Susubaybayang KA-I-BI-GAN
Munting serye hango sa talaarawan ni Ian Gabriel
II Ang Panliligàw

"Bakit hindi mo pa kasi totohanin pare?" ani Joe
Ngiti at iling lang ang isinagot ko sa kanya. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko kung bakit ba ayaw ko pang ligawan si Jane. Isang babaeng pinapantasya ng bawat kalalakihan doon sa amin ngayon.
"Bakit ba? Obvious naman sa aming lahat that the girl likes you. And she's so damn beautiful..plus smart..and talented. You've seen her performance during our fiesta and man, two days lang siya nagpractice nun. Ano ka ba? Torpe?"
Lalong lumaki ang aking ngiti. Minsan ay hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin ko kundi pagtawanan ang mga taong tulad ni Joe, tulad ng barkada at tulad ng bawat taong aking nakilala. Laging may pangalang ikinakabit sa akin ngunit sila rin naman ang nababalisa sa dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay nagsosolo pa rin ako.

"Siguro crush mo pa rin si Zoey ano?"
"'tol, matagal nang wala yun."
Si Zoey. Isa siya sa aming kababata. Madungis ding tulad namin noon. Kilos lalake pati. Pero nang dumating kami sa punto ng mga pagbabago, hindi maitatanggi ang pag-aayos nito. Mahaba ag buhok, maputi at makinis ang balat, balingkinitan at matangkad, buhay at nagungusap ang bilugang mga mata. Seksi manamit. Pero sa likod ng lahat ng ito ay ganun pa rin ang pag-uugali niya. Walang nagbago sa Zoey na nakilala namin noong mga bata pa kami. Minsan tuloy iniisp ko, pisikal na anyo ba niya ang nagbago o ang mga paningin ko.
"Ano ka ba naman, hahayaan mo bang makagraduate tayo ng highschool nang hindi ka pa nagkakagirlfriend?"
"Tigilan mo na nga ako. Eh ikaw, sigurado ka bang sasagutin ka na ni Mica?"
"Hoy pare...sigurado na yun noh. Obvious namang type na type ako nun." sabay kindat pa niya
"Huwag mo lang paiiyakin yun. Patay ka sa akin."
"Opo! ikaw talaga...di ka talaga magkakasyota nyan eh. We're young. It's ok to get hurt. Di mo ba alam yun, it's better to have loved and get hurt than to have never loved at all.." Sinudan pa ito ng pang-asar niyang halakhak.
Tiningnan ko siya nang masama. Alam niyang hindi ako papayag na may babaeng masaktan. Pero hindi ko rin naman mapapayagang lumuha ang isa sa mga kabarakda ko. Ayaw ko lang talaga ng lokohan.
"Cool down. Di ko sasaktan si Mica. Flings lang naman yung iba kong girls dyan. Si Mica ang pangserious type."
Hindi pa ako nakasasagot ay tumunog na ang bell, hudyat ng simula ng aming klase. Naghiwalay na kami ni Joe ng landas. Papunta ako sa football field samantalang sa Science Lab naman ang punta niya. Hindi tulad ng aming inaasahan, hindi kami naging magkaklase sa huling taon sa hayskul.

Sa aking pagtakbo ay akin pa ring iniisip ang huling napag-usapan namin ni Joe. Flings. Kalat at tanggap na talaga ito sa kabataan. Pero hindi kaya may sakit pa ring nararamdaman sa oras ng hiwalayan? Hindi pa man ako tapos mag-isip-isip ay nagulantang ako sa pagsalubong ni Zandro, ang taong hindi namin inaasahang magiging kaklase namin ni Joe ngunit sa kamay ng kapalaran ay magiging malapit pa yata sa akin.

"Hey, I heard kayo na ni Jane."
Iling na naman ang aking tugon.
"What? She's perfect. Don't you like her?"
"hmm..I like her....as a friend."
"I think you're gay."
Nagulat ako sa komento niya. Alam kong biro lang ito pero hindi ito magandang biro para sa aming barkada.
"I was just joking. But you're crush ng bayan. Most of the girls in the neighborhood like you. Even the people we meet at public places like you at that instant. Bakit single ka pa rin?"
"What about you? In a relationship ka na ba?"
"Well at least I'm not as hot as you are and it's one excuse na I'm still single."
"Mas may itsura ka naman dun kay Mike ah."
"But we all know that you're the one who helped him court Angela.....and that's another reason people may suspect you're gay. Sa galing ng tactics mo sa panliligaw, kaya mong pasagutin ang kahit sinong babae dyan."
"Do you really think I'm gay?"
"Nah...I'm just saying that people may think that way. Anyway, you can tell me at least who's your crush so that I can defend you from anyone who might think of you that way."
Napangiti ako. Si Zoey, si Rica na isang bakasyunsta, si Lizzie na aming nakilala sa isang party, si Anne, si Rosy, si Jam.... at si Jane.
"I can't think of anyone. But I assure you you're safe with me." Ngiti.
"Well...I like someone."
"O? Sino?"
"Are you sure this will be just between the two of us?"
Naisip ko ang barkada. Hindi maaaring maging malapit kami ni Zandro. Hindi pa rin mapaglapit ang dalawa. Laging mahigit isang kilometro ang dapat na layo nila. Pero lagi namang safe sa akin ang isang sikreto, malapit man sa akin o hindi ang nagsabi nito.

Prrrrt.
Pito ni coach. Sumesenyales na ito na simula na ng aming warm-up.

"Sige." ani Zandro sabay takbo patungo sa coach at iba pa naming mga kaklase.
Dumiretso ako sa banyo upang magpalit ng damit. Iniisip ko pa rin kung sino nga ba. Dapat na nga bang simulan ko na ang panliligaw? Sino? Si Jane? Naalala ko tuloy ang kanyang mukha. Isang aura na napakaaliwalas. Mga singkit na mata, malaporselanang balat, kulay kapeng buhok na parang napakadulas, manipis na labing puno ng ngiti at ang kanyang mga ngipin ay kay puti at ganda tulad nang sa mga perlas. Madali siyang patawanin. Madali rin siyang kausapin. At tulad nga ng sabi ni Joe at ni Zandro, nasa kanya na ang lahat.

Susubaybayang KA-I-BI-GAN
Munting serye hango sa talaarawan ni Ian Gabriel
I Ang Barkada

Tao. Napakaraming tao. Napalilibutan kami ng mga tao.
"Kay Gab" ani Joe
Itinaas ko ang aking mga kamay, ikinaway-kaway sa ere, tinatawag ang kanyang pansin. Tumingin naman si Zandro sa akin ngunit hindi man lamang yata siya nagdalawang-isip. Sumugod pa rin siya papasok sa gitna ng mga nagbabantay na manlalaro. Sinubukang ipasok ang bola....
Supalpal.
"Prrrt..."
Wala nang oras. Tapos na ang laro.
68-67
Lamang ang kalaban.
May oras pa sana kung naipasa lang sa akin. Walang bantay, naipasok ko sana ang bola. Iyan ang nasa isip ko. Pihadong iyan rin ang nasa isip ng buong barkada.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Joe. Hindi ito maikakaila ninuman. Napakahalaga ng larong ito sa kanya, sa amin. Dahil sa dalawang puntos na nasayang ay hindi makakapasok ang koponan namin sa championship. Hindi makakasali ang barkada. Puno man ng panghihinayang, kami ay nakipagkamay sa aming mga kalaban na puros puno ng ngiti ang mga labi.

Matapos ang pakikipagkamayan ay diretso kami sa aming bangko.
"Kung pwede lang naman kasing apat lang ang papasok...siguradong pasok na tayo!" ani Joe.
"Man, don't be mad. I was just trying to help, trying to contribute something for our team!" sagot naman ni Zandro.
Nanlilisik ang mga mata ni Joe. Alam ko na ang susunod dito, at upang mapigilan ito, sinubukan kong ilayo si Zandro. Galit rin ako. Pero alam kong wala namang mabuting maidudulot ang pag-aaway.

Hindi ko pa nailalayo si Zandro ay dumating na si Zoey, ang pinsan ng bakasyunistang si Zandro. Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit napilitan ang barkada na isali si Zandro sa koponan. Ang isa pang dahilan ay ang hindi maikakailang higit pa ito sa ibang myembro na aming nakalap para sa liga ngayong taon. Marunong naman siyang maglaro. Hindi ganun kagaling pero pwede na. Kung hindi nga lang sana sa katigasan ng ulo at sa pansariling ambisyon na mapatunyan ang sarili niya sa loob ng court.

Niyakap ni Zoey ang pinsan.
"It's ok..."
"Hey! Please don't be mad at my cousin! He just wanted to prove himself to you guys! Hindi nyo raw sya binibigyan ng pagkakataon." ani Zoey kay Joe.

Upang maiwasan ang awayan o sagutan man, agad nang dinala ng barkada si Joe patungo sa tindahan nila Isa na madalas naming tambyan matapos maglaro ng basketbol.

Unti-unti nang nag-aalisan ang mga tao sa paligid. May mga nagliligpit ng gamit. May mga nagpaandar ng sasakyan. Ang ilan naman ay naglakad na patungo sa sari-sarili nilang destinasyon. Ilang minuto na lang ay isasara na rin ang mga ilaw sa court. Bitbit ang aking gamit, naghanda na rin akong umalis. Ngunit bago iyon, nilapitan ko muna ang magpinsan.

"Hey, Zandro! That's ok. Zoey, pasensyahan mo na lang si Joe. Alam mo naman kung gano kahalaga sa kanya ang makapasok sa champioship."
Tumango na lang si Zoey.
Tumalikod na ako, nagsimulang lumakad upang sumunod sa barkada. Hindi pa ako nakalalayo nang tawagin ako ni Zandro.
"Hey Gab!"
Lumingon naman ako.
"I just hope we can be friends. That's all I really want from you guys that's why I tried to pove myself."
Tumango na lamang ako at tinuloy ang aking paglalakad.

Sa tindahan nila Isa, nakaupo na ang barkada. Si Miklo, si James at ang galit pa ring si Joe. Kausap siya ni Isa.
"Ano ka ba? Laro lang yan. Hindi mo naman ikamamatay yung hindi nyo pagsali sa championship."
"Hindi naman yun lang yun. Ang kinaiinis ko yung pag-slip ng opportunity. Nasa kamay na kaya namin. Tapos dahil lang sa lokong 'insan na yun ni Zoey, nawala ang lahat."
"Pabayaan mo na kasi. Walang kapupuntahan yang paghihimutok mo dyan. At isa pa, kung hindi siya ang ipinasok nyo, mas wala naman kayong chance dun sa ibang members ng team nyo. Eh di naman pwedeng apat lang kayo."

Tahimik akong umupo at nakisalo sa kanila. Pero sa loob-loob ko'y iniisip ko pa rin kung bakit kailangan pa ni Zandro patunayan ang sarili niya para lang maging kaibigan namin. Hindi naman kami ganun kahirap abutin. Hindi naman kami mahirap kaibiganin.

" Pare! Alam mo ba? Ang balita ko, dito na nga raw muna yan sa Pinas. At ang sabi pa ni Zoey sa akin nung isang araw, sa La Scuola di Colline Verde raw yan papasok." ani Miklo.
"No way, pare! 4th year? Tatanggapin ba yun?
"Hindi ko alam eh. Connections? Or posibleng super talino nun kaya tinanggap na rin nila. Basta ang alam ko inaayos na yung mga kailangan niya eh. "
"Ang lalim na naman ng iniisip mo."
Ako na pala ang kinakausap ni Joe.
"Wala, wala."
"Anong wala ka dyan eh parang hindi ka na nga nakikinig sa 'min. So, anong palagay mo sa pagpasok nun sa LSCV?"
"Palagay ko? Wala lang Marami naman tayong sections so posibleng hindi natin sya maging kaklase."
" Pero kahit na hindi, malamang na makikita pa rin natin ang pagmumukha nun dun."

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot nang marinig namin ang magaang mga hakbang. Tawanan. Kwentuhan. May paparating. Boses ng mga kababaihan.

" Isa!! Oh...hi guys!"
Si Mica ang dumating kasama sina Shane, Grace at dalawa pang kababaihan.
Ngiti. Iyan ang una kong napansing nagbago sa mukha ni Joe. At sa mga mukha rin nila Miklo at James."Hi Joe. Sabi ni Zoey you're so frustrated about not getting into the championships. OK lang yan. There's always next year. Besides, there are other games. Malay mo, you'll win sa school nyo."
"Thanks."
"By the way, papakilala ko pala sila sa inyo. This is my cousin Jane. (sabay turo sa magandang mestiza) She'll be here for the mean time, siguro mga one to two years siya magstay sa amin to finish her studies here then sunod na siya sa parents niya abroad. And this is Kylene. Actually one year na siya dito sa 'tin kaya lang ayaw lumabas kaya ayun wala tuloy friends dito... hehe..We're both from Colegio Escolásticola and naging classmates kami last year kaya nalaman ko may isang Kylene pala dito."

Kaya pala...kaya pala pamilyar ang mukha niya sa akin, nakita ko na siya sa kapilya noon.

Itinuloy ni Mica ang pagpapakilala.

"And girlfriends...this is Joe (with matching wink), and these are Miklo, Andre and of course ang crush ng bayan na si Gabriel."

The FRUGAL ANT and the SPENDTHRIFT RABBIT

There was once an ant who was so dedicated to saving that he worked so hard to earn more than enough for his daily needs and a surplus for savings. Antonio ant saved so much that he didn’t seem to spend any of his earnings for any simple recreation. He also worked so hard that he didn’t have time to check up on his health.

One day while Antonio ant was carrying a load of food on his back to bring to his storage room, Ribba rabbit saw him. Ribba has noticed that Antonio has been putting much effort to saving for the future. She talked to him, trying to encourage the poor ant to simply enjoy life and not think too much about his future. But Antonio reasoned that he has to save up for a variety of purpose. Other than for contingencies, he has to save up for speculative purposes. He also has to save up for his future life, the kind of life wherein he would have his own family to feed and nourish not only physically but mentally as well. Ribba rabbit, being wastrel, tried to convince him that life is short and that as they grow older, they would miss out on certain opportunities that are available only during their youth. She said that they have to seize the moment and not really plan so much about the future as to stop living a blissful life now. But Antonio ant insisted on the importance of saving. And so the conversation ended without making any difference as when it was first began.

A week after, rain poured so much so that news spread out that there’s going to be thunder and lightning and that a storm is on its way. As a result, none of the species are able to go out of their homes for so long.

Antonio ant was in the house with all the food surrounding him. He could have lasted had it not been for his weakened body. He tried hard to eat and gather up strength but he could only do as far as try as his health has already failed him.

Ribba rabbit, on the other hand, was at home with nothing to eat and nothing to spend. Hunger strikes and it didn’t take long before his eyes rolled up and just like ant, he too was not able to last the weather.

DEEP DARK BLACKNESS
By Kristina Irene U. Velasco

In the balcony, just like any other ordinary night in his life, Aiden, a teenager who’s so fond of astronomy, was again studying the heavens with the telescope his mother gave him upon his admission to college.

“Nothing really special tonight.” he would often tell his best friend Alyssa, who really knew nothing about astronomy except when she relates it with astrological signs and the daily horoscope but who so eagerly supports her best friend in every matter. Many people, especially Alyssa’s group of socialite friends, would actually often wonder how the two are able to spend time with each other. Since Alyssa is a popular head turner in campus and Aiden, an antisocial detached person, people would be in awe at how Alyssa is able to keep up with the boredom when they’re together. But it’s none of the sort for it’s even more exciting for Alyssa to be exploring this person who seemed to reflect the paradoxical image of herself.

“Peaceful universe it is” responded Alyssa, half sarcastic while half meaning it

“Peaceful darkness” Aiden would reply

Alyssa would often wonder how her best friend can call such a night with a million dazzling stars and a half moon that seemed to beam a smile on them darkness. The word seemed too strong for her, a word that carried with it anguish and despair. It would sometimes even make her speculate about her buddy’s attachment for the color black. She just couldn’t understand it. With his black get-up, a black shirt and black pants, with a pair of black sneakers and matched with a black beaded bracelet, a black sports watch and a black stringed necklace with a cross pendant colored of dark brown that it actually looked black from afar, acquaintances often teased him of being totally unseen had he not been fair skinned. But she, even with her noticeably flawless skin, loved wearing bright colors that would even enhance her loveliness.

“What is it with black?” she’d ask

“Black is cool! Aren’t you aware of that?” Indeed, black had been the fad the previous year as everyone seemed to take it as the color of fashion. But Aiden’s affection for that neutral color is unusual that it would sometimes haunt Alyssa’s thoughts and even scare her. But no, she shouldn’t be scared. For as far as she’s aware of, she’s that single person who knows Aiden inside and out and she’s eager to know more.

“Besides black makes the dirt get unnoticed…”continued Aiden

“Who cares about dirt anyway? We all got one inside us..”

“Yeah right, you’ve got one if you don’t forgive” replied Aiden, pointing to Alyssa’ heart.

“And you’ve got two if you’ve been exposed to immorality and don’t know where to use this…” he continued, pointing to his own temple

“Sure, you do know where to use it but knowing nothing about those sensual stuff actually makes you invisible to the eyes of our generation”

“That’s pretty cool for me”

Sometimes Alyssa would just want to give up. She couldn’t make anything out of these nonsense perspectives her friend is giving her. Why won’t he want to get noticed when she herself would practically do anything just to be visible in people’s eyes. Vivid memories flashed in her mind, memories of yesterdays when she would even fight herself up the stage just to get everyone’s attention. No one can doubt Alyssa’s beauty, confidence and even brains. But one thing most people criticize is her attitude, how she sees no one but herself, how she cared for the needs of not a single soul than her own. Nevertheless, Aiden is still there to support her.

“Haven’t you ever hated me?” Alyssa asked

“Would there be any sufficient ground for having that type of emotion towards a pretty lady like you?”

“Don’t you always flatter me! It’s just that there are times when I feel like I’ve taken you for granted.”

“Don’t say that. You know that you’re one of the very few if not the only one who spends some quality time with me and bears listening to all those scientific and historical facts I talk about even though I know it doesn’t interest you.”

A smile appeared in her thin red lips, lips that he so long wanted to kiss.

“I don’t really want to get emotional but I just want to let you know that I feel so special in your presence…”

He knew it, he believed in human’s ability to send messages without words nor touch. He knows that somehow he had shown his dear friend how much he cared for her and their friendship, a friendship that he so long wanted to bloom into something more.

“It’s true that you don’t have many friends like I do but you’re lucky that no one’s ever looked at you in a demeaning manner...”

“And who looks at you in such a way? Alyssa, you know that these are just those people who either wanted you but know that they can’t have you or those who envy you, your appearance, your mind…Alyssa…”

She stood up just like those ordinary nights when he would be on the verge of being vocal about his feelings for her.

“I have to go, it’s getting late” Alyssa said in adieu, as she looked at her watch.

She moves ahead, down the flight of stairs, out the door and crossed the dark street with but a few dim post lights around. She walks, not pacing, but in a manner that so separates models from ordinary teenagers. The street seemed a silent part of a deserted island, no by-standers, no passers-by, just a slim tall, attractive lady who seemed too occupied with thoughts in her mind, not noticing two men in gray shirt and pants, who have been waiting at the back of a parked black sedan. The two instantly blocked her way and startled her. She screamed for help but one of the men immediately covered her mouth with one of his hands while holding her by the waist with the other. The other man was then trying to turn the key on the vehicle. There was a sputter but the engine instantly died.

Aiden, who was still reflecting on the missed opportunity, sensed something. His heart started to pound as if it it would burst any minute now. He wasn’t sure if it is a scream that he had heard or if it was just one of his dense imaginations. He decided to check it out and as he ran downstairs to the garage and out to the driveway, he saw Alyssa a few meters away, struggling against the grip of a man. His instincts told him to rush towards the man and bring his face down towards the ground. She screamed some more but it seemed as though they were the only people in this piece of the earth. She screamed and ran without any direction as the other man helped his partner against this unwanted intruder. The sounds of punching and kicking kept ringing in her ears. She tried to look back but her vision seemed obscure. She can’t make out if it was the one in black or in gray on top of the other. She ran again and closed her eyes. And suddenly, a car sped past her. And then there was total silence, a deafening silence, a silence that would seem to be there forever. She turned her back and saw the image of a young man in black, lying motionless in the middle of the street. She ran and cried and wrapped her arms around her friend, an image Aiden had once pictured in his mind, but not on a scene such as this. Aiden finally got what he wanted. She has finally given him attention and yet he was finally enveloped by a deep dark blackness…