Cassomo School Series: Class of Elites

CHAPTER 5: BFF

Tiningnan ni Shanfiel ng masama si Arky at lumayo ng kaunti rito. “Kapag ako nasabunutan ng dahil sa trip mo, magagawa mo lang bang tingnan lang ako?” Her eyes narrowed.

“Syempre kaibigan mo ako, so I will cheer you. Go, Shanfiel! Gano’n.” He smiled.

“Ang gwapo mo palang ngumiti, Arclight.” Sinuntol-suntok ni Rodulfo ang braso ni Honey dahil sa kilig.

“Hoy!” Honey laughed.

“You’re funny!” sabi ni Arky kay Rodulfo.

Honey laughed. “Funny ka raw.”

Natawa na lang din siya sa mga kaibigan.

Nakaharang sila sa daan so that they moved to get foods at naupo sa pinakagilid na parte ng cafeteria para hindi sila gano’n ka-agaw atensyon. Gayunpaman, ay marami pa rin nakatingin sa kanila dahil ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na may taga Summit class na kumain sa cafeteria nila.

Ganadong-ganado sa pagkain si Arclight. Natutuwa siyang panoorin na unti-unti na itong bumabalik sa dati.

“Shany? Can I add more adobo after I finish all of this?” tanong nito.

Natawa siya. “Oo, naman. Ikaw kaya may-ari ng school. Baka nakakalimutan mo.”

“No, It’s Lolo’s school, not mine.” He shook his head.

“Ang humble mo naman, Arc.” Rodulfo’s cheeks reddened.

“Thanks, what’s your name by the way?” Arky frowned.

“Rodulfo, pero mas gusto kong tinatawag na Ruffa.” Rodulfo blinked.

“No offense. But I’d like to call you Rod. Okay lang ba? Alam mo, Rod, you’re handsome.” Sumubo ulit si Arky ng kanin na may adobo.

Natawa siya.

Napahawak si Rodulfo sa dibdib nito. “Aray, ha. Handsome daw ako. Pretty po ako.” Napapunas si Rod ng mata kahit wala namang luhang lumalabas.

“Arky, bukas ‘wag ka ng kumain dito, ha,” aniya.

Tiningnan siya ng masama ni Arky. “Bakit? Natatakot ka ba sa kanila. Sabihin mo lang sa’kin kung sino mang-aaway sa’yo. Shany, may magtatanggol na sa’yo ngayon, nandito na ako.” Hinawakan ni Ark yang kamay niya.

Her eyes widened at abot-abot ang tahip ng puso niya. Indeed, they grew up and feelings developed.

Nakita niyang nagtinginan sina Honey at Rodulfo.

Inagaw niya ang kamay kay Arky at tiningnan ang mga kaibigan. “Kilala ko kayong dalawa. What are you thinking?”

“Wala.” Pinipigilang mapangiti ni Honey.

“Calm down, guys. There’s nothing going on between us. Parang magkapatid na kami ni Shany.” Arclight looked straight into her eyes.

She gulped. Ayaw yatang tanggapin ng puso niya ‘yong sinabi nito na magkapatid lang sila. In her heart, she wanted more. “Oo naman.” Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

Naubo si Rodulfo. “Parang nabibilaukan ako, Hon. Samahan mo nga akong kumuha ng tubig.” Tumayo ang dalawa niyang kaibigan at naiwan na lang silang dalawa ni Arky.

“Balita ko may nanliligaw na raw sa’yo?” He frowned.

“Marami.” She smiled.

Mas lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo nito. “So, may boyfriend ka na?”

She frowned. “May nakita ka bang kasama kong lalaki? Edi sana boyfriend ko kasama ko ngayong kumakain.” Uminom siya ng tubig.

“Shany, ‘wag ka munang mag-bo-boyfriend, ha.” He fixed her with his gaze.

Bumilis na naman ang t***k ng puso niya pagkatapos nitong humupa ng sandali. “Bakit?” She frowned.

“Syempre, kapag may boyfriend ka na, sa kanya ka na sasama, hindi na sa’kin. We’ve been apart for many years. I wanted to spend more time with you.” He poked the tip of her nose with his index finger.

Namula ang pisngi niya. “Edi ikaw na lang boyfriend ko. Joke.” She gave him a peace sign.

He beamed. “Baliw! It won’t happen, Shany. Because best friends are friends for life while boyfriends and girlfriends come and go.”

At that very moment, she felt broken-hearted for the first time in her life. At sixteen. She was expecting that Arky felt the same way about her. She was in love with him since they were nine before he went to New York and left her. She waited for him, and she could continue to wait for him.

“GIRL, napansin mo ba ‘yong tingin ni Shan kay Arc? Parang in love ‘yong kaibigan natin sa bff niya,” sabi ni Honey kay Rodulfo. Lumabas na sila ng cafeteria at iniwan na ang dalawa roon. Nasa bench sila sa may field tumambay.

“Halata naman talaga na gusto ni Shan si Arc. Hindi lang niya pinapahalata dahil ayaw niyang masira ang pagkakaibigan nila.” Rod took a sip from his slurpee.

Honey sighed. “Bakit gano’n no? Kapag umamin tayo sa kaibigan natin na gusto natin sila, bakit palaging nando’n ‘yong takot na masira ‘yong friendship?”

Rod looked at her, frowning. “May pinanghuhugutan ka, Girl?”

“Nagtatanong lang ako.” She shook her head.

“Ganito kasi ‘yan, Hon. Sa pagkakaibigan ng dalawang tao, marami silang napagdaanan ng magkasama. Kapag dumating ‘yong time na nagkagusto sila sa isa’t-isa, maraming pwedeng magbago. ‘Yong mga pagbabagong ‘yon, ‘yon ang hindi natin sigurado at nakakatakot.” Nagkibit-balikat si Rodulfo.

“Pwede namang harapin ‘yong mga bagay na hindi natin sigurado, Rufs, eh. Bakit, hindi naman natin alam anong mangyayari mamaya o bukas pero we unconsciously wait for it to happen, ‘di ba?” She was looking straight into his eyes.

Rodulfo frowned. “Ikaw nga, Hon. Umamin ka nga sa’kin. May pinagdadaanan ka ba, Girl?”

Honey shook his head. “Wala, ha.” Tumingin siya sa malayo.

“’Yong ice cream mo po. It’s melting.” Rodulfo shook his head, smiling.

HINATID si Shanfiel ni Arky sa classroom niya pagkatapos nilang mag-lunch.

Arky checked his wristwatch. “We still have 30 minutes left before our first period in the afternoon. Pwede ba akong pumasok ng classroom niyo?”

She nodded. “Oo naman. Ayaw mo pang bumalik ng classroom niyo? Malamig do’n, ilan nga aircon niyo do’n?”

“Do you want to transfer to my class? It’s been your dream. I can talk to Mom and Dad about that, Shany.” He smiled.

She shook his head. “Of course, I want to. Pero, Arky, hindi papaya ang Daddy mo dahil maraming magrereklamo. Alam naman ng lahat na hindi kami mayaman.”

“F*ck this system.” He shook his head.

“Arky! Stop saying badwords. We're at school.” Magkasalubong ang mga kilay niya.

“Let’s go somewhere else, Shan. Maraming nakatingin,” anito at tsaka hinuli ang palapulsuhan niya at iginiya siya paalis doon.

Pumunta sila sa isang tagong lugar sa eskwelahan kung saan walang tao. Ang naroon lang ay mayayabong na puno, mga bulaklak at wooden chairs.

Napangiti siya. Naaalala pa pala nito ang paboritong tambayan nila sa eskwelahan. Sa Cassomo rin kasi nag-aral si Arclight hanggang Grade 4, kaso katulad ngayon ay kabilang pa rin ito sa Summit class noon. Noon ay wala pa silang ibang mga kaibigan, tanging silang dalawa lang ang parating magkasama.

“Sit here.” Tinapik nito ang bakanteng space sa inuupuang wooden long chair.

Naupo siya sa tabi nito.

“Shan, do you still remember how there were only just the two of us. Ngayon may mga ibang kaibigan ka na.” He smiled.

“Grade 7 nang naging magkaibigan kami nina Rodulfo at Honey, noon lang kasi kami naging magkaklase. Bakit? Nagseselos ka ba sa kanila?” Sinundot niya si Arky sa tagiliran.

“Of course not! I’m glad you have friends other than me now. When I left, I was very worried about you. Umalis ako na wala kang ibang kaibigan, palagi kong naiisip paano kung mag-isa ka lang palagi at malungkot.” He took a deep breath.

“Asus! Talaga ba?” She felt very happy to hear that.

“Oo naman,” anito.

“Ikaw ba? Nagka-girlfriend ka ba do’n sa New York?” She gulped. She didn’t want to ask, but she was desperate to know.

“No! All I thought about the whole time I was there was how to get back home. You have no idea how much I missed you.” He looked into her eyes.

Napalunok siya. She was worried sa sobrang lakas ng t***k ng puso niya ay baka marinig na ito ni Arky.

“Pwede ba pakibawasan ng pagiging corny mo po.” She laughed at nag-iwas ng tingin.

“But what if, Shan. What if magka-girl friend ako? Will you support me?”

She looked at him. “Oo naman. But I’ll have to distance myself. Hindi kasi maganda na close ka sa ibang babae rather than your girlfriend. Your girlfriend can be your best friend but your best friend can’t be your girlfriend.”

In her mind she was praying na sana siya nalang ang ligawan ni Arky. Pero kung balang araw may magugustuhan itong ibang babae, kahit masakit isipin ay susuportahan niya ang kaibigan. That's her role after all.

“Oh, nagtatanong lang naman ako, eh. Bakit naiiyak ka?” Sumungaw ang mapang-asar na ngiti sa mga labi nito.

She glared at him. “Hindi ako naiiyak, ha.”

Inakbayan siya ni Arky at ginulo ang buhok niya. “’Wag kang mag-alala, Shan, ikaw una makakaalam kapag nagka-girlfriend na ako.”

“Syempre. Kasi kapag hindi ako, hindi na kita kakausapin.” Pinilit niyang ngumiti.

“Kapag hindi ikaw ang girlfriend ko hindi mo na ko kakausapin?” He was teasing her.

She slightly pushed him and stood. “Tama ka na, Arky. Halika na. Balik na tayo.” She shook her head, smiling.

Inabot ni Arky ang kamay nito. “Help me stand.”

Inabot niya rin ang kamay nito and pulled him. Pero hindi na nito binitiwan ang kamay niya.

“Arky, let go.” She touched her blushing cheek with her free hand.

“Bakit namumula ka? Ikaw, Shany, kinakabahan ako sa’yo. Sigurado ka bang wala kang feelings para sa’kin?” He frowned.

“Never.” She pulled her hand out of his grasp.

She swallowed as she walked ahead of him.

Arky had no idea that he had an effect on her. Every time he called her by name or spoke to her in a pleasant manner, she started to go insane. She wished she could just express her feelings to him without holding back. She bet that Arky would not want to hear it, though, as he had no special affection for her.

PAGKATAPOS ng klase ay agad na inayos ni Shanfiel ang mga gamit.

Nilapitan siya nina Rodulfo at Honey.

“Girl, may naghihintay sa’yo sa labas.” Honey winked at her.

Agad siyang napalingon sa pinto. Arclight waved at her. She waved back at him.

“Oh, bakit namumula ka?” Rodulfo helped her put her things inside her bag.

“Issue ka. Alam niyo, malinaw na magkaibigan lang kami. Since we were 3 years old. Hanggang doon lang ‘yon.” She rolled her eyes.

“Kalma. Okay!” Rodulfo and Honey laughed.

Lumabas na silang tatlo.

She got a fist bump from Arky.

“Sabay na tayong umuwi.” He smiled.

“Let’s go!” aniya.

Sabay silang apat na lumalakad palabas ng eskwelahan.

“Rod, Honey, kumusta naman bilang kaibigan tong bff ko? Maldita ba?” Inakbayan siya ni Arky.

“Ay naku, Arc! Shanfiel is one of the best persons I’ve ever met.” Honey winked at her. Ang ipinapadalang mensahe sa kanya ni Honey ay ‘wag siyang mag-alala because Honey got her back.

“Eh, kung ikaw naman tanungin namin, Arc. Para sa’yo, kumusta bilang kaibigan si Shan?” ani Rodulfo.

Ginulo nito ang buhok niya. “She’s like a Sunshine to me.” She heard him chuckled.