The Unnoticed (FILIPINO/ COMPLETED)

Existence

THERE was a lady walking side by side with me. By the looked at her branded bag and fancy outfit, it was easy to describe that she had a deep pocket. Behind her were a man on his black jacket and an inner of a green t-shirt. He was too close with us that's why I slow down, pretending that I found something interesting on the food stall and let them move forward. Giving me another view of another man on his blue Sando. His two hands were hiding in his pocket, obviously, he is hiding a pocket knife from it. If their target would make a scene or scream, this man won't hesitate to attack.

The man on his inner green intentionally bumped the lady and walked fast ahead.

Everything is quick. In just a snapped of the finger, the green one snatched the wallet of the lady without being caught. And they escaped victoriously, while the lady was safe but she lost her money.

On my way to this road, I'm like watching a movie daily. Real-life stealing of things. Sometimes I would see a group of girls stealing a cell phone from a guy. An old woman stealing goods from the store. Or sometimes, a gorgeous woman stealing dress inside a boutique.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakikita ko ang mga bagay na ito. Hindi ko alam kung saan nagsimula. Basta nagulat nalang ako na may kakaiba sa aking mata at kamay. Inakala ko nga noon na hindi ba ako tao? Superpower?

Huminto ako sa tapat ng isang establisyemento na nahaharangan ng glass panel. Mula roon ay minasdan ko ang aking itsura.

I am really human, right? My brown hair is natural even if I dyed it with black. It will always remain brown no matter what, so I gave up. My face is sometimes soft but sometimes I would see it strong. My features clearly came from foreign blood, but I ended up and grew up here in the Philippines, in the land of Owl City Main.

"Yo, Juls."

Galit kong inayos ang aking gym bag ng dumulas ito mula sa pagsiko sa akin ni Jasmine. "p**e ka talaga!"

Tinawanan niya ako. "Ito naman sinasabi pa ang obvious. Bilisan mo, nag-text na sa akin si Coach, tayo nalang hinihintay."

Namilog ang mata ko at nakipag-unahan sa kanya sa pag-akyat sa overpass. Hindi dapat ako mahuhuli ngayon. Hindi ko kasi natiis 'yung matandang may dalang sangkatutak na chicharon at patawid sa kalsada. Kinailangan ko siyang tulungan sa pagbubuhat noon patungo sa kabilang side. Tapos ay binalikan ko siya upang humingi ng paumanhin sa mga motorista na humaba ang pasensiya sa bagal namin sa paglalakad.

Humahangos kami ni Jasmine sa pagbaba ng hagdan. Sa 'di kalayuan ay natanaw namin ang grupo ng varsity sa Basketball. Natigilan ako. I am looking for one person. When I didn't see him I jugged fast after Jasmine. The boys gave us the way when we passed through, I even hear my name mentioned or called I wasn't sure because all my concern now is to get on time for our training.

"Anong nangyari girls? Dalian at humabol sa warm-up," our Coach Giselle yelled.

I and Jasmine playfully chuckled as we removed our jacket and skirt. Our part-time uniform with the same company but a different branches. Stripping here in the gym is normal for us. Sanay na kaming nasisilipan, lalo kapag nagmamadali. Ang motto ko sa buhay ay hindi nakakabuntis ang titig.

Isang pasada ng higpit sa sintas ng aking rubber shoes ay sumali na ako sa tumatakbong teammate ko. Kami ang representative ng school na lalaban sa volleyball final battle next week. At kapag nanalo kami, hihirangin sa kauna-unahang tala ang pangalang University of Beaufort bilang gold medalist mula sa malakas naming kalaban na Owl City University.

"Higher jump ladies. Jasmine stopped buzzing around!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Umiling ako sa ginagawa niya. Kamakailan ay hindi siya nakasali sa training dahil nagkasakit siya. Ngayon naman ay nadoble ang pagiging hyper niya. After the warm-up, our coach grouped us into two. I didn't team up with Jasmine and as I expected it. We are the team leader of our each team.

"Juliene, narinig mo ba ang balita? May nagkaka-crush daw sa'yo sa varsity ng basketball," bida ng Outside Hitter namin.

"Talaga? Anong pangalan?"

"Charl daw."

Tinapik ko siya. "Salamat. Dahil diyan ay sa Digger position ka."

Bumagsak ang balikat niya sa sinabi ko. Kinausap ko ang iba pang kasama ko para sabihin ang kanilang expected position. Ang ilan sa kanila ay against pero may purpose talaga 'yon, sana lang makita niya. I'll remain on the Opposite Hitter.

Normally, we are doing our training in the covered court. Kaso nagbigay ng memo ang cheer leading team na sila ngayon doon. Dito kami sa kampo ng Basketball nag-okupa.

Stretching a little more for my arms, my eyes caught the group of men coming through. Hindi mahirap alamin kung sino ang mga iyon. Kapag nililingon ng kababaihan maging sangkabaklaan ay isang tao lang ang nasa isip ko.

"Uy si Frank Aldrich!"

"Shocks! Nakita mo ba 'yung live niya sa mataas na building? Buwis buhay!"

Bago lang siya rito dahil galing siya sa Owl City University, pero sikat na agad siya. Hindi iyon nakakapagtaka. Sino bang hindi sisikat kapag nanggaling ka sa marangyang pamilya? Driving the most expensive car in the town. If you check the parking lot and saw a yellow and sleek Ford Mustang, he owned it. At the age of nineteen, he has not only one but four different types of the expensive cars. Plus the fact that he is beautiful, not in a girlish way but in a masculine and powerful manner.

I've been working as a sales lady for almost six years in Candella as a part-timer. Sometimes I would attend a gig in Kansas and met different actors and male models local and foreign, but all of them are no match with Frank. That was my opinion the first time my eyes laid on him.

It happened on the entrance when I once saw him stopped his car when an elementary student suddenly run on his way. Galit na galit ang bantay ng bata dahil aniya ay nabangga, kahit ang totoo ay hindi.

Lulan ng asul na Camaro ay bumaba si Frank. Wala siyang kasalanan, pero siya pa ang humingi ng paumanhin. He even gave money on the maid for the child's hospital check-up. I was there and I witnessed his kindness, even if his record was bad. Bad as his taste for illegal. He doesn't attend his classes. Rumored spread that he is always in a club with a different woman in his arms. He is a chain smoker. Drinking liquors as if it was his water.

Weird, pero hindi nawala ang malalim kong paghanga sa kanya. I found him dangerously sexy that I bet some girls would prove too. But, hey... he doesn't know me to give an exchange amount of feelings. There are billions of people around the globe, it is impossible for him to notice me. Besides, I won't pass his taste. I am far from his types of ladies.

A fact of life slapped me in the face. He is rich and I am not.

Pumito ang Coach namin. Senyales na magsisimula na ang aming training.

Isang lingon muli sa kanya bago ako pumunta sa aking posisyon. He is surrounded by forth year beautiful tourism girls. Like the usual, the type of woman he liked. With voluptuous butt, big boobs, and beautiful faces. He won't give a damn gaze on our way, why would he? Sporty and sweaty girls are not passable on his taste, maybe if the cheerleading team were here.

Sapat na sa akin ang ganitong patingin-tingin lang. Masaya ng makita siya ng ilang saglit, buo na ang araw ko. Malakas na naman ako.

I called my setter to give me a nice ball. I smiled as she did. Using my long legs I jumped and spike the ball going to Jasmine. The digger on their group was hesitant. They knew me and my strength so the ball went through her. Pinag-ekis niya ang braso niya sa takot kaya natumba siya sa impact.

My team yelled from the first point. But our Coach Mrs. Giselle called my name.

"Training palang tayo, Juliene. Hindi mo kailangang lumpuhin ang team mo."

Tumawa ako dahil doon. "Opo!" Bago bumalik sa puwesto ay nilingon ko ulit ang nagkakatuwaang grupo ni Frank.

He tossed his white t-shirt from the bottom, revealing those angry, juicy, and strong pecks from his stomach. Don't forget about his broad shoulder, mama mia, is that real? He wore the jersey as he was a basketball player too. The forward of his team even if he was very tall. His light tan complexion was evident that he came from foreign blood, no wonder because Aldrich and Taylor are the huge names from Australia and America.

His deep sets of blue eyes curled long hair, and strong bones from his face made him different from the circle of his friends. Because he is like his hobby— dangerous, breathe taking, and darker.

I focused on the game when a woman approached him.

Palingon-lingon ako sa kanya habang naglalaro. May binulong ang babae at nalingat lang ako ay wala na silang dalawa.

Lumangoy ako sa sahig ng hindi ko nahabol ang bola. Mabilis ang pangyayari at alam kong maaabot ko ang bola pero may parte sa akin ang biglang tumamlay. Bago ako bumagsak sa sahig ay nagtilian ang ilang manonood. Nakuha ko ang atensyon ng mga basketball player sa gilid.

Tinuro ako noong isang lalaki sa matalik na kaibigan ni Frank na si Charl. Siya ang tinutukoy nilang may crush sa akin.

Tumayo ako sa tulong ni Jasmine.

"Gaga ka! Anong akala mo, finals na? Chillax!"

Ngumisi ako sa sinabi niya. At para sa balita tungkol kay Charl, impossible. May longtime girlfriend kaya siya. At kung liligawan niya ako ay tiyak na basted agad siya. Wala pa sa plano ko ang makipagrelasyon. Gusto kong matupad ang pangarap ko. Makatapos ng kolehiyo at makapunta ng Paris. Sa gayon ay mabigyan ko ng buhay ang tinatago kong talent.

Pagpipinta.

Madalas na hindi ko na nahaharap iyon. Pagod na pagod kasi ako sa maghapong trabaho, training, tapos pag-aaral. Para sa kagaya kong lumaking walang katuwang sa buhay ay mag-isa kong tinataguyod ang sarili ko.

Mahirap. Nakakaiyak madalas. Nakakapagod, pero wala naman akong choice. Walang tutulong sa akin kung hindi ang sarili ko lang. Kaya ng mahawakan ko noon ang diploma ko noong high school ay sobra ang aking iyak.

"Mamaya nalang sa Calixto, ha?"

"Oo, Jasmine." Pinanood ko siyang tumakbo papalayo bago lumiko. Nakakapagod ang dalawang oras na training. Sinuot ko ang aking slacks at puting uniporme. Sanay akong mag-ayos sa sarili ko, pero kapag nasa eskuwelahan ay mas prefer ko ang simple. Having make up won't make my grades high after all.

When I felt fresh and clean, I entered my first class and studied seriously. But because I am just a human, my body is getting tired too. Minsan sa kalahati ng lesson namin ay nakakaiglip ako. Lalo sa minor subject at mas matindi pa sa sleeping music ang boses na professor namin sa history.

"Frank, mamaya na!"

Ang tuluyang pagpikit ko ay binawi sa aking ulirat dahil doon. I am sitting on the edge but center row. But, why I am hearing something gross from behind?

"Bakit kasi pumasok pa tayo?"

"Hush. I can't reach your nipple."

Nag-init ang tainga ko sa bulungan na iyon. Are this two making out here in the middle of the boring class? Napakagat labi ako ng masundan ang bulungan na iyon ng singhap na nasasarapan.

"You like that?"

Damn! They are polluting my innocent mind. I was about to explode but my seatmate raised his hand and excuse himself that he will go in the comfort room. Pinanalangin kong sana mali ang naririnig ko. O baka parte ito ng panaginip ko?

"What is it, Mr. Aldrich?"

"Sorry, Ma'am. Hindi ko na rin po kayang magpigil. Can we used a toilet too?"

"Sige na Mr. Aldrich at Ms. Ocampo, bilisan niyo!"

The girl giggled from behind as Frank held her hand. They both legally run away to proceed their— whatever.

What I am fooling around? I sighed, hoping my superpower is to not see a fast movement. Or smash anything in double speed and great impact, because what I wanted is to exist in the same world that Frank is existing.