WE WENT to the school’s main cafeteria. Our friends already reserved for us kaya hindi naging mahirap para sa amin ang paghahanap ng mauupuan. My eyes roamed around and two people caught it. Kumuway sa amin sina Katlego at Lachlan mula sa last row at pinapunta roon.
“Saan si Euart? Ba’t hindi niyo kasama?” bungad ni Jirario when we got there dahil silang dalawa lang ang naroroon. Usually, silang tatlo ang nauuna sa pagpapareserve ng table.
“May dadaanan raw. Ewan ko….” sagot ni Lego at tumayo para kamayan siya. “Saan pa kayo galing? Ba’t ang tagal niyo?” he asked.
“Umihi pa ako,” replied Clavis. Umupo siya sa tapat ni Lachlan, samantala nagtungo si Jirario sa tabi ni Lego. Then I sat next to Clave.
“Na
A CYCLE of sunset and sunrise has passed, Shanta became part of our group each day. Nagsilbi siyang muse ng grupo, not because she’s our chic, but because she's the only girl in Six Packs. Kahit saan kami magpunta ay naroroon siya. Walang nagsabing puwede siyang sumama sa lahat ng gala namin pero naging nakasanayan na ng grupo ang pagsingit niya sa gitna. Her existence seemed to have rooted from either being Euart's suitor or Clavis as her babysitter. Everytime we line up in a row, she’d insert herself in the middle. Nahahati ang grupo sa tatlo at siya ang parating nasa gitna sa tuwing naglalakad kami sa corridor, driveway, o parking lot. Her arms would always wrap around Clavis and Euart’s shoulders, habang kaming ay nasa gilid in opposite ends. Instead of joining her girl friends, she’d go and talk to us in class. Kung ma
THE CROWD JEERED, went into rampage, and filled the hall with chants and applause. Nakita kong biglang namulat ang mga mata ni Clavis. Sa isang iglap, at parang walang nangyari, nagsimula siya pumalakpak at magsusumigaw. Natawa ako. He’s clueless about it, but he got to blend with the crowd. Napatingala ako. My eyes shifted to the upper rows of the seat.Nakasampa na sa upuan si Katlego habang nakayakap sa binti niya si Lachlan. They expressed their joy through exaggerated movements. When they looked down, they caught my eye. Nagrock-n-roll sign sa akin si Lego habang nakalabas ang dila at ngipin. Kamukha niya ‘yong asong ulol na tumutulo ang laway. I waved my hand at them, then fixed my posture while sitting. I couldn’t imagine the scenario more if katabi namin sila at nagsama-sama kaming anim.
A WEEK HAS passed, the acquaintance party has finally come. At base sa usapan, kami ni Jirario ang magkapareha. Kaya noong makarating kami sa main hall ng paggaganapan ng kasiyahan, the girls who courted me were surprised to see who I am with. Napahawak sila sa kanilang bibig, nanlalaki ang mga mata, tila sinasabing totoo nga ang naging kutob nila sa gender ko. Pero anong nakakagulat sa pagiging bakla? I’m straight as hell, but even when I consider myself as one, hindi pa rin nawawala ang respeto ko sa mga lalaking inihihiyaw nila na babae sila. All I’m trying to say is… sana maging normal na ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa tuwing nalalaman nilang iba ang kasarian ng isang tao. Are these girls homophobic? Hope they get educated. “Join our org…” iba-ibang boses ang naririnig kong nagsasabi niyan. May mga nag-aabot ng org flyers sa entr
"SINO KA NGA ULIT?" Katlego forwarded as he was trying to remember her. His eyes squinted and massaged his chin with his two fingers. "Parang nakita na kita dati. Hindi ko lang maalala kung kailan.""Uh… Ako si...""She's Macine Herrera,” Euart advanced. “Kaklase ko siya-""Deputa ka, ser Eu!” Lego pounded his back like a worker putting down a sack of rice. “Ba’t ngayon mo lang sinabi? Ogag ka! Sabi ko na nga ba, pamilar siya! Siya ba 'yong dinala mo no'ng pool party?" He asked, very intrigued about her real identity."Uhh… Ako nga 'yon,” sabi ng mahinhin na babae. Muli siyang yumuko, “Ikinagagalak kong makilala uli kayo..."
FOR THE past few days, Shanta had become more possessive of Euart. Wherever he goes, she’s there, following and guarding her precious gem against potential threats. Imbes na si Euart ang bumibisita sa kanya sa silid-aralan, si Shanta ang bumibisita sa kanya sa kabilang building. One time, she even brought red tulips for him in one of his classes to express how profoundly in love she was. But it didn’t end there. Nagtawag pa siya ng mga kasamahan niya sa kanilang feminist org to make it more special, but they looked more like female gangsters.Hindi ko alam kung bakit mas tumaas ang bakod ni Shanta para sa kaibigan namin. She wasn’t like that before. Sa katunayan, magaan ang pagkakaibigan nila ni Art noon. I was hoping they could click together and have a real score. But when he had brought the girl during the acquaintance party, parang may nagbago kay Shanta. Plus, narinig n
DAHAN-DAHAN akong naglakad sa hallway habang ang mga mata ko'y nakapako sa kanyang kinaroroonan. The wind coming from the river blew some of her hair strands. Habang pinapanood siya, nadarama ko rin ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. The city lights beyond expressed the irony of a woman sitting lifelessly beside a garden of lively green shrubs. Noong makarating ako sa bukanan ng balkonahe, I sat beside her with my hands clasped to each other. "Even if I asked if you're okay, you still don't look fine," bungad ko. Ang pagsama ko sa kanya rito ay isa sa mga paraang naiisip ko upang bayaran ang buhay kong sinagip niya. "I'm sorry my friend hurt you without him knowing it," I said while staring at the imperceivable darkness. Nakita kong gumalaw nang babahagya ang ulo niya, so I thought this was the right time to take a fair
A MONTH HAS PASSED and September has come. Abala ang mga estudyante sa kani-kanilang requirement dahil malapit na ang intramurals. It was a sports event everyone couldn't miss. Hindi magiging masaya ang palaro kung may sagabal na mga gawain. It's better to sweat now and rejoice later than party now and suffer later. But that depends on the person. Pero para sa akin, it's very efficient.I fixed my goggles as I climbed on the platform. Nasa indoor swimming pool ako ng school kung saan gaganapin ang event. The turquoise water below me escalated my blood. Today is the tryouts for potential swimmers who would compete against the higher levels. Kailangan kong ibigay ang lahat ng makakaya ko para maging parte ng SU Swimming Team. This is not just a recreational activity, but to me, it's my burning passion to dive under the freezing water.
BACK TO the intense game, I watched as the fight became deuce. Pinagpapawisan at kinakabahan ako para sa kanya. Gusto ko siyang sigawan na galingan niya at dapat manalo siya.Maybe she heard me kahit na wala akong sinabi. Shanta used her backhand to strategically drive the tennis ball. And as the orange thing bounced back to the opponent's court, it shifted to the left when the senior tried to block it at the right."Yes!" Shanta rejoiced.Kinuyom niya ang kanyang kamao saka sinuntok-suntok iyon sa ere habang bumubulwak na ang mga ugat niya sa leeg dahil sa kakahiyaw.Napatayo at nagsimulang pumalakpak sina Katlego at Lachlan. Nagsusumigaw sila ng papuri kay Shanta sa buong studio. May mga taong na