Chapter 3 | Hobby

"Bakit ka ba kasi nagpapa-activity ng ganoon kahirap? Kita mo ng may isa kang estudyante na nahihirapan sa physical education mo, hinihirapan mo pa!" I woke up hearing someone dictating these words with such anger.

I chose to not open my eyes yet and let my senses process my surroundings.

"Iyon ang p-purpose ng P.E, Mr. Fortelleza—"

"Ito ba?" napadilat ako sa mala-tigreng boses ni Lukan.

I could see he was pointing at me.

"Ito ba ang physical education na ipinagmamalaki mo?"

My brain finally got what was happening. He was arguing with our teacher. If this was a normal day, I would be pissed off of his attitude toward the teacher. He shouldn't yell or tell the teacher what to do as a sign of respect. But, even I was irritated of my teacher.

"Table tennis lang ang ipalalaro mo, ang dami pang warm ups? Dapat sa 'yo tinatanggal sa p'westo," galit na galit si Lukan sa MAPEH teacher namin.

"You even let the students do the task without your presence. Where's the professionalism on that?" he pointed out.

Napayuko ang aming guro at hindi na nakapagsalita.

"You lead Ms. Zorron into trouble. I will report this. Health teacher ka pa man rin, dapat alam mo ang possible effects ng mga gagawin ninyong activities sa estudyante before letting them do it," he pointed out.

"Lumayas ka na nga rito!" walang galang niyang utos sa guro.

The teacher wanted to say something yet she remained silent when she saw that Lukan wasn't playing. Dahan-dahan itong umalis. Natira kami ni Lukan kasama ang doctor sa loob ng silid.

He turned to me at agad nag-iba ang galit niyang mukha, naging malambot ang kanyang mga mata nang napansin ang aking mga titig.

"Did I wake you up? I'm sorry. Nainis ako sa teacher ninyo," may lambing sa kanyang tono.

"Na sa school pa rin ba ako?" I asked with an absent mind.

"Yes, the school called your parents. On the way na sila," sagot niya at umupo sa tabing upuan ng kamang hinihigaan ko.

"Anong oras na?" I asked again.

"Six. Uwian na," he answered, "may iilang mga kaklase mong gusto kang bisitahin dahil nabalitaan nila ang nangyari. Hindi ko sila pinapasok dahil alam kong hindi naman sila concerned pero kung may papapasukin kang kaklase sabihin mo—"

"Wala. Tama lamang ang ginawa mo," sabi ko at nag-iwas ng tingin.

The doctor talked to me kaya hindi na kami muling nakapag-usap ni Lukan. He asked me of my daily routine and about my food habits. I honestly answered all of the questions.

Minutes passed and my parents came inside of my room. Lukan stood up to show respect. They asked me with much concern before talking with the doctor.

"What made this happen, doc?" my mother asked with authority.

"What's my condition po?" I couldn't help but to also ask.

The doctor looked at me and said the truth.

"Hindi na normal ang weight mo sa iyong edad. Your heart is getting weak to even walk an hour. Ang nangyari sa iyo kaninang pagkahimatay ay dahil nabigla ang katawan at puso mo," the doctor stated.

He used the remaining minutes on expanding more details by explaining. He suggested things too that would help me be healthy.

"You should start loosing weight. Eat healthy foods, too," the doctor suggested.

It took a while for our consultation to end.

Nang natapos ay inalalayan ako ni Lukan hanggang sa aming paglabas. I wasn't necessary but he acted like a gentleman to please me. I didn't argue anyway he was helpful. Maybe he felt responsible as the one who saw me unconscious earlier. My parents were leading the way as we walked.

My mother turned around and smiled a bit at the man I was with.

"Mr. Fortelleza, thank you for helping our daughter for today," she gratefully said to Lukan.

"Lukan, Behemoth or G'wapo na lang po ang itawag ninyo sa akin, tita."

Aba't... nakangisi pa si Lukan sa aking ina nang sabihin iyon.

Feeling close?

Tumawa nang bahagya ang aking ina at tinapik ang braso ni Lukan.

"Sige, gwapo na lang," pakikisabay ng aking ina.

"Hm, sumali ka na sa dinner namin ngayon, Lukan," my father suggested.

Agad akong naalerto. This was really happening.

"Ay, oo nga! Sige na, G'wapo, para na rin pa-thank you sa pagtulong mo," mom persuaded.

I observed his every reaction toward my mother's remarks. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ni Lukan na parang batang inimbita sa birthday party. Sumang-ayon si Lukan kaya naman ngayon, magkatabi kami sa middle seat ng aming sasakyan. My father was driving while my mother interviewed Lukan.

"Kaya pala familiar ang apelyido mo!" gulat na sabi ni mama.

Lukan told us that his family, the Fortelleza, owned one of the famous hospitals around the world. He didn't clearly explain all but my parents were impressed. Totoo nga ang sabi-sabing may kaya ang isang ito.

"Grabe! Kapag naka-graduate na si Mia sa medisina, sa hospital ninyo siya ilagay, ha? Sobrang galing pa naman niyan ni Mia pagdating sa science. Kahit sa pagtulog, nagm-memorize ng elements!" mom shared, full of humor.

Tumawa silang tatlo habang ako ay lutang na nakangiti. Ewan ko ba! Binubuking nila ako kay Lukan, nakahihiya. Lukan wasn't even asking for it.

We stopped at a gasoline station because my mother needed to pee. My father had something to buy too. They both left the car kaya kami na lamang ni Lukan ang natira sa loob.

I didn't want to start a conversation with him but his mouth would not shut up.

"Grabe... kaya pala hindi mo makabisa na gusto kita dahil puro element ang na sa isip mo," sabi niya sa akin.

Hindi naman ako pala-irap pero napa-irap ako.

"Don't worry, hindi ko naman hinihinging isipin mo rin ako tulad ng pag-iisip mo riyan sa mga elementong 'yan," pagpatuloy niya at umayos ng upo.

"Ang gusto ko, sa susunod na bibilis ang pagtibok ng puso mo ay ako na ang dahilan nito. Hindi ang punyetang Physical Education na 'yon," he stated and even pinched my cheeks.

This man!

I hated him more because of his foul mouth. Iritado kong tinanggal ang kanyang kamay sa aking pisngi, ni hindi ko nga siya pinahintulutang hawakan ako.

"Tss," I hissed.

Nilingon niya ako nang salubong ang kilay, "What tss?" he asked.

"Ayaw ko sa mga nagmumura," sagot ko na lamang at nag-iwas muli ng tingin sapagkat ngumiti na naman siya.

"Ganoon ba? Kapag ba tumigil ako sa pagmumura—"

"Huwag ka ng tumigil sa pagmumura dahil wala kang chance... at isa pa, alam ko mamang hobby mo 'yang pagmumura kaya—"

"Kaya kong pakawalan ang pagmumura, 'no... at isa pa, ang mahalin ka ay ang nag-iisang hobby ko kaya—"

"Oh shut up!" sigaw ko sa kanya at tinakpan ang kanyang bibig.

I couldn't hear more of his cheesy lines anymore. This day was tiring and the last thing I wanted was a silent night.

Tinanggal niya ito para tumawa. Sige, tumawa ka pa.

"Ikaw, ano bang hobby mo?" he asked afterward.

"Marami," sagot ko, tinamad ng magsalita.

"Mali," he commented.

Nilingon ko siya na agad kong pinagsisihan. Sobrang lapit niya sa akin. I wanted to slap and distance his face from but I didn't let myself do it. I only looked away when his lips stretched to plaster another smirk.

"Ako dapat... ako dapat hubby mo," he whispered.

Napasampal na lamang ako sa sariling noo. S'yempre, nakuha ko ang ibig niyang sabihin.