18 Chapter 15 - Pinadulas sa Guhi (1/2)

”Patayuin mo kasi balong,” naiiritang sambit ni Mecky.

”Malahmbot nga. Pah-teegasin mo kayah.”

”Anong patigasin? Eh, matigas na naman na yan.”

”No, see, it's wiggling.”

”Of course, idiot! Paano mo mapapasok sa butas ng maayos kung sobrang tigas. Mapupunit agad 'to.”

”K, eepapasok ko nah. Ay, where's the buu-tas?”

”Ano ba, dalawa lang naman ang butas jan na magkatabi. Ipasok mo dun sa butas na may guhit, 'wag sa bilog.”

I tried hard to ignore the conversation I was overhearing from outside the room, but it was getting weirder and nastier.

I was startled when I heard Mecky shrieked. ”Aray! Ano ba Balong, dahan-dahan naman! 'Pag ako nasugatan,” may halong pagbabanta na ang boses ni Mecky.

”Sorry nemen. Nabig-lah ako, masikeep kaseh.”

”O, ayan, ok na. Idiin mo lang ng konte tapos paputukin mo sa loob.”

And that was it, hindi ako nakapagpigil pa at lumusob na ako sa labas. ”Geeeez! Grabe, nakakadiri kayo. Ano yung malambot, matigas at butas na may guhit?”

”Huh?” pagtataka ni Mecky, pagkalabas niya ng tent. Sumunod sa kaniya si Balong na bakas din sa mukha ang pagtataka.

”Anong ginawa niyo sa loob ng tent?” I narrowed my eyes at them.

Mecky scrunched up her face as if I said something disgusting, ”Yuck, Cece! Seriously, Balong? Siniset-up lang namin yung tent. Apparently, itong tukmol na to, naturingang boy scout pero hindi marunong magset-up ng tent.”

”Lahgi na lang akoh, akoh, akoh na may kasalahnan, akoh na lang palahgi!” pagdadabog niya kasabay sa paa niya na parang bata na nagiinarte.

Mecky's expression dulled looking at Balong na nagiinarte, at nangasim na lang din ang mukha ko sa awa at tuwa sa amboy kong kaibigan.

”Tulungan na nga lang kita sa loob, Cece; Hoy, ikaw, tukmol, itayo mo yang apat pa na tent ha. Alam mo na kung paano,” pagsusungit pa ni Mecky.

❧ ❧ ❧

Founder's Day Weekend ang isa sa pinakapaborito kong event dito sa school. Noong Wednesday pa ang actual founding date ng school pero naging tradisyon na sa weekend following that day ay nagkakaroon kami ng 2-day festivities. Classes are cut short until 3pm on Friday; it was a significant time because that's when the Founders did their ceremonial shoving of the ground before construction of the school. This event continues until 3pm on Saturday; students are allowed to do overnight stay at the school campus to do camping and various evening activities.

”Excellent job, Cece. As always, I knew I could trust you on this one,” pagpuri sa akin ni Blue Tarub, ang heartthrob student body president ng high school.

Bilang former president ako ng EMC2, ang tawag sa math club namin noong junior high, madalas kong makasalamuha si Blue sa mga meetings and event plannings na inoorganize ng Student Council. Kahit hindi na ako member ng Council, pinakiusapan niya ako na ihandle muli ang camping sites at ilang evening activities as I have done in the past two Founder's Day Weekend.

”Well, I had my friends' help. Hindi ko 'to magagawa na almost last minute na yesterday without them,” tugon ko.

”Of course,” he said with that famed charming smile.

With Blue's remarkable charisma, he thanked Mecky and Balong too who both had different reactions to Blue's charismatic effect. I know Mecky had a long-time crush on him, so as usual, pa-girl ang asta niya. Si Balong naman, being Balong, he thinks he had the right to hate Blue, kasi nga daw ang gwapo ay galit sa kapwa gwapo.

Isa sa mga mga activity game na inihanda ko ay ang Escape Room challenge na siyang inayos namin ni Mecky kahapon sa mga groundfloor classrooms ng Science building. Sa tapat nito, kung saan madalas nakapark si Teacher Kim, ay siya namang pinili kong gawing camping ground na siyang pinaglagyan nina Mecky at Balong ng mga tents.

This time, Teacher Kim parked at the far end of the lot na siyang hinarangan ko na ng mga camping decor and some more tents. Sinadya ko talaga ito para hindi na siya makaalis, dahil sa dalawang nagdaang Founder's Day Weekend, hindi sumali si Teacher Kim as overnight watch guards.

While Blue enthusiastically inspect the Escape Rooms and our challenges with a more enthusiastic Mecky, Balong and I stayed outside the camping area.

”Bakeet hin-dee tayo soomama sa kanilah sa rooms? What if kung ireveal ni Mecky yung sagoht sa mga challenges? She's obssessed with that cheesedick,” pagbusangot ni Balong.

”She's not obsessed. And besides, akala ko ba hate mo yung guy, tapos gusto mo pa siyang samahan. Hayaan na natin si Mecky, let's give her some private moments of kilig. I don't think Blue would want to know the answers anyway, edi hindi siya nakapaglaro.”

Sasagot pa sana ulit si Balong but I shooshed him na to keep his mouth shut. Napansin kong lalong dumilim naman ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya, at napagtaka ako.

”So, my car is stuck now, huh.”

Tumalon ang puso ko sa lalamunan pagkarinig ko sa boses ni Teacher Kim. Since Monday, bukod sa class niya, hindi ko pa ulit nakakausap si Teacher Kim. Dahil na rin sa pagkabusy ko sa preparations sa event ngayon, postponed din ang prep reviews namin for the competition.

Principal Moon seemed to be a little suspicious na rin since hindi namin siya pinagbuksan ng pinto noong kumatok siya sa kalagitnaan ng malaswang encounter namin ni Teacher Kim. We lied and explained that we were out to grab some food and locked the study room because he had some confidential exam notes and answers in his bag; it became a valid reason since there was a rumor going on that there might be a leak in the midterm exams answers.

”Oh, is that your car, sir?” pagmamaang-maangan ko.

”Yes, Cece. I've been driving that car for two years now,” he retorted.

Napansin kong kumunot ang noo ni Balong sa akin, we were just talking earlier about Teacher Kim's car being blocked by the tents I was putting up; I needed a save.

”Ooops, sorry po sir. We can clear the way naman po if you're leaving na,” painosente ko pang tugon, ”but, may-be, you could stay this time? Two years na po kayong hindi nakakaattend ng evening festivities e.”

I saw Balong's eyes beamed at the corner, but still kept his poker-face. I felt a little tensed, malakas pa naman kung magduda ito si Balong. Suddenly, I questioned my sanity, what am I doing? I'm obviously on to something.

”But we can clear it off naman po, pag-aalis na kayo,” pagbawi ko.

”No, it's ok. I'm on night-watch tonight. I'd be making sure none of you will have any idea later when the lights are off.”

His tone leaned towards Balong. They both obviously didn't like each other, it was never clear to me why. It was more than just Balong's hatred sa mga gwapo, it was as if Teacher Kim had the same tension with him.

”Well, sir, with you roaming in the dark, everyone will have all kinds of ideas. Weren't you kidnapped one time?” sagot ni Balong. I didn't know that happened.

Kidnapped?!

Teacher Kim's face dulled, his lips pressed. ”I was not kidnapped. Some students just had a little more fun. It won't happen again.”

Hindi na mawari ang mukha ni Balong nang lumabas na rin si Mecky at Blue, nagsabog na ng kagwapuhan ang dalawang ultimate heartthrobs ng school. Contrary to Balong's belief, Blue and Teacher Kim are rather quite close, papasa nga silang magbarkada eh, other than the fact that the ultimate heartthrob teacher is one of the faculty advisors ng Student Council.

”Wow. This is interesting,” puna ni Mecky nang mapagitnaan ng tatlong nagtatangkarang lalake.

❧ ❧ ❧

The sky has turned into a mix of magenta, dark blue, red and orange. The clouds were scattered, a faded full moon has appeared in the early evening sky, I reckoned it'll be a starry-starry night too. The sound of students having fun from festivity games and activities echoed around the campus ground. Game booths placed in and around the grounds, most of the rooms are used too. The school borrowed for the night the adjacent track and field of the city's sports centre; there, we will have a giant bonfire at 8pm with some performances, both from students and some guest bands. Food stalls and mini restaurants were also put up there by the PTA and the college students of our school.

”Hey Peach!”

Biglang umakbay sa akin si kuya Jared habang naglalakad ako at nagmamasid sa mga kainan. Present din ang apat kong kuya tuwing Founder's Day Weekend. The alumni are only allowed in the bonfire ground. They can however, visit the campus before 8pm and join the games and activities the next day.

”Nice job on your Escape Room challenge, Peach. I bet it'll take forever for Jared to escape it,” asar ni kuya Jako. Sabay kaming lahat nagtawanan maliban sa pinagtawanan.

”Shut up moJako!” asar-tulak ni kuya Jared kay kuya Jako then he leaned closer to me. ”Ako naman pinakalove mo 'di ba, peachy peach? So, ibibigay mo na sa'kin ang sagot?”

Inirapan ko siya at umiling. ”So, bakit ka pa maglalaro? Kung alam mo na ang sagot?”

”'To naman! Kahit more clues lang.”

”'Yung clues nga na binigay 'di mo pa magets, more clues ka pa?” sabat naman ni kuya Jael. Nagtawanan kami ulit lahat sa pagalaala nung minsang naglaro kami ng Escape Room sa mall.

Mula sa kinatatayuan namin nila kuya, natanaw namin si Teacher Kim na pinupuluputan ng mga girls at mga bekis, both current and former students. I could hear a bit that they were convincing him to join the wedding and the kissing booths. Nakadama naman ako ng pagkairita.

”So, that's Teacher Kim, huh,” puna ni kuya Japo. ”Now, I get it,” sabay tingin naman niya kay kuya Jared na masungit na ang mukha.

”Seriously, isn't it disturbing in class kapag nagtuturo siya? I get wet just by looking at him,” sarkastikong opinyon ni kuya Jael. Kuya Japo bumped his shoulder at the profanity; they both looked at me but I kept a poker-face.

Tumingin si Teacher Kim sa direksyon ko, pero hindi ko napigilang umirap sa kaniya. ”So, asan pala si mama?” pagchange-topic ko.

Nagpatuloy lang kaming lima sa pagusisa ng mga pagkain sa mga booths. Hindi ko rin maikakaila na sila ang former heartthrobs ng highschool namin at dinig ko ang mga kilig ng mga nakakilala sa kanila.

”Andun si Mama sa school, kausap ang buwan,” sagot ni kuya Jared. Natawa kaming lahat sa reference niya kay Principal Moon.

Malambing na umakbay-akap naman sa akin si kuya Japo. ”Dad's here nga pala. First time in a long time.”

My expression lit up. ”Really, where? I wanna see him!”

Walang palya si mama at present siya taon-taon sa Founder's Day Weekend. Dad stopped attending noong naghiwalay sila ni mama. I got excited to know that dad finally returned; he was a bonfire legend, silang dalawa ni mama, actually.

”He must be here now, somewhere. Kausap niya kanina ang mga former teachers niya sa campus when we left him, he said he'd follow,” payapang sagot naman ni kuya Jael, he's also the closest to dad.

”O, there he is!” turo ni kuya Jako. Nalagutan naman ako ng hininga sa kausap ni Atty. Menendez, and as it seemed my father was in a serious conversation with my Teacher Kim.

Sinubukan kong pigilan ang mga kuya ko na lumapit kina dad at Teacher Kim, but it was to no avail. Bumilis naman ang kabog ng dibdib ko, nagumpisang uminit din ang pisngi ko.

Nalagot na!

Ang limang matitipunong sundalo ng buhay ko ay bumakod sa paligid ng lalaking umari sa puri ko.

”Oh, hey there, little Princess,” malambing na bati ng dad ko who thinks I am still his three-year old daughter. Umakap ako ng mahigpit at humalik sa pisngi niya.

Nakakapangilabot. Magkasingtangkad lang ang mga kuya ko, na siyang minana nila sa dad namin. Nang tumapat sila kay Teacher Kim, nagmukha silang lahat mga higante; halos kapantay lang din pala nila sa taas ang greek sex god ko; and I was there in the middle of these giants, like I was the unknown 8th member of Snow White's seven dwarves.

Hindi ako bumitaw sa pagkaakap ko sa tagiliran ni dad at yumuko na lang ako sa pagka-awkward with Teacher Kim. Can't help, but I was the ultimate daddy's girl, always have been.

”I was just talking here with Mr. Kim.” My dad flinched after mentioning his surname, ”Christopher, can I just call you Christopher? Your name sounds better.”