LOVE-NAT, isang makulit na lovestory!

Define love.

Noon... para kanila Max, simple lang ang definition ng love, lalo na nung mga bata pa sila nila Ellie na walang pakialam sa mundo... yung tipong sila Doraemon at Mojacko lang ang pinagtutuunan nila ng pansin o kaya naman kapag feel nilang maging athletic, maglalaro lang sila ng piko o langit-lupa sa labas ng bahay. Noon... para sa kanila... kuntento na sila sa...

Love is blind.

Yeah, that cliché definition of love na sobrang gamit na gamit na. Yun lang ang alam nila tungkol sa salitang yun, that it is blind... kaya man nilang bigkasin sa ingles, pero hindi naman talaga nila alam ang ibig sabihin nito.

Pero ngayon... Para kay Max... Love is way more complicated than he thought it could be... kasi, love is not only blind, pipe pa pala ito.

Tahimik lang na kumakain si Max ng almusal. He didn’t say a word as he munched on his bread, trying to ignore the girl sharing the table with him. Wala ng tiwala si Max sa sarili niya, it would be better if he just keep his mouth shut and keep his distance away from her. After what happened last night? He was so close in kissing Ellie and that, perhaps, was the dumbest thing he ever did... kasi ngayon, wala na siyang ibang nasa isip kung hindi yun! He couldn’t look at her now, without thinking about it. Max only felt more uneasy ng maramdaman niyang nakatingin lang sakanya si Eleonor.

“Paabot nga nung butter!” Ellie said, habang nagtatakang pinagmamasdan ang kaibigan. Max took the butter at inabot ito without looking at Ellie. Napataas lalo ang kilay ng dalaga, obvious naman, Max is acting a little weird. “Yung asukal pa!” And Max did the same thing, without speaking inabot nya yung bote ng asukal ng hindi pa din tumitingin.

Ellie brushed some butter on her toasted bread, sabay sprinkle ng konting asukal. “Binanungot ka ba?”

Napatingin na si Max sa dalaga, pero sobrang bilis lang nilang nagkatinginan for he quickly look away. “Hindi.” His voice was deep and serious, like he wasn’t in the mood for any further conversation.

Napakunot na ng noo si Ellie. She was starting to get irritated. Ayaw na ayaw pa naman niya ng ganitong klaseng cold treatment, lalo pa’t umagang-umaga. “Ee, ba--”

Hindi na hinayaan ni Max na makapagsalita pa si Ellie. He quickly stood up, dragging his chair against the floor that it made a loud sound.“Mauna na ko maligo.” He said, looking down his plate na meron pang lamang hotdog na hindi pa nya nagagalaw. “Baka ma-late pa tayo.”

---

The next day...

Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan

GGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!! Alam niyo yung parang merong time-bomb na naka tanim sayo that could explode any minute now? Paksyet tlaga! I’m ready to burst!! SHEET! ARGH! Naiinis talaga ko!! My chest was getting heavier by the minute.

I took one deep breathe. Iniisip ko pa nga yung problema ko kay Sef ee, tapos ngayon nakuha pang sumabay ni Max!! Hindi naman ako tanga para hindi maramdaman ee, galit si Max sakin. He won’t speak to me, he won’t look at me at higit sa lahat, he’s avoiding me!! Kung may problema, sana sabihin niya sakin!! Dahil wala akong maisip na ginawang dapat na ikagagalit niya kagabi!! Kung yung... masamang hangin na inilabas ko sa kwarto niya ee... hindi ko naman sinasadya yun!! It was his fault for making me laugh so hard... atchaka hindi naman nakakamatay yun!!

Sheet, Ellie!! Ano bang nangyayari? Parang everything is getting out of control? GEZUZ, WHY ARE YOU EVEN IN SUCH A MESS?! AND WHY IS EVERYBODY PUSHING YOU AWAY?!

I dropped my face down on my arms resting against my desk. Bakit ganito? Pakiramdam ko, binabalatan ako ng buhay?

Sef rejected me and I couldn’t help but feel bad about myself... and this time, si Max naman iniiwasan ako... making everything ten times worse. I stomped my feet angrily on the ground like a child about to give off a tantrum.

I’m afraid I’m starting to hate myself!!

“Uy,” Borge said, standing before me. “Ano bang nangyayari sayo?” I looked up and she was holding a choco fudge sundae from McDonald’s. Lunch time na din kasi at hindi ako sumama sa kanilang kumain.

I stared at her for a long time. “Err...”I looked hesitant. Yung tipong konti na lang magbubuhos na ko ng sama ng loob kay Borge. “W-wala naman.”

Borge rolled her eyes habang subo yung plastic spoon ng McDo. “Ayan ka nanaman Ellie ee.” She said with that know-it-all tone of hers. “Sinasarili mo nanaman yang mga problema mo, kaya ka nga may kaibigan ee, para may matatakbuhan ka kapag hindi mo na kaya...”

Naging-teary eyed ako sa sinabing yun ni Borge. Yung tipong parang napatakan ng ambon yung mga mata ko. Kasi parang, pakiramdam ko kanina, mag-isa lang ako sa buong mundo... but as it turns out, hindi naman pala lahat itinataboy ako!!

POOTEK!! Ito mismo yung rason kung bakit ayokong nago-open up ee, lalo na syempre dito kay Borge... animales, alam kong may pagka loka-loka itong babaeng ito, pero kita niyo naman, kapag seryoso... daig pa si Pilosopo Tasyo kung bumanat.

Napatitig ako sa lamesa ko, fumbling with my fingers. At dahan-dahan, I started telling Borge everything about Sef. From our last date sa bahay ni Tita Yolly, hanggang sa paghingi ko ng tulong kay AJ, yung pagbigay sakin ni Sef ng bulaklak hanggang dun sa sulat na ginawa ko.

Borge glared at me. Oo. As in yung parang gusto niya kong sabunutan. “Ganyan na kadami ang nangyayari sa lovelife mo? Paker ka talaga ee nuh? Inipon mong lahat yan?” She said angrily, now sitting close beside me. Nakakunot ang noo niya tapos umihip ang hangin at biglang ngumiti sakin si Borge, sabay yakap sakin. “Tol, animales!! Masaya ko para sayo!”Huh? Ano? Masaya siyang nagdudusa ko ng ganito? “Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala, IN LOVE KA ELLIE!! IN LOVE KAAA!! WOOOOHOOO!! SABI KO NA EE, TOTOONG MAY HIMALA!! HAHAHA.”

I blushed wildly, yung tenga ko sobrang namula. I looked around the room habang nakayakap pa din si Borge sa leeg ko. May mga ilan-ilan kaming mga kaklaseng nagtatakang nakatingin saming dalawa. Sino ba naman kasing hindi magtataka diba? ANIMALES!! Ito naman ang pangalawang dahilan kung bakit ayokong nagkekwento ee. At that moment, parang gusto kong lagyan ng scotch tape ang bibig nitong si Beatrica Gong-gora Natividad!! GAAAAH!!

“Pero, teka nga...” She then said, ng mahimas-masan na siya ng kaunti. “It still doesn’t make any sense.” Ayan na, seryoso na ulit ang muka niya. Nagaala Detective Conan nanaman siya. Mahilig kasi yang mag-analyze ng mga bagay-bagay. Obviously naman. Haha. “Kahit sabihin pa natin na JOKE yung bulaklak... still, why would Sef act that way sa Starbucks?”

“Huh? Anong nakakapagtaka dun?”

“Eleonor, makinig ka nga sakin.” Borge pulled my shoulders so as to face her. “Boys act according to their nature. Pero kahit galing pa silang Mars, tao pa din yan... at ang bawat kilos at galaw niyan, may dahilan.”

I raised a brow. May dahilan daw, sabi niya... I do have a pretty good idea kung anong dahilan ni Sef. It’s just he doesn’t like me. Simple as that... pero si Max naman? Ano naman dahilan ng loko-lokong yun?

“Ok. Let’s say you’re right. Joke time lang ang lahat kay Sef... pati yung bouquet, sabihin nating JOKE lang din yun... but still shouldn’t he be flirting with you non-stop lalo na kung nabasa niyang talaga yung sulat mo? Knowing na you have feelings for him? I say, he’ll act on it agad... lalo na at player siya according to you... Sef would definitely toy with you for a while or take advantage of your feelings perhaps?” Borge said, licking her lower lip to clean it dry from the remnants of ice cream she has been eating. Talagang ineemphasize niya yung JOKE na salita?

“Your point being...?”

Borge rolled her eyes as if the answer couldn’t get any more obvious. “The point is... sure ka bang nabasa niya talaga yung love letter mo?”

Napaisip ako. “Oo nga! Sure ako, tol. Binalik nga niya yung notebook ko, wala na yung sulat ko dun.” My voice was shaking. Parang kahit ako, hindi na 100% sure.

Borge shook her head. “The way Sef acted, parang hindi kasi ganun yung ikikilos ng isang lalaking nakabasa ng isang love letter. I mean, he acted as if... you know, parang galit? Parang... bitter?” She shrugged. “Hindi kaya, seryoso siya nung binibigay niya sayo yung bouquet?”

I sighed in defeat. Itong si Borge, may pagka-hopeless romantic kasi ang bruhang ito. And she also has an obsession about my non-existent love life. Sabi nga nya nun, kung pwede lang bumili ng boyfriend, matagal na daw niya kong binilan. Haha.

“Borge...” I said. “Hindi mo kailangan pagpilitan ang imposible. Ok?”

Pero hindi pa rin siya natinag. “Isa lang naman ang solusyon sa prublema mo ee.”

“Huh?”

“Communication teh! Kom-yu-ni-kay-tion!” May kasabay pa yang pouty lips at mapupungay na mga mata. I looked at Borge na kala mo siya si Sisa!! “Kausapin mo! Talk. Wala pa namang naipapasang Bill sa kongreso na bawal mag-usap ang dalawang taong in-love sa isa’t isa.”

With that, I slapped a hand on my forehead. “Paker ka talaga!” And for once... I managed to laugh. Anakshutang animales talaga tong si Borge. HAHA. Bumenta sakin yun aa? HAHA.

Maya-maya pa ay biglang pumasok sa classroom si Peter, Vice-President ng section namin. “Oh classmates,” Nakangiti siyang tumayo sa harap, hawak-hawak ang kanyang mahiwagang cellphone. “Wala si Sir. Hindi daw siya makakapasok today.” He looked on his phone para basahin yung ilang details ng text message ni Sir. “Nasa meeting pa daw siya. Ito pa sabi ni Sir, ‘I’m sorry I can’t make it on time. Just tell your classmates to answer the remaining problems.’ Okay?”

“WOOOHOO!!” Sigawan lahat ng nasa classroom. “UWIAN NAAA!!” Sabay tayuan na’t kuhaan na ng mga gamit.

“Pete!” Tawag ni Borge. “Pa-GM na lang aa?”

And Peter nodded. “Sige, sige.”

“Oh Ellie, pupuntahan ko lang si Nico. Sabi niya kasi pupunta kaming GH ngayon.” Bago pa ko makapag good-bye ee nakatakbo na siya papalabas ng classroom. Haiii, buti na lang dala-dala na nila Jill yung mga bags nila. Nag-punta na lang muna ko sa may locker na pinaghahati-hatian namin nila Sara para kunin yung libro ko sa accounting when Japo came into view, may lollipop pang naka-subo sa kanya.

“Ellie,”He beamed. “Wala na daw klase?”

“Yup. Pwede ka ng pumarty!!”

“Sayang,” He shook his head, acting na parang hinayang na hinayang siya. “Si Sir talaga o. Nag-aral pa naman ako ngayon.”

I laughed. “Ikaw? Tss. Pakyu, Japo! Haha.”

“Ahy, oo nga pala, nakita ko si Max. Pinapasabi niya mauna ka na daw umuwi. Na-extend daw yung training niya sa Taekwondo.”

I frowned at the sudden mention of Max’s name. Hmp! “Na-extend daw!! Wooshoo, excuses!”

Japo looked at me, his brow raised in slight confusion pero hindi ko na siya hinayaang magtanong as I simply walked away. If there was something I learned today from Borge... it was actually, COMMUNICATION.

Tama. Communication!

---

Taekwondo Practice

Darren Max Sanchez

He swallowed hard, yung sparring partner ko. He looked terrified as I advanced towards him. I could read his every move and I swear I wasn’t thinking right, I was too aggressive or maybe I was just too darn stupid. I pounced on him, my feet wrapped around his shoulders like a venomous snake, tighter and tighter I went until, I felt so many hands gripping me by my arm, pushing me off Jake.

“Max!” Sigaw sakin ni Coach as he pushed me hard. “Anong nangyari? What was that all about?!” He was screaming at me. Huh? Ano daw? I looked clueless. Bakit niya ko pinapagalitan? I did everything right? Didn’t I?

I suddenly trembled, my lips went pail when I saw Jake, yung bagong sophomore na ka-spar ko kanina. He was holding his left shoulder, wincing in pain. By the looks of it, parang napilayan siya. Na-dislocate ko ata yung braso niya.

Nakita ni Coach yung gulat sa muka ko. God knows I didn’t mean to do that. Pinaikutan na si Jake ng iba naming ka-team, nag-volunteer si Samantha na dalin na siya sa clinic.

“Coach,”My voice was weak. “H-hindi ko...”

Coach shook his head as though disappointed then he let out a sigh. “Sige na,” He patted me on my shoulder. His voice was calmer this time. “Mabuti pa, umuwi ka muna Max. Magpahinga ka. Masyado ka ata na-stress sa upcoming tournament natin.”

“Pero C-coach...”

He let out a forced smile. “Jake will be alrigt.” He said reassuringly.

Gezuz, I’m a dick these days!!

I stood before my locker in the empty boy’s locker room. Kaka-shower ko lang but it didn’t seem to lighten up my mood. What the hell is going on with me? I slammed my fist against my locker door at umecho yung tunog nito.

Sheet!!

Ellie...

This has everything to do with her. I wasn’t thinking straight anymore... I looked helplessly defeated. What happened last night was a brutal mistake. Masakit man isipin pero... Ellie’s no longer safe around me. And this was what I’ve been dreading to happen!

Itong feelings ko para kay Ellie? I’m proud to say that I’ve mastered to keep it hidden in a box, chained under locks and keys. But that attempted kiss, managed to open those locks... at parang merong dragon na gustong kumawala sa kahon na yun... and I’m not sure I can contain it any longer...

Sheet! Darren Max Sanchez!!! This wasn’t supposed to happen!!

This time, I slammed my head against my locker. Wala na, ito na... this might actually be the end of our friendship... yung pinahalagahan at iningatan ko ng sobrang tagal. Ako lang din pala ang sisira. Ito yung sobrang kinakatakot ko ee.

I inhaled sharply... and another inhale... And again... and again... as though trying to calm myself down, as though trying to clear my mind.

Minsan, parusa din pala ang maging kaibigan.

I grabbed a clean shirt at isinuot ito, took my bag and went out the boy’s locker room when I froze by the exit. There, by the doorway, was Ellie.

She has that cute, frown on her face when she looked at me. “Sabi ni Coach andito ka daw.” She said with a hint of irritation on her voice.

I looked down on my feet. Natatakot akong tignan siya ee... natatakot ako kasi, baka pagtumingin siya sa mga mata ko, malaman na niya kung gano ko nahihirapan sa nararamdaman ko para sakanya.

“Nakita ko si Jake...” She trailed off.

I placed my hands in my pocket as I slightly tensed. “Kasalanan ko...” My voice was weak. “Pero hindi ko sinasa--”

Ellie snorted and she stepped towards me sabay palo ng malakas sa braso ko gamit yung libro niya sa Advance Accounting.

WAPAK!!

I stared at her in shock. Napakapit ako sa braso ko ng wala sa oras. “Ggggrrr...” At that moment, para talaga siyang tigre na kala mo kakainin ako ng buo. Hindi pa siya nakuntento dahil tinapakan pa niya yung kanang paa ko. “ARAY!” I whined. “ELLIE, ANO KA BA?”

Parang may usok na lumalabas sa ilong niya. “IKAW ANG ANO KA BA?! ANO BANG IKINAGAGALIT MO SAKIN?” She screamed, napaatras tuloy ako sa takot. I know her too well... at alam kong very unpredictable siya when she’s mad. “ANO? MAGSALITA KA NGAYON?! PARA LANG SA UTOT KO, ITATAKWIL MO NA KO NG GANYAN?”

“Ah, sheet.” I muttered. “Hindi ako galit.” I explained while she was still glaring furiously at me. I took a deep breath and I swear my heart could almost jump out my chest. “T-there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you. Hindi ko lang kasi alam kung papano ko sasabihin.”

Marahang nawala yung kunot sa noo ni Ellie, as she looked confused and curious both at the same time. Pero ako, nagulat ako sa nasabi ko. Takte yan!! AMP!!

Ellie eyed me questioningly even without saying a word.

I licked my lower lip, not sure as to how to continue. “Look, I’m still trying to figure it out. Pero Ellie, sa tingin ko... mas okay kung... lalayo muna ko sayo... nahihirapan lang ako kapag kasama kita.”

Boy, that just came out so wrong! I saw the painful look on her face as though she has been rejected for the second time. Ang stupid mo Max!! Bakit, what am I supposed to say? Tama naman ako ee, I can’t be around her anymore...

Wala na kong nagawa as I walked pass her.

Sana, andito si Pepita ngayon... so I can tell her, na hindi ko na magagampanan yung pinagbilin nya sakin... that I can’t protect her friend anymore... kung mismo sa sarili ko hindi ko na siya kayang protektahan.

Even as I look at her... all I could think about was kissing her.

To be continued.