"Dito ka raw mag-aaral?"

Linggo at kasalukuyan na nagsisiesta si Lolo nang banggitin 'yon ni Lena. We were sitting near the seashore, sheltered under the shade of two pine trees.

I nodded slowly and looked away to the horizon. I haven't really thought about going back to school, especially here. But then, now that she mentioned it, it made sense to me. Hindi ko naman kailangan na bumalik ng Maynila para makapag-aral muli.

"Maganda ba ang eskuwelahan dito?"

Sumandal ako sa puno at ipinikit ang mga mata para mas lalong maramdaman ang dalisay na ihip ng hangin.

She paused for a moment as if weighing her words carefully. She does that often. For a girl not yet sixteen, I'd say Lena was more woman than child already. I know my mother thinks my grandfather keeps her for carnal reasons, but I find that incredibly hard to believe. Kung makikilala lang ni Mama si Lena ay magbabago rin ang opinyon niya rito. Sigurado ako.

"Maganda naman... pero 'wag mong isipin na kasingganda ng mga nasa Maynila. Siguro... siyempre iba pa rin 'yong paaralan mo roon," she replied shyly.

Although I still kept my eyes closed, I could picture out her expression as she said those words with hesitation and shyness.

"I don't think it matters where a person studies— be it in the province or in the city. As long as one is determined and diligent, one can always get a good education."

"Tama ka..." nahihiyang sagot niya sa sinabi ko. Pero kahit iyon ang sinabi niya, napagtanto ko na may gusto pa siyang idagdag. Kaya naman dumilat ako at diretso siyang tinitigan.

"May gusto ka pang sabihin. Sige na, 'wag ka nang mahiya."

"Totoo naman na kapag masipag ka, masigasig at may determinasyon ay kalahati na ng digmaan ang naipanalo mo. Pero Renz, hindi rin maipagkakaila na malaking bagay kung sa maganda kang paaralan makakapagtapos. Maalam ang mga guro dito sa Aguadulce; malaki ang naitutulong nila sa mga estudyante. Ngunit, kulang sa modernong kagamitan at pasilidad dito."

Her face flushed in earnestness as she spoke and I could see she had thought about this more than a couple of times. I felt a prick of shame for my past behavior. I had not studied properly when I was in Manila. Sa totoo lang, kahit disinuwebe na ako, hindi pa ako nakakapagtapos ng high school. Paano kasi, panay ang pagbubulakbol ko. Kung hindi naman dahil doon ay laging napapaaway at sa huli ay naki-kickout kaya hindi ko natatapos ang school year. Isang taon na rin mula nang tumigil ako sa pag-aaral at nalulong sa pakikipagkarera. Kung hindi pa ako naaksidente ay malamang hindi pa ako mahihinto.

🌿

Hindi naman pala ganito ka lala sa public highschool dito. Lalo na at pangalan ng pamilya namin ang nakalagay sa gate. May mga magaganda rin naman kahit sabihin na natin na probinsiyana.

"Hi! Ikaw 'yong apo ni Don Isong, 'di ba?"

The girl's curly hair shone in the sun, may dimples din 'yong kaibigan niya na kasama niyang lumapit sa'kin. Chicks.

"Yeah," I replied and smirked at them.

Napatingin sa akin si Lena bago siya ngumiti at nagpaalam na pupunta na sa sarili niyang classroom.

For some reason, they were all friendly to me. Not that I noticed it much. Frankly, it wasn't a big deal to me because I am used to the attention. I didn't bask under it or anything. Facts are facts.

Dahil ilang taon akong hindi naging masipag sa pag-aaral ay medyo nahirapan ako. Marami naman akong classmate na handang tulungan akong mag-aral, kaya ayos lang. By the time lunch break arrived, I was already in the middle of what seemed to be the popular clique in this hick school. There was Henry, Rupert, Moira, Chryselle and Kate.

Tingin ko pare-pareho kami ng trip— si Henry higit sa lahat. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay mahilig din siyang mag-cutting classes. Pero saan naman kaya siya tumatambay kung sakaling nagbubulakbol siya? Sa pakwanan o sa manggahan?

Si Rupert naman parang palabiro. Hindi nga lang nakakatawa kung minsan. Medyo korny kung baga. Buti na lang magaganda 'yong tatlong chicks. At mukhang interesado silang tatlo sa'kin. Again, facts are facts.

Chryselle said she's a transferee from Iloilo. She hasn't said or done anything wild yet but if she's from the city and transferred back to the province just before senior year, she must have gotten into trouble or something, right? City girl; definitely my type.

Moira is the prettiest girl I've seen so far. She also has a nice pair of legs. She said she'll help me if I have trouble catching up with the lessons since she was Top 1 in their class last year. Yeah right. Lessons, my ass. Alam ko kung ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin.

May sumali sa table namin sa canteen nang breaktime. Kapatid ni Chryselle kaya maganda rin, Kate ang pangalan niya. It was clear she was trying to outdo her sister in flirting. Honestly, I couldn't decide who was better.

I saw Lena at the opposite side of the canteen, sitting with a girl friend who I think was called Goldie. She waved at me from across the room, but I just nodded slightly towards her. I mean, she's alright, but we're already together at home and I have no intention of hanging out with her here.

Wala pa'ng uwian ay nag-aya na si Moira na sumama raw ako pauwi sa kaniya dahil tuturuan niya ako sa homework. Tingin ko naman kaya kong gawin 'yon kahit papaano. What the hell. Why not? I'm willing if she is. Isa pa, dalawang buwan mahigit din akong walang ibang taong nakikita maliban sa mga nakatira kasama ko sa mansyon.

"Renz, tara na?" Palabas na kami ng mga kaibigan ko sa gate ng school nang nakita ko si Lena.

"Mauna ka na. May pupuntahan pa 'ko."

She fidgeted a little, hesitating to go home without me but she should know I won't go home until I want to.

"Tara, doon ang sakayan ng tricycle papunta sa amin," tawag ni Moira sabay hawak sa braso ko.

Their house isn't too far from the school. It's nice too so her folks are probably loaded. Her parents weren't home yet and the helper who let us in was young and timid and couldn't even look at me.

"'Day, dalhan mo kami ng meryenda. Sa kwarto ko lang kami ha," bilin ni Moira, hawak pa rin ang kamay ko.

"Ma'am? Uhmmm... eh 'di po ba bawal ang lalaki sa kuwarto 'nyo?"

"Bilis na! Ang bagal- bagal mo eh."