Somewhere Between Friends

"Stop following me!" nilingon niya ako.  Halata ang inis sa maganda niyang mukha "Bakit naman Camcam?"  tanong ko sa kanya na lalo niyang ikinainis "Don't call me Camcam, will you?!  Call me Cammy!"  She yelled at me.   "But Mommy said, I should always stay with you," and she rolled her eyes. "I don't need a babysitter!" she hissed. "I am not your babysitter.......I will become your husband!"  and I grinned at her. "Crush mo si Cameron, ano?"  tanong sa akin ni Prox, isa sa mga kaklase ko.  Prox is a nerdy boy and definitely, his name doesn't suit his personality.  I don't know if he can still see without his specs on dahil sa kapal ng lens ng salamin niya.  Like me, he's also a new guy in school and we get along right away.   I am expecting Cameron to become my buddy here in school but she keeps on ignoring me as if she doesn't know me. "How can you say that?"  I took my tray and look for a place to sit.  Puno ang loob ng canteen and since this is the first day, wala pa talaga akong kakilala. "Eh kasi naman, kung makatingin ka sa kanya, hatang halata!"  natawa na lang ako at umiling.  "Sabagay, she's really beautiful." "Mason!"  napalingon kami pareho ni Prox ng marinig ko ang pagtawag sa akin.  It's Messie, one of my classmates.  "Here!"  sabay turo sa tabi niya.  But it is just one vacant seat and besides, they are all girls.   "Pumunta ka na doon.  Hahanap na lang ako,"  sabi sa akin ni Prox but I shook my head.  Hindi ko siya pwedeng iwang mag-isa.  And besides, Cameron is on that same table as Messie.  Pinanlalakihan ako ng mata na tila sinasabing huwag akong tatabi sa kanya. "I cannot leave you, Pare.  Baka ma-bully ka,"  biro ko sa kanya na hindi malayong mangyari.  Malaki man itong lalaki, sa tipo ng pananamit nito na bitin ang pantalon, makapal ang salamin, alam kong maraming mang-aasar dito.  "I will be your bodyguard, don't you worry." "It might be the other way around," he whispered thinking that I didn't hear him at all.   But I just ignored it. "Messie, thanks but I have Prox with me,"  I smiled at her and she blushed, dunno why.  But when I looked at Cameron, she's giving me sharp look.  "I'll see you later, ladies,"  they waved at me. "Mason!"  it's Kuya Drix, the Basketball Team Captain.  Gaya ni Messie, pinapaupo din niya ako sa pwesto nila.  But this time, they have two vacant seats so I asked Prox to come with me.   "Hi Kuya Drix," inabot ko ang kamay ko sa kanya.  Nakita kong nakangiti sa akin halos lahat ng kasama niya sa lamesa.  "This is Prox, by the way.  My classmate." Iniabot din niya ang kamay kay Prox and I know, he feels welcome.  Ang ganda kasi ng ngiti nito.   "Nice height.  Pareho kayong dapat pumasok sa basketball team,"  itinuro niya ang mga bakanteng lamesa.  "Have a seat, Guys, and start eating.  Ito ang pwesto ng Basketball team.  On the right side, the Volleyball team......on the left, that's the chess club......the place where Cameron is, that is the cheering squad........" "Cameron is part of the cheering squad?"  tanong ko sa kanya pero umiling siya.   "She will be, soon, for sure.  They are recruiting her but knowing Cameron, it might take time,"  sabay turo pa sa kung saang saang mesa, stating who's who are sitting in there.   "How about in the middle?"  tanong ni Prox. "Middle?"  umiling si Kuya Drix.  "They are just regular students.......nothing more,"  bigla niya akong tinapik sa likuran.  "So, sasali ka na?" "I will try,"  ngumiti ako sa kanya.  Truth is, I also played in my previous school.  Bata pa lang talaga ako, I am into sports.  Okay lang naman iyon kay Mommy pero ayaw niyang magsa-suffer ang grades ko kaya kailangang ibalanse ko lahat. which, is an easy thing to do. "Ikaw din, Prox.  Join him,"  aya niya sa katabi kong kain lang nang kain. "Me?"  sabay iling niya.  "No, Kuya Drix.  May hika po kasi ako, kaya hindi ako pwedeng mapagod,"  bigla akong napatingin kay Prox dahil sa idinahilan niya kay Kuya Drix.  Sa laking lalaki nito, walang maniniwalang may hika ito.   "Is that so?"  bigla ang paglungkot ng mata niya.  "Basta kapag gusto mo, don't hesitate to tell me.  We are in our last year in this school, then college life.  Ilan lang ang matitira sa varsity team and we need to recruit guys who can keep our school on the top spot.  We need to train them on how we were trained." "And you need to count me in,"  napatingin ako sa nagsalita. Ngiting ngiti ito.  "Ross,"  inabot ni Kuya Drix ang kamay nito.  "Guys, meet Rosendo......" "Kuya naman, eh!  Gusto mong ibuko ko din ang pangalan mo sa mga bago?!"  pinanlakihan niya ng mata ang team captain. "Sorry Bro,"  pero hindi naaalis ang ngiti sa mga labi.  "Guys, meet Ross, my baby brother,"  and we all laughed. But he doesn't look irritated at all.  Nakitawa pa nga sa amin.  He looks like a cool guy and I kinda like him.  He looks at me and smiled.  "Are you the new team captain?"  he asked me, with his one brow up.   I shook my head and smiled.  "That's impossible!  I cannot......" "Geez....."  naupo siya sa tabi ko.  "Don't try to hide it, Dude.  I know who you are,"  sabay siko sa akin. "What do you know about Mason, Brother,"  tanong ng Kuya niya. "You will see, Kuya.  And if Mason will be the next Team Captain, I will not complain definitely!"  sabay akbay sa akin.  "He has my one hundred and one percent vote!" And all the guys at the table are giving me a wondering look as if something will pop out from my head. "Don't believe whatever he will say, guys,"  sabi ko na lang sa kanila sabay iling.   "Huh!  Malalaman din nilang.......Woot! Woot!" and he whistles.  I frown when I saw where he is looking.   He is looking in Cameron's group.  "She's really beautiful,"  sabay simangot.  "Crush ko iyon eh,"  sabay turo sa grupo.  "Si Cameron.  She's your classmate, right?" I nod.  Kung kanina, cool ang dating niya sa akin, ngayon, hindi ko maiwasang hindi makaramdam ng inis. "Don't do that again," tinignan ko siya ng masama.  "That's rude." "Which one? When I whistled?" he asked and I nod.  He shrugged his shoulders.  "Sorry Boss!"  and he smirks.  "I will not do that again, promise." "He's weird," bulong sa akin ni Prox. "You are more," sagot ni Ross na narinig pala ang sinabi sa akin ni Prox.  "See?  Apart from having a hawk eye, I also have a bat ear."  And he grinned on Prox.  "Ross, Dude." "I know,"  sagot ni Prox at hinarap muli ang pagkain.   "And you are?"  kung ano ang itinahimik ni Prox, siya naman ang idinaldal nito.   "He is Prox,"  ako na ang sumagot dahil tingin ko ay ayaw nang sagutin pa ni Prox ang tanong nito. "Hi Proxy!"  pang-aasar nito.  "The name suits you!"  and he laughs but it doesn't sound offending. Napasimangot naman ang inasar.  "Just kidding!"  bawi nito sa sinabi sabay tampal sa likod ng katabi ko.  "Masanay ka na sa akin because I decided to become your buddy, guys,"  nagkatinginan kami ni Prox.  "And you cannot say no to Ross Ventura, the greatest bully of all time!"  sabay tawa na naman. "Tanggapin ba natin sa grupo?"  tanong sa akin ni Prox.  "Baka i-bully ako niyan?" "You will get used to him,"  I look at my wristwatch.  "It's time,"  tinapik ko sa balikat si Ross.  "See you later, Dude." "Next school year, classmate na tayo.  Di ko masyadong ginalingan ang entrance exam eh, baka malaman nilang genius ako! Ouch!"  sabay himas niya sa ulo.  "Kuya naman, eh!" "Mag-aral ka hindi yung puro yabang yang inaasikaso mo.  Kaya nga hesitant ako kung isasali kita sa basketball team.  Sa daldal mong iyan, baka puro yabang lang ang gawin mo sa court!"  sermon ni Kuya Drix sa kapatid. "I will assist Mason, Kuya, kaya hindi ako pwedeng mawala doon.  Prox and I will......." "I will not join the team," singit ni Prox.  "I am too clumsy to play." "Water Boy ka na lang,"  again Ross started. Natatawang hinila ko na ang isa bago mainis na naman.  Nakalayo na kami ng marinig ko ang pagtawag sa akin ni Kuya Drix. "Mason, later at two?"  he's telling me about the tryout.  I nod.  "Prox, you need to come as well." Sabay kaming tumango.  "Bakit ba nila ako pinipilit na sumali sa team eh may hika nga ako?  Asthmatic kaya ako!  Hindi ba halata?" I laughed at him but I didn't say anything.   When we reached the room, all of my classmates are busy doing their own things.  I saw a vacant seat beside Cameron so I settled myself there.   "See you later, Dude!"  tumango siya at naupo sa bandang likuran.  Binalingan ko si Cameron at nginitian ko.  "Sungit!" tawag ko sa kanya. But she just ignored me.  I moved my chair closer to her.  And again, I received a sharp look from her.   "Stay away from me, Alex,"  she said and look at the book that she is holding again.  "Bakit ba ang sungit mo, ha?  You are acting as if you didn't know me!"  sabi ko sa kanya. Inis na isinarado niya ang libro at tumingin sa akin.  "Noon at ngayon, you are still annoying!  Why do you love to irritate me?!" "Because I love you,"  and I smiled when I saw her face flushed. "OMG!  Do you hear that guys?!"  napatingin ako sa nagsalita.  It's Pinky, one of the cutest girls in class.  "MASON LOVES CAMERON! They knew each other!" And they all gathered around us!