Mine Forevermore

Kabanata 3

Felingera

"Nasia, I-I'm sorry." Henry stammered as he realized what he had done to me. "I didn't mean to. Hindi kita nakita." He said and was about to approach me.

Pero ganun nalang ang gulat ko ng humarang si Lorenzana sa harapan ko. Sa sobrang tangkad niya at laki ng katawan ay natakpan niya ang kabuuan ko.

Hindi ko alam kung anong reaksyon ni Henry sa ginawa ni Lorenzana but I’m not that weak for him to cover me up. Pakiramdam ko ay natapakan ang pride ko sa ginawa niya.

"What are you doing?! I'm talking to Nasia!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Henry na siyang nakapag patalon sa akin sa gulat.

Bwisit! I'm trying to be brave here but I'm also scared! Well...hindi naman sobrang takot. I was just shocked by his sudden outburst. Lalo na't ramdam ko ang galit sa tuno ni Henry. Pero maliban sa pagharang sa akin ni Lorenzana, alam ko na may iba pang dahilan ang ikinagagalit niya.

Ano nalang yung nangyari kanina, diba? Bakit siya sinugod ni Lorenzana?

My forehead furrowed. I don't really know what's going on awhile ago, and why Lorenzana did that, pero hindi ko nagustuhan ang ginawa niya. He shouldn't have done that, same as with Henry. Whatever it is, they shouldn't result to physical fight! Especially since we are all inside the campus. There's a big chance that they could get a punishment from the prefect of discipline. Maraming ebidensya at marami din ang nakakita. For sure, they can't get through it.

Though, hindi ko maintindihan ang ikinagagalit ni Lorenzana. Based on what I saw earlier, He’s very aggressive and so damn scary, so I understand why students are afraid to stop them.

It's a good thing there aren't too many students inside the campus since it was still early in the morning. If someone reported it, we're probably inside the discipline office by now.

I grabbed Lorenza's arm to get his attention but he didn't turn to me. His angry eyes still remained on Henry.

Nangunot ang noo ko. "What happened? Why did you do that?" tanong ko kay Lorenzana na paniguradong narinig niya.

His eyebrows met as he turned to me. Ngayon ay nasa akin na ang galit niyang mga mata. Napalunok ako at halos mapaatras sa titig niya.

"I don’t know of him! Bigla nalang niya akong sinapak! F*ck!" Mura pa ni Henry at napahawak sa nguso niya at tinakpan ang ilong. "I will report you to the prefect!”

My eyes widened when I saw that his nose was bleeding. Sapo niya ang ilong niya ngayon. My lips parted and felt a little scared of what I saw. Pero ang mas kinabahala ko ay ang sinabi niyang ire-report niya si Lorenzana.

"Then try. I don't f*****g care. Not even scared." My forehead furrowed as Lorenzana smirked sarcastically and glanced at the woman next to Henry. "So that everyone will know how foolish you are."

Kita ko na natigilan si Henry pero agad ding nakabawi. What does he mean by that?

Natawa siya. "What are you talking about?"

Ibabalik ko na sana ang tingin kay Lorenzana para magtanong ulit pero marahas niyang binawi ang kamay niya mula sa akin at nagsalita.

"Don't playact on me. I'm not buying it." Mariing sambit ni Lorenzana at marahas na pinulot ang lalagyan ng bottled water na nasa sahig. "You deserve that. Asshole." His last words before he walked away.

I followed him with my gaze as he passed the students who quickly evaded his path. Ganun nalang ang pag-awang ng labi ko ng walang kahirap hirap niyang itinapon sa ere ang bottled water at pumasok iyon sa loob ng malayong basurahan.

Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ng mga babaeng estudyante na nakakita sa ginawa niya. If I'm not mistaken I can hear the amazement from their voice. Kahit din naman ako ay namangha. Bigla tuloy sumagi sa isipan ko na basketball player siya.

Nice shot! I want to compliment, if only I hadn’t remembered Henry whose still in front of me and has been complaining because of his bleeding nose.

"Nasia." Tawag sa akin ni Henry dahilan para balingan ko siya.

My forehead furrowed when I saw that the woman next to him was already holding his arm and examining his face.

Suddenly my mood changed at the sight. The fear I was feeling earlier was replaced by an irritation because of their position. They look like a lovebirds. A girl who looks so worried for his man.

Siguro sa sobrang gulat sa ginawang pagsuntok ni Lorenzana sa kanya ay hindi ko na napansin kung bakit nandito ang babaeng ito sa tabi niya. Akala ko kanina ay nanunood lang din, iyon pala ay may something. I wonder if this has anything to do with what Lorenzana was trying to say.

And now that I saw how the girl cares for him. A lot of questions has entered my mind. Who is she and why is she acting like this towards Henry?

"What did you do?" I asked coldly to Henry as I glanced at the woman next to him who was now holding his cheek and caressing his face.

Marahan niyang hinawi ang kamay ng babae at lumapit sa akin. Nangunot ang noo ng babae sa ginawa ni Henry. Kita ko din ang takot at pag-aalala sa mata ng babae pero maliban duon ay nakitaan ko din iyon ng…selos?

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" Henry asked, I frowned even more when he touched my arm.

I caught a glimpse of the shock and astonishment on the woman's face as Henry approached me. If I'm not mistaken I saw jealousy in her eyes. I looked back at Henry again and took his hand away from my arm.

"Don't touch me." I said coldly. "What did you do?" I asked again and glanced at the woman. "Who is she?"

I have a suspicion but I still want to confirm it. I don’t like speculation or any rumors came from other people. I want the truth, and only the truth.

Lumapit ang babae sa amin at nakangiting inilahad ang kamay niya sa harapan ko."Hi! I'm Stacey. Henry's girlfriend. I'm sorry sa nangyari, nadamay ka pa. Are you alright?" Tanong niya kahit ramdam ko ang konting tabang at pagseselos sa tuno niya.

Talaga? Girlfriend ka niya?

My lips parted and I smirked sarcastically. I glanced at the woman's hand and raised an eyebrow. "Girlfriend huh?" Aniya ko habang nakangisi bago tinanggap ang kamay niya at sinulyapan si Henry na natitigilan na ngayong nakatingin sa akin.

"Nasia." He even have the guts to warn me.

I can't believe that I'm hearing this from him! Kanina lang ay nag-aalala siya sa akin, tapos ngayon ay biglang nag-aalala na siya sa babae na nasa tabi niya. Na para bang takot siya na isiwalat ko kung anong namamagitan sa amin noon.

I could feel Henry’s tone wanting to stop me from whatever I was about to say. But I know to myself that I could never stop myself. I have no filter. I'm always open, and on point. No hesitation. No restraint. Just always honest, and direct.

I turned to the woman. "Kaylan kayo naging mag on neto?" Turo ko kay Henry na hindi na mapakali ngayon sa kinatatayuan niya.

"We've been in a relationship for almost a month now." the woman replied with a frown.

Kunwaring nagulat ako kahit iyon naman talaga ang naiisip ko kanina. But I still can't believe that it was true. At ngayon, nakumpirma na.

"Ow? You've been in a relationship for a month now." Tiningnan ko si Henry at natatawa siyang tiningnan. "Ba't d' mo agad sinabi na may girlfriend ka na pala Bal?" Tawag ko sa korning tawag ko sa kanya noon. Kita ko na nanigas na siya sa kinatatayuan niya. "I hope you told me earlier. Hiniwalayan sana kita agad, so Miss Stacey here won't look miserable..." Sinulyapan ko ang babae na ngayon ay nakaawang na ang labi at kita ang gulat sa mga mata. "How pity, she looks so innocent pa naman." Maarteng sambit ko.

Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi ko ng makita ang pagsisisi sa mukha ni Henry ng sulyapan niya ang babae, habang nag-aalab naman ang dibdib ko sa galit.

"Nasia." Nagbabanta ang tuno ni Henry ng ibalik ang tingin sa akin. Ngayon ay hindi na makatingin sa babae.

"Oh? Bakit bigla kang nahiya? Hindi ka nga nahiya na makipaglandian sa iba habang tayo pa, tapos mahihiya ka ngayon?" Halos matawa ako sa kanya. "Now I know kung bakit mo gustong makipaghiwalay 'nung isang araw lang." tumaas ang kilay ko. "May reserba ka pala." Natatawang dagdag ko saka sinulyapan ang babaeng gulat na gulat. “Ayy” Maarteng sambit ko “Mali. Tuhog pala ang tawag dun. Tinuhog mo kaming dalawa.” madramang sambit ko pero unti unti ding nagseryoso. “Dahil hindi ka marunong makuntento sa isa--"

"Nasia, Please." He said pleadingly.

Mas nairita lang ako ng marinig ang pagmamakaawa sa tuno niya. f**k your pleases! I'm not even moved. I'm firm!

Ngumiwi ako. "Nakapili ka na pala sa aming dalawa. Sana all may option." Dagdag ko pa habang nakangisi. "But then, I don't want to be your option. Never again."

Nanggagalit ang loob ko ng napagtanto na siya ang pinili niya at hindi ako, pagkatapos niya kaming pagsabayin na dalawa.

Bakit Nasia? Kaylan ka nga ba pinili? Kahit naman noon. Mommy left to choose her other man rather than choose to stay and took care of me, she even chose her son to that man more than me and never though of coming back. Si Daddy, he would rather work and flirt with his girls than give me his time. And Henry, he chose his other women more than his real girlfriend. So why would you even wonder. Hindi ka naman daw kasi kapili-pili.

"Good luck huh?" Nakangising sambit ko sa babae kahit sobra sobra na ang galit na nararamdaman ko.

Hindi ko siya magawang sumbatan, because just like me, she is also a victim here. She obviously didn't know what was going on between me and Henry, especially since I could see the shock and tears in her eyes. Isang babae lang din na nasasaktan. Na kagaya ko, ay naloko lang din ng taong mahal.

I lost my grin and slowly became more serious before looking back at Henry. "Sana mag break kayo agad." Dagdag ko at ngumising muli ng makita ang pag-awang ng labi ni Herny at ng babae niya.

I don't care about anything. I'm just hurt and mad. Really really mad.

I feel sorry for her, but I feel sorry for myself too. I can see her adoration to Henry when she looked at him a while ago. I saw how he cares for him when she caresses his cheek and jaw. And I even saw her tears silently wiped away when she heard everything I've said. How pathetic.

My anger for Henry only grew. Na sa sobrang galit ay nakaramdam na ako ng disappointment para sa sarili, because my first boyfriend was not someone I could be proud of, because he was a fool and a cheater.

I can almost hear my father's dissapointment. Sayang, balak ko pa naman siyang ipakilala kay Daddy during family day so I can introduce him formally to my father. Pero wag nalang. Nakakahiya pala.

I looked at the students who were looking at us and also curious to what was going on.

"Girls! Just a reminder lang huh! Wag kayong magpapaligaw o magpapauto sa lalaking 'to!" Aniya ko at tiningnan ang mga babae duon na nakikinig sa akin at bahagyang nakuha ang atensyon nila sa sinabi ko. "Trust me. He's an ashole." I said, remembering what Lorenzana said to him a while ago.

Gumawa narin naman kami ng eksena, edi lulubos lubusin ko na. Again, I don’t care.

"Nasia!" Sigaw ni Herny pero tinalikuran ko na siya at taas noong naglakad palayo.

Hindi ako aalis duon ng hindi nakakaganti. Tama lang na malaman ng lahat at ng mga babaeng ‘yun kung gaano siya kagago, at tama lang na malaman ng babae niya ang ginawa niya sa akin at sa kanya. I am not a martyr. I won’t cry in front of the two of them and show up hurt. Besides, the girl doesn't know anything. She should thank me because she found out the truth from me. Kaya dapat, hiwalayan niya na si Henry. I think, that would be satisfying for me to watched. To see him hurt. Because the girl he choosed, will choose to leave him too.

Pagkatapos ng nangyari sa araw na iyon ay naagaw na ni Lorenzana ang atensyon ko, na umabot na sa punto na pinapanood ko na ang mga laro niya sa basketball. Other than that, I was also curious about what he found out about Henry. What could that be? Well, one things for sure, na ang tinutukoy niya ay ang tungkol duon sa babae. It was obvious from the way he glanced at the woman. Though, bakit umabot sa punto na sinuntok niya si Henry? Hindi kaya, may gusto siya sa girlfriend ni Henry. Kaya nung nalaman niyang timer ito, ay sinugod niya ito at sinapak?

Well, that’s possible.

My lips parted as he effortlessly shoot the ball inside the basketball ring, kasabay din ng malakas na pagtilian ng mga babae.

Basketball huh? I never had the interest to watch a basketball game. Siguro during intrams, hindi maiiwasan na manuod, pero kung aabangan ko ang laro, ay isang bagay na hindi ko kaylan man ginawa. But because of that Lorenzana, I couldn't help but be curious. I just found myself one day watching his game.

Tumigil ako sa tapat ng bleachers para maupo. My only intention was to took a snick pick on how he would play the game, but I never thought I would enjoy watching him play basketball. Halos tumili ako ng mai-shoot niya ang bola sa ring. Every time he would jump and shoot, I would also squirm in my seat. Gustong sumigaw kagaya ng mga babae sa kabilang bleachers, pero sa huli ay napapasinghap nalang sa tuwing makikita ang ibang miyembro ng grupo niya na sumasablay.

I groaned when one of his team mates didn't shoot the ball. Kanina pa siya shoot ng shoot at ayaw ibigay ang bola sa ibang ka team mates kahit na pwede namang ipasa. Umikot ang mga mata ko ng mapansin na nagpapapansin siya sa isa sa mga babae sa bleachers.

I groaned again. "Stupid." Hindi ko maiwasan na magkumento sa sobrang inis sa ka team mate nila.

Napansin ko ang pagbaling sa akin ng iilang babae sa tapat ko. Inirapan ko naman sila. Nanlaki ang mata ng isa.

Pake nila. Bawal na bang magkumento? Eh sila nga kanina pa tumitili diyan. Sinaway Ko ba? Tss.

"Oh!" I groaned again when I saw that the other member elbow him but he didn't seem to feel anything from the nudge!

It was not even light! It was intentional!

"Hoy diba foul Yun?" Aniya ng babae sa harapan ko.

Rinig kong reklamo nila na gusto ko ding sang-ayunan. I don’t know much about the basketball, but I know some of the terms.

"Oo nga. Kanina pa yan. Hindi naman sinasaway."

"Wala naman kasing referee. Kasi nga practice game lang naman."

"Kahit na, noh. Kawawa naman si Appolo."

Sunod sunod na reklamo ng apat na babae sa harapan ko.

There. I got his name. Appolo nga pala. Hindi ko natandaan ang pangalan niya nung isang araw. Pero...bakit para sa akin ay pangalan ng Aso. I chuckled at the thought, lalo na ng na-imagine na pumipito ang referee at sumusunod naman ang baliw na si Appolo sa pagtakbo.

“Tanga din ang isang ‘to. Nakita ng siniko hindi pa nag reklamo.” Aniya kong muli. Kita ko na bahagyang tumingin sa gilid ang babae sa harapan ko na para bang narinig niya ako.

“Sikuhin mo din! Bobo!” I cried out ng hindi na nakayanan.

Rinig ko ang pagsinghap ng mga babae sa harapan ko kasabay ng paglingon ng ibang nakarinig sa court. Tumingin sila sa banda namin. Natawa lang ako dahil hindi naman nila alam na ako ang sumigaw kaya nagpalinga linga sila para hanapin siguro ang sumigaw kahit abala ang iba sa pagtakbo. Kaya lang, nilingunan ako ng mga babae sa harapan ko kaya may nakakita din sa akin na ibang naglalaro at nanunuod. Appolo didn't turn to me so I thought he didn't hear me. I just saw him stop running while dribbling the ball.

Napatayo ako sa gulat ng sinadyang itinulak ng kabilang team si Appolo pagkatapos makuha ang bola. Now everyone saw it and concluded that it was intentional. Nakikipag agawan pa si Appolo sa bola ng nahagip niya ako ng tingin.

I groaned in disappointment when he loses the ball to that cunning player, reason for them to have a point. I looked back at Appolo annoyingly who was now frowning as she looked straight at me, not even minding the ball he lose.

What? I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms. You fool. You weren’t attentive, kaya ka naagawan ng bola eh.

"Appolo!" Tawag ng ka team niya ng mapansin na hindi na ito gumagalaw.

Umirap ako at nakita na napabaling din sa akin ang mga ka team niya. Saka nagsimula ang tuksuhan nila. I even saw one of his teammates wave at me and seemed so happy to see me. Muli ay umirap ako.

Feeling naman ng mga ‘to sila pinapanood ko.

"Guys si Nasia!" Rinig ko pang sigaw ng ka team niya at itinuro ako sa bleachers.

Umikot ang mga mata ko sa ginawa nila at tumama iyon kay Appolo. Magkasalubong ang mga kilay ni Appolo at iniwan ang mga kasama niya para kunin ang bola.

"Si Nasia daw." I heard the woman say in the low bleachers in front of me.

"Di mo ba napansin? Si Nasia yang nasa likod natin. Yang sa pangalawang linya."

"What is she doing here?"

"Malamang nanunood ng basketball. Duh."

"Pero diba hindi naman yan nanunood."

I groaned violently causing them to look at me.

My eyebrows rose. "Why? I want to watch basketball. Do you have a problem with that?" Mataray na tanong ko. Hindi naman sila sumagot.

The game was annoying. Maybe I'll watched the game next time when the other group will no longer play dirty and that Husky one will no longer be distracted.

There, I got an endearment for him. I remember his husky voice. Bagay naman sa kanya dahil pang aso naman ang pangalan niya. I silently chuckled again from the thought.

Umirap ako, tumayo, at isinabit ang shoulder bag sa balikat ko at tinalikuran sila para makalabas na ng gym at makauwi.

I grinned noticing that he was distracted to see me. I couldn't help but to think that maybe the ball snatched from him because of me.

Feelingera ka din. I told to myself.