Simon

Chapter One: Episode 12

Simon

Nagpunta ako sa second floor dahil itong mga kaibigan ni Gwen ay sinabing meron daw siyang importanteng sasabihin sakin.

Sa totoo lang ilang araw ko na rin iniiwasan na magkatagpo kami ni Gwen, pero wala akong magawa kasi nanonood pa rin siya ng practice namin.

"Okay lang ba tayo?" nahihiyang tanong niya sa’kin. Matagal bago ko na proseso sa utak ko ang sinabi niya.

“Ano’ng ibig mo’ng sabihin?” tanong ko pabalik sa kanya,

“Simon, you know what I mean.” ngumiti siya na parang naiinis pero hindi.

Hindi ako sumagot, dahil ayoko namang ma-misinterpret niya ulit ang sasabihin ko gaya nung sa araw ng contest.

Napabuntong hininga siya at biglang bahagyang nairita. “Fine! Ba’t bigla ka na lang umalis do’n sa party?” Alam mo bang hinanap kita? Ta’s hindi ka pa nag-rereply kapag tini-text..” reklamo niya.

Hindi pa din ako nakasagot dahil hindi ko naman alam ang sasabihin ko,

“Iniiwasan mo ba ako?” tanong niya pa.

"Gwen.." napabuntong hininga na lang ako.

"What?”

“Wala..” umiling ako dahil hindi ko pa alam kung pa’no ko sisimulan ang sasabihin ko sa kanya. Gusto ko nang matapos ‘to. Pero ayokong makasakit pa ulit. Gaya no’ng ginawa ko sa party. Ayokong may masaktan na naman sa bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

“Simon, you know I like you.. Right?” biglang sinabi sakin ni Gwen. “I’ll be honest.”

“I regret na hindi kita sinagot no’ng nanligaw ka sakin dati, but here I am now. So, how about we start dating?”

Hindi ko alam kung trip niya lang yon o hindi pero, ngayong sinasabi niya sa'kin na may gusto siya sakin, at habang tinitignan ko siya, naging mas maliwanag na sakin na wala na akong pagtingin o kahit ano para sa kanya. Kung noon pa ito nangyari, baka nga ay natuwa ako ng husto, pero ngayon, Oo, may pakialam pa rin naman ako sa kanya, kaya lang, hindi na sa paraan na gusto niyang mangyari.

“Simon, say something..” kinuha niya yung kamay ko, pero kaagad ko namang binawi.

“I’m sorry. Mag-uusap tayo tungkol sa lahat, pero, pwede bang h’wag muna ngayon? Please?”

Tiningnan niya ako na parang nasaktan siya ng konti, pero, kaagad din naman siyang ngumiti.

“Fine. Let’s go out on a date next time and tell me everything? Okay?”

Umiling dapat ako, pero agad niya naman akong pinagtabuyan. “I get that you’re busy, sige na bumalik ka na sa practice. I’ll see you later!”

Kliara

We’re currently at the homeroom of the Senior Students since this is where we conduct our classes for Technology and Livelihood class for girls. The boys are in the classroom next to ours. We’re just doing some activities today since our teacher was busy with the upcoming District Superintendent’s school visit.

While I was getting busy together with my friends, the other girls from the second section were also having their own group discussion which I overheard.

“So, what now, kayo na talaga ni Simon?” Julien, one of Gwen’s friends asked. Gwen who was with them hushed her as Julien said the word Simon. Then she answered “Kalma, okay? He just said he’s gonna take me out on a date soon.” she even muffled a giggled after saying those phrases. They continued talking bubbling all together like Gwen and Simon were some sort of celebrities who came out on public.

“So, sila na nga..” Lauren, who overheard their conversation too, whispered to me. Daphne also agreed to her. I just shrugged. If that’s the case then good for them.

“Kliara, someone’s here for you.” I heard from my classmates from the first row. I stood up to see who it was and I saw Vaughn.

“Yes?” I asked Vaughn as I met him by the front door. Up till now, some still thinks that Vaughn and I are dating, and I am really worried because Axl might feel about it, because she’s the real one who had a real relationship with Vaughn, and I’m her best friend. She’s even teasing me about it now, even though I keep telling her we’re not.

Vaughn didn’t take so much time naman, he just asked for a spare pencil or a sharpener. But when I went back inside, the girls from the second section kept giving me a teasing look na naman. I’m really tired of going over and over that Vaughn and I aren’t a thing, so instead of being defensive about it all, I looked at them instead and smiled. If anyone of them are just jealous because I have such a friendship with a male, then I’d watch them die in jealousy.

Days later,

There’s a mass being held at school today because it’s the day of the Superintendent’s visit and at the same time, one of the new school building is getting blessed today. I was running from the gate to the chapel because isa ako sa offertory official but I’m late kasi nasiraan ako ng scooter while on my way to school.

Sa sobrang pagmamadali ko, I suddenly bumped into Gwen, OF ALL PEOPLE, which caused the both of us to fall on the ground. By the way, we’re in the hallway papuntang chapel. Habang nagtatakbo kasi ako ay tumingin ako sa relo ko and I didn’t realize her coming out of the room.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, oh my gosh, are you okay?” I said as I checked on her. Tumayo ako and I was about to help her but then I saw someone else was coming to help her.

“Anong nangyari sa inyo?” Simon who apparently came over with Daniel asked.

“I’m sorry, nabundol ko kasi siya while I was running, hindi ko sya nakitang lumabas sa classroom.” I explained.

“Okay ka lang?” I asked Gwen as soon as Simon assisted her to get up.

“Okay lang ako.”

“Sure ka? We can go to the clinic to check.” I asked her.

“Ako na lang sasama sa kanya,” Simon said habang akay-akay pa niya si Gwen.

Hindi ko alam, but I suddenly felt a pinch of pain in my heart as he said that. But I decided to leave them be.

“Kliara oh, nahulog mo.” inabot sakin ni Daniel yung fruit basket na dala dala ko kanina.

“Thank you.” I mouthed.

“Okay na Bee, magpapasama nalang ako kay Simon sa clinic.” Gwen said and she smiled at me. Nagpaaalam nalang ako sa kanila at nag sorry ulit, then I went on to the chapel.

While walking, I composed myself at inayos ang uniform ko. I don’t know why I got sad and hurt, hindi naman ako masyadong nasaktan with the impact. Maybe or I don’t know, I guess it just made me sad na wala man lang ni isa sa kanila ang nagtanong kung okay ako. Or even just one person. I mean, Yeah… It’s my fault for being careless, but I fell on the ground too. Yeah, maybe that’s why..

But who am I to ever think Simon would also care for me like he cares for Gwen? We were just friends for a short while.. While Gwen, well, they’re dating.

Seriously, why am I feeling this way?

A day after, Simon and Gwen just got more popular after that incident, I don’t know how, but marami agad naka alam after that happened, although kami-kami lang naman nung time na yon. But I just shrugged it off since hindi naman yung issue na nabangga ko siya yung focus nila sa chismis, kundi yung pag dala ni Simon sa kanya sa clinic and silang dalawa lang doon kasi nga, lahat nasa chapel.

“What’s with the long face?” CJ asked me nung papauwi na kami. Maglalakad lang ako ngayon pauwi kasama siya at sina Axl and Therese.

“Nothing, I’m just tired.” I answered.

“So, all that Simon and Gwen thing was the one you kept secret from me right?” he asked. I smiled in a defeated way as I remembered na CJ knew all about those transformation efforts I did with Simon para mapansin siya ulit ni Gwen.

“Was it worth it then?” He asked. I don’t know but I suddenly felt sadness in his voice. I don't know, perhaps I’m just imagining it or hoping he feels the same way that I do. I still don’t get what I’ve been feeling lately. Bakit ba sobrang affected ako na hindi na kami friends ng Beast na yon?

Napabuntong hininga ako.

“Actually to be honest, hindi naman ako yung dahilan. Simon and I stopped communicating, I mean, I stopped helping him long ago. Way before he even won that District Meet. “ I explained to CJ.

“Why?” he asked.

“Not important. Pero basta, I am not in any way involved with them anymore, except na nabundol ko si Gwen yesterday, and they ended up in the clinic together.” I said. CJ laughed at what I said dahil kanina ay nakita nila sa cctv yung nangyari and I looked hilarious there. Natawa na lang din ako.

What an incident indeed.