 10 pm."

What the f•ck!? Are you kidding me!?

"If you want to say something, say it now. Bakit kailangan ko pang maghintay!?" Irita ko.

"Wait, okay?" And touch a bit of my ear.

I moved away immediately from him, and covered my ear. He just laughed at me, and went inside again.

2 hours later...

He smiled at me when our eyes met, he is now walking again to me, "Are you hungry?"

"Of course, I am. 12 when I last ate. Anong oras na, 10, so now tell sinong 'di magugutom?" I said a little louder.

Sino ba naman kasi ang natutuwa na pag hintayin ka ng 2 hours, tapos 'di ka pa nakain!?

"Who told you that you can't eat? It's not my fault."

I stared at him, "Really?"

He laughed at me, "Fine, let's go out. I'll buy something for us."

We left the building, and we're going to eat. He said it was his treat so as long as it's food, we are good.

"Why did you wait for me?" he started.

We're inside the fast food chain while waiting for our orders.

"Are you insane? You asked for it, didn't you?" I asked, too.

"I'm serious. I'm asking you, bakit mo ako hinintay?" he expressionless asked.

"Because you said you will tell me something."

"But what if it's not worth it? Though you don't know if it's worthy or not, maghihintay ka pa rin?" he seriously asked.

Puro tanungan ah!

"Why not? At saka bakit mo naman ako paghihintayin kung 'di naman worth it, 'di ba?"

"Ask me now."

"Ask you what? . . . . Ah! Ano nga yung sasabihin mo?"

"You know that number." While looking away from me, "It's not mine, sa kaibigan ko 'yan."

I was speechless, and paused for a few minutes.

"F•ck! Are you out of your mind!?" I stood up, because I'm losing my temper right now. "Don't tell me 'yon lang yung sasabihin mo?"

Then he nodded.

What the f•ck! Ang sakit niya sa ulo.

I heard his laugh so I looked at him.

"So, you're making fun of me now?"

"Yes." Then laugh again and again.

That should be it, so you can be comfortable with me and I can make my plans right.

Kinabukasan...

I knocked.

I'm here in front of his apartment, we really got along last night so I'm here now.

"Did you eat?"

"Not yet."

Okay, this is my chance!

"Let's go? Kain tayo?"

And he nod. I'm wearing uniform now like him though 10 pa klase ko para derederetso na.

Pumunta kaming cafeteria. I told him to sit and I'll do the rest. I thought he's the kind of person that is hard to get but now, I don't think so.

Kakababa ko lang nung mga pagkain sa table namin ng may narinig ako.

"I heard Mr. Popular Guy is courting Zack, tunay ba 'yon?"

"I think so. Look! Magkasama pa sila oh!"

"Ang kyut nila 'no? They look good together."

"Yeah, tunay ka riyan ati!"

The students are talking loudly. I looked at them then smiled.

I looked at him again, "Ayaw pa kasing magpaligaw, eh."

Yes, nagpaparinig ako pero sinamaan niya lang ako ng tingin.

"Can I ask you?" he changed the topic.

"Sure."

"Why are they calling you Mr. Popular Guy, and why not Tj?" he asked, expressionless.

I frowned, "How did you know that my nickname is Tj?"

He was startled, "Be-because of the other day, yeah! Yung babaeng nagpa-picture sa 'yo, he called you Tj."

Huh, did she? As long as I can remember the woman said it was . . .

"Tayshaun Justin Johnson 'yon, not Tj."

"They are the same! Tayshaun Justin and Tj. Ang haba kasi nung Tayshaun Justin so why not Tj, right?"

I was startled, I looked around. Deja vu? It feels like this scenery has already happened.

May nakita ako na pumalakpak sa harapan ko kaya nagising ako sa katotohanan.

"Did you hear what I just asked?" Zack asked again.

"No, I'm a little bit sleepy. Ano nga ulit yun?" excuse ko.

"So, I'm asking why are they calling you Mr. Popular Guy?"

"It's because someone just took a picture of mine and posted it online, naging popular ako no'n but no one knows about my name except my friends, of course. I got so popular without knowing my identity so they started calling me "Mr. Popular Guy" and until now na alam na nila name ko, tsk!"

I only found out about it from my friends, chismoso rin naman kasi ang mga 'yon. Kalalaking tao e', tsismoso.

"Okay."

After naming kumain pumunta na kami sa mga klase namin.

Lunch time...

Sabay-sabay kaming kumain dito.

Me, I'm with Jaybi and Nathan while Zack is with his friend who is named Tom. We're on the same table.

Ang chika ng dalawang 'to, close na agad nila sila Tom eh!

I saw Zack eating his lunch quietly on the corner so I asked him.

"Why so quiet, huh?"

He just shook his head, "Nothing."

But with these 3 guys, they have their own world!

1:00 pm...

"Good Afternoon!"

"Good Afternoon, Professor Smith." We greeted him.

"Since nauuna tayo sa lesson, this is our free time to talk about our previous lessons that you didn't understand. May mga bagay ba kayo na 'di maintindihan noong mga nakaraang lesson?"

My classmate and I started to look around, finding someone who was confused but the silence was very loud.

"Let's talk about love na lang po," someone in our class said.

"Iyown!"

"Witwiw!"

"Love na nga lang po, Professor!"

"Sure, go ahead. Ano ba'ng gusto niyo pag-usapan about love?" he asked, "basta 'wag lang love story namin ng asawa ko."

Kanya-kanya ng hiyawan dito ang mga estudyante, Prof. Smith is such a nice Prof.

"Hala, Prof. naman, bakit po bawal?"

The Prof, laughed, "Mahabang kwento."

"Prof., meron po tayong almost 2 hours. Magkwento na po kayo."

"Oo nga naman po."

"Minsan lang 'to, eh."

Nagkanya-kanya ng bulyaw ang mga kaklase ko sa magiging topic namin sa love, talagang gusto malaman nila ang love story nila Prof. at ng asawa niya.

"Class, be quiet!" After being quiet he continued saying something. "You're the Mr. Popular Guy, right, Mr. Johnson? Maraming nakakakilala sa 'yo and I know they are giving a lot of attention and love to you. So let me ask you, what is love to you?"

.

I went there on the rooftop. If I don't have something to do, I always go there. Well, these days, I couldn't go because of a tight schedule.

"Zack?" he turned around and smiled at me. "Can I ask you?"

"Sure."

"What is love to you?"

"Love? It's you."

"Stop making fun of me. . . . The truth is Professor Smith asked the same thing, that's why I asked you."

Flashback...

"You're the Mr. Popular Guy, right, Mr. Johnson? Maraming nakakakilala sa 'yo and I know they are giving a lot of attention and love to you. So let me ask you, what is love to you?"

I stood up.

"Love? Love is love; There's a lot of definitions of it but for me there are only 3 words: Feelings, Happiness and Forgiveness."

"Can you expand what that meant?" one of my classmates asked. I smiled and nodded.

"Feelings, is what you really feel. Happiness is what makes you truly happy. And last, forgiveness is the best revenge. When it comes to love, for me, being in love and being happy together with your loved ones is a treasure, so treasure it. You know to yourself that this makes you smile and laugh, kung alam mong wala kang tinatapakan na tao, wala kang nasasaktan na tao, why not? Mahal mo e' at masaya ka rito. Forgiveness is the most important thing, hindi dahil sa nasaktan ka, sasaktan mo na rin, no! It's so immature. Even if you have gone through a lot of pain, forgive them, 'cause one day you will see the one who is truly for you. Sometimes, we just need to experience the worst to get the best. Thank you!" And I bow down.

"Well done, Mr. Johnson! A big round of applause!"

End of flashback...

Sinabi ko sa kanya kung ano ang sinagot ko, and even siya, nagulat din.

"Did you know when I was in grade 6, I met my first love?" he started a new topic.

"Eh?"

Even I! 1 year lang pala pagitan namin, grade 5 naman ako. I thought I was unique. Who would fall in love at a young age, like duh? Though, it was puppy love.

"Yes, it was a love at first smile," sagot niya 'caused me to smile, ay wow may pa ganon si mayor. "I thought it was the end of the world but I never imagined na makakahanap ako ng tulad niya. He built the brightest light in my darkest night."

I stayed quiet and carefully listened to him. Siguro ang professional na niya pagdating sa pag-ibig.

"So, how many girlfriends did you have? Syempre nahulog ka at the young age eh," I asked.

"Actually I never had, kahit isa, wala pa."

I was startled, we have a lot in common. Nahulog at a young age, at wala pa ring girlfriend since birth.

I smiled, "Why don't you open your heart for me, then? Hayaan mo na iparamdam ko sa 'yo ang pagmamahal."

Pagmamahal? My ass.

"It's already been open since day one."

Nagulat ako, "Huh?"

"I mean, sure."

"So payag ka na, am I officially courting you now?"