Dreams and Wonders

Chapter 26

[Sydney Paralejo's POV]

I kept staring down at my armrest for what seemed like forever. I can't process what's happening to me right now. This only means that my dream last night became true. But how, though? Hindi ko na alam ang aking gagawin dahil pati ang aking mga balahibo sa likod ng aking leeg ay tumatayo. May kapangyarihan ba ako? Is this real? Or am I still dreaming?

Lahat ng tumatakbo sa isipan ko ay biglang naglaho nang makaramdam ako na may umusog na upuan sa tabi ko. I know it's him. It's definitely him.

Hindi pa rin ako lumilingon sa kanya at nagkunwaring may sinusulat sa aking notebook habang nakikinig sa sinasabi ng aming guro. This is becoming really uncomfortable and I hate it. Rinig ko ang pag-upo niya at pagbukas ng zipper ng kanyang bag. Probably to get his book or something.

"Since you already have your own partners, I will give you the instructions for this activity," sabi naman ng aming guro na ikinabaling ko sa kanya.

"Turn your book to page 56. Nakalagay diyan ang Activity 3: Know me. In this activity, you will prepare a sheet of paper at ilalagay niyo diyan ang mga unique characteristics or traits niyo as an individual. May it be funny or ano ba, pwede niyo ilagay," sabi niya habang binabasa ang instructions sa textbook niya.

Matamlay akong nakatingin rin sa aking textbook nang nagpatuloy magbigay ang aming guro ng instructions.

"After doing so, both of you and your partners will exchange your papers para malaman niyo ang isa't isa. In that way, you will be able to be familiar with your classmates," he said as he smiled at us.

Pagkasabi niya noon ay parang nanghina ako. Sana si Sophia na lamang ang naging partner ko because I somehow know her already at hindi na ako mahihirapan na makipagkilala sa ibang tao pa.

"I will give you the rest of the time to make your activity. You may start now and I will be back later," sabi niya habang lumabas muna ng classroom.

The moment he stepped outside of the room, nag-ingay ang buong klase. They all looked so serious habang nagsusulat sa kanilang mga papel. Ang iba naman ay tumatawa kasi baka nakakatawa rin ang inilagay nila.

What's weird is I could see a group of girls looking intently at me while whispering to each other's ears and rolling their eyes. I really don't get it. Why do they hate me like I'm some sort of monster when in fact wala naman akong ginawa sa kanila? I could hear murmurs also just right behind me as if they were cursing me or something. Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin. I need to focus more on this activity than to focus on them.

I stared at my blank paper for quite a long time dahil walang pumapasok sa isipan ko. I don't have any unique characteristics. I'm just a plain person. Nothing more, nothing less. And I'm sure my partner already knows my whole life. Sino ba naman hindi makakaalam kung ang buong klase ay pinag-uusaoan ka na para bang ikaw ay isang kriminal. I'm not interested in learning his unique characteristics anyway. I just want to finish this activity so that I could be free from this setup. I can't stand the awkwardness between us two.

Habang ako ay nag-iisip pa lamang ng isusulat ay naririnig ko ang tunog ng kanyang ballpen habang sumusulat. Tinignan ko rin ang mga tao sa paligid namin at ang iba ay may seryoso, at ang iba nama'y nakangiti habang nagsusulat.

I almost jumped in surprise nang bigla siyang tumikhim. Hindi pa rin ako tumingin sa kanya dahil baka inubo lang siya.

"Hi," he said.

I swear I could hear him saying it. Am I hearing things? No. He definitely said it. Lilingon ba ako? Hindi. Baka iba ang sinabihan niya no'n. I don't want to talk to him either.

Nagkunwari akong nagsaulat nang biglang nilakasan niya ang kanyang boses.

"Hi. We're partners right?" sabi niya naman sa akin. Bumaling ako sa kanya at napagtantuhan na ako nga ang sinabihan niya kanina.

I want to say 'no' so that I could finish this activity alone but then our teacher won't allow me to do so and this guy will be miserable for not having a partner for the activity. Napabuntong-hininga lamang ako at bumaling sa kanya.

"Oo," I said as I looked straight into his eyes.

Those eyes. They changed. Kung kanina ay parang nagulat siya nang makita ako ay ngayon parang kalmado na ito. Although, I am sure that my eyes are trying to avert his gaze since I'm really nervous with what's happening to me.

"Okay. Akala ko hindi kasi hindi ka sumagot kanina noong tinawag kita," sabi niya habang yumuko at binuklat ang kanyang libro.

"Sorry. May sinusulat kasi ako," sabi ko naman habang kunwaring nagsusulat.

Hindi ko napansin na sa tangkad niya ay nakikita niya pala ang papel ko kapag lilingunin niya ito.

"But, there's nothing written on your paper..." he said as he prolonged the last word.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko saka ako tumingin sa kanya. He was definitely trying to keep a straight face and not laugh at me after being caught. I can see the ends of his lips twitching, wanting to burst out into laughter.

"Iniisip ko pa lang. Isusulat ko rin pagkatapos," palusot ko naman sa kanya.

"Okay. We'll exchange papers later then," sabi niya habang nakangising nagsusulat sa kanyang sariling papel.

Minutes passed and I still couldn't think of anything to write on the paper. Alam kong Personal Development ito na subject so I should've seen this coming since this subject tackles exploring one's identity as a person. Instead, nilagay ko na lamang na 'I have no unique characteristics' dahil wala na akong maisip at malapit na ang time. I have no choice but to write it down and wait patiently for the guy next to me to finish his activity as well.

Ilang minuto pa ay nagsalita na siya. "Tapos ka na?"

"Oo," sabi ko naman pabalik sa kanya.

We exchanged papers as per instruction and the look on his face was undeniable. Tinignan niya ako na para bang hinuhusgahan niya ang buong pagkatao ko simula pagkabata. I couldn't care less. I am just telling the truth.

"You... have no unique characteristics?" tanong niyang bigla sa akin.

"Yup. And yours written here are so many," sabi ko naman pabalik habang nakatingin sa kanyang papel.

If I think about it, do I have any characteristics that I consider unique? Probably none. I'm still in the process of knowing myself and for now, everything I do and know can be seen in other people as well. So I really can't say that I have any unique characteristics.

Nagulat ako sa papel niya nang makita ko ito. He had so many unique characteristics na kanyang sinulat sa papel. Nakasulat dito na kaya niyang hindi matulog for two days straight habang naglalaro ng videogames, which I think would be impossible to do.

Binabasa ko ang kanyang sinulat nang nagsalita na naman siya, "Baka hindi mo lang napapansin kung anong unique sa 'yo," sabi niya.

Napadikit naman ang mga kilay ko, "What do you mean?" I asked him.

"There are things that people know about you that you don't. You should try to ask them what it is," he said as he looked back down at my paper.

Pinroseso ko sa aking utak ang mga sinabi niya. I am sure there are things that people know about me that I don't. Lalo na kapag mga chismis ito. Other people will say it's true. After all, I don't even try to defend myself from their words anymore because I know it's futile. And if I do even try to ask other people what they think about me, I know most of them will spout nasty words. The only person I trust is my Mom and I can ask her what she thinks about me.

"Wala akong oras para diyan. Pabayaan ko na lang sila kung anong tingin nila sa akin. I wasn't born to please other people anyway," sabi ko sa kanya habang binabalik ang aking mga tingin sa hawak kong papel.

"Good point," tugon niya pabalik.

We both sat in silence habang ako ay patuloy na binabasa ang kanyang papel. Siya naman binabasa ang mga nakasulat sa libro para linagin ang sarili dahil wala naman siyang mababasa sa papel ko.

"You... can move your ears without touching them?" I asked him.

He chuckled, "Yeah. Not really that unique but most people can't do it. Wanna see me try it?" tanong niya sa akin.

Dahil hindi pa ako nakakakita ng tao na kayang pagalawin ang kanilang tenga na hindi ginagalaw gamit ang kamay, tumango ako sa sinabi niya.

He faced himself in front of me habang ako naman ay nakatingin lamang sa kanyang tenga. He started moving his ears at nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko. Palipat-lipat aking mga mata sa kanan at kaliwa para tignan kung magkabasay nga bang gumagalaw.

"Gumalaw nga talaga. I don't know how you do that but that's impressive," sabi ko habang manghang-mangha sa kanya.

"Thank you," he said as he touched his ears.

Another moment of silence dahil binabasa ko pa rin ang kanyang papel nang nagsalita siya bigla.

"I know this is kind of out of the blue but do you know me by name?" he asked while still looking down at his book.

"No. Sorry," sabi ko naman pabalik.

I didn't mean to sound rude but that's what it is. Hindi ko alam ang mga kaklase ko lalo na ang mga mukha nila.

Tumango na lamang siya. "It's okay. My name's Cairo and you can call me Cai for short," he said as he introduced himself.

Bumaling naman ako sa kanya. "Nice meeting you, Cai. My name's Syd-"

"Sydney. Sydney Paralajo. It's nice to meet you too," he cut me off. Napasimangot naman ako agad nang malaman na alam niya ang pangalan ko.

"Wait. Paano mo nalaman ang pangalan ko?" I asked him in confusion. I don't remember telling anyone about my name other than Sophia in this room.

"Naalala ko lang noong nagpakilala ko sa first day of class," pagpapaliwanag niya.

"Oh, okay," sabi ko naman. Oo nga naman. Nagpakilala ng kami sa first day of class. I often thought no one would remember my name because no one really cares and that's fine since I don't know any of them as well.

Nang natapos akong basahin ang kanyang papel ay tumingin siya sa akin na para bang naghihintay siya na may sasabihin ako.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim saka nagsalita.

"You have so many unique characteristics and that only proves that you know yourself deeply. Thank you for sharing these with me, although, I know I haven't shared any of mine with you," I said to him because I feel like he was waiting for what I can say about what he wrote on his paper.

"Totally understandable. You just have to try and know yourself more," sabi naman niya sa akin.

Tumango lamang ako at biglang pumasok na ulit ang aming guro. He stood in front of his desk saka nagsalita.

"Good morning ulit, class. Did you finish your activity? And did you get to know your partners well?" tanong niya sa aming lahat.

"Opo," sagot ng buong klase.

"Really? Okay, then let's hear it from Mr. Gascon. How did you find the activity, Mr. Gascon?" tanong niyang bigla.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagguhit ng kung ano-ano sa aking notebook dahil hindi ko naman kilala kung sino ang tinawag niya. Malapit na rin matapos ang klase kaya tiniis kong makinig na lamang sa aming guro.

Napatigil ako sa pagsusulat nang lumakas ang pagbubulungan ng aming mga kaklase at pagtaas ko sa aking ulo ay halos nakatingin sila lahat sa akin.

Teka, sa akin nga ba? Biglang tumayo si Cairo sa tabi ko at biglang nagsalita.

"The activity was interesting, sir. Sydney and I got to know each other's unique characteristics and I also learned something out of it too," sabi naman siya habang nakaharap sa aming guro.

I sat there, looking up at him, dumbfounded. Siya ba ang tinutukoy ni sir na si Mr. Gascon?

Nagsalita naman pabalik ang aming guro, "Thank you, Mr. Gascon."

Umupo na si Cai at nakatingin naman ako sa kanya. Ngumiti lamang siya at humarap na ulit sa aming guro.

Para akong nahiya dahil sinabi niya na nalaman namin ang unique characteristics sa isa't isa na wala naman akong nilagay doon at hindi niya sinabi iyon sa aming guro.

Instead, I called his attention and thanked him for covering up for me. Humarap ako ulit sa harapan at kitang-kita ko ang mga mata ng mga babae sa klase sa amin na nanlilisik habang nakatingin sa akin. What's up with them and their eyes? Am I a criminal or something? Hindi ko na lang sila tinignan pa at nakinig na lamang sa sinasabi ng aming guro.

"Keep your papers with you at kapag may madiskubre naman kayong panibagong mga unique characteristics niyo ay ilagay niyo diyan. Also, your partners right now will be your permanent partners for the whole semester para sa future activities natin," sabi niya sa aming lahat.

Naestatwa naman ako sa kinauupuan ko. What did he say? For the whole semester? So I still have to be partners with Cai for the whole semester? Paulit-ulit kong tanong sa aking utak. I really thought him and I will only be partners for this activity ngunit hindi pala. I prefer doing the activities alone but I think there's nothing that I can do. Sana nga talaga si Sophia na lang ang naging partener ko para hindi ganito ka awkward sa paggawa ng activities.

"Am I understood, class?" tanong niya sa amin.

"Opo sir," matamlay kong sagot pero hindi ko ito pinahalata para hindi makita ni Cai ang reaksyon ko.

It's not that I don't want him to be my partner but it's because the atmosphere between us is so awkward and I have no choice but to endure this for the whole semester. Probably, three to four months.

"Okay, that'll be the end for our class today. Goodbye, class," pamamaalam niya sa amin.

"Goodbye, sir," sabi naman namin lahat habang nagsibalikan kami sa aming mga upuan.

Nang makabalik ako sa upuan ay nakita ko na nandoon na si Sophia sa kanyang upuan at nakatingin sa akin habang patungo pa lang ako. I feel like she wants to tell me something.

Pagkaupo ko ay bumaling siya agad sa akin at nagsalita.

"Sydney, sana ikaw na lang naging partner ko kanina kung alam lang natin na hanggang whole semester pala 'to," mahina niyang sambit. I couldn't agree more.

"Sana nga, Soph. Bakit? May nangyari sa 'yo ng partner mo?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Huminto muna siya saka nagsalita, "Kasi kanina, when we exchanged papers, no'ng binasa niya na ang akin ay para siyang mamatay sa kakatawa," sabi niya sa akin. Hinitay ko na magpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita.

"Then hindi naman nakakatawa 'yung mga nilagay ko. At some point, I was offended because I don't know whether he laughed because he thinks it was funny, or because he thinks it was weird," dagdag niya.

I looked at her sad face. I realized that Sophia is really soft. We are not alike because this kind of matter doesn't affect me at all. But then again, she is not me and I am not her so it'll be insensitive if I say right now that she should just let it slide. It'll only lead her to think about it more.

Instead, kinausap ko siya, "Soph, you won't know the truth unless you ask him directly. And if he says that he thinks all that you wrote down on the paper was weird, tagawin mo ako and I will confront him immediately," sabi ko naman sa kanya.

Nang sinabi ko iyon ay nakita ko naman na kumalma ang mukha ni Sophia. Maybe she overthinks a lot since I am the only person she comfortably talks to in this class and meeting a new person kind of freaked her out.

"Okay, I'll ask him about that tomorrow," sabi naman niya at ngumiti siya.

Tumango na lamang ako at ngumiti na rin.