“Alright, now that we’ve finished assigning task for our near intramurals, there’s going to be a meeting after school today for each of the intramurals task group.” Professor Miriam announced to the entire class.

It’s now the seventh of August, two months after the incident between Leni and Bongbong at the restaurant occurred. They are simply avoiding each other and letting what happened slip like it was nothing sort. They are just avoiding the awkwardness and embarrassed whenever one is near the other.

“We’re going to have each task group meet up in separate classrooms and...” she announced more. Tulalang-tulala naman si Bongbong nang mabasa niya ang nakasulat na mga pangalan sa task group na kinabibilangan niya.

The equipment task group, and Leni is in there too.

Lumipas nga ang class hours at nagtipin-tipon na ang mga task group sa kanilang assigned classroom para sa kanilang meeting. While holding the list of their activities, Bongbong then reads it while he hears their leader—which is Kiko, speak.

“Ngayong nandito na ang lahat ng mga member ng task group na ’to, magpapakilala ako sa inyong lahat bilang leader niyo, I’m also the president of the track and field club. I was appointment by the professors and teachers to be this task group’s leader. My name is Francis Pangilinan, you can just call me Kiko.” Pakilala nito sa kaniyang sarili.

“Together with the track and field club group, we’ll be in charge of the equipments needed for this year’s intramurals. We need each other’s help for this task because it’s one of the heaviest.” Saad pa ni Kiko.

“Sa mga na-try or naging bahagi na ng task group na ’to last year ay alam niyo na abg gagawin. Sa mga bago naman ay simple lang ang paliwanag ko, we’ll be doing things like preparing the equipment for each sports event held inside our school.” Dagdag pa niya.

Meanwhile, Leni was just too astonished to comprehend what’s happening lately. A mere coincidence or not? She thinks. Hindi niya lubos-akalaing makakasama niya si Bongbong sa grupo kaya mas lalo siyang kinabahan. Pilit niya kasing iniiwasan ang binata mula noong mangyari ang hindi nila inaasahang pagkikita sa restaurant.

“I can’t believe this, my life is literally curling up.” Bulong ni Leni sa kaniyang sarili at napahinga na lamang nang malalim.

Minutes later, the meeting was adjourned and the people from the group then separated. Meanwhile, Leni is talking to her friends, Sara and Pia who’s also in the same group as Leni’s.

“Ha, Messenger?” tanong nito kay Sara nang sabihin niya ang tungkol sa bagay na ’yon.

“Oo, gumawa na kami ng group chat nila Pia together with the other members such as Koko, Cynthia, and Kiko. Ikaw at si Bongbong na lang ang wala sa GC, may messenger account ka ba?” Sara then asked. Tumango naman si Leni.

“Ah oo, Leni Gerona name ko sa Facebook, add friend niyo ’ko then kapag na-accept ko na, add me on khr GC na lang.” Ngiti naman ni Leni, tumango na lang din sila Sara at Pia.

“Yeah, ang laking tulong din ng Messenger in terms of announcements and communication. Like, ang convenient niya. Ay, i-add mo nga pala si Bongbong sa GC.” Pia smiled and looked at her phone. Suddenly, Kiko then arrived.

“Ah buti’t naabutan ko kayo rito, could you help me for a bit?” Kiko asked them, tumango naman sila Pia at Sara at kaagad ding sumunod kay Kiko sa loob ng classroom, susunod na sana si Leni pero napatigil siya nang makarinig ng mga boses sa hallway.

“Oy, Bongbong!” tawag ni Isko sa kaibigan.

“Uuwi ka na?” Ping followed by asking.

“Oo,” simpleng ngiti lamang ni Bongbong na ikinataka ng dalawa.

“’Yong club activities mo ay, skipping it?” Ping asked again.

“No, I have somebody to take-over my task for the club.” Tugon naman ni Bongbong.

“Then yeah! We could have some time together since wala rin kaming gagawin today—” hindi na nakatugon pa si Isko nang biglang sumabad si Bongbong.

“No, can’t do. I’m gonna write today.” Bongbong smiled, napakunot naman ang noo ni Isko at kalaunan ay ngumiti na lamang din.

“Then, lemme read it when you’re done.” Ngisi niya.

“No way!” tawa ang itinugon ni Bongbong at lumakad na nga palayo sa kanilang dalawa ni Ping.

Messenger, the app is on Leni’s mind the moment she got out of school and went home. She checked her phone directly and she founded friend requests from her Facebook.

Leni is inside a room with Lourdes, they were both busy with their phones and not minding each other. When Leni approved the friend request of her groupmates, she was then added to the group chats together with the others.

She then noticed an announcement, they’ll gonna meet up at the gym storage room at lunchtime, July eleventh.

Napayuko na lamang si Leni at dumukdok sa kaniyang study table. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya matanggap na kasama si Bongbong sa group nila. She can’t work properly and she always feels anxious whenever she’s near him. Like something is off the hook, she can’t comprehend what she’s feeling—mixed awkwardness and embarrassed.

“Stressed sa school?” Narinig ni Leni na nagtanong si Lourdes kaya naman ay kaagad niya siyang hinarap.

“Medyo, Ate. Everything is just stressful lately, busy ako sa schoolworks and now sasabay pa ang intramurals. As usual, part nanaman ako ng equipment task group.” Tugon niya, pero sa totoo ay hindi naman talaga iyon ang pangunahin niyang rason kung bakit siya na-sstress.

“Kaya mo ’yan, mas lalo pa ’yang hihirap kapag college ka na. Masasanay ka rin.” Ngiti ni Lourdes at bumangon sa kamang kaniyang kinahihigaan.

“I’ll be helping with the dinner, I heard that Mama is making us some curry. Tawagin kita ’pag kakain na.” Ngiti pa nito at lumakad na nga patungo sa pintuan, she then opened the door and get herself out of the room.

Napabuntong-hininga si Leni at dumukdok muli siya sa study table niya. She then grabbed her teddy bear stuffed toy and squeezed it as hard as she can to ease what she’s currently feeling. The mix of nervousness because of certain worries.

“Hay, Ate. Kung alam mo lang ang nararamdaman ko.” She bit her lip and squeezed the stuffed toy again.

~Obscure Solicitude.