1 [Part 2] | Always Been Like That
1516 Words
Noah stood up and faced his classmates with a boring look. "I'm Noah."
"Is that it?" his professor asked. The crowd laughed at his introduction. "Can't we even know about what's with you? Why did you transfer? From what school did you transfer? Can you?"
Noah rolled his eyes and heaved a deep sigh. "There's nothing more that is interesting in me. I transferred because of some reason I prefer to keep as a secret. I transferred from Japan, in which I finished my senior high and my first year of college."
There was a sound his classmates produced, a sound of amazement to be exact. "So, you're from Japan?"
"Kasasabi ko lang po."
"Okay," the professor said and never responded to Noah's cold answer. She looked at everybody and told them one thing. "This boy here is your new schoolmate. Better treat him well or... you'll see our director agad. Gusto niyo ba 'yon?" The professor opened his laptop and projector. "Let's already start the discussion."
The first subject, who was three hours long, already has finished. Sa ngayon, nasa cafeteria si Noah, mag-isang kumakain ng snacks. Chase and Isla then came in the place, holding their trays of snacks.
Isla nudged Chase on his side. "Isn't that Noah? 'Yung bago nating kaklase?"
Chase looked at somewhere Isla is pointing. "Yeah," he replied. "Let's share table with him, shall we?"
"Tara," Isla said and they started walking towards Noah.
Noah raised his gaze when someone slammed their tray in front of his. "Can we sit here?" Noah just looked at him. "Okay, we'll be sitting here."
"Hi, Noah," a girl beside Chase said and offered his hand. "I'm Isla."
"Noah," matipid na sagot nito. Chase just looked at Isla and was intently saying Isla to stop offering his hand but the latter just don't give up.
Suddenly, Noah grabbed Isla's hand and started shaking it. "I'm Noah," he said, direclty looking at Isla. "Are you happy now?"
"Yes, thank you," Isla said before looking at Chase. "Mabait naman pala si Noah, Chase. Why did you tell me he's rude?"
Chase's eyes widened. "Kailan ko naman sinabi 'yan?" litong tanong nito. "I was just telling you that he did not accept my hand and he might not be interested, but I didn't say he's rude." He looked at Noah. "I really did not say that. Don't trust too much here kay Isla."
"Do..." Noah hesitated. "Do I look like I'm rude?"
Isla nodded while Chase shook his head. "Then, it was Isla who's thinking you're rude and not me," Chase said. "Siya 'yung nag-nod e."
"Kasi naman hindi ka ngumingiti," Isla answered. "Try to exercise your muscles by smiling. Haven't you ever tried smiling once in your life? Baka naman matuluyan nang masanay ang facial muscles mo at hindi na nga gumalaw."
"I'll accept that as a suggestion," Noah said and smiled. "Thanks for that, Isla."
"That's it, you smiled," Isla said before looking at Chase. "Why do you look like you're annoyed?"
"E pa'no ba naman, when he talks to you, he seems to be fine but kanina lang he never smiled at me, nor did he talk that much," Chase said and pouted. "Sa babae lang ata 'to ngumingiti si Noah e."
"I'm sorry if nagmukha akong rude kanina," Noah said. "I was just worried..."
"About what?"
"About coming to school," Noah answered. "I don't want to share anything more."
Chase's eyebrows furrowed. "I bet that's about why did you transfer here from Japan," he said and looked at Noah who seems to be agreeing. "Don't worry, I will not ask further. Not until..."
"What's that secret?" Isla asked making Chase facepalm.
"Sasabihin ko pa lang sana na malamang itatanong mo 'yon kasi dakilang tsismosa ka tapos naunahan mo pa ako," Chase said and sighed. "Can you at least respect his privacy?"
"Oo na nga," ani Isla at kumain na lamang. "Nagtatanong lang e."
"Okay lang naman," Noah said and shook his hands. "Hindi ninyo naman kailangan magtalo pa para lang do'n."
"Don't worry, ganito lang talaga si Isla," Chase explained. "Kaya siya tinatawag na 'Isla Tsismosa' kasi halos lahat ng ganap sa school alam niya. Walang nakakaiwas sa radar niyan. Mas malakas pa ata signal ng radar ng pakikinig nito kaysa sa average speed ng internet ng pinas. Just don't let her know your secret, siguradong kakalat 'yan."
"Ayan na naman ang declamation piece mo, Chase," panunukso ni Isla. "I was just joking though. At saka may exception naman. I remain someone's secret if that someone is close to me. Gaya nalang ng tulad kay Chase."
"What about him?" interesadong tanong ni Noah.
"That secret will not ring your bell, though," Chase defended. "Don't tell him, Isla."
Isla turned his gaze to Noah and smiled. "He likes boys," Isla said at nawala naman ang ngiti ni Chase. "Sinabi ko 'yun para hindi ka mailang. Hindi ka naman daw niya type."
Noah looked at Chase from top to bottom. He was just a fine man for me. "You like boys?"
"Yeah," ani Chase at napahalukipkip. "I realized I don't like girls when I am a kid. Kaunti lang din ang nakakaalam kasi hindi ako lantad. Gaya ng sabi ni Isla, you're not my type though so please don't avoid me."
If only you knew I went crazy with a man back then as well. Noah shook his head. "It's okay," he said and smiled. "I knew many people who's like that as well."
"Buti naman," Chase said and sighed. "Halos lahat kasi ng nakakaalam ay umiiwas agad sa 'kin. Like the hell, hindi ko naman sila type. But as you can see, lalaki ako magsalita at magbihis kaya hindi nila napapansin."
"I also... thought you're a boy kahit no'ng una tayong magkita," Noah said. "But it's okay for me. And yeah, sorry pala if hindi kita napansin kanina. I want to thank you for helping me kanina."
Chase smiled. "It's okay." Chase opened his mouth as if he realized something. "Also, dahil transferee ka dito, hindi ka pa familiar sa mga lugar dito. Let us, ni Isla, come with you para hindi ka mawala."
"Yeah," Isla said before scooping a food. "Malaki ang college so may possibility na mawala ka. Samahan ka nalang namin."
"I'm really okay..."
"We insist," Isla said. "Ano ba ang next subject mo? We'll come with you there."
Noah grabbed his phone and opened his gallery. He pressed the most recent picture on the camera roll and gave the phone to Isla. "Oh," she said. "I know this," aniya bago ipinakita kay Chase.
"Yeah, we know that," Chase said and sipped the drink in front of him. "Eat already, Noah. Mauubusan na tayo ng oras. Your second subject must start in no time."
---
"CLASS DISMISSED," Noah's professor for the last subject of the day stated. It was already 5:30 PM and he was getting ready for leaving the school.
All throughout the day, Isla and Chase helped him identify which room is for a subject. He smiled as he remembers the thought of Isla and Chase helping him. They were both kind.
He looked at his wristwatch and looked for the time. Noah was standing at a roofed gazebo while tapping his shoes. "Where are they already? Mag-aala-sais na."
Both Isla and Chase promised to him that they are gonna come with Noah after he finished his business.
Few more minutes but still, no Isla and Chase is coming after him. He then started moving his feet after few minutes of patiently waiting. Did they just forget me here?
Hands on his two pockets, he was thinking as he was walking towards the main gate. "Nakalimutan ata nila na naghihintay ako do'n," he said. "I should have not trusted them that much."
Noah kicked a small piece of rock in front of him as he passed by it. He immediately stopped as he heard someone shouting for help. "Why are you doing this ba?" a girl scowled. Isn't that Isla's voice? "Why do you keep on hitting Chase?"
Hitting Chase? He hid behind the bush of flowers and looked at the hidden place. It was behind the building beside the main gate. "Why are those men holding Isla in her hands and..." he stopped. "Why are they cornering Chase?"
"Bitawan ninyo nga ako," Chase scowled before he received a punch by an obviously bigger man than him. He coughed. "What the hell do you want?"
Before the man could say anything, another man slammed a piece of wood in the former man's nape. The former man sat on his knees in so much pain and eventually has lost his consciousness.
Chase looked at the man who slammed a wood onto the man who was holding him. "Noah," he said, with mouth gaped open. "How did you know we're here?"
"I heard a woman wailing and as I saw whoever wailed, it was actually Isla," Noah said and looked at them. "What happened?"
"Noah, before we tell you eveything, can I tell you something first?" Isla scowled. "Sa likod mo!"
- Writer
