CHAPTER 1
2313 Words
8 years later..
Agad kong pinatay ang alarm ko nang magising ang diwa ko. But I still didn't help but yawn. "Just a few more minutes, please."
I'm still sleepy!
Medyo nakatulog pa nga ulit ako at nang lumipas ang ilang minuto ay kusa nang dumilat ang mga mata ko nang may maalala. Agad akong bumangon.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa side table. "Oh my gosh!"
First day of school
Nasa calendar 'yon ng phone ko.
But still, I almost forgot! Dali-dali tuloy ako sa pag-ready.
"Ikaw talaga, Franchescalyn! Kahit kailan ka talaga! Mabagal ka pa naman!" naiiyak kong sabi sa sarili ko, self-criticising myself again.
Bihis na ako at dala ang bag ko nang biglang tumawag si Andria.
"I know I'm late. I'm sorry!" bungad ko sa kanya.
"It's okay, beshy. Dalian mo na lang."
"Sige!" Pagkatapos ay pinatay ko na ang linya. Pagpunta ko sa garage ay naghihintay na ang driver. "Kuya, pahatid na po ako!"
Sa car na ako kumain ng sandwich na iniwan sa'kin ni Mom bago sila umalis ni Dad for work. First day pa lang late na agad ako.
Nang makarating na sa harapan ng school ay agad na akong bumaba. "Salamat po!"
Pagkapunta ko sa gate ay binati ako ng guwardiya at chineck ang ID ko. "Super late na po ba ako?" tanong ko sa kanya.
Tiningnan niya ang relo niya. "Hindi pa naman masyado. Bilisan mo na lang para hindi ka maabutan ng pagtunog ng bell."
"Sige po!" Pagkatapos ay agad na akong tumakbo.
Nasabi na sa'min ng teacher namin last school year kung saan ang magiging classroom namin ngayong grade 8 na kami. Pagpunta ko do'n sa bago naming classroom ay nakaupo na ang lahat at medyo nag-iingay na rin. Buti na lang hindi ako naabutan ng bell.
"Francine, beshy!" Napatingin ako kina Andria at Danna nang tawagin nila ako. Tinuro ni Andria ang upuang katabi niya. "Dito ka."
I smiled and approached them. Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Thank you. Did I miss something important?" tanong ko sabay patong ng bag ko sa table.
"Wala pa naman," si Danna.
Nakahinga ako nang maluwag at napasandal pa sa kinauupuan. "Thank goodness."
Biglang nagpantay ang tingin namin ng kaklase kong si Diego na nakaupo hindi kalayuan sa kinaroroonan namin. He smiled and slightly raised a hand to say 'hi' so I smiled back at him.
"Saan tayo mamaya after school?" tanong pa ni Danna.
I looked back at her. "Let's go to the mall!"
"May bibilhin ka ba?" si Andria.
"Oo. Tsaka kailangan ko rin ng inspirasyon para sa susunod kong designs."
"So tapos ka na sa summer collection mo?"
"Oo."
Andria's smiles widened. "I wanna see it!"
Sa totoo lang, ngayon ko lang ulit kami nagkita-kita because we spent our summer vacation in different places kaya hindi pa nila nakikita 'yong mga huli kong ginawa. We had communication during those times pero mas okay kasi kung makikita nila mismo in person. "Dumeretso na lang tayo sa bahay namin pagkatapos sa mall," alok ko. Pumayag naman sila.
Natahimik kaming lahat nang dumating na ang adviser namin, at may kasama pa.
"Maligayang araw, everyone. I am your new adviser, Ms. Perez and beside me is your new classmate."
Hindi nagtagal ang katahimikan dahil agad itong napalitan ng bulungan at asaran.
I looked at Andria and Danna. "Di'ba siya 'yong... " Hindi ko na natuloy ang sinasabi ko dahil pareho na silang nakangisi.
Bakit ko pa nga ba tatanungin? We already know it, alright! Napa-face palm na lang ako sa kaloob-looban ng isip ko.
Napunta ang tingin ko kay Diego. Lahat ng kaklase namin ay inaasar siya. Kanina nakakangiti pa siya pero ngayon, hindi na. Ni hindi man lang makatingin kahit kanino. Ang tingin ay nasa table. Halatang nahihiya. I didn't help but smirk as well.
The teacher clapped thrice. "Everyone, please be quiet." Then she looked at our new classmate. "Hija, please introduce yourself."
The girl licked her lips before smiling and looking at us. "Hello, I'm Erika Monreal and it's nice meeting you."
Nag-ingay ulit ang mga kaklase namin, lalo na ang mga ka-tropa ni Diego.
"Erika, crush ka ng kaibigan namin!"
"Crush ka ni Diego!"
"Legit 'yan, pramis!"
Sinamaan sila ng tingin ni Diego. "Manahimik nga kayo."
"Nahihiya ka pa, totoo naman!" pang-aasar pa nila.
"Are there any vacant seats left?" tanong bigla ni Ma'am.
Tumaas ng kamay ang isa sa mga kaibigan ni Diego. "Ma'am, dine po sa tabi ni Diego!"
"Ms. Monreal, do you mind sitting next to Mr. Buenavista?" tanong ni Ma'am kay Erika.
The latter slightly smiled. "I-It's okay, Ma'am. I don't mind," aniya, dahilan kung bakit lalong nag-cheer ang mga kaklase namin.
"Gutom na ako," sabi ko nang sumapit ang recess. I'm already prepared to go out so I looked at the girls. Sinara ni Danna ang libro niya at nilagay 'yon sa bag niya habang si Andria naman ay nilagay na ang wallet niya sa bulsa niya.
"Same," sabi pa ni Andria.
"Is it okay if I go with you girs?" We looked at Erika when she approached us and asked.
"Yeah, sure! It's okay," sabi ni Danna.
"What made you change sections?" tanong ko kay Erika habang kumakain na kami sa canteen. Magkatabi kami habang katapat namin sina Danna at Andria.
She pursed her lips and looked down. "I wasn't that happy and comfortable with my former section."
I suddenly remembered myself back then. I didn't had many friends in the US. I only had.. him. I slightly patted her shoulder and smiled at her. "I understand. I know that feeling."
Pagkatapos naming kumain ay naisipan na namin nina Danna at Andria na bumalik sa classroom. Si Erika naman ay pinuntahan ang pinsan niya.
"Kamusta?" tanong sa'kin bigla ni Diego pagkatapos niyang hilahin ang upuan niya at itabi sa'kin.
Abala si Andria sa pagbabasa ng libro habang si Danna naman ay abala sa pag-solve ng practice problems kahit wala pa naman masyadong dini-discuss sa'min. Ako naman ay nakatunganga lang kaya siguro ako ang nilapitan niya.
I raised an eyebrow and smirked. "'Yong crush mo ba? Okay naman siya. Pinuntahan lang ang pinsan."
"Hindi naman siya ang tinatanong ko. Ikaw." He raised an eyebrow too. "First day na first day muntik ka pang ma-late."
Nagpangalumbaba ako. Ano bang ginawa ko kagabi? Wala naman. "Maaga akong natulog ha," sagot ko. "I just tend to sleep a lot. That's all."
He nodded. "Ah ok. Balita ko may bago tayong schoolmate galing US."
"I know." Hindi na ako nagulat. "Nakilala ko na." I already met Azi last summer sa bahay ng mga Monteverdi. Hindi ko napigilang mapangiti.
Halatang may crush kay Andria.
"Crush mo?" Agad nawala ang ngiti ko nang tanungin 'yon ni Diego, at nakangisi pa.
I hit his arm and he laughed. "Hindi ha!"
"Pero bakit pangiti-ngiti ka pa diyan?" pang-aasar pa niya.
"May naalala lang bigla."
"Balita ko may bago rin tayong schoolmate galing Spain."
Both of my eyebrows raised. I find it surprising. "Spain? Ang layo naman."
He chuckled. "Pareho namang malayo ang Spain at US, ah? They're from other continents."
"Hindi 'yon. I mean, parang ang hirap paniwalaan na may bago tayong schoolmate galing Spain."
But I also find it hard to judge. Ni hindi ko naman kilala kung sino 'yong bagong schoolmate namin na nanggaling pa sa Spain. I'm from the US and we only moved here in the Philippines because of business matters. Azi lived in the US with his relatives for years and now he's staying here for good because of his family.
And besides, no one needs my judgement and opinion anyway. Most of the times, I find it hard to stop myself but it's best if I just shut my mouth. Ugh. I should be really careful.
"Do you girls have umbrellas?" I asked Andria and Danna when classes ended because it suddenly rained heavily.
"I have mine. Ikaw, Andria?" si Danna.
Andria bit her lower lip. "I also forgot mine."
"I think my umbrella can only fit for two."
"Francine, sumukob ka na lang sa'kin." The three of us looked at Diego when he suddenly break in.
"Paano ang crush mo?" tanong ko bago tinignan si Erika na naglalagay pa lang ng mga gamit niya sa bag. "Baka wala rin siyang payong."
I think Erika heard me say that so she looked at me. "I have an umbrella with me, Francine." Then, she smiled.
"Tara na. Hatid kita hanggang sa gate," sabi pa ni Diego.
Wala na akong nagawa kundi sumama sa kanya. Bakit ba kasi bigla na lang umulan? The sky was clear and it was sunny earlier.
"Bakit ba parang hindi mo pinapansin si Erika? Crush mo 'yon, di'ba?" tanong ko kay Diego habang naglalakad na kami papunta sa gate.
"Nag-uusap naman kami kahit papaano."
"Tapos?"
"That's all for now. At least nakakausap ko."
Oo nga naman. It's better than having no conversation. Communication is key, they say.
"Kung sabagay tama——Oh my gosh!" I immediately stopped when I accidentally tripped into something that made me hold on to someone. "I'm sorry po!" I said before letting go.
Hindi ko na nagawang tingnan ang lalaking nahawakan ko dahil agad na akong inakbayan ni Diego.
"Magdahan-dahan ka kasi."
I immediately removed his arm on me. "Okay po."
Saktong nakalapit na sa'kin sina Andria at Danna nang umalis si Diego.
"Are you okay, beshy? Nasaktan ka ba?" si Andria.
"I'm fine."
"If I didn't know that Diego has a crush on Erika, siguro maiisip ko na lang na ikaw ang crush niya," si Danna.
Ako? Impossible.
"I won't be surprised if he would've, Francine. Maraming nagkakagusto sa'yo. It's reasonable because you're very pretty," pagsang-ayon rin ni Andria.
I've been receiving compliments ever since I moved here in the Philippines. They say I'm pretty. But I just find it hard to believe them. I'm not beautiful.
I'm ugly, okay?
And two more things. If I'm really pretty, bakit wala ako masyadong naging kaibigan sa US? At bakit sinasabihan ako ng pinsan ko na hindi ako maganda?
Hindi ko na lang sinagot ang mga sinabi nina Andria at Danna.
When we got to the mall I chose, we immediately went straight to my favorite luxury brand store.
Pagpasok pa lang namin ay agad na nila akong binati. "Good afternoon, Ms. Ortega!" I always go to this store so I'm already one of their regular customers.
I smiled at them. "Good afternoon." Then I looked at my friends. "Beshies, I want you to choose something that suits your taste. It's on me," bulong ko sa kanila.
Siguro ito na lang rin 'yong naisip kong way para mas maka-bonding pa sila. We contact each other most of the time during vacation but it's still different when they're really with me. I still missed them.
"Really?" si Danna.
"I'm serious, beshy. Just think of it as a gift."
"Oh, okay," Andria said. And Danna agreed too.
I was so happy when they got to finally choose what they want there and I found some new inspirations for my next designs. May binili rin ako na ia-add ko sa collection ko. Then after that, we went to my place.
"They look great!" Andria said when I finally showed them my latest pieces. We're in my hobby room and this room has everything I need for my passion —— fashion designing.
My cousin once said that I was never welcome to the fashion field because I'm not like them.
Well, I may not be welcome but I was born within the fashion world. That's the truth that she can do nothing about.
Because —— because! Duh. My parents may be in a different field but grandma and Auntie are fashion designers. And I was with them most of the time when I was still in the US.
The moment I opened my eyes, fashion was already in front of me. At hindi ko na nagawang lumingon sa ibang fields kasi iyon na ang niyakap ko. And besides, I think that's all I'm capable of.
Fashion designing. That's it and nothing more.
But sometimes, I'm still thinking about it though. Oo, nakakapag-design ako ng mga damit. Pero magaling ba ako? Am I acceptable? Am I good at it? Hindi ko rin maiwasang tanungin ang sarili ko kung nag-improve man lang ba ako kahit konti. Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang pagdudahan ang sarili ko.
Andria and Danna started analyzing my designs even more. I listened carefully as they give me their opinions and it really helped me a lot.
Sa tingin ko hindi magiging maayos ang pananatili ko sa Pilipinas kung wala sila. I just can't completely imagine myself living in a foreign land without them. Living in a tropical country makes me miss the snow but them being around makes me feel comfort.
We were watching a movie in my room when Kuya Adrian and Kuya Cedric came to pick up Andria and Danna.
"See you tomorrow!" sabi ko sa kanila bago sila umalis.
When they left, I went back to my room. I laid on my bed for a few minutes before going to my walk-in closet. I went to my jewellery collection and took one of the necklaces there.
I stared at the necklace I'm holding. It used to be so big to me when I was little but now, it looks small. Hindi ko na magawang suotin kasi ayokong masira at mawala. I can really be clumsy and sometimes forgetful pa man din. All I can do about it is to hide it in order to keep it safe.
It was the only gift from him that I can still remember and the last gift he gave me that I still have. I sighed heavily. Ni hindi man lang ako nagkaroon ng picture niya o picture namin na magkasama.
"It's been years. But I still miss you so much, Alex."
- Writer
