See you, Red Hair.
"Punyeta ka naman! Ano ba!"
Salita ni Galadreil kay Clydan nang sumayaw ito sa harap niya. Kasulukuyang nasa park kami malapit sa school. Nagjeep na lang kami kasi napag-isipan naming magt-tropa na gumala muna habang hinihintay si Jovencio. Nauna kaming natapos kasi tatlo lang ang klase namin today. Medyo mainit pero sariwa naman ang hangin. Wala si Jovencio dahil may pasok pa siya, speaking of her, biglang tumunog ang telepono ko at nakitang nagmessage siya.
Jovencio : Boring amputa! Sunduin niyo 'ko kunwari kailangan ako.
Natawa ako sa message niya kaya napatingin ang dalawa sa 'kin. Pinakita ko ang telepono ko kaya't kinuha rin nila ang cellphone nila para magreply kay Jovencio.
Clydan : Kaya mo na 'yan, pa-baby naman.
Jovencio : HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT ?! Hindi mo ba alam na sasaktan ako?
Galadreil : Salamat sa inpormasyon, wala kaming pake, tangina ka.
Jovencio : Bibig mo, Dominguez.
Clydan : HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA PUTANGINA KA.
Kita ko na agad ang mga replies nila at natawa. Hinigop ko muna ang gulaman na binili ko kanina bago magreply sa kanila.
Maxence : Kapag sinundo ka namin, bawas ligtas points ka na kay Lord.
Clydan : Tangina, matagal na 'yang bawas.
Galadreil : hahahaha, bulok mo @sanchez.
Hinampas ako ni Clydan sa hita nang matawa siya sa reply ko. Ganito kasi 'yan, may kaklase kasing babae si Jovencio na kulot ta's maganda pa. Sabi ni Clydan, bawal na daw mangupal si Jovencio kasi kaklase niya si Mama Mary. That's where it all started.
Lumapit si Galadreil sa 'kin na may hawak na ensaymada, she extended her hand, giving me the food. 'Yong isang kamay naman niya ay hawak ang kanyang telepono at nakatutok ito tainga niya, mukhang may kausap. I gladly accepted the food, and moved aside to the right to give her a seat. But she declined, standing near me looking serious on the phone.
"Je pensais que tu avais déjà les papiers que j'ai signés?" she firmly said, before bending a bit to take a bite of the ensaymada I'm holding.
'Yong ensaymada ko! Binigay niya pa sa 'kin kung siya rin naman kakain. Tanginang 'yan!
Clydan, on the other hand, nudged my arms and asked me, "Sino kausap niya? Kinukulam na ata tayo niyan eh," giving me a frown
"Kulam? Sa cellphone? Gago ka," sagot ko sakaniya.
"Oh bakit? Pwede naman 'yon. Online na kaya lahat ngayon," she replied, resting her back on the bench, "Online kulam," she added.
I was about to reply when I heard Clydan whined, there, I saw her softly rubbing her head and Gal was in front of her. Looks like Gal smacked the hell out of Clydan. I laughed at the latter's reaction which made her pout.
"Tangina ka talaga! Online kulam amputa," Gal hissed and sat between me and Clydan.
"Anong language ba kasi 'yon? Parang online kulam kaya!" the latter replied shooting us a glare.
"French 'yon, tanga ka. Sa pagkakaalam ko nung bata tayo hindi naman kita binugbog," Gal stated, "Ba't walang kwenta utak mo ngayon?"
"Hoy! Grabe ka! Nakalimutan mo bang inumpog mo lang ulo ko sa pader noon?" agad namang sabi ni Clydan.
"Sana all friends since birth," I said between the bickering.
Honestly, I had friends back then in elementary naman but wala na sila ngayon. More like, I'm only a back up friend. Kaya I'm still grateful na kahit sakit sa ulo 'tong tatlo, they never make me feel like neither I'm a burden nor a backup friend.
The two looked at me, worriedly. I was avoiding their eyes since earlier but I had the courage to look at them. They knew about it, all about me. I'm not being dramatic though, but the thought of having a friend since you were a baby or a child feels so good for me. Minsan hindi ko maiwasan na mainggit sakanila.
Clydan stood up and went beside me, to my left. Nasa gitna na nila ako ngayon, inakbayan ako ni Clydan at nagsalita.
"Baka pagsisihan mo 'yang sinasabi mo, p're," she teased and slightly tapped my cheeks with the back of her palm, "Tignan mo, sakit na 'ko sa ulo ni Gal.
"Buti naman alam mo, gago," Gal replied to Clydan, "Don't worry about it, MJ. Late man tayo naging magt-tropa doesn't mean na we're less best friends. You know what I mean? Kung gusto mo, eh kunin mo na si CJ sa 'kin," she added.
Clydan frowned which made me chuckled, "Tanginang 'yan, hindi na ako mahal porket nandyan na si Tine," she said, making me go 'ooh.'
Gal gave Clydan a middle finger, "P're, kahit hindi dumating si Tine, tanga, ipapamigay kita," she stated, "Atsaka anong Tine? That's Sevi for you, bitchass," she added.
"Lakas maka-angkin ah, sa 'yo ha? Sa 'yo?" Clydan teased, smirking.
"O, ano naman ngayon? Agawin ko si Yellow Girl sa 'yo eh," Gal rebutted, eyebrows up and down.
"P're, 'wag. 'Wag ang prinsesa ko, p're," Clydan joked, "P're, ako na lang patulan mo. Maganda naman ako!"
I laughed at the two bickering sessions. Ganyan naman sila palagi, pero mas angat si Jovencio at Clydan. Speaking of Jovencio, It's already quarter to three, meaning palabas na siya. Napag isipan namin na sunduin na siya sa gate para hindi na siya mapagod pa na pumunta dito. Medyo umiinit na din kasi, bawal mainitan si Jovencio. Naglakad na kami papunta sa Savius St. para sumakay ng jeep. Isang jeep lang naman ang sakayan papunta sa school, pwede naman lakarin kaso tamad kami.
Pagbaba namin ng jeep ay nilakad na namin ang tapat ng school. Konti pa lang lumalabas sa gate, hindi pa namin makita si Jovencio. Tumambay na lang kami sa Guard House kasi usually nandun naman talaga kami. Kuya Roger is Clydan and Gal's Security friend. Hindi ko alam paano nangyari, nagulat na lang akong nagtatampo 'tong si Clydan kay Kuya Roger dahil hindi siya ito binili ng Cheese Burger sa malapit na tindahan.
"Kuya Roger.. Kapag nag-senti ang kabayo.." simulang tanong ni Clydan, "Tawag dun, horse-emotions?"
"Awa na lang, Lord.." napahawak si Kuya Roger sa kaniyang sentido at huminga ng malalim.
"Grabe naman 'yang reaction na 'yan, parang biyernes santo," Clydan replied.
"Ay talaga! Para akong pinaparusahan ng demonyo kapag nandito ka," Kuya Roger said whole shaking her head.
"Grabe naman kayo.." Clydan pouted, "Sige.. Alis na lang ako.. Sorry sa istorbo."
"Thank you, Lord!" Galadriel exclaimed, teasing the latter.
Tinawanan namin ang pagiging siraulo ni Clydan. Ang tagal naman ni Jovencio! Nagpaalam kami kay Kuya Roger na mag one lap lang kami sa school. Pumayag naman ito at sinabing tatawagan na lang niya si Gal kapag lumabas na si Jovencio.
Habang iniikot namin ang eskewelahan na-distract kaming tatlo sa badminton court. Naglaro kami until 21 points. So, Gal versus Clydan and I. Kaya na ni Gal mag-isa, baka team captain 'yan. We rallied until 18 serving 19. Lamang kami, 2 more points panalo na kami.
" 'Nu na, pare! Bano ka na ba?" asar ni Clydan habang winawagayway ang raketa niya.
"Tangina ka. 'Wag kang iiyak pag hinampas kita gamit raketa ko," Gal firmly said.
"Bibig mo, Dominguez"
Gal became a statue and didn't move because of the voice. She looks on her shoulder, revealing a girl in denim jeans and wearing a jersey. Oh my god. It's Severina. Tinignan ko ang katabi kong si Clydan, nakita ko siyang nagpipigil ng tawa. As Severina walks her way towards Gal, pumunta naman kami sa benches para magpahinga.
Gal is known in our group to have the most heavy profanities. Mas malutong siyang magsalita kapag alam niyang tama siya. She would defeat you with one word. Kaya nung gumala kami dati nagulat na lang kaming bigla-bigla na lang nagp- 'po' si Gal kay Severina, knowing si Severina ang bunso. Tiklop pala 'tong tropa ko.
"Tine! Ano ginagawa mo dito, hm?" malambing na sabi ni Gal habang niyakap ng mahigpit si Sevi. Sevi's back is facing us which makes Gal facing us which makes her glare at us and shoot us a middle finger.
Naneto. Kapag nakatalikod si Sevi napakasama sa 'min. Pag samin lahat ng words may 'tangina,' pero kapag kay sevi puro malambing na 'hm'? Paka-traydor!
Yumakap naman pabalik si Sevi, "Wala akong klase, Jaja."
"Aww, Jaja! Halika rito, Jaja," asar ni Clydan habang kunwaring niyayakap ang sarili.
"Humanda ka sa 'kin sa bahay, tangina mo ka," pikon na sabi ni Gal na agad niyang binawi ito, "Ay sorry, bebe.." she pouted.
"Bad 'yon kasi, bebe.. Don't do it next time, okay!" Sevi assured Gal and kissed her cheeks.
We saw her smirking at us and shot us another middle finger where Sevi couldn't see it. Pakaplastic amputa! Nagpahinga lang kami sa benches, nagtext kanina si Jovencio na five post meridiem pa daw siya lalabas dahil may duties pa siya for Track and Field. Okay lang sa 'min. Hintayin namin siya hanggang matapos siya, sabay sabay kaming uuwi. After namin magpahinga ay pumunta na lang kami sa Snooze Lounge para magpahinga. Doon pwede kami matulog, magpahinga or magskip class.
"Asim mo naman! Dikit ng dikit amputa!"
Tinulak ni Jovencio si Clydan palayo sa kaniya. Nandito kami ngayon sa Parkside. Nagmemeryenda kami ngayon ng kwek kwek, Isaw at fishball. Five thirty natapos si Jovencio sa duties niya kanina, kaya naisipan namin na mag meryenda dahil pagod siya. Malapit na din ang 'Adrenaline Clash Cup' or ACC, sports even ito para sa mga junior high students ng iba't ibang school. Kaya siguro medyo maluwag ang schedule namin ngayon.
Sa kaliwang tabi naman ni Clydan si Gal, "Pare.. ayaw na sa 'kin ni Jovencio.." she pouted and hugged Gal's waist.
"Lumayo ka sa 'kin.. Baka hindi kita matansiya," rinig kong bulong ni Gal dahil katabi niya si Sevi na nagseselpon habang sinusubuan ni Gal ng siomai. Siniko ni Gal si Clydan kaya napadaing ito. Binato ko ng tissue si Clydan kasi ang dumi na ng mukha niya. Sumimangot naman siya sa gawa ko.
She crossed her arms aggressively and pouted, "Ganyan kayo ah.. Tatandaan ko ang araw na 'to!"
"March twenty five.. twenty fifteen! 'Yan, tulungan ka pa namin!" asar ni Jovencio.
Marahang sinuntok ni Clydan sa tagiliran si Jovencio, "Tangina ka! Eh, kung sakmalin kaya kitang gago ka!"
"Can't you two lower your damn voices?" I sarcastically asked the both of them, "Nakakairita na. Ugh!"
Tahimik lang si Gal kasi kasama namin si Sevi pero kung wala siya, sus, baka mas malala pa ang narating ng dalawa. She's peacefully focused on giving Sevi foods in her mouth. She's so downbad too much. Ugh. I left the four of them at the table and went for the food truck. I ordered one gulaman juice and one cheeseburger. I heard the vendor called my name, as I went to get my food, I just happened to bump hard into someone.
"God damn it!"
Bullshit.
I heard the girl whine as we both fall into the ground. I quickly stand up and shake the dirt I have on my clothes. I extended my hand to the girl who is now sitting on the ground, and when she looked up, our eyes met. And I saw the whole damn universe in those eyes. Mesmerizing. Pretty. Adorable.
"I'm... I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to bump into you," I stuttered.
Fuck, I stuttered. This cannot be happening to me right fucking now! In front of a pretty girl?!
"It's fine! Don't you worry! It's partly my fault too.." She said shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Tangina, ang ganda.
"Uh.. See you then. See you when I see you?" I unsurely said which made her giggle.
"Adelaide"
"Huh?"
"My name's Adelaide. See you, Red Hair."
She said as she walked past me smiling. I heard the vendor call out my name again. And I went for my food and went back to our table. And as soon as I came back, I started to hide my smile or else the two would annoy the shit out of me asking what the fuck am I smiling about.
We started walking back home and I'm still talking about Adelaide. Damn. Pretty name for a pretty lady. Jovencio has already gone home and I'm still walking with Gal and Sevi. Clydan must have gone to buy something important. I saw Gal glance at me and gave me a smirk. I gave her a question look and she started to shake her head. Tangina, alam niya.
"P're! Una na kami ah?" simulang sabi ni Gal, "Opo, Manong. Tatlo po."
"Sige, ingat kayo!" I said and started waving my hand to give them good byes.
I heard Gal talking to the tricycle driver, "Tatlo po. Dalawa po sa 'ming Sacresi Street, tapos babalik po ulit ako sa San Bendame Avenue. Opo, hindi po kasama 'yang pula. Salamat po!"
At sa pagpasok ni Galadriel at pag alis ng tricycle, dumating na ang driver ko. Medyo traffic. Hay kapagod. I saw people walking home, which made me wonder, how do they survive life? I didn't realize that I fell asleep in the car. It was a long comfortable sleep. Ginising ako ni Kuya Randell na nakauwi na kami. Umakyat na ako agad para magpalit into a pajama. Humiga na ako at konti konti na ako nilalamon ng antok.
Ganun ba ako kasarap? Kidding.
Hay, very tiring day. One day down, thousands more to go.