❝ GULONG-GULO ❞

"Kicking and giggling my feet hihi."

Kwento mo naman sa harapan ng camera mo habang nagv-vlog. You're just filiming a Youtube video para for your contents na rin, ngunit hindi mo mapigilan na magkwento. You're back in your condo na rin dahil hindi mo talaga kayang magstay nang matagal sa mansion. 

"So like 'di ba—" Pagpapatuloy mo, ngunit may naririnig kang kumakatok sa may pintuan mo.

Nagtaka ka naman dahil madalas, walang kumakatok sa condo mo, and kapag may deliveries ka naman, usually bumababa ka ng lobby para ro'n kunin. Kapag naman bibisitahin ka ng mga kaibigan mo, they usually inform you. Maybe you have an unexpected visitor today?

You stood up from your vanity, and walked to the door. Bubuksan mo na sana, ngunit naalala mo ang mga sinabi sa'yo ni Kakucho no'n.

"You should already take your keycard out when you're still in the elevator. You never know, someone might be following you. Tapos mag-isa ka pang naka-tira?" Kakucho advised.

Sumilip ka sa nalang sa peephole ng pintuan, and to your surprise, it's one of the maids from the mansion, at kasama niya si... Aisha?

Agad mo namang binuksan ang pintuan.

"ATE!" Sigaw ni Aisha at agad ka namang niyakap.

"Madame, kanina pa po nangungulit si Aisha na dalhin daw po siya sa condo niyo. Hindi po siya pinayagan ni Madame Melinda, pero pumayag naman po si Mr. Sy at sinabi ang address at condo unit niyo." Pag-iinform naman ng katulong na siyang naghatid kay Aisha

"Ito na rin po ang mga damit at gamit ni Aisha. Sabi raw po ni Mr. Sy dito raw muna po magbabakasyon si Aisha. Salamat po." Muli pang dagdag ng katulong.

Ikaw naman ay halos mapatulala nalang. This is totally unexpected! Honestly, kaya ka bumili ng condo to live alone!

"Uhm, yeah," you forced out a laugh. "Yeah, okay. I'll handle these." Sagot mo nalang at kinuha ang mga bagahe ni Aisha.

"Sige po, ma'am, salamat po." Pagpapaalam nito bago maglakad paalis.

"Wow! I like your makeups, ate!" Rinig mong sigaw ni Aisha sa may kwarto mo, at agad naman siyang nakapasok do'n!

"Hey! Don't touch anything there!" Sigaw mo naman nang dali-daling tumakbo sa kwarto.

Sumunod naman si Aisha, ngunit tumakbo naman siya sa kabilang kwarto. You just did a facepalm and rubbed the bridge of your nose in stress.

"Oh my gosh!" You grunted as you grabbed your phone, trying to dial your father at sumagot naman ito.

"Helian, hello—?"

"Dad! What is this?! Why is Aisha here?!" Tinadtaran mo naman ng mga tanong ang tatay mo.

"Oh, it seems like Aisha is there already. Well, daughter, you know, this can be the chance for you to bond with your little sister. She always gets bored with her mother back in our home, so I decided to let her stay there for at least a week or so. Plus, isn't she going to enroll at your school? You can start bringing her with you, so she can be familiar with the place." Sagot naman ng tatay mo.

"Dad! You know I'm a student. I can't bear to take care of a child! She's not my responsibility." You frankly said.

"Helian, look, I know, I know, but I can call Aisha's yaya there if you're in school. Listen, Helian—" Dagdag pa ng tatay mo, ngunit hindi na ito natuloy nang binaba mo na ang telepono.

"Whatever," you rolled your eyes and tossed your phone somewhere.

"Aisha?!" Tawag mo pa nang hinanap ito sa buong sulok ng unit mo.

Yup, you just hope that you won't be babysitting for a week!

Pumasok ka na rin ng school, like the usual, or maybe not the usual... dahil kasama mo si Aisha!

You're on your phone while walking down the corridor, and you turned your head as you heard someone call your name.

"(Y/N)!" Tawag sa'yo nina Lexi at Kaycee.

"May pupuntahan— Oh! Is that your little sister you were talking about? Aisha? Hi!" Sabi ng dalawa as they crouched down and greeted your sister.

Maingay at makulit si Aisha, ngunti pagdating sa mga strangers, mahiyain ito. Nagtago nalang ito sa likod mo, ngunit umimik parin ng bati.

"Aww, why are you shy? Kami lang 'to! Your ate's friend! Do you want to come with us after school?" Tanong pa nina Lexi.

Tumingin naman muna sa'yo si Aisha for approval. You just sighed and nodded. "Okay, fine, but I'll bring you to Coach Cris muna, okay?"

"Okay!"

"O, say bye na to Ate Lexi and Ate Kaycee." Sabi mo naman.

"Bye," imik naman ni Aisha at agad na sumunod sa'yo.

Bago ka pumasok ng classroom, hinatid mo muna si Aisha sa club room, ang club nina Kakucho. Aisha will soon enroll in this school, at matagal na niyang gusto sumali ng mga clubs, but since your sister is really smart, always in honors, highest scorer, then clubs like this are really suited for her.

"Hi," bati mo naman pagka-pasok mo ng club room, at lahat ng nasa loob ay nagtinginan sa'yo.

"Is Coach Cris here?" Tanong mo.

"Ah, oo, teka lang," sabi naman ng isang estudyante. "Halika! Pasok kayo."

You just smiled and nodded as you entered the room. Inobserbahan mo naman ang loob at puro mga kagamitan na you're familiar with, but don't really know how to use, tulad na lamang ng chess boards, Rubik's cube, at iba't ibang uri pa ng mga 'to.

"Helian—! Oh, your sister is also here! Hello, Aisha! Welcome to our club." Bati naman ni Coach Cris.

At dahil nga mahiyain ito pagdating sa strangers, she just waved.

"I will be your coach when you join this club. Don't worry, your ate's classmates are here for this year, tho' next year wala na sila since they'll be in college na. Better start making friends early." Sabi pa ni Coach Cris.

"Coach, thank you po for introducing her to the club. I'm going to leave her here muna po since I have classes pa." Pagpapaalam mo naman.

"Sige, I'm sure Aisha will enjoy her ates and kuyas' company here." Sagot ni Coach Cris.

"Oo nga pala, Helian, pakisabi na rin kay Kakucho na puntahan niya ako rito." Dagdag pa ni Coach Cris.

Agad namang napakaw ang atensyon mo sa binaggit niya pangalan, kaya't tumango ka nalang. 

"Sure! Thank you po ulit! Aisha, behave here, okay?" Sabi mo naman, at tumango si Aisha nang sumunod kay Coach Cris sa loob kasama ang mga ibang estudyante. 

After that, dumiretso ka na rin naman ng classroom, expecting na maingay nanaman ang mga kaklase mo, ngunit nang pagka-pasok mo, halos lahat ay tahimik at naka-upo sa kanilang upuan.

And there, you spotted Kakucho in front of the class, leaning against the teacher's desk with his arms crossed as he observed his classmate. Mukhang pinatahimik niya ang klase, but how?!

Kakucho turned his head to you as he pushed his glasses up. Tumingin din naman ang mga kaklase mo.

"President is here. Behave." Kakucho warned his classmate as he grabbed his bag and walked to the door.

"Wait—" You're kind of confused about what's happening. "What happened? Aalis ka na?"

"Yeah, I'm excused again." Sagot ni Kakucho.

"Ah right, Coach Cris was calling you." Bulong mo. 

You then slowly looked at your classmate na tahimik lang sa kanilang mga upuan. Tangina mala good students na akala mo hindi nagbabardagulan araw-araw. Bago 'to ah!

"What happened to them? What did you do?" Tanong mo.

"I just told them to be quiet," Kakucho shrugged, saying something more before he gets out of the classroom. "I'll go now.

Tumingin ka ulit sa mga kaklase mo, and most of them sighed in relief.

"Putangina gago! 'Di mo naman sinabi na strikto pala si Kakucho. Tinalo si ma'am magalit e." Kwento naman ng mga kaklase mo.

"What happened ba? Pinagalitan kayo ni Kakucho?" Tanong mo, at halos matawa ka just by thinking of it.

"Oo, haha. Matindi magalit. Sayang 'di mo nakita. Nalaman mo sana kung pa'no 'yun magalit. Tahimik madalas e." Sagot naman nina Hakkai.

Naalala mo naman nu'ng naka-banggaan mo si Kakucho noon sa skyway, and that's probably the angriest of him you've seen so far. May mas igagalit pa pala siya ro'n?

"Natatae talaga ako promise."

Bulong ni Hakkai habang nasa outside court kayo. P.e. niyo rin kasi ngayon, at malamang, either dance practice, exercise, or sports ang gagawin niyo ngayon, depende sa lesson niyo.

"Then go and poop," sagot mo naman habang nakatayo, samantalang mga kaibigan mo ay nakaupo sa damuhan.

"'Di ka ba nangangalay d'yan?" Tanong ni Emma. "Upo ka, o."

You just looked at the dirty grass in disgust. "Err, no thanks."

"Nandiri sa damo pero hindi nandiri sa tae ni Hakkai, 'nu 'yon?" Komento naman ni Ashanti.

"Students, stand up! Let's do a warm-up! I just checked our agenda and lesson today, it's about basketball." Rinig niyong sabi ng guro.

"What?" Your brows furrowed.

"Buti nalang wala si Ran sa klase natin." Bulong ni Makoto.

"'Yun o, basketball." Komento naman nina Baji.

"Asim mo gago." Sabi naman ni Hakkai. "Amoy lansa nanaman 'yung classroom niyan mamaya.

"May mga bola na rito sa racks. We'll do a warm-up, drills, then we'll play." Sabi ng teacher.

"P.e. teacher natin parang instructor ng mga matatandang nagzuzumba." Bulungan nina Makoto.

You just rolled your eyes while standing at the side with both of your arms on your hips. You know you're not the sporty type of person.

"Heli, 'di ka ba maglalaro?" Tanong naman sa'yo nina Emma dahil ikaw lang ang nakaupo sa benches.

"No, I will sweat plus my face will get oily. Those balls are dirty kaya." Sagot mo naman.

"Eh, sige ikaw bahala?"

"Plus, it's boring—" Dagdag mo pa.

"Uy, Kakucho! Naka-abot ka pa ng p.e.!"

Sigaw naman ng mga lalaki mong kaklase, and you looked behind Emma to see Kakucho already changed in a p.e. uniform, mukhang kakagaling lang din niya from his club,

"Actually, you know, l-like, 'di ba, I think basketball is really a great sport. You know, like I'm going to try out new things." Biglang sabi mo kay Emma.

Napataas naman ng kilay si Emma sa'yo.

"Let's go na. Teach me how to play basketball." Sabi mo at dumiretso sa court kung saan ang mga kaklase mong naglalaro.

"Nako," bulong ni Emma. "Ako pa talaga niloloko mo, Heli. Galawan ko rin 'yan 'noh."

Kumuha ka naman ng bola sa may rack sa tabi ni Kakucho, kaya't napatingin ito sa'yo.

"Haha taena, wala nga si Ran, nandito naman si Kakucho. Puta dating basketball captain 'yan e." Sabi naman ni Makoto.

"Alright, start the warmup. Form a circle, and do a push-up." The p.e teacher said as she whistled.

Nagform naman ng isang malaking circle ang mga estudyante. Katabi mo sina Hakkai at Baji, at mukhang nakakaya naman nilang mag push up. Hindi mo na tinignan ang mga iba at sinimulan na ang sa'yo.

"Malalaglag suso ko rito tamo." Sabi naman ni Hakkai habang patuloy lang ang pagpupush up.

"Easy," bulong mo pa at sinimulan na nga, pero agad na nanginig ang braso mo and you can't even lift yourself up. Halos hingalin ka rin dahil naka ilang attempt ka.

Bigla ka nalang natahimik, at humiga ka nalang sa sahig. Wala ka na ring pakielam kahit madumihan ang uniform mo.

From the other side of the circle, andu'n si Kakucho na nagw-warm up, nakikita ka, and it's hard for him to watch someone do the wrong form of a push-up!

"Okay, next, sit-ups!" The teacher said as she blew her whistle.

Sumunod ka nalang at sinubukang gawin ang exercise. You're really more on flexibility or mobility, that's why you're often doing yogas and dieting instead of lifting weights and enhancing your muscles.

Natapos na rin ang warm up niyo, and to say that this is just a warm up makes your skin crawl! Buti nalang ay palagi mong dala ang blotting paper mo.

Minutes passed, and natapos na rin ang routine, kaya't sinimulan na ang laro para na rin hindi maubos ang oras.

"Pasa mo bola!" Sigaw naman nina Benkei, at hindi mo namalayan na nagsisimula na pala ang laro at nasa'yo pa ang bola.

"To who?!" Hindi mo na rin alam ang gagawin mo kaya binato mo nalang ang bola sa kahit sino.

Isa pa, napalakas ang bato mo at sakto pa sa likod ng ulo ni Kakucho tumama.

"Ay! Sorry, sorry!"

Kakucho looked back with an angered expression na akala mo handa nang suntukin kung sinong namato ng bola sa ulo niya.

"'Di ako 'yun!" Sabi naman ni Makoto. "Siya 'yun!"

Sabay turo naman sina Benkei sa'yo.

Inirapan ka nalang ni Kakucho at binalik ang atensyon niya sa mga kaibigan niya. You just gasped and crossed your arms.

"Sorry na nga, e." Sabi mo naman.

"I don't want to play basketball na nga," sabi mo pa at nag-ikot ng mata. Alam niyo 'yung parang mga bata na nagdadabog dahil ayaw isama sa laro?

"Ay nako ayan tuloy nagtampo na. Suyuin niyo na si pres." Komento naman nina Baji.

Umupo ka nalang sa benches kung saan nakaupo sina Hakkai.

"O akala ko ba maglalaro ka?" Tanong naman nito.

"No na," you groaned as you rolled your eyes.

Napatingin naman si Emma at nagpigil ng tawa. "Asus."

"What?"

"Helian, may crush ka ba kay Kakucho—?" Biglang tanong ni Ashanti, ngunit agad na tinakpan ni Emma ang bibig nito, tho' you heard what she said.

"Ashanti! Naneto sabi ng secret muna, e!"

"Ay gano'n ba." Ashanti just blinked cluelessly.

"Wha—?!" Habang ikaw naman ay nagulat sa biglaan niyang tanong.

"E eto kasing si Emma, magaling magbasa ng isip. Sabagay ganyan din kasi galawan. Since junior high school niya pa ginagawa. Hinahabol kasi si Drak—" Sabi pa ni Ashanti, ngunit hinablot na ni Emma.

"Mm tangina mo masaydo ka nang maraming nalalaman. Ipatumba na 'to." Sabi naman ni Emma.

"Anyway, ayun nga, since nabuhos naman na ni Ashanti ang tsaa, edi... Ikaw naman tatanungin namin, totoo ba?"

You hesitated to answer, honestly! You don't know why, but you can't seem to fathom that you really have a crush on Kakucho! You know he doesn't like you back, it's obvious, and you don't want to embarrass yourself because of that. Plus, you encountered many conflicts with him, so why bother to think that he'll reciprocate it?

Dahil alam mo na gano'n ang kalabasan, siguro 'happy crush' nalang ang ilalabel mo kay Kakucho.

"Students! Pila na!" Narinig niyong sigaw ng teacher niyo sabay pagblow ng whistle kaya't agad naman kayong pumila.

Marami na ang mga estudyante sa court since dismissal time na rin, at last subject ang p.e.

"Boys! Pakibuhat naman 'tong racks. Patulong na rin si teacher na ibuhat mga gamit paakyat ng classroom. Salamat." Utos naman ng guro.

Lumingon ka naman to see Kakucho standing beside you habang nakapila rin, ngunit umalis din siya kaagad dahil kasama siya sa mga magbubuhat. Napabugtong hininga ka nalang at medyo nalungkot dahil sa inisip mo kanina lang, kaya't humarap ka nalang sa pila.

Yup, happy crush lang talaga.

"Ay ang kulit! Ayos na raw kase! Init init, e."

Reklamo naman nina Hakkai dahil sa makukulit mong kaklase, kaya't ito ka ngayon, nasa likod ng pila para bantayan sila.

"Go to the classroom quietly." Sabi mo naman while your arms are on your hips na parang pinapagalitan mo ang mga anak mo.

Bumalik naman na sila sa classroom, habang ikaw ay naiwan sa corridor. Naisipan mo munang sumilip sa may bintana dahil kita rito ang view ng outside court, kung saan kayo nag p.e. kanina lang, at kung saan nando'n din sina Kakucho at ang iba mong mga lalaking kaklase na nagbubuhat.

Habang nakatitig ka naman sa may outside court, napansin mong nahuli ka nina Baji, kaya't agad nilang tinawag si Kakucho at tumuro sa taas, kung nasaan ka.

Agad namang tumingin si Kakucho, at halos lumabas ang kaluluwa mo. Mabilis ka namang yumuko at nagtago.

Sighing once again, umalis ka nalang and decided to go back to the classroom para na rin makapag-ayos ng gamit.

Naglalakad ka lang sa corridor nang tahimik, hanggang sa bumukas ang pintuan ng isang classroom, at lumabas ang mga estudyante na puro lalaki. Hindi mo sila kilala, ngunit mukhang magkalapit lang ang agwat ng grade niyo, o kaya baka taga kabilang strand.

Hindi mo na sila pinansin at patuloy lang na naglakad even if you felt a little uncomfortable because you can feel their stares linger. Binilisan mo nalang ang paglalakad mo at kunwaring may ka-chat sa phone.

Well, your last straw is when you heard one of them whistle inappropriately.

"What the fuck?" Bulong mo at lumingon sa kanila.

"Ikaw ba si Helian? Rinig ko elected ka as president? STEM, right?" Tanong pa ng isa.

You just furrowed your brows. How can they ask this so casually after doing that? You decided to just ignore it walked away, pero rinig mo ang hakbang nila na sinusundan ka.

"Kinakausap ka, tapos tatalikuran mo kami? That's disrespectful." Tawa naman ng isa as one of them grabbed your shoulder.

"What?!" You quickly yanked his hand off your shoulder. "You're fucking weird." 

Napaurong naman ang lalaki at tumingin sa mga kaibigan nito na nakataas ang mga kilay.

"Maboses din pala 'to, e. Pa'no ka naging president, tangina? Sino naman vice president niyo?" Biro pa nila, ngunit alam mong iba na 'to.

"Babae din ba vice president niyo?" Tanong pa nila habang nagtatawanan.

"No."

Nakarinig ka naman ng pamilyar na boses at lumingon ka to see Kakucho. He's just staring at the boys with his hands inside his pockets as if kanina pa siyang nakatayo doon.

"O? Sino naman 'to?" Tanong naman nila.

"Alis," Kakucho sternly said. Simple at maiksi lang ang sinabi nito, but you heard how rough and seethed that word was.

Hindi na umimik ang mga lalaki at umalis naman na. Napatulala ka nalang sa gilid dahil hindi parin maalis sa isip mo ang mga sinabi nila.

"What are you doing here? Where are the others?" Tanong naman ni Kakucho as he dawned his attention on you after handling those boys.

"Oh—" Medyo nagpanic ka naman dahil this is your first interaction with Kakucho after a few days, a day, a few hours? Hindi mo na rin maalala, at dahil na rin sa kaninang iniisip mo sa court.

Kakucho easily noticed how the way you hesitated to speak, the stutters, and the unnecessary movements of yours.

"Why are you tense?" Kakucho asked.

"Huh? No—"

"What did they do?" Agad na tanong ni Kakucho.

"No, it's not about them—"

"I asked. What did they do?"

His words were stern again, at hindi mo na rin mapigilan na sumagot. "They just said some weird things. I don't know. I don't even know them."

Kakucho just listened, then nodded. He sighed for a moment. "Balik ka na ng classroom."

Hindi mo alam pero tunog pilit ang pagkakasabi ni Kakucho. Alam mong hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari, but you felt a little guilty dahil nahila mo nanaman siya sa problema o gulo. Dati, nabangga mo ang kotse niya, he finished the majority of the work in the research groupings, at iba pa. You're starting to feel that you're a burden to him.

"Kaku—" Tawag mo.

"What?" He replied, and you winced at his bitter tone.

"Thank you rin pala. Sorry as well for bothering. I'll go back sa classroom na. They're probably waiting to dismiss." You muttered and quickly walked off while your head is lowered.

Kakucho just nodded, but then to his sudden realization, his ears perked up at your sudden apology. He raised his brows in suspicion as he watches you walk away.

Nakapasok ka naman ng classroom at agad na kinuha ang bag mo para magligpit na ng gamit. Tinignan ka naman nina Hakkai dahil sa pagbago ng ekspresyon mo.

"Sino pala cleaners ngayon?" Tanong naman ni Ashanti sa harapan ng klase.

Hindi mo na rin napansin ang tanong ni Ashanti at ang sinasabi ng mga kaklase mo dahil balak mo na talagang umuwi pagkatapos mong sunduin si Aisha.

"Uh... Uy wow! Si vice pres. pati pres. 'yung cleaners! Naks." Sigaw naman ni Makoto. "Oy, asan na kayo? Baka pati kayo takasan kami."

"Wala pa yata si Kakucho? Huy, Baji, 'di ba kasabay niyong magbuhat?" Tanong naman ni Hakkai.

"Ha? Ewan, oo? E basta! Humiwalay sa'min, e." Sagot naman ni Baji.

"Cleaners ka raw, be'." Sabi naman ni Emma sa'yo.

"Huh?" You mumbled. "I'll go na, e."

"Uy! Tumatakas, o! Sumbong kita kay vice pre—" Sambit naman ni Yamagishi.

"Shut up ka nga." Pagsusungit mo naman.

"Ay sorry na. Trauma lang ako sa cleaners na tumatakas— At isa ka na rin do'n!"

Agad ka namang naglakad palabas ng classroom para na rin makatakas bilang cleaners, at dahil na rin bad trip ka.

"Sinong tumatakas?"

Ngunit hindi na natuloy 'yon nang may nakabangga ka at humarang sa'yo sa may pinto papasok ng classroom.

Umatras ka naman nang nakita mo si Kakucho sa harapan mo.

"Si pres. tumatakas! Kayo cleaners ngayon, Kakucho."

Sabi ng mga kaklase mo, at agad ka namang umiling. Kaka-isip mo lang na you're a burden to Kakucho, ngunit nagkasama nanaman kayo sa isang lugar, but hopefully not a reason for another conflict!

"Bye bye!" Sabi pa nila at lumabas na ng classroom habang iniwan kayong dalawa ni Kakucho sa classroom.