My midterm grade in math was beyond what I had expected. It made me smile after seeing it. But I soon concealed my reaction when someone asked about it.
"Ano'ng score mo sa midterm?" a classmate of mine in math asked. "Secret," sagot ko.
I never say my results to people who are not my family. Nalalaman na lang nila kapag recognition or graduation. I'm not fond of people gushing or bashing my scores or grades. 'Di ko kailangan ng mga reaksyon o salita nila. Alam ko na proud si Daddy palagi, and that was enough for me.
"Damot talaga ni Dani sa grades!" reklamo no'ng nagtanong sa akin. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at lumabas na.
"Will you go home agad?" William asked as we walked and saw the Oble before the RH. "Yes, why?" tanong ko.
"Tara, Pobla," aya niya bago kami makadaan sa guard at gate. "Kain muna tayo ng dinner," si Franko habang nilalabas ang phone niya.
"Lara, sama ka, 'di naman Friday, e," hinawakan ni William ang siko ni Lara at pinisil-pisil ang kaibigan namin. Lara nodded and asked where we'd drink.
I glanced at the vendors on the pavements. May ilang cup noodles ang binebenta. 'Yong iba naman, mga tinapay o candy. Minsan, nakita ko na silang pinaalis dahil... bawal yata.
But then, I wonder how else they'll make money if they're forbidden to work...
Bumalik na naman ako sa pagkukuwestiyon ng mundo. The lessons and lectures must really be changing me... Lara's right.
"Iwan na lang namin gamit namin sa condo mo, Dani," sabi ni William bigla. "Huh?"
"Diretso na tayong Pobla after dinner, e, we don't have time to go home na. Kunin na lang namin bukas ng umaga, bago mag-class."
"Ahh, okay. Ano'ng sasakyan natin papuntang Pobla?"
Franko answered, "Grab na lang, share-share na lang tayo."
Hmm... Kuya said I shouldn't use Grab or taxi alone, not with people... I'll text them to be sure, para na rin masabi kong kailangan ko ng susundo sa akin mamaya.
Naligo muna ako habang ang mga kaibigan ko ay kumain na sa RobMan. Lara said she'll retouch her makeup in my unit before we leave. Sabi ko, mag-chat siya kapag papasok siya since nasa banyo ako.
Drinking on a Thursday night wasn't new to me. Because Lara had a family thing on Fridays, we usually drank on Thursdays during the last semester.
While I was spraying cologne, Lara messaged me and said she'd come to my unit to fix herself.
"Wow, you look hot," Lara said when she saw me looking at my reflection.
Sinuot ko ang nag-iisa kong heels, a black block heels, at tinignan muli ang kabuuan ko. My army green off-shoulder top was partnered with white high-waisted pants. Hindi ako naglagay ng kahit ano masiyado sa mukha ko, tinamad na ako. Just some sunscreen, eyeliner and lipstick. Then, I tied my hair.
"You don't want to put some colors on your eyelid?" Lara asked as she wiped her face with a wet wipe.
"Katamad," I sat on my bed and checked my charging phone. "Ako na lang, I'll put!" hinayaan ko siya sa gusto niya at nag-phone na.
After 30 minutes, Lara was done with my makeup and hers. Umihi siya bago dumating ang mga lalaki kong kaibigan para ibaba ang mga bag nila.
Then, I remembered that I haven't messaged my brothers.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko na kanina'y nakatago na sa maliit kong bag at nagtipa ng text.
"Oh? Ano 'yan, Dani? Fastest typer wins one million?" mapanuyang saad ni William habang hinahawakan ang baywang ko. "Bango mo, ah," bulong niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Head in the Sand (Erudite Series #3)
General FictionSwitching to a condo would be a huge shift in Eloise Danielle Madrigal's life, the Iska from UP Manila. From living in her aunt's home, she will independently live near her school. From growing up with so many hands to help her, she will face a new...
