Drowned by the Waves (Tagalog)

Chapter 5

“Congratulations!” I exclaimed. Natapos ang practice match and of course Lean’s team win.

“Congrats, pare.” Eos bumped Lean’s shoulder.

“Thanks. Hindi pa naman ito ang tournament, though,” he stated.

“Si Rico?” he asked. Napalingon naman ako sa pwesto namin kanina. Wala na si Rico doon, where did he go?

“Where did he go?” I asked. Eos shrugged at our questions.

“Didn’t see him. Baka nagpunta lang sa CR,” he shrugged. Wala talagang kwenta ang lalaking ito.

“Maybe, magbibihis muna ako.” Paalam niya sa amin. Tumango naman ako na naging hudyat niya para tumalikod na sa amin.

“Tsk,” I exclaimed. Kunot noong napalingon siya sa akin.

“Why?” He asked. Hindi ko naman siya pinansin at lumakad na patungo sa pwesto namin kanina. Nandoon kasi ‘yung gamit namin.

“Let’s just go back,” I said then, continued walking.

“Girls and their moods,” I heard him mumbled. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at diretso lang na naglakad.

Ang kapal niya talaga. How rude he is to say that!

PAGKABALIK namin sa room ay wala pang estudyante. Maybe because they’re still too busy with the practice match.

Students often get distracted. Small or big things, they always go in our way. But since we are too stressed, we give in to those temptations.

We may not admit it, but we love getting distracted because that eases the stress and pressure we feel. Be it on our family, friends, and of course ourselves.

But of course, we still need to do our best to succeed in everything that we do because that success also relieves our stress.

“Bakit niyo ako iniwan?” napatigil ako dahil sa biglang sumigaw.

I saw Rico pointing at us. Hinihingal pa siya, para siyang tumakbo ng ilang milya. Saan ba siya nanggaling?

“Where did you go?” I asked. Hingal siyang umupo sa tabi ni Eos.

“CR. Nagpaalam ako sainyo pero mukhang busy kayo sa panonood kaya hindi niyo ako narinig,” he sighed.

Napalingon naman ako sa pwesto ni Eos na nakita kong nakatingin sa akin. He just shrugged his shoulders.

“Busy ako sa panonood sa’yo kanina, so…” he innocently stated. Napairap naman ako. He and his flirtatious mouth.

“Tsk. You!” I tried to hit him, but he shielded his arms on his face.

“I’m saying the truth,” he defensively said while still covering his face.

“Hit him. Para maalog naman ang utak niyan,” Rick encouraged me. Ibinaba ko naman ang kamay ko dahil doon.

“Ikaw na bata ka! Wala kang galang sa akin ah,” Eos said to Rico. Tumatawang lumayo si Rico sa pwesto namin.

“Oh? Bata? Sorry, old man!” he teased na lalong nagpangiwi kay Eos.

Tumayo na siya at lumapit sa pwesto ni Rico. Though, mas mabilis si Rico dahil nakatakbo na agad siya palabas.

“Lean! Si Eos. He’s going to attack me!” I heard Rico shouted. Mukhang nakasalubong niya si Lean na papasok sa room.

Mabilis namang umupo sa tabi ko si Eos at sumandal sa balikat ko.

“Hey! What are you doing?” I asked.

“Just… Let me, okay?” I heard him say. I don’t know what he’s doing, but I feel him moving. Mukhang inaayos niya ang pwesto niya.

“Ang gulo gulo niyo na naman. Nasaan ba?” I heard Lean said.

I just wait until I saw them standing in the door. Nagulat naman sila sa pwesto namin.

“Tsk! Ang bilis niya!” Rico said.

“Nako! Naisahan ka na naman,” Lean laughed. Lumapit naman sila sa pwesto namin.

“Bro! Chansing ka lang e!” Lean smirked, then punched Eos’ shoulder.

Napaangat naman siya ng tingin dahil doon.

“Kita mo namang natutulog ‘yung tao,” Eos said innocently. Umirap naman ako at umayos ng upo.

Unti-unting dumating ang mga kaklase namin kaya umingay na muli sa room.

“Natutulog? Kapal mo!” Lean said. “Scy, dapat hindi mo hinahayaan ‘yang lalaking ‘yan. Sumisimple lang ‘yan,” he warned me.

I nod. “You know how stubborn he can be. Kahit anong pigil ko, namimilit pa din.”

“Huwag mong pansinin ang isang ‘yan. Pabibo ‘yan e,” he smirked. Napalingon naman ako sa pwesto ni Eos.

Masama ang tingin niya kay Lean. Bigla naman siyang lumingon sa akin. Then, he pursed his lips at me.

“What?” I mouthed at him. Umiling lang siya, indicating na huwag akong maniwala kay Lean.

“Hello? Nandito ako. Masisira image ko kay princess nito,” he playfully said.

“Hindi pa ba sira?” I teased. Napalingon naman siya sa akin. He looked defeated at my attack. I heard him groan.

“Princess?” He whined. Lumingon naman ako sa kaniya. I innocently looked at him.

“Yes, prince?” I playfully said. Napaangat naman siya ng tingin sa akin. At that point, he looked like a dog that was given food by his owner.

“Ang kire niyo! I really thought Scy’s the prim and proper type. Didn’t know you’re this savage and playful,” I stiffened because of that. My smile vanished because of what Rico said.

Nakita ko namang siniko ni Eos si Rico. Pero mukhang hindi niya pa din naintindihan ‘yon.

“Right,” I muttered. I turned my body frontwards. I heard Eos sighed pero hindi ko siya tiningnan.

“You ruined it,” I heard Lean’s scold Rico.

“Ruined? What?” Rico asked confusedly.

“Tsk. Just watch your mouth next time,” Eos said.

Tumahimik na sila pagkatapos noon. The teacher entered the room kaya mas lalo lang akong tumahimik.

I don’t blame Rico for what he said. Totoo naman e, I shouldn’t be like this to them. I need to stick to my prim and proper style. I can’t let my parents know this.

“Aren’t we going to ask her? Lunchtime na.” I heard Lean say. I felt someone poke my arms.

“Yes?” I formally replied without smiling. Lumukot naman ang mukha ni Eos dahil doon.

“Will you go with us?” He asked. I shooked my head quietly. Tumayo na ako dala ang gamit ko.

I prefer to go somewhere quiet. It’s been three days, but these things happened to me. I should’ve been more careful.

“I—” I heard Eos muttered. But he didn’t stop me. He just let me walk away.

My feet brought me to the garden of the school. Walang tao ngayon dito. It’s probably because it’s lunchtime, so they usually go somewhere with their friends.

“Friends?” I smiled bitterly. Do I have that?

I only have my family besides me since I was born. I only meet people who can help me in the future. Only those who’ll be a great help for me. I do meet so many people, but there wasn’t any emotional bond. We only greet each other and then turn away. No regrets.

Before I had someone with whom I could tell my secrets, but she was killed. I don’t clearly know what happened, but I just remember that she was killed brutally.

Father said she sacrificed herself for my safety. But I don’t remember what exactly happened. I don’t even remember her face and her voice. I just remember that I used to tell her everything.

But I never remember her replying to it or even consoling me. Maybe that’s why I become too stiff. And because of them, I slowly become my past self.

But with those words, everything turned upside down. It feels like I did something wrong. But I only did what I thought was right. I thought they could be trusted, so; I slowly released myself in my own prison. But those words locked me again.

“Hey.” I heard someone softly say.

Napaangat naman ako ng tingin sa nagsalita. I saw Eos handing me some plastic container.

“Food?” he offered. Kinuha ko naman ‘yon at nilagay sa tabi ko.

“Thank you,” I said. He didn’t say anything, but he sat in front of me.

“Sorry about Rico,” he softly said. A small smile formed on my lips.

“It’s alright. He’s right,” I said. He sighed because of that.

“It isn’t,” he said. “It isn’t right because it made you cry,” he said, reaching for my cheeks.

I felt him wiped my cheeks. Napahawak naman ako doon. It’s wet.

“Sorry. Hindi lang talaga mapigilan ng lalaking ‘yon ang bibig niya,” he said then chuckled.

“Nah, it’s really okay. At least he made me realize something again,” I said, then wiped my own tears.

It’s been years since I last cried. I don’t even remember when did it happen.

“This is too humiliating,” I said. He just smiled at me.

“It isn’t. It’s alright to cry, princess.”

“It’s not. Father won’t be happy to know this,” I bowed my head.

Father will never be happy knowing I’m opening myself again. Father will never be satisfied with this.

“Stop. Just cry if you want. Stop thinking about him,” he comforted. But that didn’t make me cry. Instead, that stopped my tears. I guess I’m not normal at all.