Paper Flowers

Chapter Two

I was dumbfounded when I read the message. It was out of the blue.

Do friends do that?

Well, maybe. I don't really know, since I do not have super-close friends. It could also be that he is just like “that” to people.

I just brushed it off. Mabait lang siguro talaga siya. What a nice kid. Pfft.

Nang makarating ako sa apartment na tinutuluyan, I rushed to the shower to clean the traces of another tiring day. Pagpasok ko sa kuwarto, kumatok sa isip ang natanggap kanina. I almost forgot that I have, yet again, received another “gift”.

I sat on my pink swivel chair and unwrapped the thing. It was another tulip—light purple. Mayroon itong kasamang sulat.

Inked here is a reminder.

Should you fall on your knees, you must stand.

If you bawled your eyes out, wipe your tears.

For you are the strongest flower

In the meadows of uncertainties.

—

I felt a sting when I read it. Yes, it is corny, but it did boost me a little. Napangiti ako. This person is somewhat kind, I suppose.

The following day, bumungad sa amin ang isang hindi inaasahang balita. Our event is rescheduled a week earlier.

“This can’t be! The event is dedicated to Pi-Day!” Tristan exclaimed. Nasa club office kami dahil nagpatawag siya ng emergency meeting.

“Bakit daw ililipat?” Angelique, the vice president.

“May 3-day symposium daw and matatamaan ang 14th kaya mapaaaga ‘yong event natin.” he calmly stated.

“Oh, that’s why. Who’s responsible for the event? LGU?”

“Yeah.”

“Wrong timing talaga. Wala na silang nagawang tama.” I scoffed. Katabi ko ngayon si Marcus, secretary.

“Well, this situation is beyond our control. Na-approve na rin ni Principal M, plus it’s the LGU.” Angelique stated while her arms were crossed.

“So, does everyone agree na sa 11th na lang? We only have 2 weeks,” Tristan asked.

“Yes, boss. Wala na rin naman tayong magagawa, ‘di ba?” it’s Kenneth, treasurer.

Sumang-ayon naman ang lahat and the meeting was adjourned. However, Tristan, Marcus, and I stayed at the office because of paperwork. Gusto man tumulong ni Angelique, she has a quiz to attend to.

“Just edit the date of the publication materials, Ino.”

Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang banggitin ang palayaw ko. How did he even know that?

“The same goes for you, Marcus.”

“Okay po. Mauna na me.” sagot niya.

Tristan nodded, and the other left the room.

It was just me and him now.

“What?” I realized that I was still staring at him. Intently.

He stared back at me. His almond eyes are dark brown. Thick eyebrows, accompanied by a mole below the edge of the left brow.

“N-nothing.”

He smiled before breaking eye contact. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag. That was intense.

“Are you up for lunch? Treat ko.”

“Y-yeah, sure. Libre eh.” He scoffed at my statement. Sino ba namang may ayaw sa libre?

“Well, then. Let’s meet here later. See you!”

“Okay.”

Naiwan ako sa loob ng silid, tulala dahil sa nangyari. That was a first.

I felt my cheeks heat up as the remnants of our staring contest flashed back. Damn, he was hot.

“This is not you, Eugene!” I exclaimed, then brushed off the thought.

Lumabas na ako at dumiretso sa classroom namin. Second floor pa iyon at nasa unang palapag ako. Nang makarating ako sa landing ng hagdan, saktong lumabas mula sa banyo si Nico.

“Uyy, nandiyan ka pala?” panimula niya kasama ang mapang-asar na ngiti.

“Guni-guni mo lang talaga ako. Wala ito.” inirapan ko siya.

He laughed. “Sungit talaga oh.”

“Pfft. Bahala ka diyan.”

“Tara kain…hmm?”

Bago pa man ako makaayaw ay hawak niya na ang palapulsuhan ko at hila-hila ako papunta sa canteen.

“Hey, I can walk.”

He immediately let me go. “Uy, sorry.”

“Nah, it’s fine.”

“Tara na ngarod.”

“Huh?”

“I said let’s go.” Ginamit niya ang Pinoy accent niya. Well, based sa napapansin ko, ganoon talaga siguro siya magsalita ng Ingles.

Nang makarating kami sa canteen ay um-order siya ng sopas.

“Anong gusto mo?” He asked as I skimmed through the different snacks displayed.

May turon, kakanin, pansit, spag, at siomai.

“Ate, siomai nga po. Tapos dalawang turon, please.”

“Ibawas mo na lang sa barya ko, te.”

“No. Ito po bayad.” Iniabot ko ang bayad sa tindera.

“Ako na ka—” I glared at him.

“Okay, boss ko.”

Although his gesture was commendable, I hated it. Ayaw kong nai-in debt sa mga tao. Plus, I have my own money.

“Thanks for the offer though.” Nginitian ko siya. He smiled back, thankfully.

Yes, I don’t like people, but I am not rude. I have manners unlike others na… Argh! Nevermind.

Nagsimula na kaming maglakad pabalik sa room. We are two buildings away: kaya mahaba-haba ang lalakarin.

“Ano pinag-meeting-an niyo?” He then sipped the broth of his sopas.

“About sa Pi Day. Na-adjust kasi.” I plainly said while munching on the banana spring roll.

“Oh, I see.” Tumango siya ng ilang ulit.

“So, kailan ang bagong sched?” He asked, looking at me.

“Secret. Just wait for the announcement.” He scoffed then murmured something, kaya binigyan ko siya ng matalim na titig.

“Okay sige, sabi mo eh.”

Nang makarating kami sa building, we parted ways because we are not classmates. Thankfully, hindi pa nagsisimula ang discussion sa Philosophy.

After several hours, lunch came. Dumiretso na ako sa fountain para abangan si Tristan. I even forgot my umbrella, at tinatamad na rin naman akong balikan iyon.

Mabuti na lang at hindi masyadong matirik ang araw, it still relatively cold.

I fished out my phone to chat with him.

“Nandito na ako sa fountain. Saan ka?”

“Here.”

Napaigtad ako nang marinig ang boses niya. Nakatayo siya sa harapan ko, nakayuko nang kaunti dahil mas matangkad siya. Nagtama ang paningin namin at nanatiling ganito hanggang sa basagin niya ang staring contest.

“Let’s go,”

“Where to?”

“Sa labas,”

“Puwede?!”

“Ako bahala.” He smirked before walking at a faster pace than me.

Nang makarating siya sa guard house, nakipag-usap muna siya at maya-maya pa ay tinawag niya na ako.

“Let’s go?” pag-aya niya habang nakangiti.

“Sure.” tipid kong tugon.

Ano kayang meron sa kaniya at kanina pa siya nakangiti? I wondered while following him.

Sumakay kami sa tricy papunta sa sentro, isang kilometro ang layo mula sa school. Pagkarating ay pumasok kami sa isa sa mga sikat na cafe.

Nang nai-serve na ang pagkain namin ay nagsimula na akong kumain habang siya’y nagtitipa sa kaniyang selpon. Wow, he must’ve someone in his life already.

“Ang cute mo naman kumain, puffy cheeks.”

He scoffed. Napatingin ako dahil sa remark niya. What?! Cute?!

I raised a brow at him and stopped munching. “Huh? Anom sabmo?!(Anong sabi mo?!)”

He let out a small laugh before speaking. “Eat well, puffy cheeks.”

At inulit niya nga. Napalunok tuloy ako nang biglaan at muntik nang mabulunan. What the f**k?!

Why is he like that?!

After that lunch, regular classes resumed. May pahabol pang activity sa General Chemistry na muntik ko nang mabagsak dahil nakatulog ako. Buti na lang nag-advance study ako kagabi.

Dismissal came. Group namin ang nakatoka sa paglilinis ngayon kaya busy kami sa pagpapakintab ng hindi tiled na sahig ng classroom namin. It is the oldest building here, kaya hindi na rin nila pinatiles-an. But still, functional pa rin naman.

After cleaning, bumaba ako para maghugas ng kamay at mukha dahil sa alikabok. Buti na lang at makulimlim at medyo malamig ngayon kaya hindi ako masyadong pinagpawisan.

As I was washing my face, a person stood beside me.

“Sabay tayong uwi ha.” He said while washing his hands.

“Why? Wala ka bang kasabay?” He didn’t answer.

“Don’t have friends?” I asked again pero tiningnan niya lang ako habang nagpupunas ng mukha.

“You missed a spot.” He pointed out.

“Huh? Where? Kapupunas ko lang ah.”

“Here…”

Napaigtad ako nang marahan niyang hinaplos ang kaliwang tenga ko gamit ang kaniyang hinlalaki.

My cheeks heated up when he leaned forward and whispered, “Dummy. Sabay tayong uwi ha.”