Somewhere Between Friends

8th Stop

"Nasaan na ba si Mason?"  tanong ni Anton sa akin. "Ang tagal naman!"

"Naliligo pa daw.  Kakatapos lang ng practice nila di ba?"  sagot naman ni Messie.

Napatingin ako sa kung sino mang umupo sa tabi ko dahil ibinagsak ang gamit sa bleacher.  It's Pinky na masama ang tingin sa akin.

"What are you doing here, Cameron?  Di ba, busy ka?"  I heard somebody repeated what she said.  "Besides, you are too smart to be here!"

"So?  Do I need to ask for your permission to be here?  As per Alex, everybody is welcome,"  I smirked at her. 

"Oo nga.  Sabi naman ni Mason, pwede lahat.  Besides, Cameron can give some inputs in the lesson as well.  At least, dalawa sila, di ba?"  sabay lingon ni Messie kay Anton na tumango naman.  "Be thankful that she spared us some of her precious time as well."

"For all I know, eepal lang naman talaga iyang si Cameron kaya nandito iyan,"  sabi pa ni Cynthia, bestie ni Pinky.  

"Eh ikaw din, epal ka,"  natawa ako kay Anton when she stuck out her tongue to annoy the other group.  "If you don't want her presence then get lost!"

"Stop it ladies," natatawang saway ko sa kanila.  "That's rude,"  sabay kindat ko sa kanila na ikinatawa nila.  "Nasaan si Louise?" tanong ko sa kanila.  I saved a seat for her.  

"She went somewhere.  May kakausapin lang daw na teacher,"  bago naupo si Messie sa tabi ko ay dinampot ang gamit ni Pinky at inilipat sa itaas na bleacher.  Nanlaki naman bigla ang mga mata nito sa ginawa ng kaibigan ko.

"What do you think you are doing Melissa?!  Bakit mo inilipat ang mga gamit ko?!"  she said loudly.

"Di ba, ayaw mong makatabi si Cameron?  So inilipat ko para hindi ka mainis.  Baka naman kasi masayang ang ituturo ni Mason sa atin for today dahil hindi ka makapag-concentrate eh,"  sabay irap at upo sa tabi ko.  

"Ikaw talaga,"  lumingon siya sa akin na nakataas pa din ang kilay.  "Thank you,"  I smiled.  Bigla siyang napangiti.

"Wala iyon.  Tama na yung laging ikaw ang b***h sa paningin nila,"  that really touched my heart.  Mababait ang mga ito.  Nahawa lang yata ng kamalditahan sa akin.

"Hi,"  bati sa amin ni Louise.  "Naligaw ako," sabay tawa.

"Where have you been?"  tinapik ko ang bakanteng pwesto sa tabi ko.  

"I talked to the other teachers.  I asked about the lessons which I missed.  Masyadong marami na akong babasahin,"  she twisted her hair and clipped it up. "Ang init sa labas,"  she fanned herself using her two hands.  She took her bag and searched something in there.  She's using an LV bag.

"Good afternoon guys!"  napalingon ako bigla nang marinig ko ang boses ni Alex.  Basa pa ang buhok niya.  "Hi Cam,"  ngumiti siya sa akin.  I smiled back and nod.  Napatingin siya kay Louise na abala pa din sa paghahanap ng kung ano sa bag niya.   "New classmate?" he smiled, one brow up.  

"Louise,"  tumingin siya sa akin.  Inginuso ko si Mason.

"YOU!"

"YOU!"

And they both laughed.  Napakunot ako ng noo.  'They knew each other? When and how?'

Tumayo si Louise at humarap kay Mason.  "So ikaw pala ang sikat na Mason sa classroom, ha?"  

"I know that I am Mason pero hindi sikat,"  he put his hands on his waist.  "You just started today, I presumed?"  she nods.  "Sayang.  I was not there to welcome you."

"Oo nga eh.  Busy ka daw for your game this coming Wednesday?"  he nods.  

Kinuha ko ang notes sa hawak kong bag but my ears are still listening in their conversation.  

"Mason, let's start.  Gutom na kami,"  sabi naman ni Anton.  Napatingin ako sa kanya.  She winks at me.  Napailing na lang ako.

"I ordered some sandwiches from the canteen para hindi tayo mag-review in empty stomach,"  tinapik niya sa braso si Louise at itinuro ang upuan nito sa tabi ko..  "We will talk later,"  tumango si Louise at naupo sa tabi ko.  "Wait, I need one guy to help me push the whiteboard."

Hindi lang isa ang tumayo para itulak ang white board.   Nakita ko ang pagdating ni Prox na basa din ang buhok.  Naupo siya sa tabi ni Messie.  

"Bango natin, ha!" biro ni Messie sa kanya pero hindi ito sumagot.  Ewan ko kung paano naging kaibigan ni Alex ito at nakasama pa sa varsity eh sobrang weird na tao nito.

"Who has the book please?  May I borrow?"  tanong ni Mason sa amin.  Iniabot ni Pinky iyon sa kanya habang nakangiti.  Tinignan niya ito sandali at pinaglipat lipat ang pages.   "Thanks Pink,"  nakangiting ibinalik nya ang libro.  "Okay guys.  Since we have a new classmate......Louise,"  tumingin siya sa gawi namin.  "I guess, you know Calculus, right?" 

She smiled and nod.  "Good,"  he clapped his hands and rubbed against each other.  "First, take out your mobile phone,"  nagtatakang kinuha namin ang mga cellphones namin sa bag.  "Then on silent mode, please and then keep it again,"  we all followed him.  "Now, books on Lesson 1."

I looked at my classmates while Alex is talking.  Everybody is listening intently.  Pati si Louise, she's really listening to him but when I looked at her notes, she's not writing anything, just scribbling.

I shrugged my shoulders and returned my attention to Alex.  Seems like he is enjoying what he is doing.  Iyon yata ang hindi ko magagawa.  I can present any report, no problem about that but to teach each and everyone, that I cannot do.  

Napakunot noo ako sa isang isinulat niya sa board.  He is giving a different formula gaya ng ginawa niya noong first day of class.  Ibang iba iyon sa formula na itinuturo ng mga teachers namin.

I raised my hand.  Napatingin siya sa akin.  "Yes, Cam?"

"Hindi kaya mas malito sila if you are going to teach them your own formula?"  tanong ko sa kanya.

"That's not his own formula,"  napatingin ako kay Louise.  "I am using the same,"  she smiles at me.

"Wow!  And I was thinking that I am the only one who is using this,"  natatawang sabi ni Mason.  "Thanks for that, Cam, but this is the easy one, believe me."

Kinuha ko ang libro ko at tinignan ko kung ano ang naroron.  Even the one which is in the book is easy.

"Mason, I think, Cameron is right,"  napatingin ako kay Archie.  "We prefer the formula that we know.  Baka kasi......"

Napatingin kami lahat ng magtaas ng kamay si Louise.  "Mason, you can show us both formulas.   Though what we are using is easier, let them decide about that later."

He nods at her and smiled.  "Thank you, Louise,"  he looked at me and then at Archie.  "I will show you both then I will give you some problems where you need to use this formula."

Our food arrived as he continues to discuss the topic.  May stood up and distributes the sandwiches as well as the juices.  We all ate as he talks in front.   

Hindi ko alam kung saan nakuha ni Mason ang tiyaga sa pagtuturo ng paulit ulit dahil kung ako iyon, lalayasan ko na lang sila.

"He's a good teacher,"  bulong sa akin ni Louise.  "Para syang teacher ko sa Italy,"  napatingin ako sa kanya.  "Mas lively pa nga siyang mag-turo kaysa dun sa dati kong teacher.  Napaka-boring," and she giggled.  "He's cute as well but that is an understatement."

"If you will say that he is handsome, that is an overstatement,"  I told her and I took a bite on the sandwich.

"I have something to tell to my twin brother,"  kunot noong napatingin ako sa kanya pero hindi naman siya nakatingin sa akin.  "Na may mas matalino sa kanya dito," and she giggled again.  

Nagulat kaming lahat nang may marinig kaming alarm.  Natatawang kinuha ni Mason ang bag niya at inilabas ang mobile mula doon.  

"Time is up guys!  Bukas na lang ulit.  It's already six in the evening.  May pasok pa tayo bukas,"  binura niya ang mga nakasulat sa board.  "Try to answer whatever you left behind.  If you still cannot do it, let me help you tomorrow.  I will be in the classroom by 6:30 in the morning,"  sina May at Prox na ang nagtulak ng white board pabalik sa kinalalagyan nun kanina.  "Take care guys!" 

"Thank you Mason!"

"Galing mo, Pare!"

"Mas naiintindihan pa kita kaysa kay Sir!"

"Bukas ulit!"

He just smiled at those praises.  Lumapit siya sa amin.  "Susunduin ka ba ni Ninang Sandy?"

Tumango ako.  "Ikaw?  Sinong sundo mo?"

"Si Tito Art.  He might be there waiting,"  tumingin siya kay Louise.  "How about you, Louise?"

"My brother is there,"  he nods and looks at Prox and May to ask if they need a lift but they both declined.  May mga sundo din pala.  

"Ako, walang sundo," sabi ni Messie.  "Makikisabay ako."

"I can drop you,"  napatingin kami kay Louise.  "Just tell my brother where."

"Hindi, ako na lang ang mag-hahatid sa kanya,"  sabi ko kay Louise.  

"Out of your way ang bahay namin.  Iikot pa kayo while Louise and I have the same route,"  sabi ni Messie.  She looks too excited with the idea that Louise will drop her home.

"Paano mong nalaman na same route lang kayo?"  takang tanong ko sa kanya.

"I asked her earlier.  Anton will come with me, di ba, Anton?"  tumango naman ang tinanong.  Magkapitbahay lang kasi silang dalawa.  

"Then let's go,"  tumingin sa akin si Louise at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.  I didn't expect that so I didn't know what to react.  "Take care, friend."  Tumingin siya kay Mason.  "Thanks for the time, Sir Mason,"  and again, they both laugh.

Kumaway muna silang tatlo bago tuluyang lumayo sa amin.  

"Bakit nakasimangot ka?"  bigla akong napatingin kay Mason na tatawa tawa.  

"Ako?  Nakasimangot?  Hindi kaya!"  inirapan ko siya.  

Kinuha niya ang bag ko at hinawakan ako sa kamay.  "She's nice.......Erica Louise,"  hindi ako kumibo.  "And smart too.   She's not taking any notes, just scribbling."

"Crush mo na?"  inis na tanong ko.  Bigla naman siyang tumawa pero hindi ako sinagot.  Madilim na paglabas namin ng gymnasium.  Buti na lang maraming lamp post sa buong campus.  

We saw my Mom waving at us.  Sa di kalayuan, si Tito Art.  Bago pa ako makapasok ng kotse, naramdaman ko ang paghaltak ni Mason sa braso ko kaya napaharap ako sa kanya.

"She might be my crush but you are my Princess, remember that," and he winks as he traced my forehead through my chin.  "Sige na.  It's late.  Bye."

I don't know what I will feel about that.  Napahawak ako sa tapat ng puso ko.  I can almost hear the loud beat of my heart.  I looked at my Mom who is talking to him through the car window.  Baka kasi magtaka siya sa ikinikilos ko.

Biglang pumasok sa isip ko si Louise.  She might be nice but I know, she will be a big threat.