Flower In A Cactus

Episode 10

Nagdaan ang linggo ng ganoong kabilis. Lunes na ngayon at bukas na ang pinaka-hihintay ng lahat.

Lahat ay naging abala nitong nagdaang dalawang araw. Pinaghahandaang mabuti ang aktibidad para bukas.

Kami naman ng aking grupo ko ay chill na lang muna. Mamaya na siguro kaming break -time mag papractice. Kanina pa kami hindi nag papansinan ni yabang. Nahihiya pa rin kasi ako sa nangyari noong Sabado.

Ikaw kaya halikan sa public place. Nakakahiya ghorl. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako dahil nag-iisip na naman ako ng kung ano-ano.

Wala kaming teacher ngayon kaya naman maingay ang mga kaklase ko. Ako naman ay patuloy sa pagsusulat sa likod ng notebook ko. Wala akong magawa eh. Kaya yung notebook ko na lang ang pinagkaka-abalahan ko.

After a while I felt someone is kicking at the back of my chair, I looked back to Zelia, she's the one who's kicking my chair. She strewn a scrap of paper at my table. I open it to read what she's written, but the paper is blank.

"Niloloko mo ba ako babae?" Inis kong tanong sa kaniya. I looked at her badly. She just raise her two fingers forming a peace sign. Tss.

"Ley napapansin ko na kanina ka pa sinusulyapan ng katabi mo," she said while pointing her lips on Christian.

"Did you two fight? O ikaw ang nang-away kaya hindi kayo nagpapansinan?" She added while grinning at me.

"Can you please shut up your mouth!?" Inis kong sabi sa kanya.

"Ay wow. Taray mo ngayon ahh. Nagtatanong lang naman ako eh. Ang sungit mo naman," mababakas ang pagtatampo sa tono ng kaniyang pananalita.

Bumalik ako sa pagsusulat ko ng kung ano-ano. Muntik ko ng mapunit yung pahina ng papel dahil sa sobrang diin ko sa pagsusulat. Ewan ko ba kung bakit gigil na gigil ako ngayon.

"Pssst. Bakit mo naman minemurder iyang notebook mo? Kapag iyan gumalaw baka gumanti iyan sa iyo," sambit ni Christian. Nagpapapansin na naman po siya. Kanina lang eh hindi niya ako pinapansin tapos ngayon kinakausap niya ako.

"Eh ano naman kung mabuhay itong papel as if naman na magkakatotoo," mahina kong sabi.

"Pakilakasan naman ng boses mo hindi ko marinig sinasabi mo," utos niya sa akin.

"Tss," maikling tugon ko.

Mayamaya naman ay kinakalabit naman niya ako. Arrrrgghhh itong lalaking ito kailan ba niya ako titigilan sa pang-iinis niya? Kinuha na nga niya ang first kiss ko tapos mang iinis pa siya.

Kahit ngayong araw lang po na ito. Tumahimik sana ang buhay ko at walang manggulo.

Mabilis na natapos ang araw na ito. Wala naman masyadong klase kaya maaga ulit kaming pina uwi. Kinuha naming pagkakataon ito para makapag practice.

Napag-usapan namin na sa bahay ko na lang kami mag-ensayo dahil mas malapit ito sa school. Wala na akong nagawa at pumayag na ako.

Nagsabay-sabay na kaming lima para daw hindi na sila mahirapan. Tinawagan ko na lang si kuya David para magpasundo sa kaniya.

Ilang minuto lang ay dumating na siya dala ang family van namin. Iyon ang pinadala ko para komportable kami sa loob at hindi siksikan.

"Ma'am Jane na late ba ako?" Tanong ni kuya David.

"Sakto lang naman ang dating mo. Ano na let's go guys?" Tanong ko sa kanila.

"Arat na guys!" Nauna ng pumasok si Zelia sa loob na sinundan naman ni Nicole.

"Pasok ka na rin ma'am," anyaya sa akin ni kuya David. Inalalayan niya ako sa pagpasok.

Sa likuran ako pumuwesto dahil sinakop na nung dalawa yung upuan sa may harap. Sumunod na yung dalawang lalake at tumabi sa akin. Bale napapagitnaan na nila ako ngayon.

"Ehem," tikhim ko.

"Kuya David naroon ba si mom and dad?" Tanong ko.

"Wala po ma'am Jane. Bukas pa po ata ang uwi nila," sagot nito.

"Good to know."

Pagkatapos noon ay wala nang nagsalita pa sa amin. Buti na lamang ay mabilis lang ang biyahe at nakarating agad kami ng bahay.

Pababa na sana ako ng magsabay kami ni Adrian sa pagtayo kaya naman nagka-untugan kaming dalawa.

"Sorry. Nasaktan ka ba?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya sa akin.

"Hindi naman. Hehehe," sagot ko at nag-iwas ng aking tingin.

"Mauna na ako sa labas para maalalayan kita sa pagbaba," alok niyo at bumaba na siya. Sinundan ko siya at inalalayan na niya ako sa pagbaba.

Pagkalabas ko ay nakatingin sa amin ang tatlo pa naming kasama.

"What?" Tanong ko sa kanila habang nakataas ang isa kong kilay.

"Let's go inside?" Anyaya ni Adrian.

" Oh yeah! Tara na para makatapos na tayo," ani ni Zelia na para bang siya ang may ari ng bahay.

Pumasok na kami sa loob at dumiretso sa living room. Nagpahanda ako ng makakain namin kay nanay Emelita.

Umakyat muna ako sa aking kuwarto upang makapag palit ng aking damit. Nagsuot na lang ako ng oversized plain shirt at cargo pants.

Pagbaba ko ay naabutan ko sila na nanonood ng tv. Natawa na lamang ako sa kanila.

Dahil gusto ko rin ang palabas na pinapanood nila ay hinayaan ko na lamang sila. Makalipas ang ilang oras ay nagsimula na kami sa pag-eensayo.

"Liit, paabot nga nung sandwich sa tabi mo," utos sa akin ni yabang. Buong practice ata ay kumakain lang siya.

"Wala ka bang kabusugan? Kanina ka pa lumalamon d'yan," tanong ko at inabot ko na ang tinapay sa kaniya.

"Sarap eh, thanks!" Turan niya sabay kindat sa akin.

Inasikaso na namin lahat ng kakailanganin namin para bukas. Nakatapos kami ng maaga pero ayaw pa nilang umuwi dahil gusto daw muna nilang tumambay. Hinayaan ko na lamang sila tutal wala naman si dad.

Nang mainip na sila ay nagpaalam na silang umuwi na at baka gabihin pa sila. Okay na rin yun para makapagpahinga kami at makatulog ng maaga.

"Salamat Jane sa paunlak na dito mag practice, sa uulitin," pasasalamat sa akin ni Nicole.

"Okay lang yun. Welcome na welcome kayo dito any time," nakangiti kong wika.

"Mauna na ko sis ahh may pupuntahan pa kasi ako. Bye!" Ani ni Zelia at sumakay na sa kaniyang sundo.

"Mauna na rin ako Ley. Thank you," sambit ni Ian sabay beso sa akin bago tuluyang umalis.

Pakiramdam ko naman ay nag-init ang aking pisngi sa ginawa niya. May kung anong kilig na naman ang namayani sa akin.

"Ehem," tikhim ni Christian sa likuran ko.

"Ikaw hindi ka pa ba aalis?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Kiss ko muna? Charot lang. Hindi kasi ako nagsasabi ng good bye kaya see you tomorrow na lang liit. Thank you," paalam niya at nag flying kiss.

Natawa naman ako sa ginawa niya. Parang timang lang. Sinarado ko na ang pinto at umakyat sa aking kuwarto.

Isang araw na naman ang nagdaan at naging maganda ang takbo nito. Sana ganito na lamang palagi. Nakatulog na ako sa aking kama sa sobrang kapaguran.

Kinabukasan.

Time seemed to be moving very fast, and the more I tried to hang on to it, the less there was to hold on to.

Everyone seems ready for the task today. Their costumes and the props are so beautiful indeed. I'm sure that Mrs. Fuentabella will love this. She will be happy and satisfied. I hope so.

I'm standing in the far corner of the room. Sitting next to the windows, observing their every step from afar. I need to unwind before the upcoming performance. I'm so nervous right now.

After this, I'm sure my classmates would taunt me about Adrian. They were aware of the two of us. They have seen the beginning of our journey together. However, they are unaware of the reason for our breakup. So, like them, I am still unsure why, and I am trying to figure it out.

I know that Adrian has a reason why he did that. But there's nothing worse than being ignored, I feel unwanted and unneeded.

I stopped thinking for a moment 'coz I saw Christian walking towards me. What now? I said at the back of my mind. I still remember how he kissed me two days ago. I can hear my heart beating so hard.

"Liit. What are you doing here? The Others are looking for you. Come on, now. We'll meet with them. We will be having a meeting with them." He grabs my hand for the nth time and intertwined it. The familiar feeling is hitting me again. This can't be.

"Just stick to the plan. Ok? We can do this guys. May tiwala ako sa inyo." Nicole said as she walked back and forth. She looks so tense in the way she acted.

"Of course, we can do this. My best friend is a good actress. Remember the last time we performed a theatre play? She was the star of the stage. Like Oh my gosh! She was so awesome and amazing. So, believe me guys. This task is just a piece of cake. This will gonna be successful," Zelia said while wearing a wide smile on her face.

I just smile with her thoughts. Yes, I'm good in acting and that's one of my talents. So, it was easy for me to act like there's nothing happened. Like I have no problems. I can pretend that I'm fine all the time. I just need to wear my mask to hide the pain that's killing me slowly inside.

The room was filled with silence when Mrs. Fuentabella come in. We are very much excited today, but some of us are looking nervous. Our teacher started to call on the first group. While my group is waiting for our turn.

"Psst. Liit. Goodluck," he murmured.

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras. The other groups finished their task quickly. We're just waiting to be called by our teacher.

"And for the last group. You can proceed now."

Adrian, in the role of Orpheus, began to play his lyre so sweetly that he enchanted everything on the world. As if they were tame, wild beasts laid down and clustered around him.

When men and women clustered around him to listen, they neglected their worries. Even rocks and trees followed him, and to hear him play, the rivers changed their direction.

I just stared at him while playing. I can see from here the thickness of his eyebrows. How pointed his nose. The broad chest that I wanted to touch. I slapped myself to wake up, I'm drowning again with his charms.

Orpheus loved Eurydice, a young woman. It's me. I fell on a poisonous snake and died. I make an effort not to lose track of what I'm doing. I must concentrate. Just forget him for a moment.

Orpheus roamed the earth, singing sad melodies to try to overcome his grief.

But it was no use. He longed for me so deeply so he decided to follow me to the underworld.

"No mortal has ever been there before, but I must try to bring back my beloved Euridyce." I catch him steal a glance with me. "I will charm Persephone and Hades with my music and win Eurydice's release." Adrian said, like he was talking to himself.

He entered a cave and passed through a dimly lit passageway that led to the underworld. He plucked his lyre once more when he reached the Styx River. The Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guarded the gates, then appeared.

The Cerberus heard the sweet music and lay still to let him pass. As he made his way across the bleak underworld, he plucked another song and continued to tenderly play his lyre.

The ghosts cried when they heard his sad music. Sisyphus, who had been condemned to roll a rock uphill forever, stopped to listen.

Tantalus, who had been sentenced to stand in a pool of receding water, stopped trying to quench his thirst.

At last Adrian came to the palace of Christian and Zelia as Hades and Persephone, King and Queen of the underworld. Before they could talk, he began his gentle song, pleading for Eurydice.

I'm hiding at the back of the curtain. I can see his eyes forming a tears. Is this true? He's crying.

"Oh, Hades, my lovely husband, let Eurydice be reunited with Orpheus." Zelia said while hugging the arm of Christian. They look good together.

"I hate to say this but I, too, feel the sadness of him. I cannot refuse him." He looks gay because of his British accent.

They summoned me and we clasped each other and turned to leave. My heart is now pounding so hard that I can feel it. I looked at his hand as he intertwined it.

"Wait!" Christian shouted. "Eurydice is yours to take back to earth on one condition."

"What is that?" He asked.

"She must follow you, and you must not look back at her until you are on earth again."

"I understand." He look at me. "And I am forever grateful." I wish this is true.

We left the underworld and made our way through the dark passage that led to the upper world.

"I can see the daylight ahead," he said. "We are almost there." I remain silent like what Eurydice did.

Adrian looked back like what Orpheus did to make sure that I was still following him. He caught one last glimpse of my arms stretched out to him. Then someone pulled me, swallowed by darkness.

"Farewell." I said and I cried so hard. Why don't you trust me.

He tried to follow me, but this time the gods would not allow it. And so he wandered the earth alone. He longed for the time when he, too, would die and be reunited with his beloved Euridyce in the underworld.

If you were Orpheus, would you have looked back to see if Eurydice was following?

Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure

And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven

Be patient and keep one's faith.