Chismis

I am Reign Shari Gustavo. Twenty years old, Bachelor of Arts in Jewelry Design. I took that course because I love designing and making jewelry. I have been doing that since I was a kid. In fact, I have gathered all the designs I made starting high school and piled them into an album. Gano’n ko kahilig ang propesyon na pinapangarap ko. 

Life as a second year Fine Arts student was stressful but fun. Siguro dahil gusto ko ang ginagawa ko kaya madali para sa ‘king sabihin na masaya kahit mahirap. 

Achiever? Sakto lang. I’ve got good grades and am active in school events but that’s all, nothing special. Hindi naman ako sobrang talino pero ewan ko ba kung bakit sikat ako sa batch ko.

I’m not bragging, it’s the truth. 

Maybe it’s because of my boyfriend. The team captain of Brilliants’ Crown Jewels – I know, it’s girly. Pero masisisi mo ba kami eh, ang may-ari ng school ang nagpangalan niyan sa basketball team namin?

Brilliants International School and Colleges. One of the most prestigious schools all over the country.

“Nga pala, babe. Remember Ate Michelle?” 

His cousin? “Yeah, why?”

“She’s inviting us to her wedding. Sa Sabado na ‘yon. Puwede ka ba?” tanong niya habang nasa daan ang mga mata. We are on our way to the school.

“Oo naman. Though, kailangan mo akong samahan sa pagbili ng dress ko.” I smiled cheekily habang sumimangot naman siya. “Sige na, babe. Please . . .” I gave him puppy dog eyes.

Bagsak ang balikat siyang tumango. “Fine. Pasalamat ka, mahal kita.”

“Thank you.” Humagikgik ako.

“I don’t want a “thank you”, Reign. I want an “I love you too”.” Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. 

“I’ll get there.”

“Mahigit isang taon na ang “I’ll get there” na ‘yan. Ano, naipit sa traffic ng EDSA?” he asked sarcastically. 

I pursed my lips and looked away. 

“A-Ahm, iyong k-kasal ng pinsan mo, is it a grand wedding or an intimate one?” pag-iiba ko sa usapan.

“An intimate one. Ayaw ni Ate ng maraming tao. Close friends and family lang ang imbitado.”

“I’m not part of the family, though . . .”

“You’re my girlfriend, of course you’re part of the family. Kahit pa nga walang katugon ang “I love you” ko,” his voice was laced with bitterness. 

I sighed and held his free hand that was not on the steering wheel. 

“Marco, you know the reason why I don’t want to say those words yet. Ayaw kong bitawan ang salitang ‘yon tapos pagsisisihan ko rin naman pala sa huli. For me, “I love you” is a very important word – like a promise. I don’t want to end up like my Dad na paulit-ulit sinasabi kay Mommy na mahal niya ito pero dumating din naman ang araw na ipagpapalit niya kami sa iba.”

My father cheated on Mom at hindi namin ‘yon malalaman kung hindi sasabihin ng Tita ko sa ‘min. He disappeared through thin air for three months tapos malalaman na lang namin kay Tita Via, Mom’s younger sister and Dad’s best friend, na may kinakasama na pala itong ibang babae sa Ilocos and worst, may anak pa sila.

That only meant that in those months before he disappeared – those months where we were so happy, he’s already cheating on Mom – on us. 

And take note that in those months, he never failed to remind us how much he “loves” us. Kaya mula ng araw na iyon, I promised myself to not say the words “I love you” that easily. 

He sighed heavily. “I know. Alam ko ring ayaw mong napag-uusapan ang Dad mo so I’m sorry for bringin it up.” Pinagsalikop niya ang mga kamay namin. “Ikaw? Kung ikakasal ka, what kind of wedding would you want?”

“Definitely grand,” mabilis kong sagot. 

“Of course.” Marco chuckled.

Inirapan ko siya. “Siyempre, isang beses lang akong ikakasal kaya gusto ko, all-out.” I snickered. “Tapos ako ang magde-design ng wedding rings, ‘yung jewelries na susuotin ko that day . . . kung pwede nga pati gown ko since magaling naman akong mag-drawing.”

“Magaling mag-drawing ng jewelries, you mean,” pagtatama niya. 

“At least may skill. How hard could designing a gown be?” Binalingan ko siya. “Ikaw, what do you want for your wedding?”

“Whatever my girlfriend wants.” He glanced at me. Nag-init ang pisngi ko. 

Talking about weddings . . . seriously? Does this mean he's planning his future with me? I can’t help but feel hopeful, pero hindi naman masyadong asang-asa. A lot could happen in a short period of time; and as for me and Marco, we still have a long way to go. Dapat hindi kasalan ang pinag-uusapan namin ngayon kundi kung paano kami makaka-graduate pareho. 

“Tumabi nga kayo!” iritadong singhal ni Zyra sa mga taong nagkukumpulan sa gateway entrance ng school na konektado sa parking. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. 

There she goes again.

“Dadaan si Reign at Marco, you hear me? So get out of the way!” 

“Ginamit mo pa talaga ang pangalan ko, ha?” Zyra quickly turned to me. 

“Eh kasi naman, ayaw nilang magsilayas. Napilitan tuloy akong gamitin ang “precious” name mo.” She wiggled her eyebrows. 

“Ano ba’ng nangyayari?” Marco asked the same time he caressed my arm. Napabaling din tuloy ako sa gate kung saan may nangyayaring komosyon. 

Nagkibit-balikat si Zyra. “‘Di ko rin alam, eh.”

We had no choice kundi makipagsiksikan sa mga tao. Based on their uniforms, they are high school students. Saka lang namin nalaman ang dahilan ng komosyon nang makarating kami sa hallway na kumukonekta sa parking lot at sa mismong school. 

“Aray! Let go of me, you bitch!” 

Judging from their actions, it must be about a boy. A girl was hovering over the one who was shouting and she was pulling her hair – hard. 

“Ang landi-landi mo! Pati grade nine pinapatulan mo! Kating-kati ka na bang magkajowa, ha?! Palibahasa walang pumapatol sa kachakahan mo!” Naitikom ko ang bibig nang marinig ang sinabi ng isa. Parang bigla kong nakita si Zyra sa kaniya noong high school pa kami. 

I pointed to the girl. “She reminds me of you,” natatawa kong wika. 

“Ano?” Zyra scoffed. “Kung ako ‘yan, mas malala pa riyan ang gagawin ko.” Humalukipkip siya. 

“We have to go. Baka mamaya, madamay pa tayo kapag dumating na ang mga teacher niyan.” Marco guided the both of us palayo sa komosyon. 

“Hay, buti na lang at tapos na tayo sa stage na ‘yon. Nakakabawas kaya ng appeal ang pagiging warfreak,” Zyra commented. 

“Yeah,” pagsang-ayon ko. Pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay. 

“Wow, para namang nang-aaway ka dati. Eh, hindi ka nga makabasag pinggan nung high school.” Humalakhak ako. 

“Dati ‘yon, Zyra. Hindi na ngayon.”

“You? Hindi makabasag-pinggan? Parang hindi ko yata ma-imagine?” Marco said teasingly. I pouted. 

“I’m a good girl way back, you know?” 

He shrugged. “Okay . . .” he drawled. 

My face contorted in annoyance. “Marco!” Malakas siyang tumawa kapagkuwan ay nanglalambing na niyakap ako sa baywang. 

“Chill, baby. I was just teasing you.” I pouted as I blush profusely when he hugged me like that in front of many people passing by. 

I heard Zyra tsked. “Huwag nga kayong PDA! Makapasok na nga at baka ma-late pa ako.” Umirap siya sabay talikod sa aming dalawa. 

My pouting lips stretched in a wide smile when Zyra walked out on us. Hobby niya na iyan sa tuwing nagiging “overly sweet” kami ni Marco sa harapan niya. 

“She walked out again . . .”

“Let her be,” Marco whispered as he kissed my cheeks. Kaagad akong dumistansiya at pinangaralan siya. 

“Marco, we’re in the hallway. Umayos ka nga.”

He clicked his tongue. “You’re no fun, babe.”

“Ayoko lang namang ma-report tayo,” I explained when all emotions in his face disappeared. 

“Yeah, yeah.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulder. “Tara na. Hatid na kita sa room mo, baka ma-late ka pa.”

“This is our seat! Dalawang taon na kaming nakapuwesto rito kaya magsilayas kayo,” singhal ni Zyra sa mga babaeng nakaupo sa upuan namin. Mabilis ko siyang nilapitan. 

“Zyra, ano ka ba? Kanina ka pa high-blood. Hayaan mo na sila, let’s just find another seat.” Nilingon ko ang mga babaeng nakaupo. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin noong isa, the two quickly stood up. 

“Reign, sorry, hindi namin alam na ikaw pala ang nakapuwesto rito.” The girl was in a hurry taking her things off the table. 

“No, no, ayos lang,” pigil ko sa pag-alis nila. “Kami na lang ang maghahanap ng upuan. Pagpasensiyahan niyo na lang itong kaibigan ko, hindi yata nakainom ng maintenance niya sa high-blood.” Siniko ako ni Zyra pero hindi ko siya pinansin. 

The girl shook her head rapidly. “Hindi, kami na lang ang aalis. Pasensiya na ulit.”

“O-Okay,” I awkwardly said when they walked away quickly. Para bang natatakot sila sa ‘kin. Hinarap ko si Zyra. 

“Wala naman akong ginawang masama . . . ‘Di ba?” nagtataka kong tanong kay Zyra na ngayon ay umuupo na. 

“Hayaan mo sila. It’s either nahihiya ang mga ‘yon sa ‘yo or natatakot sila. Ang perfect mo kasi eh.” I don’t know if it was a joke or a fact. “Kumain na nga lang tayo.” Pabagsak niyang nilapag ang bag sa gilid niya. 

“Kanina ka pa iritado. What’s wrong with you?” salubong ang kilay kong tanong. 

Marahas siyang bumuntonghininga. “May chismis kasi.”

Napangiwi ako. “Huwag mo na lang pala ikuwento, wala akong interes diyan.”

“No, I think . . . you should know about this.”

“Huh?” Bigla akong kinabahan sa pagseseryoso niya. 

“The tea . . . it’s about Marco.”

“Marco? What about Marco?” Nakipag-away na naman ba siya?

“Marco . . . He was caught at the gym.”

I rolled my eyes. “Siyempre, varsity siya.”

“At the back of the gym, Reign.” Hinawakan niya ang dalawang kamay ko saka seryosong nagsalita. “He was caught at the back of the gym, kissing another girl.” 

Biglang tumigil ang pag-inog ng mundo ko.

✨GraciousVictory✨

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