Everything felt so weird that day! Di ko man lang magawang kausapin ang mga classmates ko on that subject, at di rin ako masyadong pinapansin ni Melissa. It felt odd na katabi ko nga siya pero di niya ako kinakausap. Eh kasi naman, tong boyfriend niya, isinumpa at naging babae. How I really wish I could tell her, but I can’t.

Teka, maybe Melissa was the one who placed a spell on me dahil nalaman niya ang katotohanan about me and my other girls. Could this be her way of revenge? I was staring at her for almost the entire period, but she acted normally. At seldom times, lumilingon siya at tinatanong kung nakaka-catch up ba raw ako. I nodded naman, and she replied with a smile. God, she’s so pretty. Bakit ko nga ba siya niloloko dati?

The class soon ended. We left the room, and I was still with Melissa, trying to figure out if she’s the one who casted the spell on me, but I got nothing but the winds.

“What’s your next class, Christina?” tanong ni Melissa.

“Umm… I got Ecology…” I answered.

“Ooh! Christian’s supposed to be on that class din! Classmates pala kayo for that subject.” Melissa added. “O sige, mauuna na ako ha. I have to go to the library for Christian’s World Lit assignment.”

“Huh? Wag na…” Oh shoot! I shouldn’t be the one saying this. I’m supposed to be Christina. “…Uhhh… what I mean is… he should be the one doing that assignment.”

“Hmm… I better do it nalang. Sayang din yung points niya. Sige, I have to go!” Melissa waved goodbye as she headed towards the library. I so wanted to stop her but it’ll be very awkward to explain why. Man, I’ve been a real jerk to her.

As I stroll towards our room for Ecology class, I can’t stop noticing my basketball buddies staring at me. Kung alam lang nila na gustong-gusto ko na silang kausapin at kamustahin, and maybe skip this stupid Ecology class.

I noticed River smiling at me, and no matter how weird it may seem, but I smiled back. Ang awkward nilang tingnan pagkatapos, na tila tinutukso nila si River. What’s going on?

I got a blue face as soon as I entered the room. Ito kasi yung class na isa lang ang kakilala ko. Si Alcoy. Di na ako mage expect na present siya, mahilig mag absent yun. Baka nasa practice yun, kasama sina River.

Pero, aba, himala! Pumasok ang loko! Napatalon ako sa tuwa, at sinabing “Alcoy Unggoy! Himala na pumasok ka!” I had a huge grin, but his reaction was very awkward.

OH DANG FLAB IT! I FORGOT AGAIN NA HINDI NA AKO SI CHRISTIAN!

“Kilala ba kita, Miss?” tanging sabi lang ni Alcoy.

“Oh! I… Ay… Ayayay… I’m so sorry, Alcoy.” I answered. “I’m Christina nga pala, Christian’s close cousin. Very…very…close…”

Biglang nag-iba ang mood ni Alcoy, and we shook hands.

“Oh, Hi!” Alcoy smiled showing his one and only dimple na nasa right cheek. “Di ko alam na may cousin pala si Christian na ka-same age namin.”

“Palagi ka nga niyang kinukwento sa akin eh! Like, parang halos lahat na ng stories niyo!” Palusot na sabi ko. Of course, I know everything about Alcoy. He’s my only bestfriend from Elementary up until College! His heartbreaks, his crushes, ang mga nililigawan niya, lahat alam ko. At alam din niya, halos lahat sa akin. Parang kambal na kami, ika nga.

“Ano naman ang mga kinukwento niya sa’yo? Naku, baka mga embarrassing moments namin ang kinukwento niya sa ‘yo.” He said.

“Uh… Di lang embarrassing moments, pero halos lahat-lahat.” I answered with a smile.

“Ba’t di ka nakwento sa akin ni Christian? I knew almost everyone sa mga kamag-anak niya.” Alcoy asked further.

“Uhmm… Galing kasi ako sa probinsya. Sa Facebook Chat nga lang kami palagi nag co-communicate eh.” I responded. Gahd, that was a lame answer.

So, we then talked and talked kahit during lecture, and I had a very good laugh! It felt so good to have my bestfriend. Napaisip ko bigla, kung sasabihin ko kaya kay Alcoy ang buong katotohanan? Will he help me kaya?

I had doubts, so far, maybe not today. Maybe soon.

The class soon ended.

“So, may warm-up kayo today sa gym?” I asked Alcoy. Every after Ecology kasi, nagkakaroon ng warm-up exercises ang team.

“Oo.” He answered with a smile. “Andaming kinuwento sayo ni Christian ha. Pati warm-up schedule, kinuwento niya.”

“Yeah, pretty much about everything about his school and his basketball.”I responded and added, “Can I watch?”

Our warm-up exercises are supposed to be a closed one. We get to have the gym for our team only para ma-practice din ang iba’t ibang strategies for our upcoming basketball match.

Alcoy stared at me, tila parang nawe-weirduhan sa aking interest about basketball. I soon added, “Mahilig kasi ako sa basketball, and since Christian’s on the team, kaya ko siya nakakausap lagi.” I smiled.

Napatawa lang si Alcoy and said, “Hmm… Maybe I can ask our Captain about this. Yeah.”

“Ah! Thank you!” I hugged him out of the blue. Normally kasi, I just wrapped my arms around Alcoy’s neck saka guguluhin ang buhok niya. Eh, this time, I’m in a girl’s body, and Alcoy seems taller than me na, na dapat sana magkasingtangkad lang kami.

I soon let go, and headed towards the gym. At ako pa ang naunang pumasok. Pagpasok ko palang, I felt at home na agad! The smell of those rubber basketballs and the sound of those sneakers rubbing against the floor felt like paradise.

Napili kong umupo sa may left balcony, near the stage. Doon kasi kadalasan nagha-huddle ang team.

Brian noticed my presence and called my attention.

“Miss, sorry, this is a close gym practice!” sigaw ni Brian. Of course he has the authority kasi siya ang Team Captain.

Alcoy came running to the rescue and talked to Brian. I think I heard him saying, “No, Cap. She’s with me. Si Christina yan. Pinsan ni Christian.” Alcoy gave me thumbs up, and I gave him a thumb up as well.

“Eh nasan ba si Christian?” Brian asked Alcoy. Since di rin alam ni Alcoy, he then asked me. “Christina, nasaan ba si Christian?”

“Ummm… Nasa Tagaytay. Nagbabakasyon. Di ko alam kung kailan ang balik niya.” I answered him loudly.

“Di maaari ‘to! Malapit na ang Sportsfest, and our team needs a Shooting Guard!” Brian roared.

Naku. Kung alam lang nila na nandito lang si Christian sa katauhan ni Christina. Patay din ako ni Brian pag andito din ako, as Christian. The team had a huddle. Di ko na naririnig ang mga pinag uusapan nila pero they kept on nodding.

I stared at them habang nagha-huddle sila. Naiingit tuloy ako. I miss them so much. I miss playing so much!

Alcoy kept on nodding at tila serious sa pakikinig kay Brian. Eto talagang si Alcoy oh. Seryosong seryoso pagdating sa basketball pero sa klase, very talkative!

Alcoy caught me staring at him. He smiled and waved, I smiled and waved back.

River saw me waving back at Alcoy and then whispered something to him. Biglang seryoso ang mukha ni Alcoy, and they’re talking in whispers. What’s going on? Parang biglang may tension. I stood up, stared at Alcoy and River.

I raised my right thumb, symbolically asking kung ok ba ang lahat. He responded with his right thumb up, with a smile na may kasamang dimple. If I felt it right, parang nagpapa-cute tong loko sa akin. Hahaha!

Oh shoot! Wait! I am acting as a girl, as Christina. Could it be… na sinadyang nagpapacute si Alcoy sa akin? Oh… Oh this is not good!

I think I gotta talk to Alcoy about my situation bago pa siya ma-develop sa akin! This is really really awkward!

As soon as natapos ang warm-ups nila, I slowly went down, with the intention of leaving the gym without Alcoy’s knowledge, nang biglang tinawag niya ako.

“Hey, Christina, wait up! I’ll just change my shirt!” sabi ni Alcoy.

“Ummm… Sige, that’s ok! Go shower nalang. I’ll go ahead. Thanks for letting me in.” I said to Alcoy.

“No, please. Sabay na tayo. I have Economics class din naman at 3pm. Anong next class mo?” Alcoy asked with a smile.

Oh shoot! Economics din next class ko. Usually kasi after warm-ups, nagsho-shower kami then we head to our Economics class. Di pwedeng mag skip ng class kasi terror ang Professor namin.

“Uhm… Economics din…” I answered in a low tone.

“Really? With Professor Trio? Eh di, sabay nalang tayo!” Alcoy replied with a big grin on his face. Parang natuwa pa siya lalo.

“Uhmmm…” I would really want to say NO, but I uttered, “Sige…”

“Ayos!” Alcoy answered. “Wait lang ha, I’ll be quick!”

I then noticed River talking to him and this time, I can hear their conversation.

“Close mo yung pinsan ni Christian?” River asked.

“Ummm… Just now. Bakit?” Alcoy answered.

“Don’t mention anything about me and Melissa.” Sabi ni River na parang nag threaten.

“You have my word.” Alcoy tapped his shoulder, saka pumasok sa locker room.

River was all dressed na, and heading to my direction. I was standing at the doorway, and noticed him staring at me, emotionlessly.

Tinitigan ko siya ng masama, till he went out of the gym.

Seriously, what the fvck is going on? There must be something in-between. With all these lies, and secrets, feel ko may mas malalim pa akong malalaman. What was Alcoy and River trying to hide? And bakit kasama si Melissa? Posible bang magkasabwatan sila for what happened to me?

Soon after, Alcoy went out and lumapit sa akin. I can smell him wearing his best perfume. Teka, I know this smell. Ito yung mga ginagamit niyang perfume kapag may date siya. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS GREAT BALLS OF FIRE! ALCOY’S INTO ME?

“Nice perfume!” I said to him.

“Thanks. Pero this is what I always wear.” Alcoy said.

“Yan ba yung perfume mo kanina? Parang iba kasi.” I answered. Pretended na di ko alam ang perfume na ginagamit niya for dates.

We soon reached our room for Economics. It was a cold hard lecture, and my mind’s flying elsewhere. As usual na ginagawa ko, nakikipag chikahan nalang ako kay Alcoy. He never failed to make me laugh with all his jokes. Sadyang ganito na talaga si Alcoy since Elementary pa. Kaya nga naging best friend ko siya.

Few more minutes nalang and my first day of school as a girl is over! Tila ambagal nanamang kumilos ng oras.

“Hey, Christina. Can I ask for your number?” sabi ni Alcoy.

I stared at him. Oh shoot! Anong number ang ibibigay ko? I can’t give my number to him kasi it was my number as Christian! SHOOT!

I gave him the number of my extra SIM, on my extra phone.

“This is Christian’s extra SIM.” Sabi ni Alcoy, as he stared into his phone while saving my number.

SHOOT! Nakalimutan ko, he knows my every number, including my extra SIMs!

“Yeah, pinahiram muna sa akin ni Christian.” I answered, hopefully na kagatin niya.

“Ok! Text-text tayo tonight kung ok lang sayo.” He said with a smile.

I replied with a smile din.

Aminin ko mang gusto kong sabihin kay Alcoy ang katotohanan about me and my situation, pero di ko magawa. Technically, parang may tinatago tong sina River, Melissa, and even my best friend Alcoy. I have to unfold what needs to be unfolded.