Page 18

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Journal

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"CZABINE!" A loud shout across the field gets my attention.

I was playing badminton with my classmates for PE when we were interrupted. A familiar girl ran towards me with messy hair and a sweaty forehead.

Napaluhod pa ito sa harap ko nang sandaling makalapit ito sa aking p'westo na humahangos.

"Czabine, I want to tell you something..."

"Ano 'yon?" I asked curiously.

"Si C-Carlo! Binubugbog na naman ng mga b-bully mong kaklase!" naghihikahos nitong sagot dahilan para maalerto ako.

Agad kong tinapon ang hawak kong racket at dali-daling tumakbo papalayo sa oval.

"Nasa may treehouse sila sa Science building!" sigaw pa nito na binigyan ko lang ng thumbs up.

Dali-dali akong tumatakbo. Pilit ko ring pinapakalma ang sarili ko lalo na't 'yong mga bully sa section namin ay ang lala ng mga pinagagawa kung may target man sila.

Wala pang isang minuto nang mapansin kong may nakahilata na sa semento habang nakatayo naman hindi kalayuan mula rito ang tatlong lalaki na nakalagay ang kamay sa kanilang likuran.

Hindi ko pa man alam ang buong nangyayari pero nahihinuha kong nabugbog na ang target nila.

I will not let this pass this time!

Dali-dali akong lumapit kay Carlo na nahihirapang bumangon sa pagkakahiga sa semento.

Nang mapalapit ako sa gawi niya ay laking gulat ko nang mapansin ang pagdugo ng kanyang ilong at may mantsa na pula ang kanyang putting uniporme.

Binalingan ko ng tingin ang tatlo na hindi man lang nagalaw sa kanilang kinatatayuan.

"Bingo! Waer! Opal! Anong ginawa niyo? Bakit niyo siya binugbog?" I gave them deadly glares for them to back away from me.

Bingo cleared his throat, "Sorry, miss president pero si Carlo kasi, vinandalize niya 'yong wall natin!" He quickly pointed to the unwashed wall with written words in red and blue.

Napailing ako sa kanyang sinabi.

"Is it true, Carlo?" inalalayan ko ito sa kanyang pagtayo.

I expectedno as his answer but he agreed anyway.

Nasapo ko na lang ang aking noo sa aking narinig. Ang honest naman ni Carlo, papalitan pa ata si Honesto sa sobrang matapat.

"But still, Bingo! Hindi niyo kailangang gumamit ng dahas kung gusto niyong patigilin siya sa pang-va-vandalize!" I tried to warn them with my words. Despite saying to myself that I wouldn't let it slip away, seeing these three caring for our school was an unexpected act on their part.

"Sorry na, miss pres---"

"Last warning na talaga 'to sa inyong tatlo! Sa susunod na may nalaman pa ako ulit na ginulpi niyo. Hindi na ako magdadalawang-isip na ipatawag kayo sa head office!" pagbabanta ko rito bago ko inalalayan si Carlo.

"Let's head to the clinic, Carlo. Ipapagamot natin 'yang sugat mo."

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THE head nurse already applied first aid on his cuts and cleaned his wounds. Nang sandaling lapatan ng band aid ang kanyang mukha, tatlong sugat ang tinakpan.

As the nurse left us for him to rest. I'm staring at him while he's sitting on the bed.

There is an awkwardness between us due to the dead air between us.

"Carlo, bakit mo ginawa 'yon? Bakit mo vinandalize ang dingding na 'yon?" I tried to sound calm but I can't contrain myself.

I expected him to fear me but he just smiled and stared at the window. This guy is full of surprises today. What's gotten into him this day?

"That's my brother's wish..."

Nangunot ang noo ko sa kanyang tugon. Brother's wish? May kapatid pala siya? Sabagay, hindi naman kami close kaya hindi ko alam.

"A---what? Brother's wish? 'Di ko gets pinupunto mo—"

"My brother, Caleb, wrote in his journal na bago siya mamatay ay masulatan o ma-vandalize man lang niya ang dinding ng kanyang alma matter." He cut me off and answered me with a questionable answer.

"Nasa'n ba kasi ang kapatid mo? At 'tsaka bakit ikaw ang gumagawa---"

"Caleb is dead, Czabine..."

Tila para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa kanyang sagot. That scares the hell out of me.

"My brother is dead at isa 'yon sa wish list niya. Hindi na niya nagawa at ako mismo ang magpapatuloy no'n!"

The way he responded to me surprised me quite a bit. Ramdam kong tumaas ang boses niya dala ng alaala ng kahapon.

"S-Sorry, Carlo. I didn't know..."

"You don't have to. Just think about this..."

As he touched his uniform, he quickly unbuttoned his polo which made me gulp. My cheeks are burning red since it was awkward for me.

My head automatically turned in his direction when I tried to look away. Like what the hell? Baka sabihin niyang manyak ako!

"Teka lang, Carlo. Bakit may pahubad? Anong gagawin mo?" I asked hysterically.

Natapos niyang i-unbotton ang kanyang polo at mabilis na hinubad ito.

He had tan skin with a circular shape that resembled a bruise, and its color was violet-blue.

Napatakip ako sa aking bibig nang sandaling iangat ko ang aking tingin at napansin ang malaking epekto ng pagka-bugbog sa kanya. May malaking kulay ubeng pasa rin sa kanyang leeg.

What the hell? What's all of this? Bakit ang dami niyang pasa? Hindi naman 'to sanhi ng pagkakabugbog sa kanya kanina. Knowing na iba ang kulay ng bugbog at ng nakikita ko.

Carlo came closer to me and held my trembling hands.

"Sorry, Czabine for what really happened. I'm just fulfilling my brother's wish list since he can't do it lalo na't patay na siya..." his eyes told the truth. Ang sincere ang paghingi niya ng tawad.

Binitawan nito ang aking kamay sabay tungo niya sa kanyang bag sa gilid. There was something similar to a notebook... but it was a journal.

He opened the journal in front of me and showed me the list of his brother's last wishes. Thirteen out of fifteen were checked. While the remaining two vandalized the school's wall. He then checked it afterwards.

But what really shocked me was his last wish.

'I wish Czabine Alleje would be my first kiss.'

Napatitig lamang ako kay Carlo na ngayon ay inaantay na ang aking sagot sa huling wish list ng kuya niya.

Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin lalo na't this is unexpected.

"C-Carlo..." nausal ko na lamang at ilang beses na napaisip kung gagawin ko ba ang huling hiling nito.

"My brother had a crush on you... and so am I..." 

What? Gusto nila akong magkakapatid? That's really weird!

Paano  ba 'to? Tsk! Bahala na nga! Mamatay lang din naman ako. 

Walang pasabing nilapit ko pa lalo ang aking sarili sa kanya sabay lapit ng aking mukha at mariin na iginiya ang kanyang batok sa akin.

My lips gently touched his soft and warm lips.

I guess I'm just fulfilling their wishes.

Dahil alam kong sa sandaling 'to, hindi na rin magtatagal si Carlo sa mundong ibabaw lalo na't ang parang pasa sa kanyang katawan ay isa nang palatandaan na malala na ang kanyang sakit. 

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