Chapter Seven

Matapos ang orientation, the three of us decided to go outside nalang since the classes seems wouldn't start today. The subject teachers are all busy assisting a lot for school stuff and especially when there were still students na nag-enroll today. Though, today is the last day of the enrollment kaya naman sobrang busy. Which is why we decided to spend the rest of the day at the coffee shop at after nuon ay naglakad-lakad kami sa pinakamalapit na park. Abala si Arin at Ashton sa pagkuha ng pictures unlike me, sumasali lang kapag group pictures kasi I don't know ho to pose on solo pics.

We spend the rest of the day like that and it was a bit fun. Kinabukasan, the half of my body still wants to lay in the bed but heaven knows that I need to go and wake up like as in, gising na gising kasi it's another day of schooldays na naman.

Just like how my daily routine goes, I stood up and took a bath immediately, did all my skincare routine, blow-dried my hair and all. Alam kong hindi na makakapasok sa gate ang hindi complete uniform from this day on kaya no choice, kinuha ko ang uniform ko mula sa aking closet. It was a white long sleeve with checkered maroon necktie, same lang din sa skirt, it was a checkered maroon colored paired with black shoes na may kaunting heel. Hindi naman ganoon kataas. I ponytailed my hair and when I felt satisfied with my looks, nilagay ko na sa backpack ko ang aking mga gamit. Just two notebooks, one pad of paper, ballpens and other school supplies.

Dad already left kaya nagpahatid nalang ako sa driver namin papunta roon sa school. Buti nalang hindi ako na-late dahil dumating ako sa LIS bago pa man mag-alas siyete. Pagkarating ko sa campus ay dumiretso na'ko sa classroom namin.

“Aye!” Napalingon ako sa aking likuran when I saw Arin na biglang nagpop-up out of nowhere. “Lika, dito ka sa likuran.” She was already seated beside Quinn Mendoza, a friend since grade ten.

I sighed. “I hate sitting at the back, puro ulo lang ng mga kaklase natin ang nakikita ko,” reklamo ko pa nang mapagtanto kong wala nang bakante sa unahang parte ng mga seats. It's already occupied at ang tanging bakante nalang ay dalawang seats at naroon pa sa likuran. How unfortunate.

”Hi, Aye!” Quinn waved at me at ginantihan ko siya ng ngiti.

“Hayaan mo na, mas okay 'yun, most likely hindi natatawag tuwing recitations. Yuyuko kalang ng kaunti, makakatakas kana.”

“Hindi pa rin. Remember, index card exists,” said Quinn.

“Sus, hindi naman ako always nabununot sa ganoon eh. Okay lang 'yan,” ani Arin sabay lapag sa mga gamit niya sa desk. “Ang dami palang nag-GAS 'no? Sa tingin mo ba 'di natin pagsisisihan strand natin?”

I shrugged. “Who knows? Wala rin naman tayong choice kasi I can't see myself na naroon sa ibang strand.”

Tumango siya, senyales ng pagsang-ayon. “Oo nga naman, tsaka alam mo na, doon sa kabilang strand halos meh mga students roon. No na no for me kasi kadalasan sa mga naroon, puro basagulero at basagulera. Hindi keri ng bangs ko, teh.”

“Hayaan mo na 'yun, Rin. H'wag mong stress-in ang buhay mo sa kanila,” pagpayo naman ni Quinn.

It took so long for the classes to start. Naroon lang kami ni Arin sa aming upuan and I busied myself scrolling in my socmed accounts. I am not chatting anyone right now, I'm just scrolling there and look for something interesting, particularly funny. I've noticed that we have transferees but I don't know how to interact with new people which is why hindi na'ko nagbother pa na makipaghalubilo pa.

“Good morning everyone, sorry I'm a bit late. May inaasikaso lang ako saglit sa faculty.”

“Good morning ma'am!” everyone answered in chorus.

She simply smiled to us and put down her things to the table. I've noticed that she looks so young and I think nasa mid 20s pa ang edad niya. She has a firm body portion, mahaba ang buhok at medyo may kaputian. I can say that she's beautiful at kapag hindi siya nakasuot ng uniporme, mapapagkamalan siya na estudyante.

“So again, good morning. By the way, you can call me Ma'am Dara Saldivar and I am your adviser for this school year and I hope we'll get along together.”

Magiliw niyang pagpapakilala. Bakas sa ekspresyon niya ang pagiging masayahin and my first impression to her is, she's the approachable type of a person.

“Dalaga ka pa po, ma'am?” tanong ng isa kong lalaki na kaklase doon sa harapan.

“Yes, but I'm engaged.” Sabay taas niya sa kaniyang kanang kamay kung saan naroon ang kumikinang na singsing. “Share ko lang.” Then, she chuckled. Nakitawa nalang rin ang buong klase.

“Edi siya na maswerte sa lovelife.” Rinig kong bulong ni Arin. Sapat lang para marinig naming dalawa ni Quinn.

However, before we could continue further, biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng class room and everything went slowmo. Of course kasi it was like my emotions are figuring out on what was happening and what is going to happen. As everyone gasp in shock and amazement, I was left midair ajar, jaw almost fell when I saw him. He's wearing that black hoodie jacket again. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at agad-agad na tumaas ang aking kilay.

The guy paced forward and went near to Ma'am Dara. “Uh, sorry Ma'am. I'm late...” Then he roamed his eyes and he catches mine. “I guess.”

“Hala, OMG! Magiging classmate natin siya?”

“Infairness, magkakaroon ng pogi sa section natin.”

“Sayang, dapat magkatabi kami.”

“Sure? But I didn't saw his name sa list kanina, ah.”

Same. I thought. I didn't saw this one coming kasi hindi ko naman nakita ang kaniyang pangalan roon sa lista sa katabi ng pintuan sa labas. It didn't occured to me that all of my what ifs for the past days will be come true.

Ma'am Dara knotted her brows at him and then she cleared her hroat. “Oh, that's fine. Kaka-start palang naman namin. So uh, I guess we need to introduce ourselves to each other because I'm a newbie teacher here so I'm not familiar to anyone of you. So, let's start.” Then, she eyed that Ryden senyales na siya ang mauna sa pagpapakilala.

“Uh, I'm Ryden Caleb Saldivar, eighteen years old, came from A.N. Art School. I'm looking forward to get along with everyone of you so I hope I'm welcome here.” He bowed and I see how he swallowed hard.

“Pamangkin ko siya guys, by the way. I hope walang gulo na mangyayari while he's here, okay?” The whole class answered in chorus. “Alright, Mr. Saldivar. You can take your seat na. Wherever you want.”

I bit my lower lip when I realized that the only vacant seat at the moment is right here beside me. No choice, he would seat beside me.

“Uh, Ryden, you can sit beside me. Don't worry, si Trisha na mag-a-adjust at tatabi kay Aye.”

I didn't know that Alice would be blessing in disguise right now. Sure, ayaw ko talagang makatabi iyang si Ryden. Baka hindi pa natapos ang first sem eh kumukulo na dugo ko sa bwesit.

“What?! Alice, no! Ayoko kaya sa likuran.” Kitang-kita kung paano umirap si Trisha sa kawalan.

“Trisha,” pinandilatan siya ni Alice ng mata. “You can go na.”

“What the hell—I can't believe you, Alice!”

Napa-ooh ang buong klase nang biglang sumigaw si Trisha so I covered my mouth with my book because they looked kinda ridiculous fighting over one guy with a pity reason. Pati si Ryden ay tila clueless kung anong nararapat gawin.

“You should give way, ba't parang makaakto ka ay hindi tayo magkaibigan? Godness, Trish, seat lang naman 'yan.” Sabay hilot ni Alice sa kaniyang sentido. “What I asked is just so simple and easy!”

“Both of you, stop!” Ma'am Dara suddenly yelled. “Nakakahiya sa new classmate ninyo! Please lang, Ms. Obillo and Castro, shut up and sit down.” Then, she shifted her gaze to Ryden. “You can seat now, beside Ms. Acosta. No transferring of seats until the end of school year.”

“Hindi ko nanaising makatabi ang mga taong may gusto sa'kin. Baka pagnasaan pa ako.” Alice bit her lower lip and I also heard Arin's almost whisper chuckle infront of me. Tss, feelingero din pala itong Ryden na'to eh. May nag-away lang dahil sa kaniya, bigla nang lumaki ang ulo!

Pagtapos niyang pakawalan ang mga katagang na iyon ay tuluyan na nga siyang humakbang papunta sa katabi kong upuan.

Then, Ryden caught my eye again and I think he familiarized me. Kasi titig siya ng titig sa akin as if matagal na kaming close. Eh ngayon ko pa nga lang siya nakita ever eh! Nang dumaan siya sa direksyon ko ay hindi ko na siya sinundan ng tingin. I ducked my head and busied myself flipping pages of my notepad. Kunware lang.

Biglang kumalabog ang damdamin ko nang ibinalik ko ang tingin ko kay Ryden ay nasa akin pa rin ang kaniyang mga mata. He is staring at me intently habang hinahakbang ang pathways patungo sa tabi kong seat. At the side of my eye, I clearly saw how he put his things down and fit himself beside me. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes firmly because the scene about yesterday keeps on flashing through my mind.

Yes, I'm not comfortable especially when from where I am being seated, amoy na amoy ko ang kaniyang panlalaking pabango. Kaya naman ay tumikhim ako ng kaunti at akmang nag-scratch sa aking ilong at umusog ng konti papalayo sa kaniya.

“Umayos ka ng upo diyan, h'wag kang magalaw.” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya at para ring may zipper na nakadikit sa aking bibig eh, hindi ako makahanap ng isasagot! Pake niya kung magalaw ako? Buhusan ko rin siya ng coke, eh!

“Pinagsasabi mo?” mahina kong asik.

“I have a very tough first day. Gusto ko lang naman pumunta rito para mag-aral, bakit kailangan pa akong pag-awayan ng dalawang babae?”

Indeed! Hindi lang rude ang lalaking ito, feelingero din! Hindi lang sa'kin kundi sa lahat. Ganoon na talaga yata ang mentality niya. I want to curse the whole world. Why do I even have to sit beside him? For the whole freaking school year?! Paano ko titiisin iyon?

“Okay continue,” Ma'am Dara eyed the first row and then they followed. Until, it was Arin's turn.

“Hello, I'm Arianna Maxi R. Acosta, you can also call me ‘Arin’. Seventeen years old, my hobbies in life is watching kdrama and kpop contents. That's all!” She waved and sat down.

“My name is Ayezza Nathalie C. Acosta, you can call me ‘Aye’. Seventeen years old, my hobbies in life is I love reading books.” I bowed a bit before I sat down.

Everyone did the ‘introduce yourself’ thing and I don't even think that it's effective kasi until now, nahihirapan pa rin akong tandaan ang mga pangalan ng mga kaklase kong transferees. Well except for Ryden. I just then knew that Ma'am Dara's subject is 21st Century Literature. Until first period is over kaya naman ay lumabas na si Ma'am Dara at sinundan iyon ng next subject which is ang O.M., Oral Comm, and Gen. Math. Puro introduce yourself lang ang ganap buong morning schedule and it almost sickened me. Thankfully, lunchtime came.

“Saan kayo after lunch?”

“Tara sa coffee shop.” Pinaypayan ni Quinn ang kaniyang sarili gamit ang kaniyang notes.

“Luh, kay tanghali eh magkakape ka?”

“I need to go to the library, guys.”

“Usual goal na naman ba, Aye?” Arin asked.

“Of course, dapat ako lang ang maging bookworm of the month for the whole year. Siyempre ayokong maagaw ang spot na iyon.”

“Oo na ikaw na, don't worry walang makakaagaw diyan. No one even comes close!”

“How would I know?” So I shrugged. “So I guess, hindi muna ako sasama sa inyo.”

“Hmm, sige na nga. Tara sa labas, Quinn. Basta mamaya ah, sabay tayo umuwi. Papahatid ako sa driver niyo atsaka ihahatid natin si Quinn pauwi.”

I nods, “Sure, no problem.”

That was the moment where I have decided to leave already with a book in my chest. It was the book that I got from Lolo's library, the Unlively Heart. Mag-isa kong tinahak ang hallway papuntang library at nang makarating na nga ako roon ay sobrang tahimik ng lugar—Of course Aye, library nga eh. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad habang hawak-hawak na rin sa kabila kong kamay ang aking cellphone at chi-neck ang oras. I still got time to look for books. I want to read classical books as well at iyon ang sadya ko sa library. Especially the works of William Shakespeare.

Ibabalik ko na sana ang aking cellphone sa bag nang biglang may nabunggo akong lalaki na may dala-dalang limang libro at may nakapatong na box sa ibabaw.

“Oh my—”

“Shit!” Mahina nitong asik at muntik na akong ma-slide sa sahig dahil roon dahil nagkabangga ang dibdib ko at ang ilang bahagi ng kaniyang braso. I almost got out of balance at that moment but fortunately, I managed myself not to do so.

“I-I'm sorry, okay ka lang, Aye?” tanong ng lalaki and my eyes was still in shock and it took me a moment or two to realize that everything seemed fine at gratefully walang natapon sa kaniyang dala-dala.

“O-Oh, Oo naman. I'm okay. By the way I'm sorry, I really didn't saw you coming uh, I'm sorry. Okay ka lang ba?”

The guy nods. It's funny how he recognized me but I didn't even know him. “Oo. Uh, aalis na'ko. Kailangan ko pa itong ihatid sa faculty eh.”

I nods, “Umm, sige.”

After the guy walked away, I sighed in relief at halos mapahawak pa ako sa aking dibdib. Pagkatapos nun ay inayos ko na ang aking sarili at pinagpagan ang aking dibdib and that was when I realized that something seems so wrong right now. Again, I touched the above of my chest when I realized something was not there. It was the Louis Vuitton necklace that I got from Mom since I was eleven.

“Hala, ang kwintas ko!” I hissed in whisper. I remember that it is clearly prohibited on talking inside this room. Lumingon ako sa aking likuran, sa aking side ngunit wala pa rin. “Gosh, where are you?!” reklamo ko pa sa sarili ko dahil kahit anong yuko ko ay wala pa rin akong makita.

"Looking for something?" Bigla akong may narinig na malamig na boses sa kung saan—Oh, it was infront of me. Napagtanto ko iyon nang may nakita akong pares ng paa sa aking harapan. When I looked up, my brows raised automatically when I realized who he is.

“Ryden...” What the hell, Aye, do you have to mutter his name? I rolled my eyes secretly and slowly stood up at pinagpagan ang sarili. “U-Um yes. Hinahanap ko lang ang kwintas ko—”

"Ito ba?" Hindi pa ako pinatapos! Napasulyap ako sa bagay na nasa mga daliri niya. Nanlaki ang mata ko.

It was truly my necklace!

“Oh? Saan mo'to nahanap?”

“Five steps from you. Ang lapit lang nga sa'yo niyan eh.”

Is he kidding me? Wala naman akong nakitang kumikinang ah. But anyway, I don't want us to have longer conversation so I must end this but atleast, saying thank you. “Oh, I see. By the way, thanks.” I plastered a plain smile.

"You're welcome."

Then, he said nothing more at nauna nang maglakad sa'kin papunta sa dagat ng bookshelves. I just shrugged and continue with my business.