Chapter 02

Step up

Uh... what? Is this the same guy from a while ago? 

For sure, Gia! 

Halos batukan ko ang sarili ko. The name has Javier and Uvero on it – which is the same as Inigo's surname. So, he's that guy, right? It's a no brainer. At paano naman nito nalaman ang buong pangalan ko na ginagamit ko sa F******k? I only said my nickname.

I clicked his display photo to view his profile and wow, he's famous. Thousands of followers but only a few friends. Around 400 lang. I was contemplating on whether I should accept him or not when Agatha came.

"Girl, I think I'm gonna die," aniya sabay salampak sa upuan.

"Why?" tanong ko sabay close tab ng F******k.

"Six weeks from now, Foundation Week na. Nagsisimula nang magplano ang bawat council. So, you can imagine the tons of paperworks I'm about to indulge myself in." Nakapangalumbaba siya habang sinasabi niya iyon.

Wala akong maisagot sa kanya. Ayoko naman sabihin na ginusto mo 'yan because that would be so rude. Instead I arrived with, "I'm here if you need help."

Bigla namang lumiwanag ang mukha niya. Pero sandali lang iyon dahil naalala niya na a week before foundation week, wala ako. I'll be out of the country.

"Nandiyan naman si Inigo. I'm sure he's willing to help." Kahit naman mahangin 'yon e mabait din naman. Malungkot pa rin ang itsura ni Agatha.

"Humor me, Gia," she said.

What? Ano'ng pinagsasasabi nito?

"Tell me something funny, crazy, interesting or whatever. Pang alis lang ng worries."

It took a while before I thought of something. Binuksan ko ulit ang F******k at pinindot ang friend requests. Hinarap ko sa kanya ang laptop ko. Nanlaki naman ang mata niya at napatakip pa ang dalawang kamay sa bibig.

"OMG, Georgina!" 

Napalakas ang boses niya kaya napalingon ang ilang estudyante na nasa malapit sa amin. I told her right away to tone down her voice. 

"Did you know na may reputation si Javi sa school?" she asked. I shook my head immediately. "Wala masyadong babae na nakalalapit sa kanya kasi he's focused on studying and sports only!" dugtong niya.

Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ang point niya kaya hinayaan ko lang siya na magpatuloy.

"Meaning, it's a big thing na in-add ka niya sa F******k. After meeting you once lang, ha!" Bakas ang kilig sa tono niya.

"Crush mo?" I just had to ask. Iba 'yong epekto sa kanya, e.

Mabilis naman siyang umiling. "Hindi, 'no! Pero 'yong isang representative sa council, crush na crush si Javi. Pero sabi niya hindi raw ina-accept 'yong friend request niya. Maganda naman 'yon."

"I'm just wondering paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko. I mean, I'm not famous. Technically, I'm kinda new here. So, what's up..." sabi ko sabay kibit balikat.

Tinampal niya ako sa braso. Napadaing naman ako. Thankfully, hindi kasing lakas ng sigaw niya kanina kaya hindi rin narinig ng mga nasa ibang table. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. 

"What?" I asked in a low tone but with stress.

"Girl, please. He's cousins with Inigo so he must have asked him about you. Also, you may or may not know this, pero you seriously are a head turner. Noong nag-transfer ka, I bet halos lahat ng boys sa block natin nagkacrush sa'yo," she said. 

Ang exaggerated naman yata?

"I mean, you're tall, you have the body – which I wish I have kahit kumain ako ng marami, a pretty face-"

I cut her off then and there. "You're just saying that because we're friends."

"No, really," apila niya pa. I just said my words of gratitude para matigil na siya. I'm not comfortable when people tell me these things. I, myself, don't pay much attention to it so I think people shouldn't, too. Besides, we are all equally beautiful.

Muli kong iniharap sa akin ang laptop. Tinanggap ko ang friend request bago sinara ulit ang F******k.

"Inaccept mo ba?"

"Oo," I replied and her kilig facial expression showed. Natawa naman ako. "Enough humor for you?"

"Yes. I think I'm good," aniya at binuksan na rin ang laptop niya. "Aral na tayo."

There are three sets of readings. Twenty-five to thirty pages each. Balak ba kaming patayin ng professor namin? I majored in Arts for Pete's sake! Not Law or something.

I heard Agatha's low rants. I have mine, too. I took a deep breath before I started reading. While on it, I highlighted important dates, terms and descriptions. I also took notes to summarize each page. Every now and then, I sip on my coffee. Hindi biro ang antok na dulot ng mga ganito kahabang babasahin. I mean, I read novels. Finish it in one sitting even na hindi inaantok pero kapag mga ganito talaga parang may magic.

Halos dalawang oras din kami nag-stay sa library. It's 3:30 already. May klase pa kami mamayang 4 PM. Pinatay ko na ang laptop ko. Sa bahay ko na lang babasahin 'yong third set. Nag-aayos na rin si Agatha ng gamit niya. I checked out one book related to the third reading kaya medyo natagalan pa bago kami nakaalis.

Pagdating namin sa third floor ng FA building, Inigo's already there. Dumiretso kami sa banda niya at umupo. My seat is between theirs.

Agatha and Inigo were my first friends in this university. They were really close even before I transferred. At first, I thought they were in a relationship pero hindi naman pala. I'm also friends with my other classmates pero hindi ako masyadong malapit sa kanila. It's hard for me to make friends real quick. In Inigo and Agatha's case, they were the ones who befriended me right away. Inaamin ko na medyo mahina nga ako sa departamento ng pakikipagkaibigan.

Bumaling ako sa kanan ko. "Hey, quick question." Lumingon naman si Inigo. "You told your cousin my name on F******k?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. Says he'll add you," aniya at ngumiti ng nakakaloko. That's my cue to stop talking to him.

Thankfully, dumating naman ang prof. It will be a two-hour lecture so I paid attention when she started.

***

After ng classes ay kasabay kong dumiretso si Inigo sa parking lot. Si Agatha naman ay naiwan sa office nila sa second floor.

Alam naman ng driver namin ang schedule ko kaya hindi na ako naghintay pa. Nagpaalam na ako kay Inigo at pumasok na sa sasakyan.

Pagkarating ko sa bahay, naabutan ko si Aspen, ang nakababatang kapatid ko, na nanonood ng movie sa living room. He's 17. I'm two years older than him.

"Hi, Aspen. Dumating na sina Mom?" 

"Not yet. But we'll eat dinner together."

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinagkan siya. My siblings and I are all close. Kahit pa ako lang ang babae sa aming apat, never ko naramdaman na ma-out of place sa kanila. They're guys so they have common hobbies and likes. Pero, it's a nice thing na they don't leave me behind. Minsan pa sinama nila ako sa isang laser tag tournament. Ako lang 'yong nag-iisang babae sa team.

"Si Kuya Van?"

"Nasa kitchen," sagot niya.

Tumayo ako at dumiretso roon. Naabutan ko si Kuya na abala sa pakikipag-usap kay Manang. Siguro ay nagre-request siya ng pagkain.

Kumuha ako ng pitchel ng tubig sa ref at nagsalin sa baso.

"May occasion ba?" tanong ko nang makitang tapos na silang mag-usap. Mukhang marami rin ang ni-request niya, e.

Lumapit si Kuya at inakbayan ako. "Wala naman. Just some good news and another news," aniya sabay kindat sa akin.

Must be about his studies or something. Kuya Van is an Architecture student, already in his fifth year. My other brother, Kuya Theo, is currently out of the country for his MBA. Si Aspen naman nasa senior high. My parents are both Architects. Mayroon silang pinapatakbong Architecture firm.

Before, it was really hard for me to decide what I should pursue in college. I wanted to be like my parents. But later in high school, I developed interest in photography and painting. That's when my Mom and Dad talked me through it. That I should pursue Arts because that's where my heart is. Now, I'm in my sophomore year at Chanston University.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na ang parents ko. I hugged them both and we went to the dining area. Nakahanda na rin ang mga pagkain. My parents make sure that at least three times a week, we dine together. It's an important matter because they are both really busy.

Aspen led the prayer. I also had my silent prayer. Expressing gratitude for the food that we eat and the gift of family.

Tahimik kaming kumain. Nagsimula lang ang conversation noong halos lahat ay tapos na. As per usual, kinumusta kami tungkol sa mga pag-aaral namin. Since it's just been almost three months since the academic year started, there's really not that much to talk about me and Aspen. Kuya Van, though, have some announcements.

"Today was our proposal defense. Ours was commended by the panel. Especially Architect Tan. You know him Dad. He's got this attitude na bihira lang mamuri at madalas pa masama ang comments. So, it's really a big surprise for us," aniya. He seems really happy and proud.

"That's good, son. I'm sure there are high expectations for your group already. Just don't get pressured and work hard," payo naman ni Dad. Mom, Aspen and I congratulated Kuya, too.

Sumimsim ako sa juice na hinanda ng kasambahay. Habang ginagawa iyon ay napansin ko rin na nakatingin si Kuya sa akin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. What now?

Tumikhim si Kuya Van. "Also, Mom, Dad and Aspen, seems like our Georgina here is finally stepping up in the friendship department," ani Kuya na sobrang lapad ng ngiti.