#NewClassicNRO

Chapter 14
Friends

The first week of college was a bit laid back. However, when we were done with the adjustment period, I had too much on my plate to finish that I felt like throwing up.

It sucks that arts are being looked down upon by other people. They thought that it's an easy way out of college, even though they are not aware on how much work all arts students need to do. Degrees under arts are just as worthy as those science programs.

On top of our basic subjects, we have a lot of film analysis and reflections to work on. There are also a ton of lectures and workshops which taught us different aspects of filmmaking like editing, cinematography, and the likes.

Except for us, art students, it made me feel like nobody could understand how relevant art degrees are. It was really frustrating. I wanted them to understand that no part of it is easy at all. However, I was sure that some would still remain close-minded about it.

Honestly, I was stressed out since I was still adjusting to the college life. Kumpara sa pag-aaral at paggawa ng mga papers, mas makakapagod pa ang biyahe pauwi. Lagi kong nilalabanan ang pagod at pagpikit ng aking mga mata pagkauwi sa bahay para lamang magawa ko ang aking kailangang gawin.

But since I knew I was doing that to achieve my dream, I was so much willing to go through the stress and suffering. I could go through lengths for something that I love; something that I've been dreaming of. In time, I knew the suffering would pay off eventually.

Sometimes Jirro would take me home in his car that his father gifted him for his graduation. Kaya nga lang ay madalas ay hindi sabay ang uwian naming dalawa. Hindi magkatugma ang aming schedule.

Actually, his father offered him to get a condo near the campus but he refused to get it. Kahit na madalang ay gusto niya pa ring magkasabay kaming umuwi kapag may pagkakataon.

"Where are you?" Jirro asked me once I answered his call.

We both didn't have classes the next day, so he wanted to eat out with me. May mga kailangan akong gawin pero pinagbigyan ko na siya at pati na rin ang sarili ko. We rarely met each other since the classes started. I also wanted to indulge myself on meeting him whenever I had free time.

"Palabas na ako," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Okay," he said. "I'll wait for you."

Nagmadali ako sa paglalakad nang matapos ang maikling tawag ni Jirro. Once I was out, I saw him laughing and hanging out with other three guys. Two of the guys were carrying a guitar case like him, while the other one who looks goofy was holding drumsticks.

I saw him with his friends during high school, but I had never seen him that happy like he was with these guys. Hula ko ay sila ang kinukuwento sa akin ni Jirro. Sila ang mga kaklase niyang nakapalagayan niya agad ng loob. They are his college buddies. He even told me that they were planning to form a four-member rock band.

Jirro sensed me nearing right away. He turned to me, and his smile got even brighter when he saw me. He immediately left his friends to approach me quickly.

I didn't know but there was a huge feeling of relief when I saw him. He quickly took the stress out of my body. I felt like I was walking on air while taking my steps closer to him as he met me halfway.

The moment he reached me, he slipped his hand on mine and intertwined my fingers with him. He managed to steal my attention away from his friends who piqued my curiosity and interest at first.

"Ipapakilala ko sa 'yo ang mga kaibigan ko bago tayo kumain," mahinang sabi niya sa akin. "I told them I'll introduce them to my girlfriend."

Smiling, I nodded at him. I also wanted to meet his friends and thank them for keeping Jirro company while I was busy with my studies. I knew my clingy boyfriend could get through days without me because of them. He was having a lot of fun with them during those days. I was really thankful that they came to Jirro's life.

Noong una ay medyo napaisip ako na baka maging masamang impluwensya kila kay Jirro. But seeing them in person comforted me. They all looked decent, except for the goofy looking guy holding the drumsticks who seemed like he had a lot of tricks up his sleeves.

Nang makalapit kami ni Jirro sa kanila ay napangiti ang dalawang may dala ring gitara habang ang isa naman ay agad na nang-inis.

"Aba! Aba! Siya ba ang girlfriend mo, Jirro?" He raised his brows while playing with his drumsticks.

Jirro chuckled and nodded his head. From holding my hand, his hand traveled to my shoulder on the opposite side. Akbay-akbay niya na ako kaya mas lalo akong napalapit sa kanya.

"Guys, this is Cloétte, my girlfriend," Jirro introduced me formally to his friends.

"Sana all may girlfriend!" Kantiyaw nung makulit na lalaki na pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko ganoong makakasundo.

Aside from the most decent looking one who shot a glare on the goofy guy, they all laughed. Ilang segundo rin ay inilipat niya ang kanyang mga mata sa akin at saka inilahad ang kamay. I thought that he seemed like a formal person for asking a handshake.

"Hello, Cloétte. Nice to meet you," he greeted me. "I'm Ike."

I accepted his hand for a shake and smiled. "Cloe na lang."

Tumango siya at saka binitawan ang kamay ko. The other guy who was exerting the same vibe as how I viewed Jirro back then also beamed at me.

"Isaiah," tipid niyang pakilala sa kanyang sarili.

And then, the last one casually stepped forward to give me a friendly hug as a greeting. It only lasted for a second but I had to admit that I was a bit stunned with his bold movements. Sabay siyang hinila nina Isaiah at Ike palayo sa akin habang si Jirro naman ay pabiro din siyang tinulak.

He has such a carefree soul. Parang wala siyang pakialam sa iisipin ng iba.

I felt my heart stopped for a moment. I had not been held or hugged by other guys than Jirro and my father. It took me a few seconds to recover from what happened.

"Sorry about that," Ike apologized for his friend's actions. "Sic's just really friendly."

It was like I just experienced a culture shock. I was still speechless as I nodded my head.

"Jirro, 'di ba sabi mo sa amin nakakuha siya ng full scholarship," sabi bigla ni Sic.

Nagulat ako nang mapag-alamang ikinuwento pa iyon ni Jirro sa kanila.

I turned to Jirro and saw him smiling proudly. "She did!" he said. "She scored high during the entrance exams."

I felt my cheeks heated up as I got flushed. I knew I shouldn't get embarrassed, but seeing Jirro taking pride while hyping me up to his friends were making me feel shy.

His friends congratulated me. Ilang puri ang nadinig ko mula sa kanyang mga kaibigan. Naging mabilis lang din ang pagpapakilala ni Jirro sa akin sa kanila. After the short introduction, they left me and Jirro to be alone.

Medyo nagbiruan pa sina Isaiah, Sic at Jirro bago sila tuluyang umalis. Si Ike ay humingi ulit sa akin ng pumanhin dahil sa walang pag-iisip na ginawang pagyakap sa akin ni Sic.

Pagkatapos ay isinakay ako ni Jirro sa kanyang sasakyan. He'd be the one to treat me, so he decided to take me to the shopping mall we used to pass by on the way home.

"Did Sic surprise you?" Jirro asked me once the engine roared to life.

I watched him as he flawlessly maneuvered the steering wheel while we were getting out in between two cars. Noong summer lang siya nagkaroon ng driver's license, ngunit gamay na gamay niya na kaagad ang sasakyang iniregalo sa kanya ng mga magulang niya.

"Hmm... Medyo nakakabigla siya," pag-amin ko.

He chuckled. "You'll get used to it when you become close with him," he assured me. "Nabigla rin ako sa kanya noong nakilala ko siya. We couldn't really keep up with his energy."

Napangiti ako. Natutuwa ako na mukhang malaki ang tiwala na mayroon si Jirro sa kanila. He didn't act jealous like before with Nico.

"Mukhang close na close ka na talaga agad sa kanila," puna ko habang pinapanood ang kanyang ngiti na umaabot sa kanyang mga mata.

He quickly glanced at me and without hesitation, he nodded. "I feel like they're my brothers from another mother," he told me. "We can relate to each other so much. We love music like we can't live without it. It's rare to find people like them."

Jirro's eyes were shining as he talked about music and his new found friends. I could never get enough hearing and watching him talked about his passion. He was shining the most every time he plays instruments and expresses his love for music. It was like no one could dim his light.

"That's why I can't wait for our first gig," he enthusiastically shared his excitement. "We're going to practice during weekends. Minsan din ay magp-practice kami after class kapag wala masyadong kailangang gawin."

"Saan ninyo balak mag-gig?" kuryoso kong tanong dahil hindi ko pa nadinig noon ang plano nilang mag-gig.

"Ike's father has a friend who runs a chill bar," he replied. "Pakikiusapan daw na bigyan kami ng slot para tumugtog."

Once Jirro talked about the bar, I suddenly became curious. I heard some of my blockmates talking about going to bars and clubs to chill and enjoy. Minsan na nila akong inaya, pero hindi ko makita ang sarili ko sa ganoong lugar. I felt like I wouldn't belong there. I also couldn't afford to waste money just to have fun.

I was saving money for an affordable professional camera which was more expensive than what I initially wanted to buy. Dapat ay bibilhin ko na 'yong camcorder na worth thirteen thousand pesos, ngunit naisip ko na kailangan ko nang mas maayos na camera. Kaya habang pinag-iipunan ko pa ang camera na kursunada ko ay pinahiram muna sa akin ni Jirro ang kanyang DSLR para magamit sa pag-aaral.

When I told him my plans not to buy a camera yet, he suggested that I should use his DSLR since he wasn't really using it. At dahil alam kong kailangan ko 'yon sa pag-aaral ng filmmaking, pumayag na rin ako at hindi na nagmatigas. His camera was big help to me.

"Mukhang masaya 'yan." I also became excited for Jirro.

Mas lalo siyang napangiti. "But our first gig wouldn't be complete if you won't be watching it," sabi niya at saktong huminto kami sa stoplight. Mabilis na inabot ni Jirro ang aking kamay. "I want you to be there, watching us. I want to see you in the crowd while I play."

I smiled and pressed his hand. "Of course, I'll be there," I told him without inhibitions. "Palalagpasin ko ba ang unang gig ninyo? Syempre, dapat ay nandoon ako."

His smile turned gentle. Before the green light lit up, he brought my hand to his lips and gave it a light kiss.

It was the least I could do to show Jirro my support to him and the band that he was establishing with his friends. He supported me to chase my dreams countless times, so I knew it was time for me to give it back to him.

I wanted us to have a relationship where we could support each other's dreams. We weren't just a couple for me. We were a team. We should lift each other up by motivating and supporting one another in every possible way that we could.

Pagkarating sa mall ay agad kaming kumain ni Jirro sa isang Japanese restaurant. Bago umuwi ay sumaglit din kami sa bookstore dahil may kinailangan akong bilhin na school supplies. I used the allowance that was included on my scholarship. I did my best to budget all my expenses. Nagbabaon na nga lang din ako ng pagkain sa school para hindi ko na kailangan pang gumastos para sa pagkain.

"Bibisita ako bukas ng gabi bago ako umuwi galing band practice," Jirro reminded me once he pulled the car over the sidewalk. Mahihirapan kasing makalabas ang kanyang sasakyan sa aming street dahil medyo masikip lalo na kung ibababa niya lang naman ako.

I nodded and smiled wide, already expecting his visit. "Ingat ka sa pagdrive pauwi."

His eyes crinkled when the corners of his lips rose. He leaned over to kiss me on my cheek then whispered, "I'll call you once I'm home. I love you."

Every time Jirro would tell me he loves me, I would always blush. Hindi ko rin mapigilan ang aking pagngiti kaya naman para akong baliw habang naglalakad papasok sa aming bahay. I saw my mother going out of our apartment to throw the trash bag.

Nagmadali akong lumapit sa kanya. "'Mmy, ako na po riyan," pagpi-prisinta ko.

Iniwas sa akin ni mommy ang trash bag. "Huwag na," sabi niya sa akin. "Mag-aral ka na lang doon sa kuwarto mo. May nakahanda na ring pagkain sa lamesa kung hindi ka pa kumakain."

Pagkasabi niya no'n ay agad na niya akong nilagpasan.

My heart sank a bit because of how she tried to avoid having a long conversation with me. We still weren't in good terms. Natutuwa nga lang ako na hindi na siya ganoon katutol sa aking pag-aaral sa CSB, but I could feel that she became a bit strict with me. Gusto niya ay lagi akong nakikitang nag-aaral.

My father told me that it was her way to encourage me to do my best in college and achieve my dreams. He told me that she didn't want me to waste the opportunity and lose the scholarship. I just hoped that it was really true because their support and encouragement meant a lot to me.

My parents are the most important to me—even more than my dreams.