We already dine like this before but right now, the atmosphere is way different than the last time. Something’s up, I can feel it. Naguguluhan man sa kung anong nangyayari ay isinantabi ko na lang muna ang pagtatanong at nagsimula na kaming kumain.Halos mapapikit pa ako sa sobrang sarap ng pagkaing nakahain sa harapan ko. I dramatically point a finger on my food as I chew. Siya ‘lagi ang nagluluto ng pagkain namin sa bahay niya kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang mag-isip, siguradong siya ang nagluto nito. Hindi ko alam kung sadyang talento niya lang ‘to o talagang ipinanganak siya para sa ganitong purpose, e. Jusko, ang sarap!I heard him let out some soft little giggles.“You like it? That’s one of my specialties.”I slowly nodded. “God, Alessandro… Please cook for me for the rest of my life,” I muttered in awe.I’m not good and I don’t usually give comments about what I eat since I often drink coffee the whole day instead of having an actual meal but every time I taste his dishes, I a
Since none of us dared to start a conversation on our way home, the whole ride was painfully quiet; Both of us had our eyes on the road although, I was the only one who was watching the cars ahead of us like a fool. I couldn't stand how awkward it was, but I tried my very best to keep my mouth shut. I don't even have the right to at least lighten up the mood because in the first place, I was and I still am the reason why the atmosphere between us is uncomfy.I didn't refuse his proposal but my response was neither of "yes" and "no"—it was a "sorry", it turned out to be an apology when it wasn't suppose to be like that. Ang nonsense pero mabuti na ring wala akong naging matinong tugon. Magulo pa ang isip ko ngayon at ayokong pagsisihan kung anumang maging sagot ko kung sakali."That's alright, you don't need to be sorry. I understand." That's exactly what he said as he downheartedly nod his head and just pulled me close for a hug. I doubted that but then he genuinely looked like he wasn
The following days went well although, going back to my old routine—my life before Alessandro and I decided to live together doesn’t feel the same as before anymore. Like what we have compromised, we settle for texts and calls. But it makes me miss him more, it makes me want to see him and feel him so I keep making excuses to shorten the duration of our talks. Ayos lang naman no’ng una, pero no’ng napapansin kong palagi na siyang matamlay tuwing nagtatawagan kami at hindi niya na rin halos binabalik ang mga texts ko ay nalulungkot na ako. He’s obviously making time for me, pero anong ginagawa ko? Sinasayang ko ang oras niya imbes na ipagpahinga niya na lang ‘to.Getting up to get ready for work wasn't as refreshing as my usual weekday mornings with him. It feels like something’s missing doing things even if I’m used to doing them alone. It’s just been a few days yet I’m already longing for Alessandro’s warmth; I miss him.Unlike before, nagluluto na ako sa umaga upang makapag-almusal
Sa kabila ng lahat ng mga nangyari—simula noon hanggang ngayon na bumalik siya matapos mawala ng maraming taon, bakit nga ba ako umasa na hindi nagbago ang pagtingin niya sa akin? Bakit hindi ako nagtaka, na kahit hindi maayos ang paghingi ko ng tawad sa kaniya ay umakto lang siyang maayos na ang lahat sa amin, na para bang noon pa man ay malapit na ang loob namin sa isa’t-isa? How come he didn’t pushed me away when I tried to reach out to him? Everything went too fast, pero hindi ko agad naisip ang mga ‘yun dahil masyado akong nalunod sa bugso ng damdamin ko; Masyado akong nagpadala sa kat*ngahan ko.Dire-diretso akong pumasok sa bahay niya upang kunin lahat ng naiwan kong mga gamit. Wala na rin naman akong dahilan para bumalik pa dito. Wala na kaming dapat pang pag-usapan dahil sapat na ang nadatnan ko ngayong gabi para magising sa kahibangan kong ‘to. Kung ganito lang rin naman, mas mabuti nang lumaki ang anak ko nang walang kinikilalang ama. I’m going to keep the baby with or witho
I didn’t mean to raise my hand that day—the first time I caught her glaring at me with her beautiful brown-ish eyes. I was just yawning, stretching my arms, and about to go back to my seat when the teacher called my name to answer that Math flashcard. I can’t buy sweets for my sister because Mama doesn’t want us to talk with her or even go near her, so I was kind of happy and excited about that cheap chocolate. It was supposedly for Nish but when I saw her crying, I impulsively asked our teacher to give it to her.The fact that she’s a girl, I can’t help but panic and unconsciously put Nish in her shoes. What if she was my sister, would they have the same reaction? I don’t know why she hated me since that day but I didn’t bother to know the reason. I don’t care. At first, I don’t give a d*mn about it.Kahit palaging galit at nakasimangot sa tuwing magkasama o magkatabi kami, ang ganda pa rin talaga niya. Matalino pa! Masungit nga lang. Gusto ko talagang makipagkaibigan sa kaniya kaso a
Teacher gestured us to gather in front as she expertly shuffled the cards on her hands. “Alright, pupils. Maglalaro tayo, ha? Kung sinong makakasagot ng tama sa mga ipapakita kong Math flashcards ay may limang stars kay Teacher. At kung sino naman ang unang makakasagot ay bibigyan ko ng... chocolate!”I rolled my eyes when my classmates raised their hands and cheered in excitement. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ay gusto na agad nilang sumagot, they look so eager but do they know how to answer? I don’t think so. Even me, I don’t like that subject so they’re probably just after the chocolate. Imbes na makigulo ay nanatili lang akong nakaupo. It’s not like I don’t want to participate, I just don’t want to waste my energy standing there in front. Maiinis lang ako kapag nasanggi ako ro’n ng makukulit kong mga kaklase. My mother once told me that teachers like well-behaved kids and that’s why I’m behaving right now. I’m behaving because I want her to choose me. Ayoko ng premyo ngunit gusto kong
“Yong props ready na ba lahat? ‘Yong mga background, Delo, Ian! Pakibilisan naman, ang kukupad niyo! ‘Yong mga kawayan dito, ano na?! Maglalakad ba ‘yang mga ‘yan papunta sa back stage?!”Aakalain mong palengke ang classroom namin sa dami ng bibig na sabay-sabay na nagsasalita. Jusko, hindi ba sila naririndi? Ang titinis pa ng mga boses! Sobra silang nagmamadali, e may isa pa ngang section na magp-perform bago kami. “Boys, line up! Aayusin ni Hera ang mga bandana niyo! Bilis!”“Teka, nasira pa ‘yong props natin! Iba na lang muna utusan mo, Amie!”“Ano pa bang aayusin? Nakatali na nga sa leeg namin, ano pa bang gusto niyo? Minus five ba tayong lahat kapag hindi maayos ang pagkakatali ng bandana namin? Arte-arte, e.”Napahilot ako sa aking sentido ko. “Puwede bang kumalma kayong lahat? May oras pa naman tayo. Baka mamaya sa sobrang pagmamadali niyo ay lalo pa tayong may makalimutan.”I sighed. “Ako nang bahala sa bandana ng boys,” pagpresinta ko.Why does it have to be this chaotic? Ew
Basically, we’re still classmates. May mga major subjects lang na kinakailangan nilang lumipat ng room, pero kapag wala naman kaming klase ay kaming STEM students ang nag-aadjust para sa kanila. Walang masyadong bago, naka-alphabetical order pa rin ang seating arrangement at magkatabi pa rin kami ni Aven. Sa Research at cleaners lang yata kami hindi magkasama. Hindi ko man siya malalamangan sa honor roll dahil nga magka-iba kami ng strand, we still have a few core subjects. Hopefully, kahit do’n na lang ay mabawian ko siya sa quizzes at exams.“… tapos sabi ko, bakit naman kita pagbibigyan? Close ba tayo? Pahiya si t*nga, nilayasan lang ako. Ang kapal ng mukha! Hindi ako gano’n katalino pero nagsunog ako ng kilay sa pag-aaral para makakuha ng mataas na score, tapos pakokopyahin ko lang siya? Ano siya, gold? Eight lang score ko over twenty, pero at least pinaghirapan ko lahat ng sagot ko do’n!”“Ano ba kasing pangalan? Kuwento ka ng kuwento, kanina ko pa tinatanong kung anong pangalan,