Single Lady Series

Chapter 23

Months after mangyari ang pagdurugo ni Lorry ay hindi na muli pa kami nagkatagpo. Hindi naman sa hindi nagkatagpo pero tuwing magkakasalubong kami ay umiiwas na kami sa isa’t isa.

Days from now will be our recognition. Next school year ay grade twelve na ako.

I’m with my friends right now and we’re here in front of the bulletin board. May nakapagsabi kasi na nakapost na ang pangalan ng makakatanggap ng awards para sa recognition.

Krisha congrats! You’re second on the list! Jess exclaimed

Tinignan ko ng maige ang listahan at nakita ko ang pangalan ko sa top 2. I can’t believe this. I didn’t assumed that I can excel this much. Ang iniisip ko, kung makasama man ako sa honor list ay nasa top five lang ako o mas mababa pa don. My parents will be very happy if they hear this news.

Antony is the first honor. Kahit na madalas siyang wala at lumiliban para kay Trixie ay hindi niya pa rin napapabayaan ang pag-aaral niya.

Congrats… nakangiting sabi ko sakanya

Antony glanced at me with a smirk. Congrats to you too. I never expect that you’ll be in the second because you still can’t move on to him.

I glared at Antony who’s still looking at me with a smirk plastered in his face. I make face to him and he just laugh.

Days after, it’s our recognition day. I’m with my family right now. Antony is with his mom. Nang malaman ng mama niya ang standing niya sa honor list ay nagmadali itong umuwi at ngayon ay kasama niya na ito.

Kamusta na mare! Ito na ba yung anak mong si Krisha? Ani ng mama ni Antony.

Oo Belinda. Matagal na rin mula nung huli mo siyang nakita. Nakangiting sabi ni mama.

Naglahad naman ako ng kamay sa mama ni Antony at nagpakilala. Hi po tita…congrats po. I smiled as I said that.

My mother and Antony’s mother is having a catch up. Matagal na rin pala kasing hindi nakauwi ang mama ni Antony.

My friends are here too. Jessa is our third honor and Pyok is the fifth one. Si Jai naman ay nasa tabi ng stage at nagsilbing photographer namin.

After the recognition, my mother invited my friends in our house. May maliit kasi na salo-salo na mangyayari sa bahay.

I felt so happy today that I didn’t even think about Lorry and Ivan. I think I’m okay now though I’m not completely moved on.

I can still feel pain whenever I think about what happened but there are times that I just divert my attention in some activities that helps me to relieve my stress.

Hindi naman siguro mawawala agad lahat ng kung anong mararamdaman ko kay Ivan.

A year passed and I’m now a graduating student. Isang taon na din akong walang balita kay Ivan at kay Lorry. Last time I’ve heard about them is they went abroad to support Lorry’s pregnancy and education.

The last issue about them isn’t now a big controversy in our school. Parang ang issue lang noon na sinabi ni Khris na nangyari sakanila ni Ivan, mabilis lang din nawala o naglaho.

Hindi ko rin alam kung sino ang nagpadala sa akin ng bouquet noong nag recognition kami. I asked some of my friends and even my closest tita and tito’s if they gave me those flowers. Surprisingly, no one of them gave me those flowers, kaya naman palaisipan sa akin kung sino yun.

The flower has a note and it says ‘congratulation’, but other than that, there’s no name on it.

The same year, Antony’s girlfriend, Trixie died. Antony was very depressed that time. He mourned for Trixie’s death for a couple of months before he realized that his girlfriend is already gone.

After he moved on, he court me. At first I didn’t allow him because I thought that its Trixie’s wish before she died but, he said to me that it’s not.

He told me that he learned to like me with the months we spent together, helping him to unwind and realize everything.

Alam din ng pamilya ko ang tungkol sa panliligaw niya at pinayagan naman nila ito.

Congratulation batch 2014-2015! Anunsyo ng MC bago magsigawan ang lahat.

Everyone was very happy. We’ve passed two years as a senior high school students and now, we are welcoming another year as a college freshmen.

My senior years in this school is a memory to keep. All the happiness and the most painful memory I’ve experienced is for keeps.

Hindi naman ako mahuhubog sa kung ano ako ngayon kung hindi ko naranasan ang lahat ng iyon.

And with the last year I spent in this school, I can say that I’ve moved on. It’s a big help that they are not here. Hindi ko na sila nakikita at nakakasama kaya naman mas napabilis ang lahat sa akin.

Saan niyo balak mag-aral guys? Khris asked us.

Krisha and I already applied for the entrance exam and scholarship program in Ateneo and La salle. Ani ni Antony.

He actually said his plans to me. And I already said to him na sasama ako sakanya kung saan siya mag-aaral.

With the length of time we spent together, I learned how to like Antony. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sakanya ito dahil hindi pa ako sigurado sa nararamdaman ko at ayokong umasa siya.

Ang duga niyo naman! Di kayo nagsasabi samin. Naiinis at nag tatampong sabi sa amin ni Jai.

We just laughed at Jai’s reaction. Sa isang taon namin bilang grade twelve ay wala akong naging balita sa engagement ni Jai at Jerome.

She doesn’t open up to us. Basta ang alam ko lang ay naiinis siya sa lalaki at ayaw niya dito. Pero hindi yun ang nakikita namin sakanya. Most of the time, Jai is mad whenever Jerome doesn’t reply with her messages to him.

Bakit, saan niyo ba balak na mag-aral ng college? I asked them.

We haven’t really decided about that but wherever you wanted to study sasama kami! Nakangiting saad naman ni Khris.

Like Jai, I didn’t know what happened between Khris and JD. They are always together and it seems like they’re getting to know more with each other.

Jess agreed with Khris. Gusto nila na kung saan kami mag-aaral ay sasama sila. Iba talaga ang mayaman, kung saan nila gustong mag-aaral ay hindi nila iintindihin ang pera na gagastusin.

Just like what we’ve planned, we entered the same school. Antony and I passes the exams in both schools but we chose La salle. That’s why dun na din napili ng tatlo na mag-aral kasama kami ni Antony.

Susunduin kita bukas para sabay na tayo pumasok. Antony said to me.

I nodded and smiled to him. Antony’s mother bought him a car as a gift on his graduation.

Antony kissed me on my cheek before he entered his car bago imaniobra papunta sa bahay nila.

Hinatid ka ni Antony? Bungad na tanong sa akin ni mama.

Opo ma… magsasabay din po kami bukas papasok ng school. Nakangiti kong saad sakanya.

Mukang masaya kang kasama siya anak.

Mama naman, kung anu-ano pong pumapasok sa isip niyo. I said to her with shyness. Hindi pa naman po kami.

Hindi pa kayo? Ano pala yung nakita ko kaninang paghalik niya sayo? Nanunudyong sabi niya sakin.

Ma! Ano ka ba…nakakahiya. Baka marinig ka ni papa! I exclaimed

Sus nahiya pa ang dalaga! Ani niya sabay kurot pa sa tagiliran ko. Gusto mo na rin siya no? tanong niya.

Hindi naman ako agad nakasagot kay mama. I never told anyone about my feelings about Antony. Hindi rin naman kasi sila nagtatanong sa akin kung ano na ba ang meron kami.

My father already talked Antony about his decision on courting me. My father told him that if he really loves me then he should wait for me. Antony agreed to that that’s why up until now hindi sila nagtatanong tungkol sa kung anong meron samin dahil alam nila na inaantay ako ni Antony.

Antony was very lucky that your father allowed him to court you anak. He knew Antony since he was a kid kaya naman panatag ang papa mo kung siya ang maging nobyo o asawa mo. Kung ibang lalaki siguro yon ay baka hindi niya payagan. Mahaba niyang sabi sakin.

Antony is a boyfriend material, he’s far from Ivan who’s always wanted to play on everything. He’s serious but Antony is more serious not just in everything he do but with his life also.

He always respect me and he’s always there for me. His mother actually likes me for him. Masayang masaya si tita whenever I visit their house.

Kung ako siguro papipiliin mas gusto ko na gustuhin pa si Antony. I like him already but I’m still not ready for relationship. Mahirap na at baka masaktan ko siya in the end.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong gumising at nag-ayos. When I entered our dining area, Antony was already their together with my family, eating breakfast.

Umupo ka na sa tabi ni Tonyo anak, sumabay ka na samin kumain. Anyaya ni papa sa akin.

Good morning…I said to him with a warm smile.

Good morning… nakangiti niya ring balik.

Nako anak, maaga pumunta yan dito si Antony para sunduin ka. Dito ko na nga pinag-umagahan dahil nakakahiyang pag-antayin siya. Sabi ni mama sa akin.

Kanina ka pa? baling na tanong ko sakanya. Ma dapat pinagising niyo ako ng mas maaga kay Ella!

Nako ate, gigising sana kita kaya lang nung nakita ni kuya Tonyo na nakanganga at mahimbing kang natutulog, sinabi niya na hayaan na ka na lang daw namin. Sunod-sunod na sabi ng kapatid ko habang ang tingin ay nasa pagkain.

Nahihiya naman akong tumingin kay Antony na ngayon ay natatawa. Hindi ko naman alam na maaga pala siya pupunta. Ang sabi niya lang susunduin niya ako.

Antony moved closer to me and whispered something. Don’t be shy Krisha. You looked cute when you’re sleeping. Aniya bago bumalik sa pagkain.

I felt me cheek heat up because of what he said. Talaga bang nakita niya akong matulog kanina? Di naman siguro ako ganoon kapanget kapag natutulog. Exagerated lang siguro ang kapatid ko.

After the breakfast, we bid goodbye to my parents.

Bye pa, ma! I said while waving my hands.

Ingat kayo Tonyo… ingatan mo ang anak ko. Ani papa kay Antony.

Huwag po kayong mag-alala tito, ako po ang bahala kay Krisha. He said

He went to the driver’s seat and start the engine. We once bid goodbyes to my parents before he step on the gas.

It’s our first day of school as a freshmen. Both I and Antony are taking the same course which is the BS Information technology.

Kaya naman parehas lang kami ng schedule sa mga subject.

When we entered the big school, I was in awe. The tall buildings and green fields is very entertaining to watch. It’s not my first time here because this is where I take my entrance exam but namamangha pa din ako sa nakikita ko.

Natigil lamang ang pagkamangha ko mg biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. It’s Khris who’s calling me right now.

Saan na kayo? Tanong niya. Nasa parking lot na kami. Papasok na kami mismo ng school.

Okay. Nasa loob na rin kami. Aantayin na lang namin kayo sa field. I said then hang up.

Sila Khris? Antony asked me.

oo. nasa parking lot na daw sila at papasok na.

He nodded and we wait for the three to come. Nang makita namin sila ay agad ko silang kinawayan.

Yieee first year college na tayo… mas maraming gwapo dito, mas marami akong mabibingwit. Kilig na sabi ni Jai.

Khris pinched Jai’s arm. Anong mabibingwit? Gusto mong isumbong kita kay Jerome ha? Nananakot na sabi ni Khris sakanya.

Tsk. Pyok, I’m just joking okay? Di naman mabiro. Ani Jai kay Pyok.

Natawa na lamang kami dahil sa inasta ni Jai. Kahit na sabihin niyang ayaw niya kay Jerome ay iba pa rin ang lumalabas sa kinikilos niya.

Before we entered our first class. We’ve decided to roam around the campus and familiarize its corner.

Malaki talaga ang school kaya naman malalayo din ang agwat ng bawat department. Buti na lamang at magkapareho kaming lahat ng kurso kaya hindi kami mahihirapan magkita.

We visited the canteen also. Malaki rin ito at maraming paninda. I bet na hindi naman madalas kumain ang mga tao dito sa canteen dahil may mga kalapit na establishment and restaurant ang school na pwedeng kainan ng mayayaman na estudyante.

After roaming, we entered our first class. Magkakasama kami pumasok at umupo sa magkakatabing bakanteng upuan.

Antony sat beside me and we waited for the professor to come. Our first class is Oral communication. Maaga-agang english!

When the professor entered the room she started the class. She told us that formality is important but time is more precious so it’s much more important.

She taught us the introduction of our subject and her rules in the class. Sa itsura pa lang ng una naming teacher ay masasabi ko na mahigpit at strikta ito.

Kung sa unang klase ay diretso na ang klase, sa mga sumunod naman na subject ay puro introduction ang ginawa namin. We even show our talents that’s why we shared laughter and amusement to our classmates.

After all the class ay umuwi na rin kami. Hinatid ako ni Antony sa bahay at nagpahinga na ako.

My first day as a college student is amazing. I hope that this happiness shall not end.

Isang linggo na ang nakalipas, all our classes are now regular. Kung sa unang linggo namin ay puro pakilala lamang at dicussion lang ng rules per subject, ngayon ay regular ng nagtuturo ang nga professor ng lessons about sa subject.

Kasama ko ngayon si Antony sa field. Dito kasi namin naisipan na tumambay muna habang wala pang klase. Jess, Pyok and her cousin is nowhere to be found. Ang sabi lang nila samin ay maglilibot lang daw sila ng saglit pero lumipas na ang kalahating oras ay wala pa din sila.

Krisha can we go to mall this Saturday? Antony asked me.

Its his first time asking me to go out ng kami lang. Medyo takot din kasi siya kay papa na magpaalam kaya ganon.

Wala ka bang gagawin ng ganong araw? Balik kong tanong sakanya.

He shook his head. Wala naman. Kaya kung pwede ka ng ganong araw, pwede bang lumabas tayo? Ng tayo lang? medyo nahihiya niyang tanong sakin.

I’ve never seen Antony this shy. I made a soft laugh as I see him having a hard time to ask me on a date.

As in tayo lang? wala yung mga kaibigan natin? I asked then he nodded. Then, is this a date? Sunod ko pang tanong sakanya.

Gulat naman siyang tumingin sa akin ng diretsahan kong sabihin ang salitang ‘date’

H-hindi naman sa d-date, ano lang… lalabas lang tayo tapos kakain… ganon.

Just like a date? Isama na kaya natin ang manood ng sine para whole package na? natatawa kong sabi sakanya.

Hindi naman siya nakapagsalita dahil pagtawa ko sakanya. He’s cute when he acts like this in front of me. Sa tagal ng napagsamahan namin ni Antony, I’ve seen a lot of expression in his face na akala ko hindi ko makikita sakanya.

The first time I met him. He has this expression that you can be thrilled or scared because of his serious face. When he eats, he’s serious. Reading books, talking with us, and even giving his fare in jeep, he’s always serious.

Now, I’m amaze how I see him get mad, sad, happy, sweet and shy. Trixie’s death has a big effect on Antony’s behavior.

I glance at him and smile. Payag ako pero…paalam mo muna ako kay papa.

He then smiled at me before he tried to reach my hand and kiss the back of my palm…