~ Two Years Ago ~

Classes ended and finally we're out of school. The subs are a bit tough, at this point of time, but I think I made a good progress - unlike the last, three years of my highschool life.

"Sige guys! Alis na 'ko." I told my girl pals, as I took my bag and stood up from the steps, in front of the church. We were havin' a good chat, while these two wait for their parents to pick them up.

"Aalis ka na? Maaga pa, ah." sabi ni Elissa, na parang ayaw niya akong paalisin. Ngumiti ako. "Elissa, there's still time to talk about many things. Baka gusto mo lang 'ata ako mapagalitan ng mga parents ko?" I pointed the time on my silver wristwatch.

Nag-react siya. "Ah. . .'Di naman sa ganoon, Jane." "Alam mo naman, ako - 5pm ang curfew. Ngayon, may mga naghihintay na sa'kin, dahil may bisita kami. Kita-kits tomorrow, okay?"

She gave me a nod and I went my way, waving a hand to my two, close friends - Elissa and Grace.

"Ingats, Jane." Grace said, before I turn my heels to my left and went out of the church grounds.

On my way home, I recieved a text from someone. I was in front of LCC and I pause, as I get it from my pocket. Small and old, but I'm still using this phone, since my other sim is here.

I smiled at the sight of his name. He remembered me.

My friend texted: 'Sup, Jane? Happy June 19!

I returned a reply, with just a swift tapping of buttons and sent it. "To Tris. . ."

TY - I'm fine. I'm also on my way home. (Didn't know you remembered.)

I resumed on walking, and slid the phone back to my skirt's pocket. It's past 4:30 pm, so I must be home before 5. Or else. . .

After I sat down inside the mini vehicle, I took out my little phone again and open his new, text message. Bago ko itong basahin, may naririnig akong tumatawa sa aking harapan.

I caught a glimpse of two students from my school - two females, holding their iPhones -without lifting my head.

One of them whispered to the other, "Oh - ang cute naman ng phone niya. So out-of-date."

"Totally. Sayang, mukhang mayaman pa naman siya."

"Mukha lang."

Nah. I just shrug it off. Their words never matter to me. After all, they don't know who I am. So, why should I mind?

To put it upfront - hindi ako mayaman. Sadyang may mga times lang ako na nagsusuot ng may konting accessories. Like my two rings and a pair of silver, diamond earings.

Lalong 'di ako feelingera, na porket may mamahaling gadget, mayaman agad. Taas ng status! (Suuus!)

If I had the mood to speak, right now, I'd tell them 'Meron din ako, pero 'di ko dinadala sa paaralan.'

Why?

Baka ma-imbargo ng Discipline Director namin.

Dati, oo. Nadadala ko yun. Pero natuto rin ako, nung makuha sa akin ng dalawang beses, ng dahil sa sumbong ng aking mga classmates.

Ngayon, iba na din ang school guards namin, kaysa nung dati - dahil maingat silang nagmamasid sa bawat istudyanteng nakakasalubong nila at sinisigurado nila na investigated yung kanilang mga bag.

And uh. . .until now, I still bring a phone in school, but ONLY for communication. Though, sabi ko sa sarili ko, dadalhin ko lang 'to for once or twice in a week.

I gaze back to my phone and began reading it. I smiled to myself.

Of course, I remember! Dunno why you celebrate every 19th day of the month, but since it's special to you - I'll greet anyways. XD

"Oh, you." I muttered to myself happily - which the two, nosy girls heard. They whispered to each other again. "Oooy, ka-text niya si BF." "Awww~ Ang sweet."

Pfft! I wish I could tell them to 'get a life and mind your own biz.'

Yet, I let that slip and didn't think of getting back at them. Well, they're getting the 'wrong' idea.

'Cuz the guy that I'm texting - is one of my closest pals in our brotherhood.

Porket kaibigan mo ang boys, minsan, ang iniisip ng iba ay tomboy ka o sadyang 'malandi'.

Seriously, was making friends with boys absurd?

This is just 'me', who finds boys more comfortable to hang out with, when it comes to 'not-girly' hobbies and chats. Such as. .

BTW, have you played Zombie Hide 2? The game's awesome!

I texted him, while the tricy is on the way out of centro. A few moments after, he texted back.

Yup. Reached Floor Lv. 29 yesternight. X>

"Nooo waaay." I reacted. Floor 29 agad? Isang araw ko pa lang yun nilalaro, nasa Floor 28 na 'ko. Tapos siya ? Hmmm. . .I was not convinced. I smirked, as I typed my reply, then send it to him.

Oh yeah? Got any proof, bro?

Honestly, this guy has great gamer's skills. What surprises me is that he could play more games, at the same time - just like the person that I used to know.

When the tricycle reached Sto. Tomas, he texted: Want me to screen cap mah game? I'm now at Floor Lv. 34 XD

Ah whuut?! So, he's playing the game already?!

Hey - don't leave me! U said ur going to wait, 'til I arrive home.

I pouted childishly, after I finish typing my text. Geez, that guy.

Hindi pa nakakalipas ng dalawang minuto, nag-text na siya sa akin. Tiningnan ko.

Bro, who says that I totally left u? All I did was open my game. Got too excited to wait for yah, tho. - lol

See? I knew it! U forgot about me, the moment you've layed your hands on Zombie Hide.

It seems the 'hunting zombie' game got him hooked. And what he did next?

Now, just for a few mins - Imma play the Zombie Boss rounds. Txt yah later, bro-sis. :3

And that, is the end of our chat.

~♬♪ ~ ♬♪~

"Man, I can't believe he have beaten me in this game! Now, he's 6 floors ahead of me." I exclaimed, while upgrading my weapons and my troops, for the Final Kill in Floor Lv. 39. Hope I could reach to 1 million points, afterwards.

"Well, guys are guys. We can't just wait for foreign species to take us down. We rule!"

Kinda' ticked off, I throwed a pillow at my big bro's face. "Oof!", and I knocked him off his own bed. "Serves you right." I grinned, without looking away from my phone. Kagabi ko pa lang yun in-introduce yung game sa kanya, tapos. "Siguro nag-all nighter's night na naman yun." Haaiii. . .

Kuya Andy got up in his feet and sat back again. He's also playing games - but not my game.

"Pfft! Whatev's, blister - you're game is lame. Lame like Hall of No Fame." I snickered.

"Waleeeey si Kuuuya! Ahehehe - uno daw kayaaa yun?!"

"Lame." And he went back on playing in his tab. Interrupting us in our gaming time, inside Kuya Andy's room, someone opened the door and called our names. "Hey, Andy - Jane. Got any plans to eat dinner with the family?"

Ooy! Si pinsan! Andito na pala sila?

"O, Kuya Frank! Kumusta na?" I put down my phone and approached him. "Still alive, Jane." He said, as we bro-fist with each other. He came to fetch us, since everybody's in the dine, all seated together.

"You're late, you two." "Hailey!!" I rush up to the now brown-haired girl, sitting beside Tito Lucas and Tita Maris, and gave her a short embrace. She actually had her black hair dipped with hues of darker to pure blue at the hair ends, but now she looked much better with copper brown.

"Nice hair color, by the way." I comment with a wink. Gazing at her bro, who is Kuya Frank, she smirked. "See? I told you she agrees." He just rolled his eyes.

Tonight, my cousins are going to stay in our home, while their parents would go and stay to our Aunt Mabel's vacation house, since they're having a vacation, for the whole month, after flying from New York. They're now in college and everything seems to go according to plan - making their dreams come true.

"So, si Hailey ay nakapasok na sa Medicine school?" sabi ni Dad, habang kami ay kumakain. "Yup. Her grades in senior high did pay off, just as she enters her course." Tita Maris smiled at her brother. "And as for Franklin?" He then mentioned the other. "Oh, he got what he wanted - architecture as his main class, then animation as his other sub." Tito Lucas replied, while he lays a hand on Kuya Frank's shoulder.

"Gladly, he could balance both works at the same time." he added. Looking at Kuya Frank, I feel so inspired. I always wanted to have a side-line work, besides of my future course in college.

Animation is good (I could draw good anime and make comics.) Jewelry making is cool, too. (Wanted to try polymer clay and shrink plastics, besides of beads and bead-weaving.) A nice café would do, also. (Probably in Western + Japanese style~)

There are tons of things, that I wanna try and make it not just an ordinary hobby. I hope I could start right now, but - - -

"By the way, Jane? What course would you like to take in college?" Tito Lucas gaze at me. I stared. Then, shrugged. "Hindi ko pa po alam. Pero, magta-try po ako sa Medtech or Medicine. Tsaka po, nasa Grade 10 pa 'ko. Kaya, 'di pa talaga po ako ganoon kasigurado." And I went back on finishing my food.

Kung talagang handa ko din tanggapin ang kurso sa medisina, dapat may napapatunayan na ako sa last year ng aking junior high and sa near future sa senior high.

Sa totoo lang, eh, hindi ako ganoon kasipag na mag-aral. Bihira lang, hangga't nakikita ko na bagsak na bagsak na ako sa aking mga subs. Sabi ni Mommy, noong una, tutulungan niya ako na makabawi sa aking mga subjects, dahil sadya akong tamad na mag-project at mag-submit ng requirements. Pero, nang nag-graduate na 'ko sa elementarya, ako na lang ang gagawa ng paraan para iahon ang sarili ko at mabigyan ng grades. Hindi na si Mommy, o si Dad - o lalo na si Kuya Andy. Sila na lang ang aking magiging gabay, habang ako'y nag-aaral sa highschool, hanggang sa aking pagtapos sa kolehiyo.

In other words - I had no focus, at all. If I do, everything would go easy.

"Ay teka muna, kumusta na yung bunso?" tanong ni Tito Lucas sa amin."Balita namin ay nasa dorm na siya nag-eestay, during class days."

Ah. Speaking of bunso. . .

"Ayun, nasa Science University of the Philippines, doon sa Naga. Nagsusumikap siya sa kanyang pag-aaral." sabi ni Dad sa kaniya. "Mabuti nga, eh, nakapasa si bunso. Kung nakapasa din ang ate niya. . ."

Ay Dad! Heto na naman tayo - - kinukumpara mo na naman ako kay Angelo. Rolling my eyes, I groaned, "Dad. . .how many times, shall I ask you, don't compare me to him?"

I don't like being compared to my smart, lil' bro. Most especially that the person who does it - is dad, himself.

Yet he went on ranting about his fave son, besides of Kuya Andy, with my mouth shut and pretend that I never heard a thing.

Para sa akin kasi - nakakahiya na i-kwento sa iba na mas magaling ang mas bata sa nakakatandang kapatid. Mabuti pa si Kuya Andy, walang problema. Eh, ako? Nag-effort naman ako, ah? Alam ko din na marami pa akong kailangang i-accomplish, pero yung tipong kini-criticize ka, dahil sa inyong differences sa isa't isa - - - bakit 'di na lang niya isipin na kahit papaano, nagawa ko ang aking best sa mga bagay na magaling ako doon?

Kung sa bagay, hindi naman natin maiiwasan na magkumpara sa isa't isa, kaya - - why have to judge them, if they really know better than I do? I mean, they're grown ups, who just think about their kids' potentials and what's best for them. In fact, they don't really judge at all. It's just their own way of reminding their children that they could be better in so many ways and could improve.

Letting that slip, too, I stood up and began gathering the empty plates in the table. Mabuti naman at makakabuwelo na sila sa pakikipag-usap.

"Sige na, Jane. Ako na yung maghuhugas." Napatingin ako kay Yaya Tess. "Yaya, ako na lang po. Tapos naman po ako sa aking takdang aralin. Mag-aaral na lang ako mamaya, pakatapos." Hinayaan na niya akong maghugas, habang iniligpit niya ang iba pang natitirang hugasan sa mesa.

Pakatapos kong maghugas, diretso na akong umakyat sa aking kwarto at sinarado ko na yung pinto. I sighed. "Okaaay. . .anong gagawin ko ngayon?"

Napaisip ako at bigla kong itinaas yung aking kilikili. "Hmff! Maka-wash na nga. Asiiiim!"

At heto na naman ako, nagpapaka-komedyante. Siyempre, nang walang nakakaalam.

Bago ako pumasok sa aking sariling bathroom, binuksan ko muna yung phone kong de-touch-screen. Aba! Anim na new, text messages.

"Hmm. . .maya na lang, pagkahilamos ko." At iniwan ko ulit ang gadget sa desk.

- - - - - - - - - -

~ N O W ~

Nakasakay na ako ng van papuntang Iriga, komportableng nakaupo sa pangatlong row, malapit sa bintana. Nag-Free FB muna ako sa aking de-touch screen phone (which was a bit bigger than before), habang paalis palang ng Legazpi.

I checked my DeviantArt Artist page, at tiningnan ko kung ano na yung naging progress niya. So far, I've earned up to 60 followers (since I'm not using cash for the boost page).

Two to three times akong nag-a-update sa aking FB page, nagpopost ng latest works, works in progress, short stories, artist's status, convention visits. . .and many more to mention.

Ngayon lang ako nakapag-experience ng pumunta sa mga art exhibits at artist conventions (pati rin ang mga anime and toy conventions), na magheld ng sariling mini art booth at kumuha ng snapshots ng iba't ibang artworks, art booths, and interesting artists of all kinds. Gusto ko sanang maranasan ito noong nasa junior highschool ako, kaso wala akong magawa - kundi sumunod sa kagustohan ng aking mga magulang. Ayaw kasi nila na maglakwatsa ako, dahil bilang mga responsableng magulang sa kanilang mga anak - ayaw nilang mapahamak kami o madisgrasya.

Okay lang yun sa akin. Ang ginagawa ko ay hinihintay ko na lang sila'y pumayag at mag-suggest na sasamahan na lang nila 'ko. Total, para sa kabutihan ko naman 'to, eh.

Imagine niyo lang 'to, ha?

Once lang ako pinayagan na ako'y pumunta sa bahay ng aking kaklase (siyempre, hatid-sundo ni Daddy-dear) - noong ako'y nasa Grade 9. NEVER akong pinayagan na pumunta sa kahit kaninong bahay, para sa importanteng group project or group study. Kaya lang ako pinayagan, dahil last project na namin yun sa Araling Panlipunan at kailangan na kailangan na naming mag-put-up ng magandang performance, for the last quarter (doon pa naman ako minsang bumabagsak). Tsaka kilala din ni Mommy ang mga parents nung kaklase kong lalaki (ang may-ari ng bahay na pupuntahan ko.)

At ngayon, pinapayagan na akong pumunta sa iba't ibang lugar - basta malapit sa Iriga at laging kasama si Mommy-dear.

I sighed. "Safety first." I muttered to myself. At least, somehow, I learn how to go home from Legazpi, on my own.

After checking my FB site and my prof (since I posted my latest OTW selfie), I turn off my packet data again and open my bag, to grab my earphones. It's a miracle that my light-blue and pink earphones still works, ever since I was in third year in junior high. Plugged them to my phone, in-open ko na yung music list at pinag-play ko na yung fave kong rock song - JAP by Abingdon Boys School.

Actually, they're Japanese and I known them since I watched some animes, where their songs were being featured. They're cool - along with One Ok Rock, SCANDAL (one of the famous, all-girl band), SID, The Sketchbook and FLOW. I'm a fan of J-POP, especially in such genres like rock, melo-rock, sometimes metal rock and just melo-pop.

Habang nasa Polangui na yung sasakyan, biglang tumunog yung aking phone. Mabuti naman na naka-silent yung phone ko - kundi 'blasted' ang aking ear drums sa malakas na ringtone.

Si Kuya Andy pala. "Hello? Kuya Andy?" "Hey, sis'. 'Sup?"

Nagulat ako sa narinig kong tinig ng nagsasalita sa kabilang linya. "Uhhh. . .sino 'to?" Nag-react siya. "Grabeeee, ate! Porket tatlong buwan kang hindi umuuwi sa atin, nakalimutan mo na 'ko? Si bunso baga ito."

Napa-nga-nga at napa-isip. Si Angelo na ba ito? Napatawa na lang ako.

"Wow! Bro, I didn't know it was you. Sorry, but- - -how did you get your manly voice, all of a sudden?" Seryoso, 'di ko alam na ganun na pala kabilis mag-mature si bro. (Wala - lalaki, eh.)

"Okay, lang, sis. Naintindihan naman kita. Sanay na sanay na akong nakakalimutan." sabi niya sa akin. Wow - talaga 'to si bunso, pinapasaringgan na 'ko, porket 'di ko na iya bisto. Hinina ko yung boses ko, dahil pansin kong may tumitingin na sa akin.

"Sorry na, bunso~ Alam mo naman si ate- - -" "Na ano po? Makalimutin ka na? Sinasabi ko na nga ba, eh."

Ganito magtampo sa akin si Angelo, kapag 'di ko na yun pinapansin, kahit tatlo o apat na araw lang akong hindi tumatawag sa kanya, dahil lang sa busy ako o walang pang-load. "Teka lang, bro - ba't gamit mo yung phone ni Kuya?" "Walaaa - mag-sorry ka muna!" "Huh? Bakit naman?" Mukhang tinarayan ako nito. "Inaway mo 'ko, eh. Hashtag - 'di bati! Hmph."

"Grabe naman, bro. O - sorry na. Pwease?" Tumagal ng apat na minuto na hindi nagsasalita si Angelo, hanggang sa. . . "Sige na, ate. Hashtag - oks na tayo." Ngumiti na lang ako at tinanong ko siya muli. "Oo pala, yung tinatanong ko po sa'yo - asaan si Kuya?" Straightforward, he replied, "Nasa ospital." "HAAH?! NASA OSPITAL?!"

Napalingon ako sa mga taong nasa loob ng van - na ngayo'y ang atensyon ay nasa akin. Ay sorry! Lumakas yung boses ko. Nagulat kasi, eh. Dahan-dahan akong napatagilid, na parang gusto kong lumiit sa kahihiyan. Nu ba yan? Kahit kailan, hindi ko magawang kontrolin ang volume ng bunganga ko.

I went back on talking - softly and not annoyingly loud. "Kumusta si Kuya? Okay lang ba siya? Anung nakain nun? Natutulog ba yun ng maayos- -?" "Chill, sis'! Healthy si Kuya. Or rather, nag-overflow ang pagiging healthy niya." Blinking, I asked, "Sooo. . .if he was okay, then, whom did he visit in the hospital?"

"Ediiii, si waifu niya - si Ate Ruby."

Aaah. Yung girlfriend lang pala niya. Ano kaya ang nangyari kay Ate Ruby?

Nang palapit na kami sa Nabua, ikinuwento niya ang buong pangyayari sa akin. Ayon sa kanya, nagluto si Kuya Andy ng espesyal na tanghalian, para sa kanilang picnic date. Pero, hindi niya inaasahan na mangyayari ito kay Ate Ruby.

"Teka lang! Nang dahil sa katnga, na-ospital si Ate Ruby? Grabe naman - ilang piraso ng sili labuyo ang linagay ni Kuya doon?" "Ate, hindi pa ako nakakatapos na mag-explain! 'Wag mo akong unahan - makinig ka lang." Nanahimik ako at tinuloy niya ang kwento.

"Hindi naman sa madami  ang nailagay niyang sili sa katnga, pero 'di niya alam na allergic pala si Ate Ruby sa gulay na ulam. Mga ilang subo nun at ng kanin, doon na nagtrigger ang allergies."

"Bakit pa niya kinain, kung alam niyang hindi yun pwede sa kanya?" I asked him, slightly disbelieved. Shrugging, he sighed, "Ewan ko. Dahil sa pag-mamahal, 'ata."

Ah suuuuuuuuus! Pagmamahal mong utot. ('Di naman - joke lang~)

"O, ngayon, ba't iniwan yung phone niya sayo?" I added. "Sa kamamadali na ipadala si Ate Ruby sa ospital. Hindi nga niya namalayan na nasa akin yung phone niya ngayon."

"Sige. Malapit na ako sa Iriga, kaya kita-kits sa pagdating sa bahay."

Hindi agad sumagot si Angelo, nang may narinig akong nagbukas ng pinto at siya'y binati. "A, kuya! A, eto po - kausap ko si ate."

Baka si Kuya Andy na 'to. "Hello, Jane?"

T-Teka. Kilala ko itong boses na 'to, ah. "Tris?"

"Jane!"

"Musta na, bro-sis?"

Aba! May kasama pala si Tris. "Louen! Mga bros, musta?" Galak ko silang binabati.

"Hay, naku, Jane! Ikaw ang dapat sumagot sa tanong namin. Kumusta ka na ?" Wow - himala. Si Brandon, kasama nila. Anong trip nila ngayon at sila'y nasa bahay namin?

"Eto, naghihintay na lang ng ilang minuto, bago ako makarating sa Iriga. At teka lang - ba't andiyan kayo?"

They replied in unison. "Siyempre, para salubungin ka!!"

"Dinala ko ang gitara ko, para sa mini party natin!" sabi ni Louen sa akin. "Hmm. Ang sabihin mo - hindi mo kayang iwanan ang asawa mong gitara, na puno ng monster stickers at bandages." sagot ko sa kanya.

Siya kasi yung tipong lalaki na kahit saan, hindi mo siya makikita ng walang hawak o dalang gitara. Pero, hindi lang yun na basta-bastang props niya. Sadyang may talento siya sa pag-gigitara, tulad ng ka-brad niyang si Brandon. Kaya minsan, instead na magmukha siyang estudyante, napagkakamalan siyang isang stand-by, o kaya isang gitaristang nakaupo sa kanto, na naghihintay ng mga taong maghuhulog ng pera, habang siya'y tumutugtog.

"Magko-concert daw siya, kaya pati rin ang amplifier, isang mikropono, at wooden platform. . .dala niya." dagdag ni Brandon, na nagpapatawa sa phone. Natawa ako sa kanyang sinabi at tinakpan ko ang bibig ko, para maiwasan kong makuha ang tingin ng kasama kong mga pasahero sa van. Naririnig ko rin ang malalakas na halakhak ni Angelo at ng kuya niyang si Tris. "Grabe man, Brandon! Itsura kan, at magko-concert ako sadi?" Louen's react to Brandon's joke.

It would've been a happy laugh trip - if my phone wasn't low in batteries.

"A, guys - pa-low batt na ako. Pwedeng sa bahay na lang tayo mag-usap?"

Nakarating na din ang van sa terminal ng Iriga T-Station. Kinuha ko na ang aking gamit at tsaka bumaba sa sasakyan.

Habang palabas na ako nang terminal, para kumuha ng tricycle sa main street, nagsabi si Tris, "Jane, sundoin ka na lang namin. Total, dala naman ni Louen ang kanyang sasakyan."

"Okay, lang guys! No need to fetch me home. Sasakay na lang ako sa - - -"

I stopped in the middle of my sentence, when someone lightly pat my head. I turned to my right, and saw a familiar person, standing beside me, with a smile on his face.

"Jane - oi? Hello?!" Tris called, yet I remained silent.

After standing still and speechless for a few moments, I answered, "I'll talk to you later, bros. Low-batt na yung phone ko."

Cutting off the line, I shut my phone and faced the person, looking at me.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Aaaand that's for my first chapter. TY for reading this book. The story really means to me and I wanna let the world know. (jk - not literally XD)

I also included my fave, Zombie Hive (an Android game which I hid its real name). You could check out the game, if you want. It's awesome.

:)

- - See Next Chapter - -