If Only It Wasn't Us | TagLish

Chapter 2 - Her Silence

Aviella's POV

"Ilang feet ba 'yan?" Rei asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"Ang lalim eh. Ano bang iniisip mo at kanina ka pa nakatulala diyan?"

"Kasi naman... iniisip ko kung ang Earth may crust bakit hindi niya ako crush?" Tarantado kong sagot sa kanya.

"Ayan kaya ka hindi sineseryoso eh, puro ka kagaguhan." Pambabara sa'kin ni Vine.

I'm currently here sa studio with the gang. Ok, let me introduce them to y'all.

Our band MESSY—there's Ade as the lead guitarist, Dione as the drummer, Rei as the bassist, Trivine as the pianist, and me as lyricist and vocalist.

Well, wala naman kami ibang pinupuntahan kapag vacant kundi ang studio. Naging bonding na rin talaga namin siya kaya kahit walang event sa school, nag p-practice or jamming kami.

Hindi nag tagal, nakaramdam ako ng batok sa likod. Parang gago talaga, mga panira ng moments eh.

"Tulala ka na naman tanga. Konti nalang talaga matatakot na kami sa'yo niyan." Sabi ni Dio sa'kin.

"You okay, bud?" Vine asked.

"Yea, just thinking about something."

"Something or someone? It's not the same." Ade coldly said.

"Both." I said confidently.

"Sige, tangahan mo pa. Kung ako sa'yo kakain nalang ako ng bato kesa umasa." Sabi naman ni Rei.

"Ah talaga? Tangina mo." I fired back, showing my middle finger.

"Tama na kayo diyan dahil parehas naman kayo tanga." Dio intervened.

"Right." Ade added.

Okay, tapos na. Kapag si Ade talaga ang iimik, mananahimik ka nalang. She's too straightforward to the point na mapapatahimik ka nalang kapag nag salita na siya.

She was the youngest sa'min that's why we're treating her as our baby. Kahit pa ka-uri niya 'yung crush ko na akala mo nakatira sa Antarctica sa lamig.

Speaking, miss ko na baby ko. Nasaan kaya siya? Sana miss niya rin ako no. Crush ko pa rin 'yon kahit ang gaspang ng ugali.

"Tara lunch, my treat!" I uttered out of nowhere. Kailangan ko na gumalaw-galaw dahil nilalamon na naman ako ng mga unsaid feelings ko.

"Why? Na-crushback ka na ba?" Dionne teasingly said. Kupal talaga 'to kahit siya naman ang unang di makakatanggi sa libreng pagkain.

"Soonest." Mahangin ko naman sagot sa kanya. Hanggang pangarap ko nalang talaga 'yan dahil unang-una sa lahat out of my league ko ang masungit na Prof.

I'm still a college student while siya... well, marami na siyang achievements sa buhay.

Kaya ko nga ata siya naging crush dahil alam kong di naman siya mapapasa'kin. Inspiration lang talaga hanap ko ngayong college life dahil marami pa rin akong pangarap sa buhay. Kaya masasabi ko naman na hindi ko gaano priority ngayon ang love.

"Delulu na naman siya." Rei said while poking my cheeks.

I just laughed as they contradicted me. Ganiyan naman sila palagi, akala mo ikakamatay kapag nag agree sa kadeluluhan ko.

Natawa nalang ako sa mga palatak nila sa'kin.

Hindi ko tuloy ang buhay ko kung wala sila. Kahit na mga mukhang takas sa preso at ugaling kalye 'yan.

"Pst, crush mo." Bulong sa'kin ni Dio habang nag aayos ako ng mga gamit.

Napatingin naman agad ako sa harap ng pinto.

Then, I saw her... I saw Prof Vega once again today.

She changed her fit. Kanina lang ah naka slacks siya pero ngayon ay naka fitted skirts na siya paired with black blouse.

Well, the studio's front door... is facing her own office.

Ewan ko ba kung bakit sa daming pinto at pwesto sa tapat namin ay sa kanya pa ang nakatapat. Basically, lahat ng Prof ay may kanya-kanyang sariling office pa rin kahit na may faculty.

"Good afternoon po, Prof." Sabi ng magagalang kong kupal na kaibigan. Tunog hindi makabasag pinggan. Alam ko naman na totoong takot sila kay Prof dahil sa titig nito.

"Good afternoon." Was all she said while looking at me?

Or maybe not... ayoko naman mag assume baka nagkataon lang.

Nang paalis na siya ay dali-dali akong tumakbo sa front door.

"W-wait, Prof. I forgot to tell you something." I said to her, almost hesitant dahil nandito nga pala ang mga kaibigan ko at tiyak uulanin na naman ako ng mga panunukso pagkatapos.

"What is it this time again, Ms. Madrigal?" She dangerously said.

"Y-you are just wearing your simple outfit and yet, you never failed to wear your gorgeous face po." I honestly said, almost whispering.

Nagdadasal na talaga ako kay Lord at sa lahat ng santo dahil baka mamaya ibagsak niya na talaga ako. She could do that kahit ngayon lang ulit siya nagturo sa'min.

"Thank you." Then, she stormed out.

What just happened, she just thanked me?!!

"What an effin progress..." I heard Dio. Probably, they are also shocked 'cause it's the first time.

First time of Prof Vega acknowledging my random compliments towards her.

Well, I just smiled at her back.

That's so cute of her. Partly, I wonder na she won't turn it down this time since may mga kasama kami. Although I didn't mean to do it naman dahil lang hindi niya ako matu-turn down, but it's the urge to keep on reminding her that... she's so elegant, so beautiful kahit na wala siyang gawin.

"Woa, what was that?" It's Rei. Ngayon lang ata nag sink in sa kanya ang mga nanyari.

"Really? Not in front of my turon." Pahabol pa ni Dio habang nilalantakan ang turon.

"Oh, baka mapunit ang labi mo sa kakangiti." It's Vine this time. Mga kontrabida talaga ng buhay ko eh.

Can't deny she's way more attractive when she's letting herself to truly express what she wanna say or feel...

Suddenly, I wonder who taught her to bury everything she feels?

Kasi hindi man halata, but I could see it.

I could see pain tucked in the way she avoided lingering eye contact.

The way her voice was always even, never cracking nor unsure.

That kind of silence? Trust me when I tell you that... It screams.

It screams like she said nothing, but I heard everything...

I heard it, that's why I wanna unravel every part of her being.

And I know, I'm in deep sht right now. Na kahit anong sabi ko na hindi ko priority ang love sa ngayon ay wala naman itong magagawa kapag puso na ang naghatol.

The truth is, I know in myself that... this wasn't just about attraction anymore.

It was something else, something heavier.

And when you're Aviella Eliz—the girl who writes lyrics from scars and sing her heart out just to prove herself... you know what that something means.