Your Universe

#YU21

•MAINE•

"Meng! Meng! Meeeeeng!"

"Ano ba RJ parang sira naman to eh. Katabi lang kaya kita!" I told him. Nasa room kami ngayon, doing our seatwork. Palibhasa wala pang 10 minutes natapos na siya kaya nangungulit na siya.

"Where are you planning to go to college?" he asked, almost whispering. Hindi pa kasi tapos sa seatwork yung ibang classmates namin kaya hindi kami pwedeng masyadong mag-ingay. "Kasi kung saan ka, dun din ako."

Napalingon akong bigla sa kanya. "Are you serious? What if sa State University lang ako?"

"State Universities are good too, Maine. They may lack facilities but students are well taught there. UP is one. Bagay ka dun."

"Well.. I'm planning to apply pero kinakabahan ako. I heard from my sister na mahirap daw yung exams."

"Then I'll help you," he said. "We'll go to review classes together."

"Talaga? You'll do that?"

"Oo naman," he smiled and pinched my cheeks. "You might want to try Ateneo, UST and DLSU if you like. I'll help you."

I answered the last question in our seatwork before turning back to RJ. "Mahirap yata sa Ateneo eh," I told him. "Kinakabahan ako."

"Maine, I believe in you. Kaya mo yan," he held my hand and squeezed it lightly. "Medyo mahirap nga sabi ni Kuya Dan but you can do it. Sabi ko nga sa'yo, I'll help you with the reviews."

"Talaga?" I asked him.

"Talaga." he assured me. "Basta sabay tayo okay? Pwede tayong pumunta sa mga schools together para mag-inquire."

"Can we do that after the division meet? May mga games ka pa right? Tapos ako may cheerdance pa. Speaking of, how's your training?"

I heard him sigh. "Frustrating. Marco got injured at our game yesterday kaya medyo hirap kami since siya ang center. Muntik pa nga kaming matalo kahapon. Coach Ayo's not pleased with the team's performance."

I gave him an assuring smile and squeezed his hand lightly. "It's not your fault naman, RJ. You did and you are doing your best in handling the team. Kaya niyo yan. Coach Ayo may not be that pleased with the team's performance but I know he's proud of you guys. Especially you," I flicked his nose a little. "He sees the potential in you. Ang galing mo kaya."

He smiled at me. "Thanks, lo-" sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Okay na yung alam nilang kami ni RJ but please lang, no petnames at school. "Maine! Maine nga sasabihin ko."

I tapped his chin lightly. "Good, good."

"Teka, may training kayo later?" he asked. I nodded. "Ouch, kami din. Akala ko pa naman may babe time tayo after our training."

"OA nito. Cheerdance competition na in two days, RJ. Kailangan na namin maplantsa ng bonggang-bongga yung routine."

His forehead creased. "In two days? Hala, may game din kami nun. What time yung compet?"

"Three pm sa Sports Center."

"Shit, may 3pm game kami sa kabilang school."

"Di ka makakanood?" I asked, my voice probably sounded so sad kaya hinawakan niya yung kamay ko. He promised me last week that he'll watch the competition kaso sumabay naman yung game niya.

"Gagawan ko ng paraan okay?" he assured me. "Mamaya na tayo ulit mag-usap, nandiyan na yata si Ms. Alleje."

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