Fated 03: Last Name Basis

David’s P.O.V.

Ang lakas din ng trip ng Helena’ng ’yon eh, ‘no? Consistent top one student daw pero hindi naman pinasukan ’yong last subject namin kahapon?

Natigilan ako sa pagmumuni-muni nang makita kong pumasok sa classroom ang babaeng iniisip ko. I couldn’t believe that she had the guts to skip our afternoon class yesterday. I knew I shouldn’t care about it. In fact, mas pabor pa nga ‘yon sa’kin, but I just couldn’t stop myself from overthinking.

Sino ba siya sa akala niya?

Saglit ko siyang tiningnan. Kapag kaharap niya ako, ang sungit niya. Pero kapag mag-isa lang siya, iyakin naman. She was simple, but I think she was only pretending. I didn’t know the exact reason why, but that was what I thought of her.

Kasunod niyang pumasok si Vanessa na agad namang umupo sa tabi ko. Nagkunwari naman akong busy at may sinusulat sa notebook.

Hmm, nakita niya kaya akong nakatingin kay Helena? Teka, eh ano naman? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama!

“Hi, babe!” bati niya sa akin.

Tinanguan ko lamang siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit wala ako sa mood para makipag-usap sa kanya. Siguro ay dahil sa nakita ng dalawang mata ko kahapon — kung paanong halos magdikit na ang mga mukha nila ni Drew!

“Ang sungit mo naman, babe! Galit ka ba sa akin? Ngingiti na ‘yan…” sabi niya.

Bahagya niya akong kiniliti sa baywang pero hindi pa rin ako natinag. I had no reactions at all. Kung nakikita ko lamang ang sarili ko sa salamin, I could say that I was wearing my neutral face all along.

Hanggang sa tumigil na siya sa kakukulit sa akin. “Okay! Kung ayaw mong ngumiti, fine!” She then rolled her eyes. “Anyway,” may ibinigay siyang papel sa akin, “that’s my new e-mail and password. Diyan kasi nila ise-send ‘yong mga picture kahapon sa practice. So you know what to do na, ha? Alam ko naman na hindi ka lang sa academics magaling eh. Magaling ka rin when it comes to photography kaya carry mo na ‘yan, babe. May practice pa kasi kami so I’ll go ahead na. I love you and I’ll see you tomorrow!” Humalik siya sa kanan kong pisngi sabay walang lingon-likod na umalis.

“Teka, Vanessa! Saglit—” habol ko sa kanya pero dire-diretso lang siya palabas sa pinto. Ni hindi man lang niya ako nilingon kahit na alam kong narinig naman niya ako.

I heaved a deep sigh. Alright, same scenario!

Kailangan kong pagandahin ang mga picture nila para mas maging presentable kapag nilagay na sa school paper. As usual, a-absent na naman siya sa klase para lang sa cheering practice nila.

Madalas naman, sangkaterbang mga assignment ang pinapagawa niya sa akin. I even experienced being a proxy to one of her groupmates, kahit na may sarili rin akong mga kagrupo. And to make it worst, I even engaged in that so-called cheating because I secretly gave her answers during examinations.

Minsan, nagtataka na lang ako kung ano niya ba talaga ako — boyfriend ba o katulong? Mahal ko si Vanessa pero no’ng nakita ko siya kahapon na may kasamang iba, hindi ko alam pero napuno na ako ng pagdududa. Parang nawala agad ‘yong tiwala ko sa kanya.

Mamayamaya lang ay dumating na ang teacher namin sa Physics at nagulat na lang ako nang magpa-exam siya bigla.

Shit! Hindi ako nakapag-advance study!

I was still cramming on answering the last problem when Mrs. Gutierrez spoke, “Alright, time’s up! Exchange papers with your seatmates. David and Helena, since you don’t have seatmates, just exchange with each other.” Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumigil sa pagsusulat kahit alam ko na sana ang sagot.

Automatic akong napalingon kay Helena at siya naman ay napatingin din sa akin. Damn, those green eyes again! At nagpalitan na nga kami ng papel. Ganda ng sulat ah!

Then, Mrs. Gutierrez gave us the correct answers. I was already done checking Helena’s paper but I still double checked it for a few times over. Hindi lang talaga kasi ako makapaniwala sa score niya!

Were my eyes fooling me? Bakit perfect? Wala man lang kahit isang mali? Talagang fifty out of fifty?

“Okay, class… kindly return the papers to the respective owners.”

Nanlumo naman ako nang makita ko ‘yong score ko. Sabi na nga ba — stock knowledge ko lang kasi ang pinaghugutan that’s why I got only forty-five out of fifty. Ten items with five points each ang exam namin sa Physics. If only I got the last problem correctly, pareho sana kaming perfect. Pero babawi na lang ako next time. I would study in advance because I had to beat her!

Promise! Hindi mo na ako matataasan pa, Helena. This will be the first and last time that you will exceed my score!

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras at break time na naman — it was also a good thing na wala na kaming klase sa hapon. Ayoko nang dumaan pa sa stage at baka kung ano na naman ang makita ko roon.

I decided not to go home yet, kung kaya’t pumunta na lang muna ako sa Computer Room at nag-internet. Binuksan ko na rin ‘yong bagong e-mail address na ibinigay ni Vanessa para kunin ang mga picture nila na kailangan ko raw i-edit.

While browsing their photos, may isa sa mga ito ang nakapagpa-inis pa lalo sa akin. It caused me to narrow my eyes all of a sudden.

Silang dalawa na sobrang lapit ang mukha sa isa’t isa na parang may kung anong ibinubulong si Drew kay Vanessa! At ang girlfriend ko naman ay akala mong kung sinong kilig na kilig na nakalingkis pa sa kaliwang braso ng binata.

Pakiramdam ko ay nag-init bigla ‘yong mukha ko. I was really angry that I wanted to hit someone with my fist!

I then found myself logging out from Vanessa’s e-mail, but I printed the picture first before I went out of the Computer Room. Pupunta na lang ako sa Music Room dahil gusto kong paghahampasin lahat ng drums doon, mailabas ko lang ang sama ng loob ko.

Pipihitin ko na sana ‘yong door knob para buksan ang Music Room nang maulinigan kong may tao. Out of curiosity, dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto at sinilip kung sino ang nasa loob.

Si Helena.

Hindi ko namalayan na tuluyan na rin pala akong nakapasok sa loob dahil napako ang mga mata ko sa kanya. Mabilis akong nagkubli sa likod ng isang upuan at palihim pa rin siyang tinitingnan. Hawak niya ang isang gitara at sigurado akong kapag tinugtog niya ‘yon ay kakanta siya. Hindi ako nagkamali dahil iyon nga ang ginawa niya.

If I die young, bury me near you

Then, give me something blue

Do not forget to visit my grave

Send me away with your kisses

I frowned. Her soft and captivating voice somewhat seemed familiar.

Hmm, teka… ibig sabihin, siya rin ‘yong kumakanta rito kahapon? Siya ’yong nagpi-piano? At marunong din siyang mag-gitara, ha? Talented! Pero bakit ba ang lulungkot ng mga kinakanta niya? Gusto na ba niyang mamatay? Ang sarap kayang mabuhay!

Bigla siyang tumigil sa pagkanta at nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla siyang magsalita, “You don’t have to hide there.”

I was caught and so, she left me with no other choice but to come out.

“Mr. Rivera?” bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat.

“Ms. Delgado, what’s with that last name basis? You’re so formal. You can just call me David or Dave!” I pretended to laugh at her to hide what I was starting to feel. I didn’t know why but I suddenly felt uneasy with her presence. It felt truly awkward.

I guessed, it was a different feeling… a feeling I knew nothing about.

She let out a fake smile. “I don’t want to. You’re not even my friend and I don’t want to be friends with someone I’ve known to be my rival from the very start! Got it?” Tinarayan niya ako pagkatapos ay mabilis niyang inayos ang mga gamit niya.

Akma na sana siyang aalis ng Music Room nang magsalita ako, “Ouch! Walking out again, huh?” I even held my chest to pretend that I was really hurt on what she was doing.

Then, she stopped and threw me some deadly stares.

“You know what, Miss Delgado? I should be calling you, Miss Perfect. Why? Akalain mong na-perfect mo ‘yong exam natin kanina sa Physics? Mahirap din ‘yon ah! And for that, I was really surprised. Actually, it made me… admire you. But I was thinking that instead of Miss Perfect, I’ll call you something else na lang. Hmm… mas maganda siguro kung Miss Walkout Queen ang itatawag ko sa’yo tutal naman ay palagi kang nagwo-walkout!” I smiled when I saw her cheeks blushed.

But little did she know how I felt… when I told her that I admired her. Gusto kong batukan ang sarili ko dahil kung ano-ano na lang ang mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

“You’re talking a lot of nonsense and I can’t believe that I’m wasting my precious time here with someone like you. You’ll never worth my time,” ‘yon lang ang sinabi niya bago siya tuluyang umalis.

I found myself smiling alone. Kahit pa gaano niya ako tarayan ay nabawasan pa rin ang pagka-badtrip ko. I then realized that I was still able to smile because of her.

I just went out of the Music Room but I decided not to go to the canteen yet. Maybe, I would just loiter around the school garden and breathe some fresh air.

I quietly went inside the man-made garden when all of a sudden, the scene I never expected to happen would appear right in front of my face.

Fuck!

I saw my girlfriend kissing Drew and they were almost making out! Ni hindi man lang binibigyang pansin ni Vanessa na nakalantad na ang mga strap ng bra niya.

I clenched my fists in an instant. I really wanted to hit that Drew in the face, but I calmed myself and decided to let this pass. I didn’t want this to affect my standing in school. I would become this year’s class valedictorian. Hindi dapat ako nakikipag-away.

Pinili kong umalis na lang, ngunit sa isa pang hindi inaasahang pangyayari ay nakita ko sa kabilang gilid ng garden si Helena at katulad ko ay nanlalaki rin ang mga mata niyang nakita ang tagpong ‘yon.

I immediately went to her, grabbed her wrist and pulled her out for us to leave the garden area. Napuntahan ko na nga si Helena pero hindi pa rin natitinag ang dalawang naglalampungan. I was still calm but God knew what was really running inside my head.

Tang-ina, ayokong makapatay ng tao kahit gustong-gusto ko nang gawin ’yon!

“Teka, Mr. Rivera… saan mo ‘ko dadalhin? Let me go!”

Helena’s loud voice that mentioned my surname suddenly caught the attention of Vanessa and Drew, and that made them stop from what they were currently doing.

Parang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang dalawa nang mapagtanto nilang nakita ko ang mga kagaguhang pinaggagagawa nila sa likod ko. Sana nga ay may dala na lang akong malaking timba ng malamig na tubig dito para sana ay nabuhusan ko talaga sila. But hell no! They didn’t deserve water. They deserved… blood!

I dragged Helena again but we were not yet far when Vanessa ran closer to us. “Dave, wait! Let me explain!”

I was still holding Helena’s wrist when I faced Vanessa. As much as possible, ayoko talaga ng gulo lalo pa ngayong may ilan na ring nakakakita sa amin dito.

Masakit! Actually, hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na kayang gawin sa’kin ‘yon ni Vanessa. Halos ibinigay ko naman ang lahat sa kanya. Pero ‘yon siguro ang mga natututunan niya sa librong palagi niyang binabasa… to the fact that she didn’t even mind her unbuttoned blouse as she came to us!

“Explain what? Enough of this, Vanessa!” Kinuha ko sa bulsa ng pantalon ko ‘yong sweet photo nilang dalawa ni Drew at saka ko patapong ibinigay iyon sa kanya. “Since when have you been cheating on me?” pasigaw na tanong ko.

Vanessa’s shaking fingers slowly opened the folded paper and she gasped upon seeing their picture together.

“Let me go, Mr. Rivera. Nasasaktan ako!” nagpupumiglas namang sabat ni Helena habang hinihila niya ang kamay mula sa tindi ng pagkakahawak ko.

Sa sobrang galit ko, hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong pati siya ay masigawan, “Shut up!” Pagkatapos niyon ay bumaling ulit ako kay Vanessa sabay sigaw, “Since when?” I gritted my teeth. Gigil na gigil na talaga ako sa galit.

“I’m s-sorry, Dave… but D-Drew is my boyfriend since second year,” she said it with guilt.

Tumango-tango naman ako. So, sila na pala bago naging kami last year? Magaling!

“Putang-ina naman, Vanessa! At ako? Ano ba ako sa’yo? Katulong na tiga-edit ng mga picture mo? Alalay na tiga-gawa ng mga assignment mo? ‘Running for valedictorian’ boyfriend na pangharap mo sa mga plastic na kaibigan mo? We’re done here!” I clenched my right fist as I laid my eyes on Drew, who doesn’t seem to have balls to look at me straight in the eyes. “At sabihin mo riyan sa boyfriend mong duwag na huwag na huwag siyang magpapakita sa akin kahit kailan — dahil kahit varsity player pa ‘yang gagong ‘yan, tang-ina, walang makapipigil sa akin… babangasan ko talaga ‘yong mukha n’yan!” Dinuro ko pa si Drew na tahimik lang na nasa likuran ni Vanessa, bago ako umalis at tuluyang hinila palayo si Helena.

When we got inside the Music Room, I immediately locked the door so that no one could enter aside from us.

“Hey, what are you doing? Can you let go of me now?” Pilit pa ring hinihila ni Helena ‘yong kaliwang kamay niyang mahigpit ko pa ring hinahawakan.

Saka lamang ako nalinawan sa mga nangyari. I was totally heartbroken and angry. Nabulag ako sa tindi ng aking galit. Nakapagmura pa tuloy ako! Anytime ay pwede akong ma-report sa office at ipatawag ng Guidance Counselor.

Binitiwan ko ang kamay niya. Sa nakita kong pamumula niyon ay saka ko lamang naisip na hindi na siya dapat pang nasali sa gulo. “I’m sorry!” I sincerely said. At the same time, I was silently asking for her forgiveness. I just didn’t know if I deserved it.

“Well, you should be! You know what? I can sue you for this… pero dahil nakita ko kung paano ka lokohin ng girlfriend mo, pagbibigyan kita. Pero ngayon lang ‘to, ha!” She was gently massaging her left wrist and guilt continued to occupy me knowing that it was still reddish.

“Ex-girlfriend,” I corrected her before letting out a hopeless chuckle. I guessed, I was completely out of my mind.

“Whatever! I’ll go ahead, I still have to go to the library and do my assignment. We don’t have an afternoon class anymore but it doesn’t mean that you will just waste your time destroying yourself here. Let me give you some advice… grow up, dude! Be a man. Yes, she betrayed you… but you should be thankful enough that at this early stage, you were able to see her true colors. You won’t even have to reach that point in your life where you will find it real hard to totally move on!” Papunta na siya sa exit door para tuluyan nang lumabas ng Music Room nang hinawakan ko naman ang kanan niyang kamay para pigilan siya.

“H-Helena… s-samahan mo naman ako, kahit ngayon lang.”