LORENZO ELRIC GARCHITORENA

HABANG PAPASOK ng school ay maaga akong binulabog ng chat message ni Onemig from Facebook. I was seated in front, beside the driver when I opened my phone. The jeepney is now along Maimpis.

Onemig:
Ilang araw na lang!
Excited na ako, hahaha.

Oh, crap... That event would be two days ago from now! At hindi pa nga ako nakakapagpaalam (as if papayagan ako?). But I want to go to that event so bad!

Onemig:
Madali lang namang makapunta sa venue, eh. Ilang sakay lang sa atin. At saka mabilis lang ang papunta roon.

Okay, fine! Palagi naman akong ginugulo ng isang ito. As if he tries to make me feel that I friggin' need to go to Rudy Santisteban's booksigning event. Why does he need to torture me every single day?

At hindi pa natapos ang usapan namin hanggang sa makarating na ako sa school. He continued blabbering about Bakunawa. Sa mga nakalipas na araw, we talked about the secrets, hidden meanings, and other commentaries on Rudy Santisteban's works. And as I could say, he's a worthy on becoming a Santisteban scholar.

After I entered the lobby, I replied with his chat message; my fragility reigned once again.

Lorenzo:
Okay fine, magpapaalam na. Are you happy?

Onemig:
Dude! That's the spirit.
Mas lalo akong na-e-excite.

Mukhang aasa na naman ang isang 'to.

That annoying Criminology student would be my chaperone going to that venue. At okay na rin naman iyon kaysa sa wala akong kasama. Wala ako sa lugar na magsabi nito, but I think, this guy is somewhat an angel-in-disguise.

I turned off my phone while walking past along the corridor of our school building. But while having my brisk steps, nakasalubong ko siya...

It's Jyrah together with her two friend. They're busy chatting with each other, but I am unaware that I caught her attention.

"Oh! Hi, Lorenzo!" she greeted me as she passed along. There she goes once more with her vibrant aura. But from the day that thing happened between us, I'll never look on the way I see her before.

In a budget na lang akong ngumiti sa kaniya at saka naglakad muli. I don't have the guts to open-up.

And... Still nothing happened after we parted ways. Pumasok na lang ako sa loob ng aming classroom for our subject this period.

---

Umupo na lang ako sa aking favorite spot--sa may mga dulong upuan sa classroom. Dahil dito nakatapat ang split-type air-conditoner, I cloaked myself with the hood of my black Organization XIII jacket I'm wearing.

As usual, wala na namang pumapansin sa akin habang patuloy sa pagsalumbaba, as if I'm non-existent to my classmates. Well... The fever of the competition I've joined has been watered down since last week. So, these people are back to their usual treatments to me. And I'm totally okay with that--no, it's an understatement. I'm way beyond okay with this set-up.

While repeatedly pressing the button from my ball point pen, I already feel the ominous winds shrouding the entire classroom.

Yeah, ramdam ko na naman ang tension sa pagitan ng classmates ko. Siyempre, Arlo and our class president, Chino are the frontliners at sila-sila rin naman ang laging may araw-araw na patutsada sa isa't isa. And of course, they have their own circle of friends--their allies, kaya naging divided sa dalawang section ang buong klase.

"Nagsalita na naman ang bida-bida." Arlo, the posh guy welcomed with his opening salvo. Mamma mia! Here they go again. Ilang beses na nga akong naririndi sa kanila.

"Kausap kita? Can you just shut your mouth?" Chino, our class president rebutted back. I've already feel their cold treatments toward each other.

Hay, parang mga batang nakikipag-away ang mga ito. What is this, a Kindergarten class? Well, in fact, it all just started from our practice para sa aming presentation sa aming PE subject for Prelims. Si Arlo ang naging choreographer namin for our Folk dance. Pero ito namang si Chino ang sumasapaw kesyo hindi raw maganda ang steps na prinesent ni Arlo. And that warring state with them continued and bloomed further.

As possible, I want to get neutral to these people. As you can see, I'm not into discrimination, so I have to dislike them equally.

I don't want to get involved with the tension between them, but I would like to watch the exchange of their own sets of nonsensical arguments. Can I have a popcorn please? This is going to be interesting.

---

We have our dinner with my mom at Tita Gigi right after pagkauwi galing ng school. Of course, bumili na lang si Mom ng rotisserie chicken that we shared to our table.

Is this the time to tell that I'm going to a venue that is quite far from us with no grown-up coming along?

For sure naman ay hindi ako papayagan talaga. Baka raw hindi ko kayanin or hindi ko ma-handle ang sarili ko roon. I'm already 18, but I'm still struggling.

I'm starting to get trembled while grabbing another piece of chicken onto my plate. Parang anytime ay sasabog na ako nito. I really wanted to go to that event!

Or else...

A light bulb suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

But then, my mom spoke, but this time, napatingin siya sa akin nang seryoso.

"Anak, may conference pala akong dadaluhan sa Baguio this coming Friday. Then hanggang Sunday kami roon. so kayo munang in charge ni Tita Gigi habang wala ako, okay?"

Oh... Interesting? Na-realize kong wala pala si Mom nang ilang araw, so there's a bit of freedom na pumunta ako roon dahil hindi ako masu-supervise! Geez, I don't want to get more excited.

I coughed before speaking. It's time to execute my brilliant plan. I hope my made-up alibi never get jinxed.

"Actually, Mom..." I started with a gentle tone. "May practice pala akong pupuntahan this Saturday... Sa Arayat po, sa bahay ng classmate ko. Can I go there?"

Well, it's partly true. May practice nga kami sa Saturday sa Arayat, but I'm not interested to go to that practice. I know, it's treacherous, but please, please, please... I want to go to that event.

A serious aura was written down onto my mom's face. But then, she spoke.

"Oh, sure. Basta ikaw ang bahala sa sarili mo, ah? Kayo na ring bahala ni Ate Gigi sa bahay, ah?"

Okay... My face has been brightened by that. Himalang pumayag si Mom!

"Sige, Ate, kami na pong bahala ni Lorenzo," Ate Gigi commented then.

"Kung tuloy nga kayo sa practice n'yo sa Saturday, palagi mo kaming ite-text ng Ate Gigi mo, ha?" My mom continued to advise me. Well... Kung practice man ang pupuntahan ko.

Okay... There's an assurance.

Deep inside, I left a victorious grin. Hah! Ito ang first time kong "tumakas" para pumunta sa malayong lugar, all alone (except that kasama ko pala si Onemig).

This is going to be a dangerous but also an exciting adventure!

-30-