Chapter 18-Let’s Try Being Lovers Instead

[Dion's Point of View]

It's already 2 am, yet I still can't sleep. I feel so tired. Feeling ko ang daming gumugulo sa isip ko.

Umupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga at huminga ng malalim. I went to the kitchen and got a glass of water to drink.

“Vida. Vida. Vida..." I rubbed my face using my palm. It's been 4 days since her last visit here at our house. Her grandmother had been rushed to the hospital, and she needed to focus on her temporarily. I understand her situation, of course. But there's a part of me that wants to see her. I want to see her and make sure she's fine. Because yesterday, I just knew that Vida only lived with her Lola in that apartment. I was worried about her condition. She's studying and working at the same time. Pano kung magkasakit s’ya? Sino’ng mag-aalaga sa kan’ya kung may karamdaman din ang kan’yang Lola?

"Where are her parents?" Huminga ako ng malalim sa ikalawang pagkakataon. I wish I could help.

I took my phone out and the picture of Vida showed on my lockscreen. The corners of my eyes deliberately crinkled. Then I thought,

If I don't do anything, then nothing will happen.

I dialed Vida's phone number that Daddy Bruce had given me earlier. I know I don't have consent from her, but being worried about her is already a valid reason, right?

My hands are quite shaking because of nervousness. Kinontact ko si Vida pero hindi naman sinasagot. But I kept calling her.

What am I supposed to say? Maybe she's still asleep.

"Itutuloy ko pa ba?”

Before I could tap the red button, she had already answered it.

"Hello?" bulong niya. Mabuti naman at gising pa pala s’ya. But I didn't answer. Biglang umatras ang dila ko. What the heck?

“Hello? Sino ‘to? " mahina pa rin ang tono ng boses n’ya. It's like she was avoiding making a loud noise.

"V-Vida..."

“Ms. Resores! Give me your phone!” I heard from the other line. Nakarinig ako ng mga kaluskos, at hindi ko alam kung kninong boses ba ‘yon nagmula. “Hello? Who is this?!” Dahil sa tono ng pananalita n’ya, napilitn akong sumagot.

"D-Dion."

“What? Ion? Dion? Whoever you are calling to Ms. Resores, please call her later because we're having a quiz. If you won't stop, then I will send Vida to the guidance office, and you must come with her. Have you understood?" then the call ended.

…

Fvck. Is that her teacher? But wait, is she in school? Muli kong tiningnan ang oras sa orasan ko at doon ko lang narealize na hindi na pala ito gumagana. And the time on my phone is already 8 in the morning. Nanaginip lang ba ako na hindi nakatulog? Oh shet.

Binilisan ko ang kilos para makaabot sa first subject namin. For the first time in my senior high school life, ngayon pa lang yata ako malelate.

“Arghh.”

I entered our school at exactly 9 am. And I was so ashamed of myself. Hindi lang dahil sa late ako pati na rin sa ginawa kong pagtawag kanina kay Vida. Ano na ang ang gagawin at sasabihin ko sa kan’ya once na magkaharap na ulit kami? Sa kagustuhan na magkaayos kami, mas lalo pa yatang lumala ang sitwasyon. For sure, she will blame me again. And I think I deserve that because I am stupid. So, stupid.

…

“Good day, class. Today, mayroon kayong bagong makakasama na new student. He is from Quezon Science High School.” Ms. Ami walked towards the door and gladly opened it. “Mr. Gogh, you may now introduce yourself.”

I don’t really care about that new student, but when someone popped up into my mind and when Cassie screamed his name, doon napako ang atensyon ko sa lalaki.

“Omg, s’ya ba? I thought sa ABM Class B na s’ya, ba’t nilipat dito?” Umugong ang bulungan sa pagpasok n’ya.

“Hi. I’m Vincent Gogh. Twenty years of age and dwelling on my aunt’s house in Barangay Hasan, Sitio Gamilong. Most of my friends call me Kuya Vincent, so yeah, you can call me that too. I am not friendly but not introvert. I am just a little snobbish but I’m a…good boy.” Everyone laughed because of his last words. But it’s not funny tho. Tss.

“For real, 20 na s’ya? Hindi halata megad.”

“Yeah. Mukha s’yang baby…ko.”

“Hala, may bago na naman akong lalandiin.”

“Kyaah ang pogiii.” Umugong ang bulungan sa buong classroom namin. Even boys were talking about him.

“Vincent, kamag-anak mo ba si Van Gogh?” Muling nagtawanan ang buong klase pati nga ako nadali ng joke ni Tomas.

“Class, enough. For you to know, doon s’ya unang nilagay sa Class B kaso, nagkaroon tayo ng kauntig problema doon sa mga students dahil pinag-aagawan nila si Vincent.” Bigla akong napaubo and everyone gazed at me. What the heck. “And I’m hoping guys, na sana walang mangyayaring gano’n dito sa section natin, especially sa mga girls and feeling girls natin okay?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Sorry ka Ma’am, pero mahal ko na si Vincent. Gagawin ko ang lahat para mabakuran s’ya,” bulong nitong katabi ko na si Louie. Napailing na lang ako.

What happened to this generation?

“Mr. Gogh, you may now take your seat beside…Mr. Camero.” My forehead creased right away.

“But Ms. Ami, this seat is taken- for Falona.”

“Yes, I know. Don’t worry, may paglilipatan na s’ya. So, stay calm there Mr. Camero. Gusto ko na ipagtabi kayo kasi napakaganda tingnan magkatabi ang dalawang magagandang nilalang. Diba, class?” Everyone agreed to her and even laughed because of her idea. Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim. This people…

[Vida’s Point of View]

“Vida, ibalita mo na lang sa’min kapag kayo na ah? Magpapa-party kami.” Muling nagkant’yawan ang mga kaklase ko. Mula kaninang umaga, paulit-ulit nila akong inaasar kay Dion na tumawag kanina sa ors ng klase naming. Nakakabwiset talaga.

Paano n’ya ba nakuha ang number ko? At bakit n’ya naman ako tinawagan? Grrrrr.

“Vida!!” Napakapit ako sa dibdib ko nang biglang sumigaw sa harapan ko si Faye. Hindi ko namalayan ang pagdating n’ya. “Ikaw ha, ano’ng iniisip mo? Gaano ba ‘yan kalalim at pati ako ay hindi mo na napansin. Ha?”

“Tss. Ano ba sinasabi mo d’yan? Wala akong iniisip ‘no,” pagtanggi ko.

“Asus, deny pa. Si Lola Clarita na naman ba? Sinabi ko naman sa’yo –“

“Hindi... Actually, ‘yong mga kaklase kong feeling close.” Tinawanan n’ya ako ng malakas kaya tumigil na lang muna ako sa pagsasalita. Warshak talaga ‘to.

“Gan’yan talaga kapag mapili sa gustng kausap.

"It's really like that when you are a... picker."

"Picker, what? I just don’t really want to socialize. The more acquaintances, the more problems,” I believe.

"So, what are your FC classmates saying, huh?" She's curious. So, I started walking. We'll now take our lunch break, and we'll go to the canteen again. When we are walking, I will tell her the story.

"Dion earlier, call me." Her two slightly narrowed eyes widened.

"Seriously?" I nodded. "... and in the middle of our class with Mrs. Joven.” Quite a few students were passing by, so I stopped speaking for a moment. I'm afraid someone else will hear it. Fortunately, Faye stopped as well.

"Why did he call?" She looked really interested.

"Well, I don't know." I both lifted my shoulders. “Ma'am answered the call. And after that, I was gossiped about by my thick-faced classmates. They shipped the two of us immediately. What they don't know is that I almost cursed him because of my resentment for that jerk Dion." I turned to Faye and wondered if she had suddenly lost her appetite for listening to me. Earlier, she was still very enthusiastic. What could have happened?

"Faye, are you okay?"

“Uh-huh? Of course, I just feel like I'm not quite well. Come on, we might run out of food." She held my arm, but I just let her walk-in line first.

After we ate, I immediately parted ways with Faye because she said she was going to finish writing notes for their recitation tomorrow. On the other hand, I was about to go back to our classroom, but I suddenly stopped because Kuya Vincent suddenly called. I had to answer him, so I sat on the bench first.

"Kuya, do you need anything?"

"Ahh, yeah. Can you do me a favor?” he asked. It was a bit noisy around him, only female voices. It looks like there are people hanging around him.

"Of course, Kuya. What is it? "

"We have PE now. I was not informed, so I did not bring extra clothes. And I just knew that we would have a report on our last subject, so I need to make a report so I can catch up... Can you send me some clothes? I'm really embarrassed, but I really need it now.”

“Oh, it’s okay. 'Don't be shy, Kuya Vincent. I still have time left for our lunch break because Faye and I finished early," I said.

"Really?"

“Mm. Wait, I'm going to ride a tricycle home to the apartment. Just wait for me there at your school. ”

It’s only 15 minutes until our class starts again. But I can't reject Kuya Vincent because this is also my chance to return to him the goodness he did to Lola. It's okay if I'm late. The important thing is that I can deliver the clothes to him.

When I arrived at the apartment, I immediately told Aunt Virginia the clothes Kuya Vincent needed. She was even surprised that I was the one taking it, so I explained. Maybe she's still not aware that Kuya and I are close, so that's how she reacts.

I'm still a little nervous because this is the first time, I've been here in SNIHS. I heard the students here are also scary because they are arrogant. Most of them are also rich. It has almost become a private school.

Jeez, I forgot which section of Kuya he was in.

I would have called him, but suddenly my eyes hit the familiar face. Dion.

Should I ask him? Yuck no. Why would I approach that jerk? He also has a lot of sins against me.

I turned around so he wouldn't notice me, because he looked like he was coming out of the gate. I'm still here at the gate because I also don't know how to get inside.

Think Vida...

When I made sure that Dion was gone, I had the courage to approach the guard.

He raised an eyebrow at me after looking at me from head to toe.

"What are you going to do inside?" is a cold question.

"I'll just give my friend these clothes."

"Who?"

“Dion — Kuya Vincent rather." I elaborated.

"You should have told him to wait for you here."

"I forgot to tell him."

He put me to one side first, because there were a lot of teachers coming. The guard made me wait for almost 5 minutes and ignored me.

“Sir, I might be late to my class. I have to give this to him asap.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Why don't you just give it to your friend here, or call the person you're going to give it to?"

I tried to call Kuya Vincent, but he didn't answer me. I'm disgusted. Not to Kuya, but to the guard, who is hard-headed.

"Can't I really come in?"

After a while...

“Sir, she’s, my friend. She is telling you the truth. The class will start in a few minutes. So, will you let us in together?" I was shocked when Dion put his arms around my shoulder and started talking to the guard like that. Where does he get his courage?

"Okay." The guard had already allowed us in, and Dion still wouldn't remove his hand that rested on my shoulder. When we got away from the gate, I immediately removed his arm.

"The thickness of your face, Dion."

"What? I just did that so you could come in," he replied calmly. He's drinking his banana shake.

"I don't need your help," I told him firmly. There were only a few students passing by, but I was still wary of those who might have heard our conversation.

"You actually need my help. You will not be able to enter if you are not accompanied by an SNIHS student. That's why I pretended to be your friend.”

"Is it required to put your arms around my shoulder?"

"To be more realistic?" He just stared at me, which I avoided.

"Even if you helped me, I still won't look down on it with gratitude. And that will not lessen your sins against me. Remember that? We will never be friends!” My voice had risen a bit because of the annoyance I was feeling.

“You really hate me that much? Why is that?” He came a little closer to me, so I backed away.

"You don’t want us to be friends? Then let's try being lovers instead. Maybe it'll work."