Entry 06

Strange but I was able to spent that whole day with Dax kahit ilang beses kong pinakita sa kaniya na naiinis ako. Hindi ko alam kung naging ganito na ba kahaba ang pasensiya ko sa isang tao, pero iyon ang nangyari sa araw na 'yon. He was so oblivious about my annoyance to him, and weird because I still tried to be patient with him.

And about what he said that he has a crush on me, I really don't care about it. I just wonder what he meant when he said that he wants to be friends with me because he wants to be friends with me. Could that make any sense?

"Have you ever had a crush on someone back in your school?" Lumabas sa bibig ko habang nagpapahangin ako sa balkonahe at nasa loob si Nanay, inaayos ang kama ko.

I lifted my eyes to the cloudy dark sky that hides the stars and only half of the full moon is seen. Nanuot sa'king balat ang marahan at maaliwalas na hampas ng hangin.

"Crush? Oo naman. Bakit? May napupusuan ka ba sa escuela?"

I shook my head absently as my gaze is still fixed on the sky. My mother made me believe that I'm a princess, my father told me that I should be the pride of the Delavin's, and the people see me as that one person who couldn't put her hands on something dirty— very unlike of her parents. At ang mga taong nasa parehas kong edad, tinuturing akong parang iba sa kanila, hindi sa paraan na natatakot sila kundi dahil naiirita sila.

And I can't blame them. I told myself a lot of times that I couldn't care less, but maybe, there's something deep down in me that wishes secretly for someone to see the real me. To see the person I don't see whenever I look at the mirror. Dahil sa tuwing haharap ako sa salamin, nakikita ko ang babaeng bunga ng mga salitang naririnig ko sa mga tao: suplada, arogante, mapagmataas.

"Hindi ka sumasagot. Sino ang maswerteng lalaking iyan?"

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko at inalis ang tingin sa madilim na kalangitan. I looked inside my room and saw Nanay standing on the threshold of the balcony's door.

"Wala akong nagugustuhan," I paused.

Now that we're talking about crushes, I don't think I ever liked a guy my age. Particularly a real one. Buong buhay ko 'ata ay sa mga fictional characters lang ako nahulog. It's not that I was never introduced to boys my age, but my parents weren't also that fond of me meeting with any other guys. I've seen a lot of couples, but never once it crossed my mind of how does it feels to crush over someone. To fall, they say.

"The truth is I don't know if I'm capable of having that kind of feelings." I admitted.

Ironic how most of the books I read are about romance yet I still don't have a bit of idea if that word love is meant for everyone. Baka pili lang ang mga taong nakakaranas no'n?

"Syempre naman at may kapasidad kang magmahal, anak. Lahat ng tao ay may kakayahang magmahal. Katulad ko, mahal kita."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niyang iyon pero agad ding napawi. Siguro hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang maramdaman iyon dahil buong buhay ko wala namang nagtangkang pumasok sa buhay ko. Si Mommy, Daddy, at Nanay lang ang mga tao sa mundo ko. I didn't let Allison enter my world or anyone else. How could I possibly feel that emotion when I'm only surrounded with people who barely give me that. Not that Nanay is not enough, but... I don't know... there's something missing.

"Inaantok na 'ko." Sabi ko at tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo at pumasok sa loob.

Friendship and love, I don't think I'm capable of those.

After that one whole week of UGW, everything comes back to normal. School works, hectic schedules, and everything that normal students hate. But I don't because I'm not a normal student.

Bata pa lamang ako, sinanay na ako ng aking mga magulang sa mabibigat na bagay na dapat kong pagtuonan ng pansin. By learning karate and taekwondo when I was very young, followed by learning how to ride a horse properly like a lady, and making the firing range became one of my activities when I turned eighteen. My father told me that it is my responsibility to learn those not just for the sake of my safety but because everyone expects me to learn that. My parents believe that I shouldn't turn out to be just like other kids— the normal ones who play outside their house with their friends— they want me to become a different kid; a special one that everyone will envy me for having those skills.

By being always on the honor list, participating in regional debates, journalism, and quiz bees, my parents always boast of how smart I become. Na kung hindi daw dahil sa kanila, baka hindi ako naging ganito katalino. That's when everyone started to have this high expectations from me. Dahil pinakita ko sa kanila una pa lang kung gaano ako kahusay sa iba't-ibang larangan, umaasa sila na maipagpapatuloy ko 'yon hanggang sa huli.

And I made myself believe that they are right. I'm smart, skillful, rich, and pretty. I'm very privileged that I should be happy and content with all I have right now. That's what they think about me. However, I don't think I like those privileges. Not because I'm being ungrateful, but because I know exactly how it feels to carry those expectations on your shoulders every day and get anxious every time the thought of failing crossed your mind.

Mom painted me as her perfect daughter, Dad sees me as his best project, but what if I'm not? Would they hate me?

"Hello? Hello?! Tri, are you there?"

I blinked once when I felt a finger poking my forehead, and before I could process everything, Allison's face already appeared in my sight. Her eyebrows are creased but it slowly turns back to normal and she smiled wide at me.

"Nagdi-daydreaming ka ba?" Seryoso niyang tanong.

Inikot ko ang paningin sa paligid at natantong nagkakagulo na halos lahat ng mga kaklase ko. What happened?

Tila ba nabasa niya ang nasa isip ko at sinagot niya ang tanong ko.

"Foundation Day na next next week, before midterm. Alam ko namang narinig mo na 'yon kanina kay Ma'am pero horror booth ang gagawin natin." She then started to jump a little and clapped her hands twice.

"Isn't that exciting? Ang tagal ko nang gustong gawin ang horror booth simula pa lang no'ng high school kaso laging food stall lang ang kaya ng budget ng klase namin. Pero ngayon!" She shrieked.

"I can be a ghost! A beautiful white lady." She put both of her hands in the air and tilted her head to act like it's broken— like a white lady she's trying to imitate.

Yeah. I remembered. Kalalabas lang ng adviser namin at sinabi sa'ming magkakaroon ng event for foundation day and we're going to make a horror booth which my classmates instantly complains about. Ang mga lalaki naman ay tuwang-tuwa, kasama na roon si Allison. Samantalang ako, wala akong pakialam. Kung makakatulong iyon sa grades ko, I don't mind doing it, whether they like it or not.

"Stop it, Allison! Kakausapin ko si Ma'am mamaya at makikiusap na iba na lang ang gawin natin. Hindi natin kaya ang horror booth!" Elora complains over and over again.

Allison looked at her friend. "Huwag ka ngang kill joy! Ayaw mo lang mag-make up na ghost, eh!"

"That's not it. Ang akin lang ay hindi natin kaya. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng foundation day ay midterm week na. Tingin n'yo ba makakapag-focus pa tayo kung dala-dalawa ang nasa kamay nating iniisip? Hindi na tayo makakapag-review." She reasoned.

"Nag-ri-review ka?" One of our male classmates pulled that out.

Naghiyawan sila na hindi ko sinabayan. Nakita ko kung paano nagkrus ang iritasyon sa mukha ni Elora dahil sa mga pang-aasar na natatamo niya mula sa mga kaklase namin. I stare at her. Ganiyan ba ako kapag naaasar kay Dax at Allison?

"Gaya mo 'ko sa'yo, gago! Graduating tayo at may pakialam ako sa grades ko. Kung kayo wala, ibahin n'yo 'ko!"

"E'di lumipat ka ng klase! Arte mo."

"Elora," Allison spoke and went near her friend.

"Huwag mo muna kasing isipin ang midterm. Mas masaya ang foundation day kapag 'di natin iniisip mga activities natin." She said.

Allison is not really that smart but she doesn't fail as well. Hindi rin siya gano'n nagpaparticipate sa klase pero matataas naman ang mga nakukuha niyang marka. How can she not think about her grades? Or kung iniisip niya man ba't parang 'di naman gano'n ka-big deal sa kaniya?

I looked away and stare at my desk. Guess I'll never know. Her life is normal, mine's not.

"Bakit kasi horror booth? Dapat sa mga Art Major nila inassign!"

"Nagbunutan 'ata ang mga adviser at sa'tin napunta ang horror booth."

I heard someone grunt, probably Elora.

"Gaganti talaga ako by the end of the sem. One lahat ibibigay ko sa adviser nating 'yon. Nakakagigil. Gaganti ako sa evaluation niya."

"Grabe! Ang bait na nga ni Ma'am-"

"Tse! I don't ask for your opinion kaya shut up!"

Nagsigawan pa sila ng nagsigawan na parang mga bata hanggang sa dumating ang sunod naming instructor at pinatahimik sila. They are loud and they fight most of the time, but they still treat each other as friends at the end of the day. Iyon ang napansin ko sa loob ng tatlong taong kaklase ko sila.

Is it possible to hate someone and still be friends with them? To put up with them in spite of their attitude?

Who would put up with me, then?

I walked towards the other shelf and searched for the book our Major subject instructor mentioned a while ago. I just hope na hindi pa ako nauunahan ng mga kaklase ko dito sa library na makuha iyon.

I sighed in relief when I saw it. I pulled out the two books from the shelf using my index and middle fingers and they almost fell when I was welcome by an unwanted face. Dax's grinning from ear to ear that shows his perfect set of white teeth. Nasa likod siya ng shelf na kinuhanan ko ng libro at wala akong ideya kung paano siya napunta diyan at nalamang nandito ako. Hindi ko rin alam kung paano niya nalamang ito ang kukunin kong mga libro at perpektong bumungad ang mukha niya na para bang alam niya ang mga mangyayari!

"You're giving me a heart attack." I hissed irritably at him.

Totoo dahil halos mapatalon ako sa gulat at kung hindi ko agad naproseso ang nangyari ay baka napasigaw ako.

He wiggled his eyebrows at me and even leaned closer to the ledge of the shelf. I gave him death stares to warn him but he's stupid and oblivious!

"Nagulat ka ba sa kagwapuhan ko?" He brushed his chin with his fingers and winked at me.

I frowned at him. Seriously? Isn't he supposed to be busy knowing that he's a MedTech student and he's graduating like me? Umiling ako sa sariling tanong at padabog na ibinalik ang isang libro na hindi ko kailangan.

Nang talikuran ko siya at naglakad ako paalis sa shelf na iyon ay nakita ko pa siyang nagmamadaling maglakad rin. I gritted my teeth because I know for certain that he will follow me.

And I'm not wrong. Second after I turn left from that shelf, I already found him walking beside me. Wearing a coffee brown crop loose fitting t-shirt and trouser pants paired with my white sneaker shoes, I strut my way towards the tables to search for a vacant seat. Nang may makita ako sa gitna ay dumiretso ako doon at pinatong ang mga gamit ko, not trying to acknowledge his presence beside me, who later on joined me on my table without my permission.

I heaved heavily and opened my laptop. I also tried to browse my lectures as I can sense him staring at me. Gritting my teeth and trying to control my irritation towards him, I looked at him. I shot my brow at him as he remains smiling like the idiot he is.

"Why are you here?" Tanong ko sa tonong nauubos na ang pasensiya ko sa kaniya.

"You look good." Aniya.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

"Your outfit's nice. Ikaw pumili?" Dagdag niyang tanong.

Natigilan ako dahil do'n. It's petty, I told myself. Why would my heart jump with that petty compliment? It's wash today the reason why I was able to wear pants. Mom wanted to ask the president of our university to let me wear a dress every wash day but she then, later on, realized that it will only look like I'm having special treatment. She would actually like it, the special treatment, but then, again, she's trying to make a good impression on everyone. And me having that kind of treatment from the head of the school will only grow gossip about her, not me.

Iniwas ko ang tingin sa mga mata niya. Ako ang pumili ng damit ko ngayon dahil maagang umalis si Mommy at hindi niya naman ako pinapakailamanan pa sa mga suot ko tuwing nasa school. But for years of believing that I lack good fashion sense, hearing from Dax that I dressed nicely today, it's kind of flattering.

"Hindi ako pupunta sa farm n'yo bukas. Baka next week pa kami kumuha ng mga gulay." He started blabbering.

Like I care?

"Anong mga minor subjects n'yo? Baka parehas tayo? I can help you-"

He instantly zipped his mouth when I glared at him. At ngayon ko lang napansin ang suot niya. He's wearing a blue and white checkered polo that is buttoned perfectly, leaving one unbuttoned on the top and showing a bit of his white shirt inside. Kumunot ang aking noo nang makitang nasa likod niya pa rin ang kaniyang backpack.

Nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako doon ay agad niya iyong inalis sa kaniyang balikat at nilagay sa lamesa. I ignored him. Whatever.

"Nakataas na naman 'yang kilay mo baka mamaya isipin ng babae sa harap mo na naghahamon ka ng away." He chuckled that made me look at him again.

"What?" Iritado ko ng patol sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.

Using his thumb, he subtly pointed at our front. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko sinundan ang tinuturo niya at nakita ko ang isang babae sa unahan namin. Naabutan ko siyang nakatingin sa'min pero nang humarap ako ay agad siyang yumuko.

"She's scared." He hummed.

Tinaliman ko siya ng tingin dahilan upang mapaatras siya ng kaunti sa kaniyang upuan. Tinaas niya pa ang dalawang kamay na para bang sumusuko siya sa pulis.

"Joke lang! 'Di ka mukhang mataray. 'Di ka rin mukhang nanghahamon ng away. Hell, you don't even look like you're prepared to kill me! Your stares are sweet and tender, they don't look a threat! Promise! Cross my heart hope to die." Tuloy-tuloy niyang sambit.

Umiling na lang ako sa mga sinabi niya at ibinalik ang tingin sa lectures ko. I opened the book I got on the shelf and started to browse the pages to look for the article I'm looking for. Only that his words were left echoing inside my head. I've heard a lot of people calling me names like suplada, but they all do that behind me thinking that I don't hear them. Pero si Dax, he said it straight to my face.

I should be annoyed, but I'm not. Totoo namang mataray ang mukha ko at wala akong magagawa do'n dahil gano'n ang resting face ko. And I don't like smiling that much.

Nanahimik siya ng ilang minuto na pinagtaka ko kaya napasulyap ako sa kaniya. And I quickly regretted glancing at him. The man is pouting his lips. Well, he's handsome and he looks cute like a boy in kinder garden, but I don't get it.

"What are you doing?" Tanong ko.

"Pouting?" He answered and pushes his bottom lip more.

He placed his elbow on the table and rest the side of his face on his arms, still looking at me. I made a face.

"You look stupid." Lumabas sa bibig ko at ibinalik ang tingin sa libro.

Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nakita kong marahas siyang umayos muli ng pagkakaupo at nagsimulang magsalita, defending himself.

"Why, you're mean to me, princess!" Madrama niyang sambit.

"Don't you have something else to do? Why are you here with me?" Hindi ko na napigilan at naitanong ko iyon.

"Marami akong time para sa'yo." He placed his fingers again on his chin.

I flipped another page and ignore him. Whatever, again.

"Anong spelling ng love?" He asked out of the blue, after a while of trying to shut his mouth.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Hindi niya ba alam na nag-aaral ako?

Kinuha ko ang highlighter sa bag ko at nagsimulang mag-take notes sa journal ko. I could use the word document on my laptop but I really prefer writing on a paper. Unconsciously, I found myself using the green highlighter more often than usual. O siguro lagi ko nang nagagamit ang kulay na ito, hindi ko lang napapansin dahil wala lang sa'kin— not until that day that Dax noticed how most of my stuff are green.

"Ano na lang first letter ng love?" Pinaglalaban niya pa rin ang mga tanong niya na hindi ko pinapansin.

"Sabi na favorite mo ang color green!" He beamed that I felt like he disturbs the other students who are only trying to study.

Ramdam ko na ang mga usok na lumalabas sa tainga at ilong ko dahil sa isang 'to. God, can I punch this guy? Kahit isang beses lang.

"But that's not the answer." Aniya, hindi ko na maintindihan ang mga sinasabi niya.

Heck, I don't even know where his conversation is going.

"Love starts with letter L." He said.

Okay? He's still at it, with his question a while ago.

"Saan nagtatapos?" He added.

I typed on my keyboard to search for something on google.

"Not e. It's u."

My fingers halt on typing that he misinterprets my reaction.

"Huy! Kinilig ka!" He said like he won a championship competition.

I closed my eyes tightly for a while before opening them and resume to type on my keyboard. Hindi ko papatulan ang mga kalokohan niya. No.

"You're corny. Shut up." That came out of my mouth right after I made myself agree that I won't talk.

"Sorry. Tatahimik na 'ko. Promise." He said and even acted like he was zipping his mouth.

Hindi na 'ko naniniwalang mananahimik siya. Wala iyon sa bokabularyo ng lalaking ito. Maybe he can shut his mouth for one whole minute and then he will start his blabbering again.

I looked at my wristwatch to time how long he will shut his mouth and I'm surprised that he was taking five minutes now. Sinulyapan ko siya at napansing pinipindot niya na ang kaniyang cellphone. He lifted his head and found my eyes, he smiled wide and pushed himself a little near me.

"Picture tayo," he announced as he lifts his phone in the air, in front of us.

"Smile, Tri." Aniya na hindi ko sinunod at nakita kong pinindot niya ang bilog sa screen.

"First picture." He showed me the photo he took but I can't make myself smile like he was doing.

Nakita ko ang litrato at hindi naman ako nakangiti, hindi rin naman ako mukhang badtrip sa picture kahit iyon ang nararamdaman ko, instead I look so lost. Is that how I look? Lost?

I stare at him as he zooms in and out that one photo he took of us. He really does look like the actor who played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet's 1996 film adaptation. His face is a combination of cute and handsome; cute when he's smiling wide and acts like a kid, and handsome whenever he turns stern— which only happens every once in a blue moon.

Nang ibalik niya ang mga mata sa'kin ay agad kong ibinaling ang atensiyon sa laptop.

"You want a copy of this? Send ko sa'yo?" He asked.

"No." Malamig kong sagot.

"Don't you want to share something? How's your day?" He snapped a question that caught me off guard again.

Did he just ask me to share something? Nagpatuloy ako sa pagtitipa kahit hindi na ako sigurado kung tama ba ang sinisearch ko. Odd, I can feel something twisting in my heart. Is it the veins? My blood? I don't know but it makes me hard to breathe.

"Ay, mali. How was your day yesterday?"

He sounds casual about it, and I should take it casually as well. But I can't.

I can't because... no one ever asked me that question. Except for Nanay but she's different. She knows me. Dax, on the other hand, barely even knows me.

"I don't have anything to share with you." I came to answer as I tried my best to return to my senses.

I'm an uninteresting person, there's nothing I could talk about me.

"Wala? You look so interesting, Tri, alam mo ba 'yon? You're always alone and quiet, but you don't seem lonely. I just wonder how is it to see the world through your eyes. You're just different. Not in a bad or weird way, pero siguro nga weird, kasi naniniwala ako that anything's weird is beautiful."

I hate how he blabbers, however, his words shoot something inside me. Tuluyan ko nang tinigil ang pagtitipa, my fingers hover at the keyboards, not knowing when I will resume typing on them.

I look interesting? He's the first person who told me that I'm an interesting person. And he's right, I'm not lonely.

My eyes darted at the near window when I lifted my gaze. I can only see the green leaves of the tall trees outside and the bright blue sky above. What does the world look like through my eyes?

The world for me...

it's cruel and unfair.

The kids on the streets are deprived of home and education. The elders are being thrown away from their houses and being forgotten as they aged. There are people who care about them, but I still wonder why they have to be put in that kind of position? Why does the world have to be this cruel and unfair to people?

And for someone like me, why do I have to live the life I don't think is mine?

"Oh, past lunch na pala. Tara kain na tayo! Libre ko." His words made me come back to life again.

I removed my stare from the window and started to close the book. I don't think I could finish my homework here, not with this guy around me.

"Do you have any other hobbies than reading and studying?" Balik niya na naman sa usapan.

He's like that. He'll divert the topic for a while and he will continue talking about it again.

"Watching." I replied, I don't know why I replied.

"Watching?" He repeated my word. "You watch dramas? English series?"

I nodded. "I also watch anime."

Well, I guess there's no harm in answering some of his sensible questions now.

"Anime? You don't look like you watch-" he stops talking when I looked at him.

He smiled awkwardly. "S-So, who's your favorite anime? Particularly a male anime?"

"Tadashi Karino." I answered and grabbed all my stuff before standing.

I'm already tired of talking after speaking for at least a minute or less to him. He's draining my energy.

"Wait! You'll leave now?"

Nang isakbit ko ang bag ko sa'king balikat ay nagmadali rin siyang tumayo at humabol sa'kin sa paglalakad. Dahil inaayos niya pa ang backpack sa likod niya ay nauna ako sa kaniya ng ilang hakbang.

"Let's eat lunch together!" He shouted while following me.

Nakita kong bumaling sa'min ang halos lahat ng mga estudyante sa loob at mapapagalitan pa sana si Dax kung hindi lang agad ako nakalabas ng library kasabay niya. Humarap siya sa'kin, hinaharangan ako sa daan.

"Let's eat lunch together." He repeated and grabbed me by my wrist.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa biglaan niyang ginawa pero wala na akong nagawa. He's much bigger than me, for goodness sake.

"Dax!" I hissed angrily. "I'll eat alone."

"No. Not when I'm around." He turns his head on me, eyes serious and lips in a grim line.

"We're going to eat in a carinderia!" Then, he smiles widely.

My eyes widened more than it could possibly be because of what he said. Gusto kong umangal dahil sigurado akong magagalit si Mommy kapag nalaman niyang kumain ako sa carinderia pero may parte sa'kin na pinigilan akong magreklamo.

I just found myself walking beside him as we walk under the bright sunny rays of the noon sunlight. And the next thing I know, I'm sitting already on one of the tables—which I'm sure my parents will be agitated about when they find out about this— I'm not allowed to even step my foot inside.

Iginala ko ang paningin sa kabuuan ng maliit ngunit malinis namang carinderia. Sa gitna ng lamesa na inuupuan ko ay ang mga lagayan ng mga seasoning.

"Ito na!" Dax returns with a tray in his hands and placed it on our table.

Pakiramdam ko ay kuminang ang mga mata ko nang makita ang dalawang putaheng ulam. Dax placed my plate in front of me.

"That's mechado. Kumakain ka ba niyan?" He quiried.

Tumango ako at kinuha ang mga kubyertos sa baso na nakababad pa sa tubig. I don't know what's that for, but I don't care. Nagsimula akong kumain at hindi ko alam kung naging ganito na ba ako kagutom noon pero ngayon ko lang na-enjoy ang pagkain ko. Maybe it has to do with the new environment and the food served. Nakakain na naman ako nito pero chef kasi ang nagluluto sa mansion at minsan lang ako makatikim ng pagkain na parang lutong bahay talaga. Kagaya ng sa tuwing pinagluluto ako ni Nanay. It feels normal.

I enjoyed it. Kaya naman nang umiinom na ako ng tubig ay hindi ko namalayang nakatitig pala sa'kin si Dax. Actually, he's watching me as if I'm some very entertaining movie he has ever seen.

"What?" Nagtataka kong tanong at binaba ang baso.

I wiped the side of my lips with my handkerchief.

"You eat with no sounds. How do you do that?" Manghang tanong niya.

"It's normal?" Patanong kong sagot.

"Ni hindi ko narinig na mag-ingay 'yang kutsara at tinidor mo. You're so formal. It amuses me."

I only gaze at him. Well, it's true. Mom made me learn the proper dining etiquette. Wasn't that normal?

"Hoy! Ang sama ng tingin mo! Ang ibig kong sabihin ay nakakamangha. Amusing. Para ka talagang prinsesa."

"I'm not even glaring at you." I rolled my eyes at him.

"And I couldn't just bit the spoon to make a sound." Dagdag ko.

"Sa bahay nagkakalampagan kapag kumakain na kami ng sabay-sabay." Tumawa siya.

"Sasabihan ko nga ang kapatid ko na huwag ngumuya ng maingay. Parang kabayo 'yun, eh." He shrugged and drank on his water.

What kind of family does he have? By just hearing a very few stories about them from him, it sounds like they are fun people.

"Ano? Masarap kumain dito 'no?" Ibinalik niya sa'kin ang tingin niya.

I protruded my lips to conceal a smile and just nodded. It's true.

"This is my first time." Amin ko.

He smiled at me, no judgment in his eyes. "Many more to come." He joked which, for the first time, I wished was true.

"You should try things, Tri. There is more to life than your comfort zone." Seryoso niyang sambit.

Pumungay ang aking mga mata at bumagsak ang tingin ko sa mga platong pinagkainan namin.

Maybe there is. I just don't know what it is.

"By the way, anong gagawin n'yo sa Foundation day? Sa'min kasi magtatayo kami ng food stalls. Punta ka sa'min, ha. Hindi mo kailangang magbayad."

I'm grateful. Really. Maybe he has no idea about it but he's making me experience things I shouldn't. And I like it.

Having him around me is not that bad at all, I guess.