How to Love

Chapter 3

How to Love

Chapter 3

Sumakay kami ng jeep ni Christine para makarating dun sa village nila. Hindi siya totally nagsasalita except lang dun sa pagsasabi ng bayad po. Kung si Sofia kasama ko, ang sasabhin ko "Bayad po. Dalawang dyosa." Mga asumera lang eh noh? Wala eh ganun talaga. Nakakahawa pagiging mayabang ni Ralph eh.

Tinanong ako ni Christine kung okay lang daw ba maglakad na lang kami papasok since malapit lang daw. Wala naman akong problema kung maglalakad kami. Hindi naman kasi ganun kaiinit ngayon; makulimlim.

Tumigil kami sa isang bahay na may dalawang floor. Maganda sa loob, maaliwalas at malinis. Mahangin din dito kaya ang sarap tumambay dun sa

sala nila kasi open. Nagpaalam si Christine na mag-papalit siya ng damit at kukuhain yung laptop niya.

Nagikot-ikot muna ako dun sa sala nila at nakakita ng family picture. 7 pala silang lahat dito sa bahay. Bunso yata si Christine. Buti pa sila may mga ganyang picture. Have I already mentioned that my mom is a single parent? Well, yeah. Lagi nga lang siyang busy lagi sa work kaya hindi kami laging nagkakausap pero pagnagkasama naman kami para naman kaming hindi mapaghiwalay. It's either outdoor adventure or shopping.

Nakaramdam ako bigla ng gutom and I doubt na may lutong pagkain dito kila Christine dahil walang tao. Nakakita ako ng telepono at chineck kung may dial tone ba. Fortunately, mayroon naman. Sinilip ko sa phone ko yung number ng Shakey's at nag-order ng tatlong box ng pizza.

Sakto naman pagkatapos kong makipagusap sa Shakey's bumaba na si Christine. "Simula na tayo?" she asked.

"Sige. Dito na lang tayo sa sahig ah? Mas malamig eh." I said and sat down on the floor with my legs crossed. She stared at me confusingly before sitting down opposite me across the table.

"San tayo magsisimula?" I asked.

"Dun na lang muna tayo sa mga pangalan ng mga class officers."

"Pwede bang ako na lang magtype?" I asked and she spun her laptop so that it was facing me. Kinuha niya yung notebook niya kung saan nakalagay yung mga pangalan naming mga class officers. It still felt weird for me na muse ako. Never pa kasi ako nagiging muse eh! Di naman kasi ako qualified. Di naman ako maganda.

Nagsimula na kong mag-type, si Christine naman ayun tahimik lang na gumagawa ng mga design para dun sa background ng bulletin. Nangangalahati na ko nung marinig ko yung busina ng motor ng Shakey's.

Agad naman akong lumabas at nagbayad kasama na tip at thank you at bumalik na dun sa sala nila.

"Bakit parang ang dami naman?" she asked.

"Ah. Napansin ko kasi na medyo marami kayo dito sa bahay kaya naman bumili na ko para na rin sa kanila." I said and opened up the first box.

"Thank you, ah?" she said and put away the other two boxes. I told her na share na lang kami dun sa isang box.

Kumain muna kami then I wiped my fingers clean when I finished before resuming to work. I was close to the end when I couldn't take the silence anymore. "Ang tahimik mo pala talaga."

Tumango lang siya.

"Matanong nga kita," I said and she looked at me but I still kept my eyes on my work. "Bakit ka namula kanina nung tinawag ka ni Alvin?" She didn't answer so I decided to continue. "Kung sabagay. Kahit sino naman atang tawagin ni Alvin mamumula. Malay mo ba na kilala ka pala nun." Then I shrugged. I looked at her past the screen of the laptop and saw her blushing. "Huy!" I said to get her attention. "Anung nangyayare sayo?"

"Wa-wala!" she stuttered.

"Talaga?" I looked at her worriedly. "Do you feel sick?"

"Hindi."

I just shrugged and then a thought came to my mind. "Crush mo si Alvin no?" There was a moment of silence before she spoke. "Hi-hindi ah."

Then a weak smile crept to my face. "Ok lang yang crush, wag ka lang maiin- love. Pero bakit? Ay hindi! Wag mo nang sagutin yan." I said with a smile.

"Salamat."

"FC ko ba? Sorry ha? Hmmm. Wag ka magalala, secret lang natin to." I assured her.

She just nodded and I continued my work. Well, isa lang si Christine sa mga babaeneg may crush kay Alvin. What's not to like? Basically nothing. Mabait si Alvin, parang ka-same niya ng ugali si Ralph pero mas mabait ng kapiranggot.

Tinype ko din yung class schedule namin at sabi sakin ni Christine wala daw silang printer kaya lalabas pa kami para magpaprint. Wala naman kami masyadong pinagusapan after nun. Umuwi na rin ako, mga 3:00 pm pa lang.

To: Ralph Panget Best, jgh :D

Pagkatapos, nagbihis na ko ng pangbahay at humilata sa kama. Feeling ko inaantok ako, pero ayoko naman matulog. Sayang kaya oras! Maya-maya nag-vibrate yung phone ko.

From: Ralph Panget

Ah. Kauwi k lng din, best.

Me: Kumain ka na?

Ralph: D pa nga eh.. kain tayo?

Me: Tara punta ka dito :D Luto tayo.

Ralph: Ge... otw. 20 mins.

If you were to ask, malayo po yung bahay ni Ralph samin. 20 minutes kasama na yung transportation diyan. Isang jeep lang naman pero syempre 20 minutes is 20 minutes.

After 18 minutes, nakarating si Ralph sa labas ng bahay namin. Pinapasok ko siya at nagpunta na kami sa kitchen. Actually, wala akong alam sa kusina, taga-hiwa lang ako ng ingredients ni Ralph. Magaling kasi magluto to eh. Oh,

best friend ko na, di ba? Minsan nga ang sarap niya nang sabihan ng "IKAW NA! Ikaw na talaga!" pero parang wag na lang kasi ipagmamalaki nanaman niya yun samin.

Menudo yung niluluto niya. Kumpleto kami sa ingridients kasi yung kasambahay namin laging namamalengke. Actually Auntie yung tawag ko dun sa kasambahay namin kasi simula bata pa lang ako, siya na yung kasama namin dito sa bahay.

Naupo muna kami ni Ralph dun sa sala habang kumukulo yung Menudo dun sa kusina, may secret daw na tinuro sa kanya para sumarap yung Menudo kaya hayaan lang daw namin dun. So syempre worried ako na baka masunog yung bahay namin pero sabi niya babantayan naman daw niya yung oras. So naupo kami sa harap ng t.v. at naghanap ng mapapanood. Eh wala kaming nakita kaya nanood na lang kami nung "White Chicks", gustong gusto ko kasi yung movie na yun eh.

I was busy watching for the first 10 minutes, and nakakapagtaka na ang tahimik ni Ralph. So, I looked at him. Tulog na pala ang mokong! Aba, magaling! Pero syempre alangan namang gisingin ko 'to? I shook him gently and helped him lay down on the couch with a pillow underneath his head.

"Best, yung menudo." He murmered. "Patayin ko na?"

He hummed in affirmation.

Have you ever heard that one of the sexiest thing that you will ever hear is a guy's sleepy voice? Well, true enough. Kahit na best friend ko to si Ralph, pagganyan yung boses niya... I can't help but shiver. Jeez! Kinikilabutan ako. Di ko alam kung deep inside kinikilig ako dun sa sleepy voice nya or dahil nandidiri ako na kinikilig ako. I can't decide.

Pumunta ako sa kusina at pinatay na yung stove. Inangat ko yung takip ng kaldero and smelled the delicious fragrant. Feeling ko tuloy nagugutom na ko. I grabbed a spoon and scooped and took a bite. Hmmm! Ang sarap!

"Tsk. Ikaw na talaga, Best." I said to my sleeping best friend once I returned to the living room. I sat on the floor and continued to watch the movie. When the credits were finally rolling, I looked over my shoulder at Ralph. Gising na pala siya. He was just staring at the ceiling with an arm on his forehead and the other lying effortlessly on his stomach.

"Best," I said. "Hmmm?"

"Anong bang ginawa mo kanina?" I asked and turned my whole body to face him.

"Nag-basketball." "Sinong kasama mo?"

"Sila Alvin." He simply answered. Hindi naman ganyan sumagot si Ralph. Usually, magkukwento pa yan about random stuffs. And that was how I knew something was wrong.

"May problema ba?" I asked and sat beside his body on the couch. "Wala naman." He said while still not looking at me.

"Yung totoo?"

He sat and faced me then managed a weak smile. "Best, pwede bang payakap?"

I didn't answer and just immediately hugged him. I don't need to be told twice sa mga gantong sitwasyon. Ralph hugged me back. Then we just stayed there.

Hindi ko muna tatanungin kung anong problema, dahil kung gusto naman niyang malaman ko, sasabihin naman niya sakin diba? Give people space and time to think. And sometimes, a hug can make everything feel loads better. When Ralph finally pulled away, he seemed like his usual self; smiling from ear to ear. But a real friend can see through a fake smile. And I can still see it in his eyes. He wass worried-rather confused about something. I could read him like an open book.

He might have noticed because he turned to look away and jumped to his feet. "Tatawagin ko na si Auntie para makapaghain na."

Auntie din tawag niya sa kasambahay namin, Mommy din tawag niya sa mom ko. Oh diba? Parang ampon lang namin siya.

Pumunta ako sa kusina at pinainit yung Menudo.

Ano kayang problema nun ni Ralph? Parang masyado naman yatang maaga para magkaroon siya ng problem sa school. Problem sa family? Parang wala naman. O baka naman kaya... problema sa pag-ibig?