Chapter 26

Papalapit pa lang kami sa classroom, natatanaw ko na mula sa kinatatayuan si Note. He's waiting patiently, leaning his back on the hallway's railings while staring down to his shoes, both hands are inside his pockets. He seems thinking deeply that even my classmates' interested and curious stares do not get his attention.  

Nang ilang hakbang na lang kami ni Maya sa kanya, tsaka lang siya nag-angat ng tingin. Our eyes met but his eyes automatically dropped on my neck. Maya gave him a small smile before excusing herself and went inside our classroom. Naiwan kami ni Note sa gilid ng hallway... kaunti na lang 'yung tao sa labas ng mga nakahilerang classrooms dahil malapit na ring mag-time. Mabuti na lang, 'di na lumabas 'yung mga classmates ko at umiwas na lang tumingin sa labas.

I walked closer and stayed by his side. Magka-dikit na iyong braso niya at 'yung balikat ko. He's tall so there's that. My forehead already levels his red lips.

Lumingon ako sa kanya. He's staring at me like he's trying to memorize every corner of my face. I gave him a gentle smile. For some reason, alam ko na kung ano 'yung tumatakbo sa isip niya. 

"It's not your fault that I got this," I said, touching the bandage on my neck. "I'm okay."

He pressed his lips firmly. I can already see him locking his jaw. "I failed to protect you again."

I sighed. Sabi na nga ba. Kaya 'yung unang desisyon ko talaga kanina ay 'yung ilihim 'to sa kanya dahil paniguradong sisisihin na naman niya iyong sarili niya. I scrunched my nose and faced him. I raised my hands and gently pinched both his cheeks. I gave him a warm smile.

"Kung palaging ganyan 'yung iisipin mo, hindi talaga ako magsasabi sa 'yo," I complained gently. Kinuha niya 'yung mga kamay ko sa pisngi niya tsaka marahang ibinaba 'yun pero hindi niya binitawan. He's just holding my hands quietly while staring at me with those serious dark eyes. Hinayaan ko siya. "I thought you saw the CCTV cut of the incident? Then it means you saw me protecting myself, right?"

He sighed heavily. His face is so remorseful. "I'm sorry, Skylah. I just want to protect you so badly. Palaging wala ako sa tabi mo pag may nangyayaring ganito."

My lips protruded with what he said. "I really appreciate it, Note. Alam ko naman 'yan. Noon mo pa ako pinoprotektahan. Let me protect myself, too. Natuto na 'kong maging matapang. You taught me that. Don't get guilty for missing some of these incidents because it was never your fault to be not on the scene at the exact time."

He sighed again. "Alam kong ako ang dahilan kaya niya ginawa 'yun sa 'yo. She told me earlier."

"And that's her choice, Note," I deadpanned. "It's her choice to hurt me because she's upset about us. Tungkol sa 'yo, tungkol sa atin, oo, pero hindi dahil sa 'yo. Ginawa niya 'yun dahil gusto niya. Napangunahan siya ng selos. Pero wala kang kasalanan doon. Stop thinking that it's your fault anytime I face little incidents like this. It's making me upset."

Pumikit siya nang mariin. When he opened his eyes again, they're already looking at me gently. 

"I'm sorry. It's just that I want to always protect you. Ayokong nasasaktan ka ng kahit na sino. I always want you safe, comfortable and happy."

Ngumiti ako. "You're always making sure of that. Hindi ka nagkulang doon. May mga pagkakataon lang talaga na hindi maiiwasang may ganitong mangyayari."

Umangat 'yung kamay niya sa leeg ko, marahan niyang hinaplos 'yun. "Does it hurt?"

"Hindi na. Nagamot na..."

His lips formed a grim line. "We'll treat that again later."

I nodded and smile. "Okay!"

He smiled at me gently. He stared at my eyes briefly before sighing. "You did well, princess."

Lumapad 'yung ngiti ko. "I know! Proud ka ba?"

He nodded and tousled my hair. "Of course."

I bit my lower lip. Ang laki na naman ng ngiti ko habang naka-tingala sa kanya, e. Mabuti na lang, natanaw ko na 'yung teacher namin na naglalakad sa malayo kaya nagpaalam na ako sa kanya. We smiled at each other once more before we went inside our respected classrooms. Malapit lang naman 'yung classroom niya sa classroom namin kaya mabilis lang din siyang naka-balik doon.

Pagbalik ko sa loob ng classroom, purong panunukso 'yung inabot ko sa mga classmates ko. Tumitili pa 'yung iba kong classmates na babae at bakla. Tumawa ako tsaka sinita sila.

"Ingay niyo, malapit na si Ma'am!" I informed them, still with a ghost of smile on my lips.

"Pero kayo na nga, Cadence?" they asked.

"Hindi nga!" Tumawa na ako. Kukulit!

"Sus! 'Yung ngiti-ngiti niyo kanina, parang taliwas sa sagot mo, e!"

Umiling ako tsaka tumawa ulit. Si Maya rin sa tabi ko, nakikisali pa. Good thing, pumasok na 'yung teacher namin kaya tumahimik na lahat tsaka umarte na parang mababait na estudyante. 

I just stifled my smile the whole class. It's okay if we still don't have an official label. Ang mahalaga, gusto namin ang isa't-isa at may tiwala ako sa kanya. 

* * *

"Happy birthday!" I grinned and tip-toed to give Note a hug. He's having a simple birthday celebration here in their backyard. Barbecue party with some of his closest friends. It's his 18th birthday today at nataon pang Sunday kaya tanghali pa lang, narito na kami. Buti na lang hilom na ngayon iyong sugat ko sa leeg kaya makakalabas na ako ng walang suot na scarf.

Ipinulupot niya iyong isang braso niya sa baywang ko para tanggapin 'yung yakap habang 'yung isa naman ang tumanggap sa gift na dala ko. "Thank you, princess. You're late, though."

I giggled. "Sorry! May ginawa pa kasi ako."

He grinned. "Joke lang. Ayos lang 'yun. Sanay naman akong late ka."

Tinulak ko siya kaya nakalas 'yung yakapan namin. I arched a brow. "Excuse me, sa ating dalawa, mas madalas kang ma-late."

"Sa paaralan lang, Skylah. Pero pag sa 'yo, laging ako ang mas maaga," he justified.

I made a face. Totoo naman 'yung sinabi niya kaya hindi na ako nag-comment ulit. 

"Anyway, do you have beer today? You're already legal! Yey!" Tumalon ako tsaka idinantay iyong braso ko sa leeg niya, reason why he's slouched a little para hindi ako mahirapan. "Legal ka na. Pwede ka nang makulong!"

Tumawa siya. "Wow. Saya naman niyan," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "At wala tayong beer. You're not legal yet."

I chuckled. "Legal na ako next year!" pagmamalaki ko.

He acted like he's so shocked. "Oh?! Congrats!"

Umirap ako kaya tinawa-tawanan niya ako. Natawa na lang din ako sa kanya.

"Cadence! Dito na kayo! Marami na kaming nailuto rito," Auntie Neri, wearing her apron, waved the tongs in her hand.

"Opo, Auntie!" I answered. 

Binitiwan ko na si Note at sabay kaming naglakad palapit sa kanila. Naroon na sila Maya at 'yung boys. Pati iyong mga kaibigan ni Note dito sa village nila. They greeted me so I went to them briefly to interact with them. They knew me because since childhood, lagi na rin ako rito. At marami silang alam tungkol sa 'kin dahil palagi raw akong naiku-kwento ni Note sa kanila.

After that, dumiretso na ako kay Auntie Neri para makigulo roon sa iniihaw nila. Ang bango ng usok! Nakaka-gutom. 

"Anong ginagawa mo diyan, princess, 'di ka naman marunong mag-luto!" Lucky shouted from their seats when he saw me approached Auntie.

Sumimangot ako. "Makiki-tikim ako! Bakit?"

They laughed. "Tara na dito! Laro tayo chess."

"Later!"

"Ayos na ba 'yung niluto mo, Cady?" Auntie Neri asked. Nabaling iyong tingin ko sa kanya.

I nodded in glee. "Mommy supervised me, Auntie. Pasado sa panlasa niya kaya tingin ko po, masarap naman. Ang dami kong ulit doon. Dami kong nasayang."

Auntie laughed. "It's okay. Magugustuhan niya 'yan. Ikaw may gawa, e."

I smiled sweetly. I hooked my arms around Auntie's waist from her side. Tinawanan ako ni Auntie.

"Hmmm mukhang may naglalambing dito..."

"Auntie... I have a question..." I said while watching Note talk to his guests.

"Hmmm. Tungkol sa'n, hija?" Auntie looks at me sideways. 

My chest is beating loudly but I am so curious about it. I wanna know. "If ever Note has got her own girl po, what would you want her to be?"

Auntie chuckled. "Bakit ako ang tinatanong mo niyan? Hindi naman ako iyong mamimili ng igi-girlfriend ni Note, anak," she replied as she flipped the beef on other side over the grill.

Humilig ako sa balikat niya. She's been my second mother since childhood. I wonder if she genuinely likes me for her son... kahit na palagi siyang kasama ni Mommy sa pagtutulak sa amin ni Note sa isa't-isa. Gusto ko pa ring malaman 'yung opinyon niya.

"Pero anong gusto niyong traits, Auntie, in case lang na may ipakilala nga siya sa inyo?" pangungulit ko pa rin.

Kinalas ni Auntie 'yung yakap ko tsaka ako hinarap, hawak pa rin iyong tongs. Naningkit 'yung mga mata niya habang naka-tingin sa 'kin. I didn't budge while staring at her, still waiting for her answer.

"Syempre, gusto ko 'yung may mabuting kalooban, mahal ng anak ko, at napapa-saya ang anak ko. 'Yun lang, ayos na sa 'kin. Wala akong masyadong requirements pagdating diyan kasi desisyon naman ni Note iyan sa huli, hija," she smiled at me kindly. "Susuportahan ko siya kung sa'n siya masaya. May tiwala naman ako sa choices ng batang 'yan."

Hmmm... tingin ko naman, mabuti ang kalooban ko. Tingin ko rin naman napapasaya ko siya? At, mahal ko siya. I think I fit in her requirements.

I smiled at Auntie. "Ako rin, Auntie, ganun din requirements ko sa magiging girlfriend niya."

She laughed. "Ako nga, tapatin mo na, Cady," she ordered. "Kayo na ba nitong bunso ko?"

My eyes widened. "Po?! Hindi pa po, ah!" Umiling pa ako para maniwala siya.

She grinned widely. Kumapit si Auntie Neri sa braso ko. "Pa? So, nanliligaw na?"

I blinked. Did I just spill the news?! "Uhm..."

"Ma."

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Auntie kay Note na kalalapit lang sa amin. Auntie and I looked at each other. My face heated upon seeing mischief in Auntie's eyes. Parang pinipigil niya lang 'yung sarili niyang magsalita ng kung anong ikapapahiya ko.

"Sumama ka na doon, Cady, matatapos na 'tong tanghalian natin," Auntie told me so sweetly.

Note looked at us weirdly. "Anong meron?"

"Uh.. Sige, Auntie! Doon muna po kami..." I smiled at her widely. Tinawanan ako ni Auntie. Dali-dali ko na lang hinatak si Note sa braso niya papunta kila Maya. Baka i-kwento pa ni Auntie 'yung mga pinagtatanong ko sa kanya.

"Lamig ng kamay mo, ah," Note commented. 

Binitiwan ko siya agad. Umiwas ako ng tingin. "Malamig kasi."

"Huh? Are you tricking me? You're sweating." Dinampi niya 'yung likod ng palad niya sa noo ko para punasan 'yung namuo kong pawis. "And you're flushing red."

Umirap ako. Bakit ba pinapansin pa niya?! Binilisan ko na lang iyong lakad ko kaya nakarating agad kami kila Maya. May hawak nang gitara si Jessi at Lucky. Sa beat box naman naka-upo si Guilbert habang tumatapik-tapik roon. They were having a simple jamming kasama iyong ibang mga kaibigan ni Note. Kaya pala naka-kumpol silang lahat dito.

"Sama kami!" sabi ko sabay upo sa tabi ni Maya. Tumuloy lang sila sa pag-tugtog. Sa tabi ko naman umupo si Note, nagdududa pa ring nakatingin sa 'kin. I arched my brows when I looked at him. "Bakit?"

Humilig siya nang konti sa 'kin. "Anong pinag-usapan niyo ni Mama?"

Nanlaki 'yung mga mata ko. "Tinuruan niya akong mag-barbecue. Bakit?" pagsisinungaling ko.

"I was watching you earlier. You told her something reason why she's grinning widely until now." Napatingin ako sa banda ni Auntie Neri. Ang ganda nga ng ngiti niya 'dun. Parang kulang na lang kausapin din niya iyong mga karneng iniihaw niya. "Then she said something and you went flushed red."

I scrunched my nose. "Bakit mo ba kami binabantayan?"

"Anong pinag-usapan niyo?" he curiously asked.

"Wala nga," I replied. Kulit!

"Dali na... It's my birthday."

I raised a brow. "O, ano naman?"

He laughed. "I shouldn't be dying in curiosity right now!"

Umirap ako tsaka siya tinawanan. Mabuti na lang at sa 'kin ibinigay no'ng isa niyang kaibigan 'yung gitara para ako ang tumugtog. Hindi na niya ako kinulit dahil naging busy na ako. Later on, Auntie and the house helpers prepared the food on a long table over the clean banana leaves. It's a boodle fight kind of lunch, kaya masaya kaming tumayo sa kanya-kanya naming upuan para mag-hugas ng kamay at humarap sa hapag.

Before that, we prayed to thank Him for the blessings in front of us and for Note's another life. After that, we sang a short Happy Birthday song for him then greeted him altogether. He thanked us all and announced to start eating already. We ate using our hands. May umiikot naman silang kasambahay para kumuha ng litrato namin.    

"Sarap nito, Tita!" Lucky commented upon tasting the beef. 

Sari-saring inihaw ang naroon sa mesa. Grilled beef, pork, chicken, shrimps, at iyong bangus na mayroong kamatis at itlog na pula sa loob! Sarap isabay sa kanin. 

"Lahat naman masarap sa 'yo," panunuya ni Guilbert.

"Gusto mo nun?" Note asked when he noticed that I was looking for the grilled shrimps. Gusto ko sana kaya lang malayo sa pwesto namin. I pouted and nodded at his question. Walang sabi siyang umalis sa tabi ko para dalhin iyong container sa akin. 

"O, ano, sa inyo na lang 'yung hipon. Amin na 'yung grilled beef!" Jenmark teased when he saw what Note did. 

Tumawa ako at kumuha doon sa container tsaka ibinalik kay Note. Note laughed as he put back the container to Jenmark's spot.

"Ayan, manawa ka," Note told him.

"Daig pang mag-jowa! Sus!" Dionel commented loudly. Uminit tuloy 'yung pisngi ko. He looked at Auntie who's busy in laughing at their remarks. "Payag ba kayo dito kay Cadence, Tita?" 

"Aba, kung si Cady lang ay ayos na ayos!" Auntie replied as she winked at me.

Pinuno ko ng pagkain iyong bibig ko para hindi ako matanong.

"Ayun naman pala, bro, wala nang problema," Guilbert remarked. "Halata namang gusto niyo isa't-isa."

"Yieee..."

"Baka mabulunan ka naman diyan, Cady! Kalma lang!" Klein laughed while pointing at my face.

Note, who's smiling very widely handed me a glass of water. No'ng tinanggap ko 'yung tubig, nagsipag-ayieee nang mahaba 'yung mga kasama namin, kasama si Auntie! Nakita ko ring napapangiti 'yung taga-video namin sa nangyayari.

Binilisan kong ngumuya bago uminom sa tubig sa bigay ni Note. Nang matapos akong uminom, nakita ko nang naka-abang sila sa sasabihin ko. Lalapad ng mga ngiti! Bakit ako ang na-hot seat dito? Si Note dapat. It's his birthday!

"'Wag niyo akong tuksuhin masyado, guys, baka makapag-boyfriend agad ako kahit hindi pa ako legal!" I commented. 

Nagpalakpakan naman silang lahat tsaka tinukso-tukso si Note. Nilingon ko siya. I laughed when I saw how his ears turned into bright red when he heard my remark. When he glanced at me, I playfully winked at him. 

"Do you like it? It's your birthday today, you can ask me that..." I teased.

"Anak, ayan na pala, e! Ano pang hinihintay mo?" Auntie urged her son. 

Nagkagulo na lahat sa tawanan at asaran. Tinawanan ko rin siya. Hindi ko na tinigilan iyong pangungulit ko kaya hindi na rin nakapagsalita si Note dahil kotang-kota na siya sa pang-aasar sa mga kaibigan pa lang niya. Isama pa si Guilbert at Lucky. Buti na lang at tahimik si Maya, Jessi at Kuya Raven pero halata naman sa kanilang mga nangingiti. 

I hope our everyday will always be like this. Hindi tuloy matanggal 'yung ngiti ko.

"Ma'am, may bagong dating po sa gate, bisita rin daw ni Sir Note," I heard one of their helpers told Auntie Neri in the middle of our loud conversations.

"Oh? Sino raw?" Auntie asked. "May kulang ka pa ba sa mga bisita mo, anak?"

"Wala na po, Ma. Baka sila Cliff 'yan?"

"E 'di sana pinapasok na kung sila lang 'yan..." Auntie said. "Sino daw ba?" she asked the helper.

"Kaibigan daw po ni Sir Note, Ma'am. Babae."

Oh...

Kaming dalawa lang ni Maya iyong babae ngayon dito, well, tatlo na kami kung kasama si Auntie. Sino naman kaya 'yun...

Note stood up. "Titignan ko." He looked at me and saw me staring. He smiled. "Kumain ka lang dito. Babalik ako agad. Titignan ko lang kung sino."

I nodded and smiled. "Okay..."

"May iba pa bang kaibigang babae si Note bukod sa inyo?" Auntie asked.

Umiling si Maya. "I don't think so, Tita. Mukha pong wala na, e."

"Kahit dito, Tita, puro lalaki lang kami sa barkada," Jenmark added.

"Go after him, Ma, baka admirer 'yun," Kuya Raven said. Napa-tingin ako sa kanya. He gave me a small smile.

Naalerto si Auntie. "Naku, baka oo nga. Kaso ba't nalaman? Private lunch lang naman 'to," she said before she stood up. "Puntahan ko nga."

Umalis si Auntie para sundan si Note. Note's friends tried to throw jokes to maintain the liveliness of the atmosphere just like earlier. Nakikitawa ako sa kanila pero hindi na ganoon ka-totoo. I was curious about the visitor...

I raised my head and my eyes went towards the people walking closer to us. My smile was hang over the air when I saw a girl walking beside Note, wearing a red cotton dress and holding a present. Auntie's walking behind them, looking so curious and weirded out. I heard Maya's gasp beside me. 

"Hi, po..." Giselle shyly greeted everyone. "I'm Giselle..."

Nagtagpo iyong tingin namin ni Note. He's looking at me like he wants to explain but I gave him a small smile and a simple nod, letting him know that it's okay for me. I'm just... surprised to see her here today. Her presence is unexpected. 

And she looks... frail. Parang hindi siya iyong nangalmot sa 'kin no'ng first day.

Humarap siya kay Note. "Uhm.. my gift..." she shyly extended her arm and handed him her gift.

There was a dead-air silence when she does that. Note only stared at the gift, didn't even move to accept it from her hand. 

Auntie cleared her throat and get the paper bag from Giselle's hand. Napahiya siya sa ginawa ni Note. It was so awkward. And uncomfortable... Nakita ko kung paano siya sundan ng tingin ni Giselle nang lumapit sa 'kin para doon pumwesto sa tabi ko.

"Uh... mag-hugas ka na roon ng kamay mo, hija, para makakain ka na rin dito," Auntie said when she realized that her son has no plans to invite her over the table.

"Sige po, Tita," Giselle smiled at Auntie. Auntie looks surprised when she heard how she addressed her. She arched her brow and looked at her son.

Humilig sa 'kin si Note. "I didn't invite her," he explained. "I was shocked to see her outside. Are you mad?"

"It's okay. You don't have to worry about me. It's your birthday so you must treat her nice, too, since she's your guest," I whispered back.

Tumikhim nang malakas si Auntie kaya napa-angat 'yung tingin naming dalawa sa kanya. 

"Dito ka, Giselle!" Dionel pointed at the available space in front of him. 

"Uh..." Giselle stared at me. I consciously stared back at her. If I'm reading it right... gusto niya bang umalis ako rito para dito siya pumwesto?  

"Giselle! Hija, pumunta ka na roon para makakain ka na," Auntie uttered when she noticed what's happening.

"Pero, pwede po bang—"

"You want here?" I asked her straightforwardly. Note looked at me in disagreement.

My mouth parted when she shyly nodded. She has the audacity...

"It is her spot, Giselle," Note told her firmly. I gently tugged the hem of his shirt to calm him down because he sounds like he's just about to snap.

"Naku! Ba't mo naman gustong dito pumwesto, hija, nakainan na rito ni Cady. Doon ka sa banda roon dahil hindi pa nagagalaw ang pagkain doon," Auntie intercepts gently, probably sensing the tension.

"Uh... sige po," she nodded before looking at me with a subtle glare. My brows went upward as my mouth parted. Did she just... glare at me? In front of everyone? Just because of this spot? 

Nilagpasan niya ako para pumunta roon sa pwestong tinutukoy ni Auntie.

The lunch continued and everyone tried to hit up conversations but it was obvious that the boys were just doing it for the sake of saving the atmosphere. Minsan, nakikisali rin ako pero laging palyado iyong mga napapag-usapan. I subtly glanced at Giselle's spot and pouted when I saw her glaring at me. 

"Do you want us to leave?" Note asked me softly.

"Huh? Baliw ka ba? They were here for your birthday tapos iiwan mo sila," I whispered back.

"If you want to leave, just tell me."

Umiling na lang ako sa kanya bago muling nanahimik. I don't want him to ruin his day. Hindi ko alam kung anong trip nitong si Giselle kung ba't narito pero hindi ko hahayaang masira niya iyong araw namin. Auntie and the boys are handling the conversations very well kaya nakisali na rin ako. I picked up a shrimp and raised it next to Note's mouth. 

"Kain ka na ulit..." I smiled at him.

"Ehem... Maraming single dito, ah! Mahiya naman!" Jenmark hooted. 

Nagtawanan lahat. Inilapit ko lalo iyong hipon, isinusubo sa kanya. When he accepted it, mas lalong umingay sa mesa. Tinawanan ko lang sila. 

"Happy birthday, pare! Sulit na sulit ang birthday!" tukso nila.

Auntie giggled. "Naku! May surpresa pa 'yang si Cady mamaya—"

"Auntie!" I cut her off. Surprise nga, e! Bakit niya sinabi?

"Ma, you ruined it," Kuya Raven shook his head.

"Ay, sorry! Na-excite lang!" Humagikgik si Auntie Neri.

Ngumuso ako bago tumingin kay Note. Finally, he's now smiling! 

"Ano 'yun?" he asked. 

"Secret 'yun." I made a face.

Everyone hooted. "Baka 'di na 'yan makatulog sa sobrang saya mamaya, Cadence!"

"Baka bukas niyan, kayo na!" Maya commented with a smirk.

Umirap ako at tumawa. Auntie looks at me apologetically then showed me a peace sign with her hand. I smiled widely.

Hmmm... I think I know now what they're doing...