25 Chapter 22 - Nasilip ang Batuta (1/2)

I stared at the tiny droplets of rain that stayed on the windows. The rain has stopped for a couple of hours already, the dark grey sky was clearing bright, and a rainbow has appeared. I was sitting at the high tables of the science lab, just looking afar.

Umaga pa lang, madami na ang bumati sa'kin. I was trending again; #thechosenone and #butterflyprincess. It turned out, there were multiple videos that captured the events last Friday. Then, there was also a nagging trending question that has bugged me almost every half an hour - who is the prince charming?

”Cece, nakasalubong ko si Teacher Kim sa may hallway. He asked me to tell you to see him after this class, cancelled daw kasi, ata, review niyo today? Ay, he'll see you at the library na lang daw pala, since sabi ko dun din naman tayo tumatambay after natin maglunch.”

Nagtaka naman ako sa balita ni Mecky. ”Sinabi ba kung bakit cancelled?”

”Hindi eh.”

”Hmm, ok. Thanks. San ka ba galing?”

”Library. Alam mo, nakita ko na naman si Balong. Mukang timang pabalik-balik ng tingin sa pinto ng faculty. Ang weird talaga nun.”

”Huh? Tsk. Balong talaga, cutting na naman siya.”

”Hindi naman ata. May mga classmates siyang nasa library e. Cancelled ata class nila? Parang narinig ko masama daw bigla pakiramdam ni Sir Yap.”

”Ahhh. E, ba't di mo tinanong si Balong ano ginagawa niya? Madi-Disciplinary na naman yun.”

”Eee! Bahala siya. Pagsasabihan mo, di naman nakikinig. Sanay na rin naman siya sa detention.”

Napailing na lang ako. Napaisip naman ulit ako kung bakit kaya cancelled ang review namin ni Teacher Kim today. Sumimple ako ng text sa kaniya para tanungin siya kung bakit at sinagot lang niya ako ng maikling ”Talk later.”, Napairap na lang ako't napabusangot.

Agad kaming dumiretso ni Mecky sa library matapos ang mabilisang lunch namin sa cafeteria. Nagmistula kasi akong artista sa mga paparazzing kuha ng kuha ng picture ko. Mabuti't hindi naman naging mausisa si Mecky about sa hot trending topic of the day. At saka, kahit medyo weird why, pero pasalamat na lang din ako at hindi pa ako kinukulit-tanong ni ate Juris about it, and Balong has been M.I.A so far.

”Cece.” Biglang sumulpot sa likod ko si Teacher Kim habang papalapit kami ni Mecky sa lamesang napili namin sa library. Agad namang humampas sa ilong ko ang nakaka-addict na bango ng prince charming ko nang humarap ako sa kaniya.

”Ay, sir! Yes, po.”

”Let's talk. Newton.”

Nagtaka naman ako sa seryoso niyang tono. Nagkatinginan na lang kami ni Mecky na nagtataka rin, at saka ako sumunod sa masarap na likuran ni Teacher Kim.

”What's wrong? Is it about the trending topic of the day?” bungad ko pagpasok sa usual study room namin.

”Lock the door, please?”

”Ok, locked. Why so serious?”

Mula sa bahagyang pagkakaupo niya sa lamesa, kumaripas siya nang lapit sa akin at madiin akong hinalikan. Naputol ako sa paghinga at sumunod na lang ang bibig ko sa halik niya.

He stopped. Madiin din siyang tumitig sa mga mata ko, ilang centimetro lang ang distansya ng mga mukha namin; both his giant hands cupping the sides of my face and half the back of my head. Napalitan naman ng pagaalala ang pagtataka ko.

”What's wrong?”

”I just want to look at you and kiss you.”

”Ikaw! Tsk. Akala ko kung ano na.” Hinampas ko ng mahina ang dibdib niya. He does this a lot, OA sa pagkaserious tapos hahalik lang pala.

Hinalikan ulit niya ako ng may doble pang diin. Tapos bigla siyang bumitaw, tumalikod at bahagyang umupo ulit sa lamesa; iniwan akong bitin sa ere.

Tumitig lang siya sa akin, his lower lip was under his teeth. I made expressions like I wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

”I have to cancel our review today, love. I'm leaving for London tonight.”

”What? Why? Whaaat??”

”Relax, love. I couldn't stand being apart from you on weekends, even more so, being away from you for long. You drive me crazy, you know that?”

”What's in London?”

”Err, Big Ben? The Queen? Harry Potter?”

He enunciated Harry Potter slowly and in the most British accent. I rolled my eyes at sinipa ko ang paa niyang naka-ankle rest sa floor. He giggled.

”So cute, you, love.”

”Is.. something wrong, at, home?”

Medyo alangan akong nagtanong. Para namang biglang nagkainvisible wall ang mga titig niya sa akin, he paused before he answered. ”We'll talk later, my place. You think, you can -- ”

”I thought we're here to talk nga?”

”No. Like I said, I just want a snog. And, hmm, you taste good, what'd you eat for lunch?”

Napailing ako, dama ko ang wasiwas ng ponytail ko sa batok ko, pero bago pa ako makasagot ulit, agad na naman siyang lumapit at humalik ng madiin at mahigpit. Pahirapan na lang akong napatingkayad dahil sa tangkad niya.

”You think, you can make an excuse with your brothers to go home with me tonight?” he whispered, our nose touching.

His breath was intoxicating; a dark, minty, freshness. It matched his entire male scent. He kissed me again, first with a light peck then a soft sucking of my lips.

”I thought, you're leaving tonight?”

”Midnight. You can sleep in my bed. I bought you new clothes too, you've got a full closet already, next to mine.”

He pulled his face a little further away, his one hand still in my face, while the other, holding my wrist. Bumaba na rin ang mga paa ko sa pagkatingkayad. His thumb then trailed my lips. ”Oh, I forgot to buy panties tho. No, I didn't buy at all. You don't need it,” pahabol pa niya.

My eyes dulled then I shook my head. ”I think I can make an excuse tonight. But, for how long are you gonna be gone ba?”

”A week, or two.” Bumalik ulit siya sa lamesa at bahagyang umupo. Pero hinila na rin niya ang kamay ko at siya nga'y tumayo ako sa pagitan ng kaniyang dalawang hita. The back of his fingers fondled on the line of my jaw.

”A week, or two? That's.. awhile.”

”I know. Believe me, I feel like I'm being tortured right now. It will be hard not to be kissing you everyday.”

”What's wrong ba?”

The subtle tightening of his jaw hinted that there was indeed, something wrong. ”We don't have to discuss it now. I will tell you at home?”

”How about your class? And the finals is in, five, six weeks, you have to be gone now?”

”Sir Albert is taking over until my return. It will all be fine, little fox.”

”No, it's not. I'm going to miss you.”

”Hey, headline is, you have a mystery prince charming. You shouldn't be lonely at all, butterfly princess.”

I slapped the front of his face lightly at natawa lang siya ng makulit. Muling naglapat naman ang aming mga labi; this time, he was gentle, sweet and romantic.

❧ ❧ ❧

It felt a little strange that after missing it for several Mondays, I'm back at Mrs. Geronimo's class, who also, surprised us with a short quiz 15 minutes before the last bell for the day. I couldn't help but think, the surprised quiz was because of me, we used to have Monday quizzes until I was pulled out of class for the competition prep. Mecky told me, they also stopped having quizzes on Mondays that some thanked me for.

Questions about the mystery prince charming and cat calling of butterfly princess was the hubbub after every class. Ate Juris haven't said a word to me since this morning. I glanced at her, she looked upset. Lumapit ako habang nagliligpit siya ng gamit niya. ”Hi ate, ok ka lang?”

She glanced up, her upset eyes lightened and so was her expression. ”Yes, err, baby girl. Ok lang naman.”

”Weird day, huh?”

”Yeah.. weird.”

I was feeling shy and awkward, she was distant, and so was her girl friends. ”Mmmm, galit ka ba, ate?”

”Huh?”

”No, I just. Parang, ang aloof mo lang today. Worried lang ako.”

She lowered her eyes; there was a short pause. ”No, Cece. I just have a little thing of my own going. Nothing important.”

”Ah. Ok. Hope it gets better for you, whatever it is. Worried lang ako, na baka, you're upset with me, or something.”

She took another pause. ”Yes, baby girl. A little bit of that too.”

Her face did not look upset tho, but my curiousity piqued. ”Ay, why ate?”

”You've been trending over the weekend, and then, this, today. Just, I guess, I was sad about it too. Why you didn't tell me about it? I had no idea, may bf ka na pala. Not that you owe me to tell me that, pero I thought, friend mo ko?”

She sounded more malambing than upset. ”Ahhh, no -- yes! Ate, you're, my ate kaya. You're more than just my friend. This thing, it's, it's all crazy. I don't know. Hindi ko alam what to say about it.”

”So, you now have a boyfriend?”

”Errr, I don't know. It's, it's complicated.”

”I know, I pry a lot about you. But you know I care about you -- ”

”Of course. I do too with you.”

”But, baby girl, it's your first romance. Hindi dapat yan complicated. I mean, what about.. I mean why? The guy just did the most romantic thing I have ever seen in real life.”

”Eeee, err, yeah. Pero sabi mo na rin, first. Right now, ang pinaka concern ko is, you know, mga kuya ko. There's a 99% possibility na maglalagay sila ng electric fence around me.”

”Ah! yes,” mahinang nagkatawanan kami ng sabay, ”and they're likely to release a shoot-to-kill order for the mystery prince charming. You're kuyas are something.” Then she held both my hands, ”baby girl, I will not ask who. It's up to you to say. But, just, be careful with your heart, Ok? Hindi lang ang mga kuya mo ang magiging problema niya, I can be as wicked as Maleficent, if I choose to.”

Kasabay kong ngumiti at tumawa ang girl friends ni ate Juris. There was a good comfort that I feel sa sincerity ni ate Juris. I was super greatful na naging instant ate ko siya since that first day of high school.

The mystery topic of the year left the school after our brief snogging at the Newton's study room earlier. Teacher Kim insisted to wait for me or that he will come back to pick me up, but I won the argument, that I will just take a grab car instead. I take pride whenever I win arguments with him.

Naabutan ko namang aligaga si Happy kakatuwad at kakapaikot-ikot sa guard post niya. Halatang nahihirapan siya dahil sa laki niya at sikip naman ng post niya.

”Happy, ano nangyari, di ka mapakali dyan?”

”Ay, ikaw pala, princess. Naku! Ewan ko ba, 'yung batuta ko nawawala na naman ata.”

”Ha? E, 'di ba nakasabit lang naman 'yun dyan sa tagiliran ng belt mo?”

”E, tinanggal ko kasi kanina nung, nag-ano ako. Nag-kuan. Nag-cr ako.”

”Sige na, ako na maghahanap dyan sa loob, halos 'di ka na nga makayuko dyan e.”

”Ay, sige. Yor an enjel talaga, princess.”

Sinubukan kong hanapin sa loob ang batuta ni Happy pero mabilis ko lang ding napagtanto na wala na nga ito dito. Napalingon naman ako sa bintana sa may likurang bahagi ng guard post at nakita kong nakaupo at nagtatago si Balong hawak ang batuta sa likod ng mga bougainvilla sa labas ng post ni Happy.

”Balong!!”

”Ay! Paluhkang baaklah!”

Lumabas ako at naabutan ko ngang nakatayo na si Balong. Pinihit ko ang tenga niya't hinila siya palabas ng halamanan. ”Pasaway ka talaga. Pati ba naman si Happy, pinagtitripan mo?”

”Ay, naku! Balong ka talaga. Ikaw na naman!” ani Happy.

”Hi, Happy. Batuu-ta mo o.”

Mabuti at hindi nagalit si Happy. Makailang beses ko rin kinurot-kurot na maliliit si Balong sa kalokohang ginawa niya. Mabuti at siya nama'y nagsorry din agad kay Happy na siyang humagikhik na lang dahil tila ba tumiklop si Balong na pinapagalitan ko. Hindi ko pa siya nakitang tumiklop ng ganito; hindi ko pa rin naman siya napagalitan before.

”Hey, heard Clark Kent is leaving ah. Finally! All pussies are mine. Wahaha-haha.”

”Wag ka nga, Balong. Pinagsasabi mo dyan.” Mahina kong siyang hinampas sa braso, habang parehas kaming nakaupo sa concrete bollards sa labas ng post ni Happy.

”He'll be back naman no. At saka, wala ngang gustong kumausap sayo dito sa school, all pussies are mine ka pa.”

Bigla siyang napalingon sa'kin. ”Ayyyy. Cece. Don't say bad words. Say vagina, that's the anatomical term.”

”Sira!”

”You think, bah-balik talagah siya?”

”Bakit naman hindi? He's got a classes and students that'll be waiting for him no.”

”Oooorr, someone? Waiting for him?”

Tila ba may ibang gustong ipahiwatig si Balong, pero ayaw kong magpahalatang naalangan ako sa mapanuring tingin niya. ”And someone. I don't know. Madami naman ata siyang someone. And besides, may math competition pa kami no.”

”I don't think he cares if anyone's waiting for him anyway. Ang tseesmis, he's got a fiancee waiting for him in the united kingdom of great britain. And he's just returning now?”

”What?”

What??? What in the hell? Why don't I know that tsismis?

”Sa'n mo naman napulot yang tsismis na yan?”

”Connections, Cece. That's the second most important thing in life, next to a wild and intense sex, of course.”

”Ewan ko sayo. Tsimis lang yan.”

Itinaas niya ang isang hintuturo niya. ”Lahat ng tseesmis, mhay peenag-mulahn.”

”Oo, tsismosa. Tulad mo. Sa'n pa ba maguumpisa?”

”Ay. Mahli ata yung quotes na nabahsa koh.”

”Princess, may grab grab daw dito o, susunduin ka daw?” sigaw ni Happy.

Napatingin ako bigla sa phone ko. ”Ay, Happy. Oo pala. Papasok na ba siya? Pwede papasukin mo na lang? Lalabas din naman kami agad.”

”Ukey.”

”Where's your brother? Fucking another bitch somewhere?”

”Ay, ano ba Balong, maghunos-dili ka naman minsan sa mga pinagsasabi mo.”

”Sef ba yan, ha, Princess? Bakit hindi ka sinundo ng kuya mo?”

”Safe naman, Happy. Alam na ni kuya na may pupuntahan ako kaya di na ako nagpasundo.”