Somewhere Between Friends

7th Stop

"Anong hindi ka aattend ng class today, Alexis Mason?"  namaywang ako sa harapan niya.  "You will skip class because of basketball?!"  pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata ng tumango lang siya habang nagsisintas ng sapatos.

When he arrived in the school, he's not wearing his school uniform.  Naka-civilian lang siya like his other team mates.  Hindi ka basta basta makaka-pag civilian clothes sa school without the permission from the principal.

"May quiz tayo, di ba?"  he lazily looks up at me.  "Okay lang ba na mag-skip ka doon?"

"I already requested for the special exam from Mr. Suarez,"  he is our World History teacher.  "For me and Prox.  We already took it yesterday kaya wala kaming nagawa ng bigla kaming pakuhanin ng test agad kahapon din,"  ngumiti siya sa akin at tumayo mula sa bench, towering me.  "Perfect score.  Dalawa ang mali ni Prox.  Easy lang naman so you don't have to worry,"  inilagay niya ang mga gamit sa locker at isinarado iyon.  Iniabot sa akin ang swipe key.  "Please keep this for me.  Just in case I forget my passcode, I will take this from you,"  tumango ako at kinuha iyon mula sa kanya.  "Sige na,"  kinurot niya ako sa pisngi.  "Go to our room," hinawakan niya ako sa kamay. "No.  I will walk you there," he took my bag.  

Knowing that lots of curious eyes are following us, I raised my chin and walks proudly.  "I feel proud, you know that?"  nagtatakang napatingin ako sa kanya.  "Because I am walking with the most beautiful girl in the campus."

Kunwa ay sumimangot ako pero hindi ko maitago ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.  "Stop saying that, Alex.  Baka mamaya may makarinig, kung ano ang isipin."

"Let them think what they want to think.  Eh maganda naman talaga ang prinsesa ko, eh,"  he smiled at me.  

"Ikaw Alex, kapag pinatawag ako sa guidance sa kalokohan mo, huwag ka nang magpapakita sa akin!" inirapan ko siya pero hindi ko hinahaltak ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya.  

"They will not.  Mawawalan sila ng magagaling na students kapag nangyari iyon,"  he winks.  Ibinaba niya ang gamit sa mismong desk ko.  

"Mason, you are not going to attend the class today?"  nilingon ko kung sino ang nagtanong sa kanya pero natatakpan ng kung sino.  He sounds like Marky.

"Nope.  Kailangan ng puspusang practice eh.  May game kami sa Wednesday,"  sabi niya.  Napakunot ako ng noo.  Di naman kasi niya sinabi iyon sa akin.

"Mason!  Pakitignan naman itong assignment natin,"  sabi naman ni Glenda na agad niyang nilapitan.  She was my classmate for how many years now but she didn't ask for my help.  

Napasimangot ako.  I know na umaarte lang siya na naiintindihan ang itinuturo ni Mason because Calculus is not easy.  

Calculus, yes.  Kasama ito sa Curriculum namin.  

Kahapon lang, our teacher warned those who cannot follow the lesson.  They were given only a week to study or else, they will be removed from the Star Section. 

"Mason, paano mo kami tuturuan ng Calculus kung may laro ka sa Wednesday?"  si Chino naman ang nagtanong sa kanya.  

"Cam is here.  Or if she's busy, you can all wait for me after the game.  I will ask permission to use our classroom after class," at balak pa talagang mag-turo sa mga classmates naming mga tamad!  Talaga naman!

And everybody agreed with his idea.  Tumungo ako ng makita ko siyang palapit sa akin.  "Be sure to be there on Wednesday.  I want my Princess to cheer for me,"  he's grinning when I looked up at him. 

But before I can answer, their Captain called him.  "I'll be there in five, Cap!"  umalis na din agad ang kausap niya.  I thought he will go but he lowered himself to me and he traced my forehead through my chin with his index finger.  "You cannot miss my first game, Cam.  You will be my inspiration," and he turned his back at me.  I was dumbstruck!  Nagulat kasi ako sa ginawa niya.  

"That was sweet,"  napatingin ako kay Anton na ngingiti ngiti sa akin.  

"Ang alin?"  pataymalisyang tanong ko.

"Anong alin ka diyan!  Yung ginawa ni Mason, di ba Messie?"  tumingin ako kay Messie na nakatitig lang sa akin.  

"Why?  May dumi ba ako sa mukha?"  umiling siya pero nakatitig pa din sa akin.

"Ang ganda mo kasi!"  she gently pinched my cheeks.  "Maganda na, matalino pa!"

"I know and thanks,"  I grinned.  They both looked at each other and immediately squeezed me in my chair.  

"Crush ka talaga ni Mason, sigurado yan!"  nangingiting sabi ni Messie.  "Ipupusta ko ang IPad Air na kakabili lang sa akin ni Daddy."

"Ako naman, IPhone 6plus,"  sabi naman nitong si Anton.

Natatawa akong tinignan sila.  "Will you please stop it girls. Go back to your seats at parating na ang teacher natin," sinulyapan ko ang bakanteng upuan ni Alex.  Nakakalungkot din na walang makulit akong katabi.

"Cam, you are not really available today?"  nilingon ko si Marky.  "Baka pwedeng sub ka muna kay Mason."

"Oo nga Cam!  Kung hindi lang busy iyon, he will really help us," sabi ni Archie.  "He was so worried when he learned what Sir Nicolo told us. Ayaw nyang magkahiwa-hiwalay ang klase, right guys?"  and they all said the same.

But before I can answer back, M'am Garces came in, our class adviser.  One tall fair girl followed her.  Nakatungo ito na parang may kung anong kinukuha sa bag.  She's having curyl brown locks, same as mine.  I heard a buzzing sound at my back. My classmates are all curious to know who is the new student.

"Class, good morning,"  nagtayuan kaming lahat to greet her and we all seated.  Hindi pa rin tumitingin ang babae sa amin.  "Class, I want you to welcome your new classmate, Erica Louise Villaluz."

Napatulala ako ng makita ko ang itsura niya nang tumingin sa amin at ngumiti!  She's so beautiful!  Para siyang barbie doll!

"She got blue eyes!"  I heard one of my classmate exclaimed.  Nang lingunin ko sina Messie at Anton, tulala ding nakatingin sa bagong dating katulad ng ibang kaklase namin.

"Good morning!"  she puts her specs on while saying that.  Hindi nakabawas ang suot niyang specs sa ganda niya.  "Thank you for the warm welcome.  You can call me Louise."  

Unlike other new students, most of the time, they are saying this and that about themselves.  But even our class adviser didn't say anything about her.

"Where is Mason, Cameron?"  tanong sa akin ni Ma'am Garces.  "Oh!  I forgot that he's excused for three days,"  she answered her own question.  "Okay then, Louise, you can seat on the chair beside Cameron for the meantime,"  napatanga ako kay Ma'am Garces.  

Pinaupo niya sa tabi ko ang newbie?!  Saan uupo si Mason?!

She just nods and followed what the teacher told her.  "Hi,"  bati niya sa akin.  I answered her back.  "May naka-upo talaga dito, right?"  nagulat ako nang magsalita siya ng tagalog.  And she's so fluent! 

Tumango ako.  Naupo naman siya sa upuan ni Mason pero muling tumingin sa akin. "You have a nice name,"  nakatingin pala siya sa akin.  "Have you watched ConAir?"  umiling ako.  "You should watch it.  Medyo old na yung story but my Mom loves it.  Si Nicholas Cage ang bida dun and his character's name is Cameron."

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya.  She seated quietly when the teacher started to discuss the lesson.  Hindi ko maiwasang mapasulyap sa kanya.  She's taking down notes and she has nice handwriting.  

When the class ended, Ma'am Garces called her.  At dahil binabagalan ko ang pag-aayos ng gamit ko, I heard the teacher is telling her what are the topics that she missed.  Next week na kasi ang periodical exam namin at sa dami na nang na-discuss, malamang, hindi na siya makahabol.

"Cam!"  lumingon ako sa kanya bago ako tuluyang makahakbang palabas ng pintuan.  "Can I come with you?"  tumango lang ako.  "You are a quiet person, huh?"  

Napatingin ako sa kanya.  She's a bit taller than me.  "Sorry if I like to talk a lot.  Madaldal kasi talaga ako."

I noticed how students give her a curious look.  Some are whispering as we walked past them.

"Hindi, okay lang.  Ganito lang talaga ako kapag bago ang kausap ko,"  sagot ko sa kanya.

"Thank God!"  nagtatakang napatingin ako sa kanya.  "Ayoko naman kasing maging outcast. They might think that I am snob or what because of my appearance."

"For sure, naninibago lang ang mga iyon.  Nobody heard you speaking in Filipino so they might all be thinking that you are hard to approach.  Don't worry, I felt the same earlier,"  ngumiti ako ng tipid sa kanya.  "I studied in States and grew up there.  I think I was six or seven when we transferred here."

"Oh, I see,"  itinuro ko sa kanya na doon muli umupo sa upuan ni Alex.  "Ako naman, this is the very first time to stay in a place without my parents around,"  nakangiting sabi niya.  "I conspired with my brothers and father so my Mom will agree. Pinagtulungan namin si Mommy," she laughs softly.  "Ayaw kasi niyang malayo kami sa kanila."

"But you are still too young to become independent!"  I exclaimed.  "Even my Mom will not allow me to go anywhere far from her."

"Even though they are far, I am not totally alone.  I am living here with my brother.  Hatid sundo niya,"  may tumigil sa harapan namin na dalawang pares ng paa.  Pag-angat ko ng paningin, it's Anton and Messie.  "Hi,"  she greeted them first.  "I am Louise."

They hesitantly took her hand.  "Antoinette or Anton.  She's Melissa or Messie for short."

"Nice meeting you!"  tumingin siya sa akin.  "Tatlo na kayong friends ko!" natutuwang sabi niya.  Napangiti ako ng makita ko ang panlalaki ng mata ng dalawa.

"Nagtatagalog ka?!"  sabay nilang sabi.  Tumango lang si Louise.  Isa isang naglapitan ang mga iba pa naming classmates para maki-usyoso.  When they heard her talking to the three of us in Filipino, they all introduced themselves to her.  And Louise looks like she really is enjoying the attention.

"Bakit blue ang mata mo?"  tanong ni Anton sa kanya.

"Ano kasi.....my Dad.  Actually, lahat kami blue eyes except for my Mom and my big brother.  My Mom is pure Filipina while my Dad.....don't ask," she laughed again. "Mixed race kasi si Daddy."

"Bakit dito ka nag-aral?  You seem richer than us,"  sabi naman ni Messie.  "But I am not saying that I don't like you here.....what I am saying is there are lots of schools, better school than........"

"Don't say that!"  she shook her head.  "This is a good school.  Kasama ko ang brother ko na nag-hanap ng school, but of course, with the approval of my father.  And I think, I will enjoy my stay here.  You all seems so nice.  And for sure, makakasundo ko kayong tatlo."

"Cam!"  I rolled my eyes when I heard Glenda called me.  "Payag ka na mamaya?"

Ayun na naman.  Para silang choir na wala sa tono na sabay sabay na kumanta.  

"Sige na Cam."

"Please naman Cam."

"Kahit one hour lang Cam."

I closed my eyes and counted.  Wala akong tiyagang mag-turo.

"Sorry guys but I'm busy,"  I answered them.  Nakita ko ang pagsimangot at pag-irap ng iba.  

"Sungit!"

"Damot!"

"Suplada!"

But I just ignored them.  Kaysa mainis ako sa pagtuturo, mas maigi nang tumanggi ako.

"Guys!"  napatingin kami lahat kay Archie na galing sa kung saan.  He is catching his breath.  "Pumayag na si Mason by four daw.  Sa gym na lang daw after ng practice niya!"

Nagtakip ako ng tenga ng sabay sabay silang nagsigawan.  Pati sina Anton at Messie, nakisaya na din.

"What was that all about?" nagtatakang tanong ni Louise.  

"Pumayag na kasi si Mason na turuan yung class sa Calculus,"  masayang sagot ni Anton.  "Ang bait talaga nun!"

"To think that he's a busy person,"  sabi naman ni Messie.  "Actually, he is the one who offered his help.  Nagkataon lang na may game pala sila sa Wednesday."

"Really?  He might be too smart to fit you all in his busy schedule,"  sabi naman ni Louise sa kanila.  

"Sobrang talino kaya nun!  Parang wala lang sa kanya ang mga subjects namin.  Di ko pa nga nakikitang humahawak iyon ng book para mag-aral eh,"  nangingiting sabi ni Messie.  "Ang gwapo pa niya!  Boyfriend iyon ni Cameron eh," sabay tawa.

"Of course not!"  tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.  "He is not my boyfriend!  Bawal pa."

"So pwede in the right time?"  Anton teased me.  

"Crazy,"  inirapan ko sila.  "Don't listen to those two.  Hilig lang talagang mangulit ni Alex."

"Alex is Mason?"  tanong niya. Tumango ako.  "I will attend as well.  Late ako sa lesson eh.  I hope I can cope up."

Tinitigan ko siya. I don't know why she's here in our school but I guess, we will get along.