Before We Part Ways

PART TWO: NICHOLAS [ 04 ]

Yuka is shy. That's the first thing I noticed about her ever since that we became friends. She doesn't talk often and she loves to read books. I would always see her reading her book, Thirteen Reasons Why tuwing dumadating ako sa room every morning. I would always greet her 'Good Morning' and she would always look at me with this surprise look of her then greet me back shyly. It's cute. She's cute, at uupo akong nakangiti sa seat ko, thinking every encounter I have with her.

She is undeniably smart. As in. she never raises her hand for recitation, but everytime na tinatawag ng mga Prof namin ang pangalan niya, she would stand up immediately with a complete and the best answer of all. I am so and always amazed with her. Also her writing skills is amazing. She always got the highest score sa section namin every quizzes, not just the highest sa section namin, but also sa buong 2nd year students. Why? Because she always has the perfect score. No one, no other students dito sa school ang naka-perfect ng mga quizzes namin other than her. Just her, only her.

She is shy and cute, that's the reason why I always love to tap my hand on top of his head and mess her hair. She's the cutest girl I've ever seen and met. She is also hardworking, lalong lalo na as a member of the Student Council. Lagi siyang busy, meeting duon, meeting dito. Meeting this week, then another meeting twice or thrice a week. She's tired and exhausted, but she never shows it. And every time she smiles, she's the prettiest girl of all. Nakakawala ng problema ang mga ngiti niya, naapektuhan kaming lahat.

I have a secret. Every time she's in front of me and not looking, my eyes are all onto her. I always look at her when she doesn't have any idea about it. Watching her from afar makes my day complete and contented. Sa room, sa gym, sa hallways, sa cafeteria, she is not doing anything. She is just sitting there, she is just silently eating, she is just simply reading a book, she is just copying her notes, she is just smiling with her friends, she is just looking and admiring the sky, the clouds, yet she is the most beautiful of all. She always makes me stop and stare, and makes my heart screaming.

If looking at someone secretly and without their consent is a crime, siguro matagal na akong nakakulong.

I looked at her again kanina sa cafeteria. She was eating together with her friends, nang bigla na lang sumigaw at napatayo si Crisha sa table nila. Agad naman kaming napatingin sa direksyon nila. Kaagad naman siyang pinakalma at pinaupo ni Yuka. I wonder kung ano ang pinag-uusapan nila. Nothing unusual naman, Crisha, Atasha, and Nicole are all good people, I trust them so much kaya alam kong safe si Yuka sa kanila at hindi nila ito pababayaan.

"Tsanga pala, diba next month na ang Sportsfest? Ano plano niyong salihan? 2 sports daw kasi dapat", wika ni Kevin.

"2? Nakaka-tamad naman yan", sabi ni Kylian. Hinampas naman agad siya ng kambal niya sa ulo gamit ang plato ng pagkain namin. Napatawa ako sa kanilang dalawa.

"Kahit kailan talaga Kylian hindi ka nakikinig sa klase! Tumigil ka na lang kaya sa pag-aaral, pabigat ka lang kasi kina Mommy. Ginawa mo lang akong babysitter dito sa University", naiinis at halos nauubusan ng pasensya na wika ni Kevin sabay hawak sa dulo ng ilong niya.

"Wow, Kevin! Hiyang hiya naman ako sa mga scores mo sa quizzes. Ako ba talaga ang pabigat kina Mommy or ikaw?", pabara namang sagot sa kanya ni Kylian.

Pinigilan ko naman sila bago pa sila mag-away.

"Tama na okay?", natatawang pigil ko sa kanila. Kahit kailan talaga hindi magkasundo ang kambal na to. "Walang ni isang pabigat sa inyong dalawa. Sadyang magka-iba lang talaga kayo ng kakayahan at personality".

"Okay po, Saint Nicholas the Thirteenth", sagot ni Kevin.

"Pope Nicholas the Twentieth", si Kylian.

"Mga sira talaga kayo", wika ko sa kanila at napailing iling. Basta talaga sa kalokohan nagkakasundo sila. Nagpatuloy lang ang asaran namin hanggang sa mag-ring na ang bell sa buong cafeteria. Sakto ring tapos na kaming tatlo na kumain. Tumayo na kami at nagtungo sa pinto ng cafeteria kung saan ay nakasabay namin sina Yuka.

Agad ko namang binati si Yuka pati na rin sina Crisha, agad namang umiwas si Yuka sa akin. Okay lang, nahihiya kasi ito sa iba kahit na sa akin. Ang cute nga niya eh.

Anong sport kaya sasali si Yuka? Anong sport ang kadalasan nilang ginagawa sa Japan? Gusto ko ding sumali sa sport na sasalihan niya pero siguro dahil sa nangyari last year ay hindi ko iyon masasalihan. Excited na akong isigaw ng malakas ang pangalan niya at icheer siya sa sport fest. Magpapa-picture din ako sa kanya sa sportsfest.