The Story of Another Us

chapter five

The Story of Another Us

chapter five: that's crazy.... a freaking twist of fate

Paano nga ba naging kami? Based on the story I conjured out of thin air, nagkita kami ni Nicolo sa jeep pauwi. Then I found out that he's brothers with one of my classmates then everything fell into place.

Pero paano 'to? Paano mo pasasakayin ng jeep ang anak ng senador?

"We can say na gusto mong ma-try mag-commute," suhestiyon ko. "Why not naman."

"I don't want to look like a hypocrite," tugon niya sa'kin. "Even if I really want to try, I don't think people will believe that."

"True. Next," sabi ni Epps.

Heto na naman kami at balik sa man cave ni Nicolo. Nakaupo kami at nag-iisip ng kung anong gagawin naming istorya. Super nag-panic yata kami ni Nicolo na dumiretso na kami kaagad dito para lang bumuo ng kwentong masasabi namin sa ibang tao.

"We can say that we met on a different transportation means," sabi ko. "I only put Nicolo in the jeep so people can feel close to him. Na para bang isa lang din naman siyang lalakeng makikita mo sa labas."

"An airplane?"

"Of course, an airplane. So which plane? Where to? And when?"

Biglaan namang may nag-flash sa TV. It is a table. Noong una hindi ko pa ma-gets kung anong nakasulat at kung bakit may iba't ibang numero sa gilid pero pagtingin ko...

"Is that all the time frames and clauses?! How did you do that?" tanong ko kay Epps.

Pero si Nicolo ang sumagot. "Some were accurate in dates but most are from my own assumptions."

Napaharap ako sa kaniya. "Binasa mo 'yung libro?!"

"I had to," he answers with a one-shoulder shrug. "I wouldn't know how to act around you as Nic."

What the f--. Napahawak ako sa ulo ko. Nakakahiya!! Gusto ko na lang magtago sa bahay namin.

"You're blushing," he chuckles. "Don't worry, I won't mention anything."

"Based on the table, Nic and Kat got together on November 29, 2013. But they met on September 2013," sabi ni Epps. Tinype ko naman lahat sa laptop ko ang sinasabi niya. Baka mamaya ako pa ang unang girlfriend na makalimot kung kailan ang anniversary.

"I think mas maganda kung ibe-base na lang natin sa schedule ni Nicolo kung anong mga nangyari. He has more eyes on him and my life is easier to alter."

Epps nods, nakatutok lang din ito sa laptop na nakapatong sa kanlungan niya. Maya-maya, nagsalita na ito. "Nicolo was still here in Philippines that time but his family went to Hong Kong one weekend."

"Hong Kong?!" I ask. "I was there too September 2013," sabi ko at napabukas ng photos ko. I won't ever forget that month. That was the first time I left the country.

"No way," sabi ni Nicolo. "Do you think we might really be on the same plane?"

"That's crazy," sabi ko. Pero wala akong picture ng plane ticket namin. Mayroon kasi siyang binuksan na picture ng plane ticket niya sa sarili niyang laptop. "Hindi ko na maalala 'yung date but na-cancel 'yung flight namin kasi bumabagyo then na-move kami the following week. We were there for four days."

"No s**t," he whispers. "We were really on the same plane; to and from."

"You're kidding me. Then how come I don't remember you? I'm pretty sure I would've remembered your face." Duh, hindi madaling makalimot ng gwapong mukha. For sure, sa mga kalokohan ko before, malamang na-stalk ko pa 'yan si Nicolo kung nakita ko man siya no'n. Then... "Alam ko na."

"What?"

"You were flying first class. I was on coach."

Napatango siya. "Probably."

"That's how I didn't see you..." sabi ko at napabusangot. Pero posible bang nasa iisang eroplano lang kami talaga no'n? What a freaking twist of fate to meet now. It seems impossible.

"So how do we work on that?"

I open a blank Word file. "Watch and learn."

{} Reconstructed Reality {}

{} of how I met Nicolo {}

"Bakit hindi ka natutulog?" tanong ni Mama sa'kin habang inaayos ang pagkakahiga niya sa maliit na upuan.

"It's a short flight. I'm not going to sleep."

"Kahit na. Alas-dos na ng madaling araw 'no," sabi niya.

"I'll be fine," tugon ko at umayos na sa airplane seat. They are more comfortable for smaller people, really. Hangga't may dala akong libro magiging okay lang ako.

Tsaka tahimik naman. I leave my light on while the others turned theirs off. Tulog naman kasi ang karamihan. Ewan ko din ba kung bakit ganitong oras kami umalis ng Hong Kong. Kaantok. Pero ayoko naman kasi maputol ang tulog ko.

Payapa lang akong nagbabasa. A little after takeoff ako nagsimula. Kalahating oras na yata ang lumipas nang biglaang tumayo ang lalake sa unahan ko. Nakatungo siya dahil ang tangkad niya.

Automatic namang napatingin ang mga mata ko sabay baba ulit sa libro ko. Shocks ang gwapo.

Na-good vibes naman ako kaagad. Dinaig ko pa ang nakatungga ng isang basong kape. Kinilig naman ako deep inside. Wala namang masama kung kikiligan ka kapag nakakita ka ng gwapo di ba?

Napaayos tuloy ako ng buhok at upo nang wala sa oras.

Nag-C.R. yata dahil bumalik naman din siya kaagad. Syempre, deadma lang kunyari. Hala, bakit hindi ko siya nakita kanina? Oo nga pala, dito kasi kami sa pinakadulo ng plane kumuha ng seats kaya sa kabilang entrance kami pumasok.

Napangiti naman ako nang biglang mag-flash sa utak ko ang side profile ng lalakeng nasa unahan ko. He looks young. Just about my age. Ang pogi niya. Hindi 'yung tipong mukhang artista. Parang 'yung simpleng gwapo na makikita mo in an ordinary day.

Titigil na sana ako sa pagbabasa. Makatulog manlang kahit half hour dahil bigla akong inatake ng antok. Pero... may biglaang nangyari. Mas nakakagulat pa kesa sa pagkakaroon ng turbulence.

A hand shows up with a phone from the seat in front of me. Napakunot ang noo ko. Umalog naman ang kamay na parang sinasabing kuhain ko ang phone. Ako lang naman ang kausap niya, 'di ba? Ako lang ang nasa dulo. Not unless 'yung mama kong tulog ang kausap niya.

Naka-open sa notes ang interface ng phone.

Hi

It said.

Napangiti ako. Hala, pwede ba magwala?! AHHHHHHHHH!

Hello :)

Type ko pabalik tsaka binalik sa kamay niya ang phone. Hala, seryoso bang nangyayari 'to?! Wait lang. PUSUAN!

Am I disturbing you?

Of course not.

What are you reading?

Little Women.

Great choice. I'm Nic btw

Kat. :)

How was HK?

Magical? HAHA

Haha, I bet. Where do you go? Where can I find you?

Find me? Haha! We're in the same plane.

In PH, I mean. We're landing soon.

Ah, somewhere in the Middle. ;)

Alright, you won't tell can you at least give me your number?

Biglaang may nagsalita l-landing na daw kami. Binilisan ko na ang pag-type ng number ko. Text me :) sabay abot ng phone bago pa magising ang nanay ko. I grab my book, pretend I am still reading, like nothing life-changing is about to happen.

{} Reconstructed Reality {}

{} end {}

"Did... did you just write a story in front of me?" tanong ni Nicolo.

"I did."

"That is so cool! Your typing skill is amazing!"

Natawa naman ako. Para kasi siyang isang bata na nakakita ng spaceship. Manghang-mangha. I never thought I'm that fascinating.

"But wait, where did you get that story?"

"Fatima--in the book, that's her real name, she was on a flight from Beijing when this happened to her."

"It really happened?!"

"Yeah," sagot ko. "I don't think she'd mind me borrowing her little love story."

"That's a credible story," sabi ni Epps. "Out of the ordinary. Modern. But how is Nicolo in a coach seat?"

"I say he gave up his seat for the pregnant woman in front of me."

Napatango si Epps.

"You're really amazing," bulong ni Nicolo. "Do you know that?"

Napangiti lang ako. Okay, kilig meh. HAHAHAHA. OMG! Butterflies. Jusq, kalma lang, Kater. Thank you sa lahat nang nabasa kong libro sa pagpapataba niyo ng utak ko at kaya kong gumawa ng istorya mula sa wala.

Oh, yes. I know I am this amazing.

Mga dalawang oras pa kaming naupo doon. Nag-iisip ng maaring butas sa kwento namin. Ang simula lang naman ang babaguhin namin. We just have to change how we met each other. Then we started chatting and video-calling probably. After a week or so or what, we saw each other again. It was not a date just hanging out for a little while just to establish we're already on the friends level. It happened repeatedly. Until we go to our first date... then everything else follows.

"I don't have any classes with you tomorrow, right?" tanong ko kay Nicolo habang palabas kami. Ipapahatid na daw niya ko pauwi dahil wala naman na daw kaming gagawin.

"Yeah, but we have the same dismissal time. I might see you in the hallways though."

"Uhm, how do I greet you?"

"You kiss him on the cheek, of course," sabi ni Epps na naglalakad sa unahan namin. "If it's the first time you see him that day, a kiss on the cheek will suffice. If you saw him again, just touch a little and small talk. If you repeatedly see him, just don't forget to notice him."

Kiss on the cheek?! In public? Seryoso?

"You should get used to being comfortable around each other in public."

Alam ko kasi more on social media functions ang ilalabas na relationship namin. Nic and Kat tend to cave. Madalas gusto nila silang dalawa lang and they stay home. A lot. I couldn't help asking. "What for?"

"On the weekend."

"Weekend?! Anong mayroon sa weekend?"

"Your public debut."