Wind and Sail

Chapter 16

Dayn’s PoV

It is Thursday morning; I am feeling good today because we do not have classes tomorrow. Hopefully, this day would turn out great. I am moving my head to the beat of the song in my headphones. Naglalakad ako sa hallway papuntang library, natanaw ko si Clarene sa entrance at may pagtataka ito sa mukha.

I quickly turned my back and tried to walk away flawlessly, but it didn’t work though. Bago pa ako makalayo ay nasa tabi ko na agad siya. Inangkla niyo ang braso niya sa akin at nginitian lang ako. Hindi na siya nagsalita habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa library.

"What took you so long long long? Duh! Malapit na kayang mag-bell. Ano ba ‘yung kinain mo? Bato? Anong pinampaligo mo? Yelo? Nagsukat ka pa ba ng mga gowns at dresses mo? Nagmake-up ka pa ba at inabot ka ng-- " she started throwing questions the moment I removed my headphones.

Damn it. I put it back immediately to deviate myself from her non-stop questions. But she just kept talking and my ears are kinda picking them up though this headphone is noise-cancelling. Maybe her voice is just really loud like a f*****g megaphone connected to speakers that are usually used at clubs.

I stopped walking and took a deep breath, eyes closed before removing my headphone again and finally decided to face her. If I don’t, she won’t stop any time soon.

"None of the above!" Putol ko. "Masyado kang masatsat! Ang ingay-ingay mo baka nagb-bell na hindi ko pa naririnig kasi nasasapawan na ng voice mo,” I complained. I tried to not deliver it in an offending matter. I think I succeeded because she just squinted her eyes and rolled her eyes at me. “Tara na bago pa tayo maabutan ng bell at ayokong maging sardinas sa elevator o maging kangaroo sa hagdan!"

Hinila ko na siya at naglakad-takbo papasok ng elevator. Kung saan hanggang sa loob ay hindi pa rin siya tumitigil kadadaldal. Hindi ko na rin alam kung paano ba siya patitigilin kaya hinayaan ko nalang siya.

We parted ways and bid our goodbyes. She asked again if I have some honey to harvest at lunch, to which I said none. I thought she was going to ask if we can have lunch together, instead she told me that she can’t because she has some honey to harvest and she was sorry. I told her that it was fine, I can eat by myself just fine. She was pretty convinced and left.

I am picky with friends, I only have Luke back then so I protected him as much as I can without making him feel like I am controlling him, because I am not. He is just as precious as my family to me, we both have a lot in common. I’d like to think that he is my soulmate, but I just knew that he is not my Mr. Darcy, he is more of the younger Flynn. I forgot his name, but he is the best of friends in the whole wide world. I would cry on Luke’s wedding for sure, I just hope that the woman he’s going to marry is going to be one of my closest friends too.

Clarene, though doubts and trust issues are still there, I like her presence. Being around her gives me energy. I don’t like to think that I just like her maybe because I am missing Luke by my side. I like Clarene because she is Clarene. If she is being auctioned, I’d bid my whole treasure even if I already knew what it’s like to have her. I’m just going to take her with a grain of salt.

Everybody is seated, including Sxan seated at the back. I am in front, just organizing things before the professor came in wearing a pencil skirt, three-fourths blouse, and a low-heeled peep toe. She introduced herself as our NSTP professor.

"Good morning, Tourism-1B, I am Miss Jedah Victoria, you can call me Miss Daria. We’ll start by electing officers. Ako pa lang ba ang nagpapagawa nito?” she asked. The students answered “Yes.” in unison. “Since our subject is NSTP, in short for National Service Training Program, expect a lot of outdoors, community stuffs, and volunteering. Please, i-elect ninyo ang karapat-dapat at may kakayahang tumayo sa kanilang mga responsibilidad at higit sa lahat ay kaya kayong tulungan sa maliliit na problema kahit dito sa classroom. Good leadership will save everybody’s asses, only if you all are willing to listen. Okay, so let's start. We need President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Business Manager, Muse and Escort. The Muse and Escort should be also smart, responsible, talented, simple, and not too artistic. They are going to represent Tourism-1B. Understood?"

"Yes, Mam," sagot ng buong klase.

"So, Let's start. The nomination for President is now open. Any nomination?"

They started raising their hands and nominate names they barely know.

"I respectively close the nomination." I closed the f*****g election. Inip na inip na ako at halos pumikit na ang mga mata ko dahil sa antok. Medyo nagising lang ang diwa ko noong narinig ko ang pangalan ko na ini-nominate ng isa kong kaklase. Pati rin ang si Sxan ay na-elect.

President: Jona Mae Briginio

V. President: Alexandria Garnet

Secretary: Kisses Vargas

Treasurer: Dayn Celestine Marsilion

B.M: Sxan Atticusl del Montecillo

Muse: Grianne Dy Pascual

Escort: Grey Sin Hills

Tumigil si Mam sa pintuan, mukhang may nakalimutang banggitin."I forgot to say that the business manager and treasurer should be together when going out to buy some stuffs you need here in your classroom. Pati narin kapag may events. Take note that, any events and all events," mahabang sambit nito.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong napatingin kay Sxan, hindi parin makapaniwala na halos magsasanggang-dikit kami ng ugok na ito. "You two, Understand?"

Tumingin siya sa akin, natinag ako dahil doon at masungit siyang inirapan.

"Yes Mam."

"Opo."

Nagkatinginan ulit kami dahil sabay kaming nagsalita. What the f**k? Inirapan ko nalang ulit siya at inalis na ang magaganda kong paningin sa kaniya.

“Ok. Any questions regarding this one before matapos ang class na’tin?” she asked after almost an hour and half teaching.

“None.”

“That’s all for now, class dismissed.” Nagsilabasan sunod-sunod ang aking mga kaklase, noong medyo nakain na ng pintuan ang karamihan ay tumayo na rin ako pero hindi pa nga ako nakakahakbang palayo sa upuan ay may humila sa braso ko.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, akala niya sa akin hindi nagugutom? Noong humarap ako ay tinanggal na niya agad ang kamay niya na nakahawak sa akin.

“Samahan mo ako sa faculty, tatanungin na’tin si Miss Daria kung kailan ang mga nalalapit na activities dito sa school,” he casually said, as always. Ano? Samahan ko ‘ba siya?

“Bakit naman kita sasamahan? Kung kaya mo naman mag-isa, do it with by yourself. Just tell me na lang kung kailan,” I stated. Kakain pa ako huwag siyang ano! I have forthy-five minutes para kumain ng kung ano-ano tapos uubusin niya para roon at saka mayroon pa namng bukas. Hindi ba siya makapaghihintay? Alam ko namang kailangan na lagi kaming magkasama pero wala namang ganap ngayon, e.

“But we need to, Dayn,” sabi niya na para bang naririnig niya ang mga sinasabi ko sa isip ko. “Even you want it or not, I am sorry,” Matigas na sabi niya sa akin, hinawakan niy ang wrist ko at bigla na lang tumakbo.

I almost f*****g tripped. “What the f**k?! Stop running and let go of me!” I yelled while we were running. I was just so glad noong huminto na siya sa pagtakbo niya.

“I am sorry, okay, I shouldn’t have done that. Pero masyado ka kasing madaldal! Hinila na kita kasi nauubos yung oras!” paliwanag niya habang hawak-hawak ang kaniyang panga na sinapak ko noong nahabol ko na ang mga hininga ko.

“Kahit na! D-dapat…” napapamura na ako sa utak ko dahil speechless na ‘ko. May point naman kasi siya. “…sinabay mo ako nang maayos hindi yung nanghihila ka bigla tapos tatakbo nang mabilis. Mabuti na lang hindi ako nadapa.”

“I am sorry, okay fine. Just go with me, please,” he said. I just nodded as a yes, but my mind was blown away by a sudden rush of electric stuff when he held my hand again. Napasinghap ako roon at nararamdaman kong uminit yung pisngi ko.

This was very unexpected. The electric feeling lingered up in my spine ang just won’t leave my cheeks alone. First time na may lalaking humawak sa kamay ko, of course, except sa family ko at kay Luke. His hand are dominating mine, though bigger than mine, it sits perfectly on mine. Ugh! Why do I think like this?

“Uh-oh sorry,” he noticed that I am nervous here which then made me more nervous. He eventually let go of my hand.

Nakarating na kami sa faculty, kumatok muna siya bago kami pumasok. Nahagip agad ng mata ko si Miss Daria. “There she is,” I said with a seriuos tone. Keeping it all in.

Ako na ang unang nag-approach. “Miss, excuse us po, itatanong lang po sana namin kung anong date and theme ng unang program dito sa school para makabili na rin po kami ng mga gagamitin and makapag-prepare na rin po.”

She stopped what she was doing and answered, “Ang first program natin ay about environmental protection, project Clean & Green, next week na iyon, so I think kailangan niyo naring mamili as soon as possible. Kailangan na’tin ng walis tingting, tambo, dustpan, timba at kung ano ano pang kailangan. Bago kayo mamili iinform niyo ko para makapag-bigay din ako.”

Sinulat ko lahat ng mga sinabi niya at mga kailangan pati na rin kung kailan gaganapin. I glanced at my watch and f*****g hell, it’s already ten fifty-three! It’s our Readings in Philippine History subject. It is one of my favorites.

“Thank you, Ma’am.” Hinila ko na si Sxan palabas. “Nakakaloka ka. Ang sabi mo hindi aabot ng forty-five minutes, RPH na! Tara na, ‘diba magkaklase tayo roon?”

“Dammit, you didn’t tell me earlier na it’s past the given time na?” He also glanced at his watch and his eyes widened.

“Aba matindi ka naman pala! Ako pa sinisi mo samantalang ikaw itong ang nag-aya-aya sa akin. Bigla-bigla ka na lang sumusulpot, nanghahablot tapos hihilahin ako kung saan! What the hell---” He grabbed my hand again and we ran together. Maybe he likes to run because everytime I saw him, he is always running, and now he’s tagging me along.

While we were running, he glanced back at me and laughed. I thought about what other people might think since this is the hallway, there are eyes everywhere.

“Yah! Hindi ba sila ‘yung nagsapakan nung first day? Tapos ngayon! What a slut!” I heard someone said as we passed by them. Aba! Gago ‘to ah!

“Oh my gosh! Running everywhere.”

“Ano ba iyan, kanina ko pa sila nakikita tumatakbo.”

Natawa ako sa huli kong narinig. “Let’s… stop,” I spoke.

He looked at me and slowed down. We both stopped and breathe roughly. Malayo-layo rin ang itinakbo namin. I was caught off guard when Sxan stretched his hand with a handkerchief and started wiping my sweats casually. My eyes darted on him, but I looked away when his eyes met mine.

“You’re blushing, Dayn.” Napasinghap ako sa sinabi niya.

“Great Imaginations, you would make a great novel or a movie,” I said, trying to hide everything away. Why am I hiding? No, I am not hiding anything at all. Maybe it is just because we just ran and I am trying to catch my breath here.

He chuckled. “Anyway, one question, how did you know?”

“Know what?” Alam ko na agad ang ibig niyang sabihin, same old question.

“About that place,” he asked. What does he mean by that? Is it how I became one of the upper hands, or is it how did I find out about that place?

“Gosh! Hindi ka pa rin nakakamove-on? Stop questioning me about that!” I hissed but I delivered it with a chuckle.

“No. I won’t stop,” he said then went inside.