Chapter 13: Question

Hana Festa Kani
August 23, 2022

Nore and I were in the canteen, we were both happy with the good news because I received a letter from one of the most prestigious schools in the Philippines, and they informed me that I passed the examination and I was eligible to be one of their scholars.

"Grabe ka talaga, Rhoe Anne! La Salle! Nakapasok ka sa La Salle! I am really proud of you!"

Tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya. I might have passed the scholarship program of the said school, pero hindi pa rin nito maaalis na gagastos pa rin ako ng expenses.

Maybe I should find a part time job tuwing gabi? I couldn't just rely with my money coming from my Aunt Kiana, dahil alam kong hindi niya naman ginagastos ang lahat ng iyon para sa akin.

"How about you, Nore? Saan ang balak mong school?"

Tumawa lang siya sa akin. "Bahala na. Kung saan makapasa."

"Would it be better if pareho tayo ng school?"

"Huh? I didn't try to take an exam with the school. I know my capability. At tsaka hindi naman ako masipag mag-aral katulad mo. So, you deserve the every opportunity that you have. Grab lang nang grab! Alam mo naman na proud na proud ako sa 'yo."

"I actually passed some other schools, Nore. Nag-aalangan pa talaga ako sa La Salle. . ."

Namilog ang mga mata sa akin ni Nore. "May iba pa talagang school? Wow! Pero kung ako sa 'yo, grab the opportunity in La Salle. If you're worried about the other expenses, sabay na lang tayong magpart time job. At least, namimili ka na lang ng school na papasukan. Iyong iba kasi naghahanap pa, look at me."

Sasagot pa sana ako kay Nore nang bigla kaming makarinig ng pamilyar na boses mula sa likurang lamesa. At nang sabay kaming lumingon ni Nore, kitang-kita ko ang agad na pag-ikot ng mga mata niya.

Of course, it was Sarah.

Ngayon naman ay nakikipag-usap na rin siya sa malakas niyang boses sa mga kaibigan niya. She's trying to feed them another lies, na marami rin siyang natanggap na letter from the other schools, kaya hindi na siya makapag-decide nang maayos.

Hindi niya ba alam na posible kong narinig ang usapan niya kasama ang magulang niya? When she learned that I received a letter of acceptance to some of the famous schools, bigla niyang sinabi sa mga iyon na gusto niyang pumasok sa ganoong school.

"Hindi naman natin siya pinariringgan, ah? We were not aware that she was there. Kakabingi naman ng kayabangan niya," kumento ni Nore.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay nagyaya na si Nore na bumalik sa classroom dahil nasusuka na daw siya sa kayabangang pinagsasabi ni Sarah.

Nang makabalik na kami ni Nore sa classroom, natigilan ako nang may rosas na nakapatong sa lamesa ko. Nagtilian bigla ang mga kaklase ko habang ako ay nakatitig pa rin sa rosas.

Ilang beses pa akong kinurot ni Nore sa aking tagiliran. I was about to get the rose on my desk when another batch of teasing overwhelmed us, at nang lumingon ako habang hawak ang rosas, nakangiting mukha ng namumulang Karl ang sumalubong sa akin.

People started to cheer and tease us, I ever heard compliments about me that one of the most handsome faces of my school admired me. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko sa oras na iyon, dahil wala pa sa isip ko ang ganoong bagay.

All I just remember that day was Sarah's unsatisfied look before sitting on her chair.

***

The darkness of the sky was overwhelmed by the sprinkled of stars looking down at us, the curved pathway towards the darkest part of the park was guided by the dim light coming from the LED candles, and the small landscapes of different colored flowers were surrounding us. Near the entrance of the Hana Festa should be giving me this magical and enchanting spell, with a prince holding my hand, but right at that moment, I witnessed a different type of Kousuke Matsumoto.

He was like a villain in most romance novels, someone who could do dark things behind my back.  Someone who could smile at me, with blooded hands behind his back.

"I hope I can make you happy, Rhoe Anne. Tell me what to do to make you happy. I can even do that revenge for you. Just tell me what caused you so much pain. And I will end it for you."

For a brief moment I saw someone else, not that sweet and warm summer boyfriend that smile a lot, but someone who could give an open threat. Sobrang lamig ng boses niya at diin ng pagkakabigkas ng mga salita niya na sa sandaling magbigay ako ng pangalan ay bigla na lang iyon bumulagta.

Bigla akong hindi nakarinig ng mga yabag ng taong nadaratingan at ang tanging naririnig ko lang sa mga oras na iyon ay ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. He eyes were piercing deep within my soul as if he was forcing to extract the every information that he needs.

In a moment, I suddenly felt like Kousuke Matsumuto owned this place, and all I could do was surrender him and give him what he wanted— a name. A name that he wanted to kill for me.

At iisang pangalan lang ang siyang tumatakbo sa isipan ko habang hinihintay ni Kousuke ang kasagutan ko. He looked like a predator that was about to kill his prey, and he was just waiting for a word from his master.

"N-No one. . ." nag-aalangang sabi ko sa kanya.

I shouldn't let him get involved. Kung anuman ang mayroon ako sa Pilipinas ay dapat sa akin na lang iyon. I was my fight and Kousuke has nothing to do with it.

Kumunot ang noo niya nang marinig ang sagot ko. Tinanggal niya ang pagkakahawak sa pisngi ko, but he gently caressed the back of his hand on my right cheek.

Mas yumuko siya at bahagyang itinagilid ang kanyang ulo. He was like that villainous boyfriend who was trying to apologize for doing some bad things. "If you could just mention a name, Rhoe Anne. . ." mas malamig niyang bulong sa akin.

"I could rip that someone into pieces, torture, starve to death, or burn. Just whisper a name. . ." nanlaki na ang mga mata ko sa narinig sa kanya.

Humiwalay na ako kay Kousuke at itinulak siya papalayo sa akin. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko sa kanya habang tumatawa siyang nakapamulsa sa anino ng mga punong nakapaligid sa amin.

"I was just kidding. Of course, I don't know how to do that. I am just a countryside boy."

Nang umalis na si Kousuke sa anino ay nawala na iyong kakaibang titig ng kanyang mga mata sa akin. It was that familiar summer boy with his usual smile. Hinuli niyang muli ang kamay ko at sabay na kaming naglakad sa daan na siyang dinadaanan ng mga tao.

Habang naglalakad kami ni Kousuke na magkahawak ang kamay, hindi ko mapigilan na mapasulyap sa kanya nang ilang beses.

Because I am sure that it was part of him.

"What?" natatawang sabi niya nang mapansin niya na nakatitig ako sa kanya.

Umiling ako sa kanya at tumanaw na ako sa unahan. And just like what he told me before we went here, Hana Festa was not all about the flowers, but the unlimited foods around.

Nakahilera na ang napakaraming food trucks sa tabi ng daan na nagtitinda nang napakaraming pagkain. From fries, burgers, ice cream, cotton candy, pizza, coffee, yakki soba, barbeque, corndog, cupcakes, sushi, tacos, and many more.

Gusto ko sanang tikman ang lahat ng pagkain doon pero alam kong masyado akong mahinang kumain.

"Just a few. I eat a little, you witnessed it."

"It's okay."

Humanap kami ng upuan ni Kousuke, sinabi niya na maupo na lang ako at pagmasdan ang paligid dahil siya na daw ang bahalang bumili ng mga pagkain. Habol ko ng tingin si Kousuke habang binabaybay niya ang bawat food truck sa harapan ko.

Ngiting-ngiti sa akin si Kousuke habang may tangkas siyang napakaraming pagkain pabalik sa akin. He looked so excited as he walked towards him.

"Ang guwapo. . ." usal ko na lang habang papalapit siya.

Napakaraming pagkain ang nasa lamesa namin, at habang sabay kaming kumakain, napapansin ko kung gaano siya kaganang kumain. Sino ang may sabi na mahinang kumain ang mga hapon? He could even finish our foods.

"Eat slowly, Kousuke," sita ko sa kanya.

Ayokong matatapos na siyang kumain habang ako ay may kinakain pa. Tinawanan niya lang ako sa sinabi ko.

Tulad ng inaasahan, mas nauna ngang natapos si Kousuke sa akin kumain, at nang makita niya na hirap na hirap na akong ubusin ang kinakain ko ay nagsimula na naman siyang tawanan ako.

"Help me."

"I am already full."

Pinandilatan ko lang siya ng mata bago siya ngumisi sa akin at tinulungan niya akong ubusin ang barbeque, burger at French fries ko.

"You are really a light eater. You should eat a lot."

"Do I look thin? Should I gain weight?"

Ngumuso siya. "But I like your figure."

"Dapat lang. Choosy ka pa?"

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Here we go again. Why do you have this habit of speaking in your language when we're in conversation? You know that I can't understand it."

"You should learn my language."

"I am not a fast learner, Rhoe Anne."

"So, magtiis ka."

He chuckled. Sumandal na siya sa upuan niya, pinagkrus niya ang kanyang mga hita at naiiling siyang nakatitig sa akin. "There's a live band nearby, Rhoe Anne."

"I don't think I can appreciate it. I can't understand the song."

Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. "See? That's the kind of frustration—" I cut him off.

"Correction, Mr. Matsumoto, there is a difference. You're interested in my words, but I am not interested in the live band. I am okay not to hear their songs."

"Alright. I won't try to disagree."

Tumayo na siya at hinawakan na niya ang kamay ko. "Let's go to the sunflower field."

Itinapon muna namin ni Kousuke ang mga basura namin bago kami naglakad pa sa park at pumunta roon sa malaking sunflower field.

"Wow," iyon lang ang nasabi ko habang pinagmamasdan ang sunflower field.

I am used to witness the beauty of its flower during the day, when there's a sunlight around it, pero hindi ko akalain na may higit pa itong igaganda sa gabi.

Sinong nagsabi na maganda lang ang sunflower sa umaga?

It's a huge sunflower field and in every corner of the field was a huge lighting. Kahit ang mga hapon na dumadaan sa likuran namin ni Kousuke ay napapahanga sa kanilang nakikita. I might not understand some of their words, but the sound of it made me confirm their fascination.

Inilabas na namin ni Kousuke ang phone namin at sabay kaming nagpicture ng sunflower. Gusto ko sanang bumaba at magpunta sa gitna ng field ng sunflower pero napakaraming tao na ang nakapila.

"Let's take a picture, Kousuke."

Kapwa kami tumalikod ni Kousuke sa sunflower field, agad kong iniyakap sa leeg niya ang dalawa kong braso dahilan kung bakit napayuko siya. I pushed my cheeks on his and we smiled together in front of the camera.

"Cheese!"

Ilang shots ang ginawa ni Kousuke, he even had a quick smack on my cheeks na nagpagulat sa akin. I am sure that we had a genuine expression on his every shot.

"I want to see!"

Kousuke's about to give me his phone when suddenly a name appeared on his screen. I've read the name Kyohei.

"Let me answer the phone."

Tumango ako sa kanya.

Hindi naman siya humiwalay sa akin at magkatabi pa rin kami, but his conversation with the caller was in Nihonggo kaya wala akong maintindihan. Nang sagutin niya iyon ay mukhang masaya pa siya, pero habang tumatagal ay tila napapalitan ang ekspresyon ni Kousuke.

Nang sumulyap sa akin si Kousuke ay nagkunwari na lang akong abala sa aking phone habang kumukuha ulit ng picture ng sunflower.

Kahit hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya ay parang nahihimigan ko na nagtatalo na sila. It took a few minutes before Kousuke ended the call. Hinawakan niya ulit ang kamay ko at ngumiti siya sa akin.

I want to ask him about it, pero alam kong wala naman akong karapatang malaman iyon. I am not his official girlfriend and I don't think I have the right to know more about his personal affairs.

Pababa na kami ni Kousuke sa sunflower field para pumila nang magsalita ulit si Kousuke.

"My cousin called, and he told me that our family asked him about my whereabouts. Maybe they're trying to prevent me from taking the same path as Seiji because they are planning to set me on a date with a rich Japanese girl," nagkibit balikat lang si Kousuke.

"And are you going?"

"No way," ngising sagot niya.

Nakadungaw na siya sa phone niya ulit nang muli na naman kumunot ang kanyang noo. He sighed before smiling back at me.

Nang malapit na kami sa pila ni Kousuke bigla niya akong hinila at natigilan na lang ako sa katanungan niya.

"How about we elope, Rhoe Anne?"