Puhon, Tayo

NOON: Chapter 5

When you have something that you really like may it be a thing or a person, you become possessive of it. You treat it like some fragile glass that you are afraid that by sharing it means exposing your favorite thing or person to someone who might break it, worst, take it away from you. When Kara finds out that I have known Tanner without telling her about it, she keeps on bugging me to share every details of my meeting with him but I can’t will myself to share everything with her. Am I becoming obsessive? Of Tanner? Isn’t it unhealthy?

“Why did you not tell me that you know him? Are we keeping secrets now, Kora?”

I sigh while turning off my laptop. Gusto kong magpaliwanag kay Kara at gusto ko ring ibagahi sa kanya ang unang magkikita namin ni Tanner pero may bahagi sa puso ko na gustong itago lamang iyon sa pagitan naming dalawa ni Tanner. It’s like a bond only meant to be shared by the two of us. Pero nakukulitan na ako kay Kara dahil sa mga panunumbat niyang wala namang saysay. She’s being possessive of me again and it irritates me bit by bit. Oh well, who am I to complain about her being possessive when in fact I am possessive, myself too.

“It’s not what you think, Kara. We met last time at Bacolod. When I was browsing for my vinyl record, he happened to found it first. It’s just that we shared the same interest and we instantly click.” Totoo naman na nagkita kami sa Holes on Track pero hanggang doon na lang ang kaya kong ibigay na detalye. The thing we shared at the fountain is private.

“What? Like you’re best of friends now?” Tumaas ang boses ni Kara at pinaharap ako sa kanya. Her face demands answers and she’s eager to get it from me tonight.

“Maybe more than that?” Huli na para bawiin ang sinabi ko. Alam kong hindi ko na dapat pa sinabi iyon. I feel like I have added fuel to the fire. Pero hindi ko naman pwedeng itago ang pagtingin ko kay Tanner lalo na’t inaamin ko sa sarili ko na gusto ko siya. Besides, Anton has a point. Kailangan ko ngang bakuran si Tanner. Marami na ang nagkaka-interest sa kanya sa school dahil bagong mukha nga naman siya.

“So, you like him? Eww, Kor! That’s so cheap, ha! Kakikilala mo pa lang, nagkagusto ka na agad sa kanya?” Kara reaches for my hairbrush and starts to comb my medium length hair. Hinayaan ko lamang soya sa kanyang ginagawa. Ito palagi ang past time namin after ng school works at bago matulog.

“What are you trying to point out?” Kunot-noong tanong ko. I look up at her but she steadies my head.

“Can’t you get to know him first? Look for red flags? Helllo, the guy grew up in the States. Alam mo naman kung gaano ka liberated ang mga teenagers doon ‘di ba?”

“Well, can’t I get to know him and like him at the same time? Besides, all of us has red flags, Karol. Baka nakakalimutan mo, red is accompanied by yellow and green. Face the red flag, deal with it and eventually the green one will prevail.” I reasoned out, trying to make her understand.

“Bahala ka, basta ayoko sa kanya. I have a feeling about him, Kara. Be careful with him.”

“Don’t worry about me, kambal. In our life, we are meant to love, get our hearts broken and learn how to fix it. It’s all part of growing up. What’s matter most is our bravery to face those things.”

Kara sighs and abandons me with my hairbrush lying on my table. My sight follows her as she climbs into her bed. I smile at her when she faces me.

“Thank you for looking after me, kambal. But trust me when I say that Tanner is a good person. I can feel it.” I wink at her and also climbs to my bed.

Tanner gives me another reason to get excited for school. Noon, gusto ko lang pumunta sa school para mag-aral at para makapag practice ng taekwondo lesson ko pagdating ng hapon. Pero ngayon may isa pang rason, ang makita si Tanner. I always look forward to each day seeing him.

A smile escapes my lips when my sight lands on his perfect figure, his back resting on the hood of their car. Yep, he has a car and a driver. Rich kid nga naman.

Habang busy siya sa pag kutingting ng kung ano sa kanyang cellphone, pinagmasdan ko siya nang maigi at gusto kong mapailing dahil sa taglay niyang kaguwapuhan. Lalo na’t mas lumalabas ang American features niya. Hindi rin mawala sa paningin ko ang panaka-nakang pagsulyap at pagpapapansin ng mga babaeng dumadaan sa harapan niya pero ni isa roon ay wala siyang pinansin. Mukha pa nga siyang suplado dahil palaging kumukunot ang kanyang noo sa tuwing maghahagikhikan ang mga babae sa harap niya.

“Lapitan mo na ang lover boy mo, Korabels. Baka masungkit pa ’yan ng iba o kaya matunay dahil diyan sa titig mo.”

Agad ko namang siniko si Anton dahil sa pang-iinis nito. Binalingan ko siya at inambahan ng suntok pero dahil magaling din siya sa taekwondo agad siyang umaskyon na parang sasanggain ang suntok ko.

“Umagang-umaga, Anton, ha!” Narinig kong saway ni Kara na nasa likuran ko at inaayos ang kanyang bag.

“Grabe! Wala pa nga akong ginagawa. Kambal nga kayo.” Napakamot ng ulo si Anton at nauna na sa aming maglakad papasok ng gate. Anton is afraid of Kara. Well, most students are. She’s respected though kaya nga siya ang pinili ng lahat na maging SG president, eh.

“Ikaw naman, kambal. Pwede ba, konting limitasyon naman. Obvious na obvious ka, eh!” saway nito at pinaikot ang mga mata. Ngumisi lamang ako at magsasalita pa sana pero biglang lumapit si Tanner sa amin.

“Good morning!” Masigla ang boses niya at nakahahawa ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi kaya napangiti rin ako nang tumingin sa kanya.

“Good morning.”

“Argh!” Kara moves past us shaking her head sideways. Ang suplada talaga ng kambal ko.

“Pasensya ka na sa kambal ko, Tanner. Walking PMS lang talaga iyon.”

“I don’t mind. As long as you’re not one.” Tanner grinned and I laughed.

“Can I carry your bag for you?”

“Huh? Bakit? I mean… hindi naman siya mabigat.” Umiling ako at pinakita pa na kaya ko naman ang bag ko.

“Oh! Okay. I’m just… you know… I’m trying to---”

“Hit on me?” I boldly offered. He looks down and meets my eyes. A grin escapes his lips then he slowly nods his head.

“Siraulo!” natatawang sambit ko at mabilis na naglakad. Natatakot ako na baka marinig niya ang pintig ng puso kong aabot pa yata sa kabilang barangay.

“Why am I siraulo again?” Habol niya at sinabayan na naman ako sa paglalakad. Napangiwi ako dahil sa pagko-conyo niya. Siguro kung babae ang nagsasalita, napagsabihan ko na ng maarte. Pero dahil si Tanner itong kasama ko, mas naku-cutan pa akong marinig iyon.

“Wala! Gusto ko lang tawagin kang siraulo.”

“Then, call me siraulo whenever you like. As long as I am your only siraulo, Kora.”

I stop and laugh hard. He stops and looks down at me amused. His eyes exude so much emotions again but fascination is the most evident.

“Stop it, Tanner. Stop being cute. I might like you even more.”

Huli na nang ma-realize ko ang mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ko. Napasinghap ako at napatakip sa aking bibig nang ma-realize ang bigat sa bawat salitang binigkas ko. Loka-loka!

“I don’t mind. I am actually falling faster than you are,” mayamaya ay pag-amin niya na ikinagulantang ko. I am not expecting that we can casually talk about our feelings like this.

 “T-Tanner…”

“It’s fine right? It’s okay with you, right? I mean, walang magagalit ‘di ba? If I’m going to like you?”

Unable to speak, I shake my head repeatedly, still hypnotized by his gaze. I can almost feel my heart inside my throat.

“Wala naman.” With the remaining courage inside me, I manage to admit the truth. Slowly, his lips curve into a satisfied smile.

“Good. Good!” He reaches for my hand and leads me to our classroom. Nagulat pa ako sa gestures niya pero nagpatianod na lang ako sa lakas ng alon na dala ni Tanner. After all, the waves may be big but it’s comfortingly safe.

Ngayong nag-aminan na kami na gusto naming ang isa’t-isa, what’s next for the both of us? Are we, girlfriend-boyfriend now? 

Ang bilis naman yata at masyado naman akong assuming.

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“Mr. Gaston, even though you entered school late, I still require you to pass an output for English Lit. You need to read one classic story and one classic poem and give your opinion about it. You may ask for an assistance from your classmates since they’re already done with it.”

Napalingon ako sa upuan ni Tanner pagkatapos magsalita ng aming Englsih teacher. Tama nga naman si Ma’am. We’re halfway through this school year. Ilang months na lang magtatapos na kami sa high school at isa sa mga requirements sa subject na ito ay ang Literary Criticism.

“Yes, Ma’am. But can I personally ask for a classmate’s assistance?” Tumaas agad ag isang kilay ko dahil sa request ni Tanner.

“Sure, Mr. Gaston. You can choose anyone from your classmates.”

“I’m choosing Kora po,” straightforward na sambit niya na siya namang nagpalaki ng mga mata ko. Nagbawi ako ng tingin at binigay ang buong atensyon sa aming guro habang unti-unting napupuno ng panunukso ang paligid namin. Pilit kong nilalabanan ang init na unti-unting gumagapang pataas sa pisngi ko pero alam kong huli na para itago ang pamumula ng mga ito.

“Uy, si Korabels, nagba-blush!” tukso ni Anton na nasa tabi ko. I glare at him and strike him with my elbow. I hear him grunts but he never stops teasing me.

“May I know why you particularly choose Kora, Mr. Gaston?” pakikisakay ni Ma’am Palma sa mga kaklase ko. Pagkatapos niyang itanong iyon, napuno na naman ng hiyawan ang classroom.

“Because I’m courting her, Ma’am.”

Nanlaki ang mga matang napatingin ako kay Tanner pero isang kindat mula sa kanya ang natanggap ko. Ang kaninag hiyaan ay domoble pa dahil sa nasaksikan at narinig.

Gusto ko na lamang magpalamon sa lupa pero inaamin ko ring kinikilig ako at satisfied sa sinabi niya. At least, he makes it clear that he’s not available anymore. Girls around us will stop working on getting his attention.

“And you Agree, Ms. Zamora?”

I bite the insides of my cheek after hearing our teacher’s question. I search for Kara’s eyes and when she meets my gaze, she only raises her eyebrows.

“I rather not answer.” Kanya-kanya na naman sa pagbigay ng reaksyon ang mga kaklase ko.

“Pakipot pa si Korabels. Hindi bagay sa ‘yo! Pero bagay kayo ni Tanner. I approve!” Tumayo si Anton at pumalakpak pa. Binigyan pa si Tanner ng ‘thumbs up’ sign. Yawa!

‘Lupa, lamunin mo na lang ako!’

“Oh, by the way. There will be a PTA Meeting next week. Agenda is your prom. Tell your parents in advance so they can prepare ahead of time.”

Isa na namang hiyawan ang lumukob sa buong classroom dahil sa narinig na agenda. Lahat excited sa paparating na prom.

“Mukhang maghahanap na ako ng bagong partner, ah. Taken na itong bff ko, eh.” Bumaling ako kay Anton dahil sa mga sinabi niya. I smile guiltily but I also raise my brows at him.

“Hindi mo sure. Baka ma-jinx pa.” Siniko ko siya at nginisihan.

“I’ll ask Kara, instead. Ako lang naman ang lalaking makalusot diyan.” I laugh in agreement. Totoo naman. Kahit takot siya kay Kara, siya lang naman ang tanging lalaking binibigyan ni Kara ng atensyon.

Lumingon ulit ako sa upuan ni Tanner dahil tila nanunuot sa kalamnan ko ang mga titig niya. True to my words, he is intently looking at me but when our eyes meet, his scowl grows deeper.

What’s wrong?