Never Again

Chapter 2

I curled my body while staring at my phone screen. It's 10 PM in the evening and the party is still on-going. I sighed, I can't wait for this to be over.

They never forget to ruin my mood every special occasions. Tinitigan ko nalang ang litrato namin ni papa, it was my only and last picture of him. Even though I never met him in person, I am missing him.

Narinig ko ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pinto. "You're a sucker," Chile muttered, naramdaman ko ang pag-uga ng kama. Umupo ata siya. I can't see her because I am facing the wall. "Ayaw mo bang bumaba? hinahanap ka nila Vivian."

"Hindi pa ba tapos?"

"Hindi pa, dalhan nalang kita ng dessert?" she suggested.

I shook my head. "I lost my appetite."

"Stop sulking around, magagalit na si mama." pagbabanta niya at napabuga siya sa hangin.

Magalit na ang magalit. I don't want to go there and face them. They are not even my family and we're not blood related. It would still be acceptable if they are not giving those stares and watching every kinks I do in front of them, but no.

I can feel her standing up, aalis na ata siya. "Hey, Chile," Pagtatawag ko. She just hummed. "Tell mama that I might consider in going abroad..."

The next morning, the cycle is still the same, gigising ako ng maaga at didiretso na sa indoor pool ng school nang alas singko sa umaga at magpapractice. Hindi maalis-alis sa aking isip ang niluto ni mama kagabi na Caldereta, I groaned, kung sana hindi lang pumunta ang mga 'yon kagabi, siguro kumain na ako ng marami.

Ang hirap makisalamuha sa kanila. Last night was my step father's birthday and of course, dumalo ang kaniyang pamilya. Clearly I was not welcome because I am an illigitimate child. They'd always put me in a hot seat situation. It's always been an issue.

It was my Mom's fault. She had an affair with his Australian boss, and the outcome is me.

"Uy, Sy!"

I snapped back from my reverie. Nagtataka ang mga mukha nina Jelai at Carla, they're standing in front of me while crossing their arms.

"What?" I roamed my eyes around and that's when I notice na kami nalang pala ang nasa classroom.

"You're spacing out, tara!" hinila nila ako papalabas sa classroom. They hooked their arms around mine in both sides. Turns out we don't have a class dahil ipinatawag ang lahat sa gymnasium dahil may announcements ang principal. This always happens every last week of the month.

"Oo nga pala, Sy... May practice mamaya sa swimming." Carla whispered while we're looking for a seat.

"Akala ko ba may pupuntahan si coach?" I whispered back while surveying the gymnasium. Lahat ay nakikinig sa principal na nasa stage.

"Nah, ewan ko... ang gulo," she groaned. "Manlilibre pa naman sana ako." We found a seat on the back row, doon nalang kami umupo.

Natigil ang aking paningin sa isang pamilyar na mukha. He's seating on the bleachers, may kausap siyang babae. I squinted my eyes to see who's the girl he's talking to.

Carla keeps on talking, unaware that my attention is focused to someone. Si Charlotte pala ang kausap niya, my classmate. They look so close, I didn't know Cha has a boy friend.

"Si Mat 'yon hindi ba?" Jelai gasped beside me, also looking to them. Nakuha ni Jelai ang atensyon ni Carla kaya napatingin din siya roon. "Jowa niya si Cha?"

Sinapak siya ni Carla. "Gaga, hindi 'no."

"Ano niya si Cha? this is the first time I saw them together." I asked silently. Or maybe I just don't pay too much attention to my sorroundings. Minsan ko lang din naman nakakasalamuha si Cha.

Carla shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know... palagi naman 'yang mga 'yan nagsasama. But I am sure hindi sila magjowa."

"What happened after I left?" I turned my head towards the stage. Baka sitahin pa kami.

"Nilibrehan pa niya kami," sagot ni Jelai na nakangisi, parang tanga. "I can't believe it girl!"

"Cool, sana all..." Napabusangot nalang ako, pinauwi pa ako ng maaga tapos sa kwarto lang pala ako tumambay. Sayang 'yong libre.

Napalingon ako ulit sa direksyon ni Mat, muntik na akong masamid sa sariling laway nang makitang nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sa akin. Nag-iwas kaagad siya ng tingin, ganoon din ang ginawa ko.

"He even asked for your number." Pahabol pa ni Jelai. Doon na ako nasamid at napabuga ng hangin, ang mga tao na nakaupo sa aming harap ay napalingon at sinamaan kami ng tingin.

"Chill," I raised my hands to them, highblood kaagad e. I froze when I recalled what Jelai just said. "What did you say...?"

"He asked us about your number,"

Why would he ask for my number? Uutang siya? No one asked for it before!

"Tapos?" I anticipated, kinakabahan ako sa magiging sagot niya.

She flashed her evil smirk at me. "We gave it to him,"

My jaw dropped. "You did what?" I gave her a snarl and crossed my arms. As expected, inaasar naman talaga nila ako lagi.

"Huwag kang OA, binigay ko rin ang akin." she added, throwing me her signature evil looks.

Dalawang oras kaming nakinig sa nakakaumay na announcements ng Principal, my butt almost went sore. May plano pa sana kaming tumakas kaso nakabantay ang boy scouts sa entrance at exit ng gymnasium.

Our teachers decided not to have a class today, kaya marami kaming time ngayon. Now, papunta na kami sa gazebo habang hawak-hawak ang mga snacks na binili namin sa cafeteria. We decided to binge watch movies there, mahangin kasi.

"Oo nga pala, Jelai. Tuloy pa ba ang debut mo?" Carla broke the silence.

"Hmm, siguro hindi. Popsi decided na we'll not celebrate muna. Kulang sa budget." Jelai sighed, looking up to the sky.

I gripped the plastic bag on my hand tightly, I feel envious towards her, they may not have much money, but they're complete and happy of what they have. I can't do the same.

"Say, Jel... what does it feel having a father?" I asked out of the blue.

"Huh?"

Carla laughed awkwardly, she must've felt the tension on the air. "Tama na 'yan, Sy. Mamaya na natin 'yan pag-usapan."

Tumango ako at napanguso. I looked up to the sky and noticed that the clouds are about to cry, kahapon ang init-init tapos uulan na naman ngayon. The world is acting weird these days.

"Rei!"

Lahat kami ay napalingon sa sumigaw. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makitang tumatakbo sa aming direksyon si Mat. He's with someone, must be his friend. Meron din silang dala-dala na mga pagkain.

And wait, did he just called me by my second name? Gross.

"Mattias!" Bati ni Carla, she tried waving her hand even though marami siyang bitbit. The effort.

"Aito, 'di ba?" Jelai asked the other guy. Nakakapagtaka dahil marami silang alam na tao na hindi ko alam, president pa naman ako.

"Bakit mo pala ako tinawag?" I raised my brows as I check him out, he's full of sweat and his bangs are messy. Unlike his friend na neat tingnan, and Aito's hair is brushed up.

"Saan kayo pupunta?" he looked at my friends, ignoring my question to him.

"Binge watch?" nag-aalanganin kong sagot. The girls are enjoying talking to Aito, I can see he's a smooth talker.

He grabbed his friend at inakbayan niya ito. "Can we join? Don't worry we don't bite." They both gave me a peace sign. Tinapik-tapik ako ng dalawa ko pang kaibigan, gusto nila e, I want to roll my eyes.

"Sure, tutal nilibrehan mo naman kami kahapon." I admitted and started walking to the gazebo. I saw him punching the air like he won something, napatawa lang si Aito at tinapik-tapik ang kaniyang balikat.

I can't help but smile. Dork.

I stopped walking when my phone vibrated, kinuha ko ito at binasa ang message galing kay Miss Rena, our SCG adviser.

From: Miss Rena

Pres, pwede ka bang pumunta dito sa office? may ipapaasikaso lang sana ako. thanks.

"The 'Are you lost, baby girl' was the cringest part!" Jelai declared, biting her lips dahil gigil na gigil. Everyone agreed on that part and they started laughing. Hindi ko alam ano ang pinagsasabi nila.

"Guys," I called them, they waited for the next thing I say. "Pinapatawag ako ni Miss Rena, sorry. President duties." pressing my lips into thin line.

Carla waved her hand. "No probs, text ka nalang."

"Too bad, though..." desmayadong napakamot si Mat sa kaniyang kilay.

"We can still watch without her!" Jelai, being the positive person that she is.

Too bad talaga. Gusto ko pa naman manuod kasama sila. We have this rule in our trio that after watching the movie we give each of our insights about it. I guess I need to pass.

I waved my hand for the last time while running back to the building. What a pain in the ass.

From: Unknown

We finished watching it. T'was liiiit. Oh btw wonder woman ang pinanuod namin. Too bad hindi ka kasama :"3 ang weird nga nila, they pushed us to give our insights hahsh

"Who's that?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Miss Rena na nginunguso ang aking phone. She's holding her eyeglasses.

"Ah," I scratched my head. "Wala po, spam lang." Pagdadahilan ko at inilapag ang phone sa table, my nose was flaring. They did really gave my number! mga traydor.

She flashed her sly smile. "Baka jowa mo?"

Jowa? That boy is not even my type. I don't like crackheads. I tried not to frown for the whole two hours, Miss Rena just ruined my mood.

***

"Go Symphony!"

I blinked open my eyes, my head tilting off where he's at. What is he doing here? Tumayo ako at hinilamos ang tubig.

"Ano ang ginagawa mo rito?" Tanong ko, my voice echoed.

He smirked and crossed his arms. "Alas sais na, nagtataka lang ako bakit bukas pa ang indoor pool. Andito ka lang pala."

I scoffed. Akala ko alas singko pa, maaga kasi kaming binitawan ni coach. Umuna na sila Carla at naiwan ako rito sa pool. I was floating nang bigla siyang pumasok, he's comfortably sitting at the bleachers.

"Ako ang magsasara ngayon, you need to go home." Umahon ako sa pool at kinuha ang towelette sa stool na nasa ibaba ng bleachers.

"S-Sasabayan nalang kita," he cleared his throat. Tumingin ako sa kaniya, his face is burning up while watching me, he turned away when I caught him checking me out. "Bilisan mong magbihis..."

"The audacity of this pervert." I muttered under my breath. Dinampot ko ang gym bag at naglakad na papunta sa locker.

It took me an hour to take a shower, akala ko umalis na siya kasi ang tagal ko. However, I saw him in the same spot, taking pictures of himself like an idiot. Nakapamewang ko siyang pinagmamasdan, he's still not aware that I am finished taking a shower.

"Ipopost mo 'yon?" I broke the silence. Napatayo siya sa pagkagulat, his eyes almost popped out from its sockets. I silently snickered.

"T-Tara na?" He stammered, kinuha niya ang kaniyang bag at nagmamadaling lumapit sa akin.

I jiggled the keys on my hands. "Bakit mo pala ako hinintay?" I asked him, I look straight, not facing him.

"Parehas lang naman ang daan natin, kaya..." He trailed off. "at umuulan din naman. Alam kong wala kang payong, umuulan kasi." nagkamot siya sa kaniyang kilay.

Truth to be told, after locking the doors, pagkakita ko sa labas ay umuulan nga. Ang dilim ng daan, mabuti nalang may lamp posts na umiilaw. There are still students roaming around the campus, the night shifters.

"The weather forcast is a scam." I blurted out. Ang sabi hindi uulan ngayon, tingnan mo nga naman. I forgot to bring my umbrella.

"That's why I always bring an extra," Mat mumbled beside me, before I know it, may payong nang nakabukas sa kaniyang kanang kamay. I looked up at him. "Let's share?" he smiled softly.

Sighing, "As if I have a choice."

"Well then..." I almost jumped in surprise when he grabbed my shoulders and squeezed me closer towards him. "Tara?" We started walking under the rain.

I can't utter a word, it's as if my tongue was tied. My heart is pacing back and forth, despite of the cold weather, pinagpapawisan ako. Ang awkward. Ito ata ang pinakaunang pagkakataon na may lalakeng lumapit sa akin ng ganito ka lapit. He's even hugging me! Well, from the side lang naman. But still, it's considered as hugging!

After a long torturous minute of silence, he finally spoke. "Uh, Sy..."

"Y-Yeah?" I can't believe it, my voice just wavered.

"I have a crush on you," He confessed. That's it, my breathing hitched. My heart was dancing renegade.

"Wha—"

"No, don't get the wrong idea," he chuckled a bit. "I don't expect for you to return your feelings, I am just amazed and kinda happy with you because you're responsible..."

Lumayo ako ng bahagya, natanggal ang kaniyang braso sa aking balikat. He immediately covered me with his umbrella.

I scrutinized him for a moment, determining if he's lying or not.

"Responsible of what?" I looked directly at his eyes. He's not even fazed! Paano niya nagagawa 'yon? Like dude, he's confessing tapos hindi siya nauutal?

He pressed his lips into thin line. "Hmm, President duties and other stuffs."

"'Yon lang?"

"Why? Gusto mo pa ng mas marami?"

"Whatever," Inirapan ko siya. "Ewan ko sa 'yo."

"Okay... dahil na rin maganda ka." He added. I can't help but s***k his shoulders. Boys are always boys.

"Of course, you even took the chance to check me out kanina while I'm still wearing my swimming attire!" I countered.

"Hindi kaya!"

"You did!"

I released a chortle when he made a face. These kind of moments are worth to keep, though. I guess the two of us are now friends? or not? That night, I went home safe. Turns out we live in the same subdivision.

The next day, I was gravely disappointed on him.