Six

“Where are we going?” I asked him when I am already seating at the passengers seat, comfortably.

“You sound like Dora.” he laughed at me but did no answered my question. He even clapped his hands. 

This guy!

“Can I turn on your AC or we'll just let the windows down?” I added when I really felt sweaty. Natatakot na rin at baka mangangamoy sa loob ng sasakyan niya dahil sa init kanina sa labas. 

“Do what makes you comfortable.” sabi niya at hindi na muli akong kinausap nagpokus na ito sa pagmamaneho hanggang sa makarating kami sa isang kainan. 

“Hala.” hindi ko mapigilang sabihin dahil sa gulat ko.

I turned to him and he gave me a questioning look. I gave him a weird smile and pulled him so we can already eat. When we are done ordering our foods, hindi ko na napigilang kausapin siya. I don't know but I found myself talking a lot. 

This isn't me! 

“Alam mo ba beh, matagal ko na talagang gustong pumunta rito kaso hindi ko alam ang daan and feeling ko malayo ito sa amin kaya ngayon pa lamang ako nakapunta rito. I always crave for shrimps talaga.” I started talking to him while waiting for our orders to be served. 

“Talaga ba, beh?” he mocked at me and chuckled. 

We both laughed at each other jokes even if I cracked the corny ones. Inilibot ko ang tingin ko sa buong kainan at hindi ako nabigo sa magagandang paintings rito. May iba pa akong kinuhanan ng litrato at tinutukso siyang kuhanan ng litrato. 

“Smile na.” utos ko sa kanya nang tinatakpan niya ang mukha niya kapag hinaharap ko sa kanya ang cellphone ko. 

I want to take him a photo so I could have a copy when I will try to sketch him or paint, if I can. As my way of appreciation of him, bringing me in this place.  Besides, I want to document this day for such a good day that I should remember. 

“Please?” I asked him and tried to pout my lips and even gave him a puppy eyes. “Isa lang.” dagdag ko pa na i-kinailing na lang niya. 

When I lost my patience asking him for just a photo I murmured something and can't help to felt annoyed. He kept on talking to me but I only answered him by nodding and sometimes, a shrugged. He called for my attention but I was really annoyed so I didn't hear him out then I heard him mumbled something before saying that I can take him a picture. Tila nagbago ang mood ko nang sabihin niya iyon sa akin kaya hindi ko napigilang mapangiti. 

“You look so cute here, in here too. No, mas cute ko rito.” hindi ko na napigilan ang pagkomento ko sa mga larawang kuha ko sa kanya. “You look good in everything, why is that? That so unfair, you are talented na nga tapos ang attractive mo pa.” sunod sunod kong sabi sa kanya habang binabalatan ang mga hipon. 

“Really? You find me attractive?” biglaang tanong niya at sunod-sunod na tango naman ang ibinigay ko sa kanya bago siya ngumiti ng napakalawak. 

It was too late when I realized what I told him. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa hindi ko napigilang mga salitang lumabas sa bibig. I faked a cough and looked somewhere to ease the awkwardness I am feeling.

Kaya hanggang sa paghatid niya sa akin sa bahay ay hindi na niya ako tinantanan ng tukso. He laughed most of the time causing me to laughed too. I even record a video of him driving me at home while the starts are already at the sky. I wanted to post it on my IG account but there is a part of me doesn't want to because my friends might see it. But in the end, I posted it on my story and put a sticker so he would look mysterious. 

Weeks already passed and most of the students became busy. Sinabayan pa ng opening ng mga bagong clubs. It's on the protocol that you can always change your club when you are not already interested with it but you need a requirement before stepping unto another club. So I felt hesitant to find another club when I already felt at peace in my Art Club. I wanted to try another but that doesn't mean that I already lost my interest in Arts. It's just, I want to do better in Music. 

“Sure ka? Kaya mo ba talagang magperform sa harap ng mga seniors?” tanong sa akin ni Whyme. 

“I will try, but if I can't pass their only requirement, I will be back on my club. I will give this a try, wala namang mawawala.” I replied and she shrugged and left me with my Ukelele. 

I feel unconnected what's to the whole room when I was playing with my Ukelele, I even tried singing if I can reach the high notes, and thankfully, I did. But I am not sure if I can do it later when I will be in front of the judges from their club. 

Nakakahiya namang pumiyok doon. Baka mamatay pa ako sa hiya.

Kasama ko ang kaba ko habang kumakain ako ng tanghalian ko sa loob ng classroom. Most of my classmates we're also busy preparing for their clubs too. But the boys, they are only playing on their phones, because ML is life daw, ika nga nila. After I ate my lunch, naglakad ako papunta kay Jamal upang magtanong kung may dala ba siyang power bank since I left mine and my phone is running out of battery, but he said that he already used it and forgot to charge it as well so I thanked him but he asked someone from their group and Ashwin offered his powerbank to me. 

The room is filled with teasing. Ashwin face blushed as the boys started to tease him. I thanked him and he replied me with his small voice. 

“Always welcome.” he looks so adorable when his face reddened.

Halatang halata iyong pagkapula niya dahil sa meztiso niyang balat. If I can only pinch his cheeks without being teased, I will do it but then eyes are everywhere. Baka magkaroon na naman ng panibagong issue.

“You should ask him the requirements from their club.”

“Huh? Why would I?” nagtatakang tanong ko habang lukot ang mukha, hindi makuha ang gustong i-parating niya. 

“Because you will be performing in front of them later.” sabi pa niya kaya mas lalo akong nagtaka sa sinabi niya. 

“What? But he's a transferee right?” inosente kong tanong na bahagyang ikinatawa niya. 

“Oh girl, you should have researched.” sabi niya bago ako iniwan. 

Hindi ko na namalayan na nakatingin na pala ako sa mukha ni Ashwin bago pa ako tawagin ng guro namin para sa asignatura ngayon. 

“Ms. Marcil, you've been staring at Ashwin for a long time, care to share what's on your mind?” I was back with my own thoughts when Mrs. Valdhueza called my attention. 

The rooms filled with teasings and loud noises again. I was already late to take back when I saw Ashwin looked at my direction too, smiling. I am doomed. Hindi na natigil pa ang panunukso nila sa amin nang hindi na nagpatuloy pang magturo ang ginang nang makarinig siya ng hudyat na magsisimula na kaming pumili ng mga clubs namin. And then a guy came. 

“Excuse me Ma'am, I'm looking for Ashwin and the others that wants to join our club.” a guy appeared named Czesar. 

Tila may hinahanap ito sa loob kaya hindi napigilan ng mga babae kong kakalase na mapahagikhik ng mapunta sa kanila ang tingin ng tao. Ashwin stood up and then Ashwin called me that caught Czesar’s attention. His mouth hung open before he pressed both of his lips. 

Mas lalo pang lumakas ang tuksohan nang tinawag ako ni Ashwin kaya wala na akong ibang nagawa kung hindi kunin ang Ukelele ko at naglakad kasunod nila. 

“Oh. Tam, anong ginagawa mo dito? Gusto club namin o iba gusto mo?” tanong ng isang Grade 12 student na si Clide. 

I shyly shooked my head and said. “I will try to change club.”

“Oh? Nagsawa agad? Baka pati kaibigan namin pagsawaan mo rin?” biro pa niya at biglaan ring tumahimik nang may dumating. 

Czesar came to the room with his brows, furrowed. Ang kaninang nagkukumpolan sa loob ng silid na ito ay may kani-kaniya nang pinaggawa. Kung kanina ay sobrang ingay ngayon ay sobrang tahimik na. Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng isang Czesar Chiongson.

“Oh boy! Tamila is already here, I think we should start.” Clide broke the silence. When Czesar nodded his head, doon na pumwesto iyong mga officers sa club na siyang mga judges na rin.

There are five of them on the table, four boys and a girl. Isa isa silang nagpakilala kabilang na si Ashwin na siya palang drummer ng banda. I was also surprised when I knew that Czesar is also part of the band, the vocalist and the electric guitarist of the band. 

“Miracle, you ready?” Czesar asked, kaya napalingon ako sa direksyon niya at bahagyang tumango. 

Bumukas ulit ang bibig niya at sinabing. “I know you can do it! Do your very best, bossing!”