Prologue

I took the ukulele out of its case and started strumming. Mabuti na lang at naipuslit ko ito kanina sa bahay nang hindi napapansin ng mga kapatid ko. Because if so, the teasing would be never-ending. Kesyo ang emo ko raw kapag nag-iisa pero ang ingay naman kapag may kasama. Of course it should be that way. Kesa naman sa ang ingay ko kapag ako lang mag-isa. Edi nagmukha akong baliw.

I don't have a particular song in my mind but the moment I held my ukulele, my hands started playing a song like they have their own minds.

"Well you done done me and you bet I felt it

I tried to be chill but you're so hot I melted

I fell right through the cracks

And now I'm trying to get back"

It was like for a moment, I'm singing for someone. I don't have any particular person in mind. Wala naman. Di ko alam. Pero parang nasa paligid lang 'yong kinakantahan ko.

"Before the cool done run out

I'll be giving it my best-est

And nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention

I reckon it's again my turn

To win some or learn some"

Nakangiti pa ako habang kumakanta. Parang baliw lang. But it feels nice. I'm alone in a world I created.

"But I won't hesitate no more, no more

It cannot wait, I'm yours"

Pero para akong binuhusan ng isang baldeng malamig na tubig nang may marinig akong pumalakpak. I looked around and saw a guy standing near the door, his body leaning on the wall. He's unfamiliar.

He's wearing a baby blue dress shirt na tinupi sa siko, paired with slacks. His black hair was also cleanly done. For a student, he looks too formal.

"Sorry po," agad na nasabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nag-sorry. It was supposed to be him saying sorry because he disturbed me and my moment.

Agad kong iniligpit ang ukulele ko at itinago ito sa loob ng case nito. Umupo na rin ako nang matuwid. 

"Nice song," I heard him say. Nilingon ko siya at sinubukan siyang ngitian. Iyon nga lang ay hindi ko siya matingnan sa mata kaya sa noo niya ako nakatingin. Alam kong nagmumukha akong tanga, o baliw.

"Thank you," sagot ko. Agad ko ring ibinalik ang tingin ko sa harapan at nagpanggap na parang walang kahihiyang nangyari. But who am I kidding? Kinakabahan ako.

Maya-maya ay narinig ko siyang papalapit. Agad na nag-panic ang loob ko. Hindi ko alam pero sobra akong nai-intimidate sa kanya. Ano bang meron sa kanya at ganito ang nararamdaman ko?

"Do you have a class here?" He suddenly asked. Ngayon ay nakaupo na siya sa katabi kong upuan. And my heart became wilder.

"Ah, oo. Ikaw?" I asked back, trying to sound chill.

"Yes," he replied. There was something in his 'yes' that gave me goosebumps. Ano bang meron sa taong 'to? Bakit parang mas lalo akong na-intimidate?

"I see. You're a classmate," I grumbled and I heard him chuckle. Wala namang nakakatawa sa sinabi ko. Bakit kaya siya natatawa? Baliw rin ba 'to?

"Omg, nandito na pala si Sir," I heard someone say. Agad akong napalingon at nakita ang mga kaklase ko na papasok na ng classroom.

Thank you, Sir. You're a savior! Sinagip mo ako mula sa napaka-awkward na situation.

Doon ay nakahinga na ako nang maayos. Ngunit nang tumingin ako sa lalakeng umupo sa tabi ko kanina ay wala na siya. Nilingon ko ang paligid ko para hanapin siya and my world seemed to stop rotating when I saw him.

Because the guy I was talking to earlier is already standing in front of the classroom, writing his name on the board while introducing himself as the teacher.