Chapter 9
Think Abouts
My unlimited text load has already expired and to my nonchalance, I also spent my remaining 2 pesos regular load without my knowledge. Nalaman ko nalang nung biglang bumungad sa pagmumukha ko yung "
check operator services" na yun, and where did I spend it? I spent it for a pety text conversation! Yeah, a pety one! Kung tutuusin dapat ginastos ko nalang yun sa masimportante na bagay like for emergency use. Siguro 2 pesos lang naman yun, di ko naman ikamamatay diba? pero kahit na, sayang pa rin!
Pero asar din eh noh? Nakakapagtaka yung huling tinext ni Jake kaya gusto kong ipalinaw kaso wala na nga kong load eh. Hindi na ‘ko nakabili kagabi kasi ayun..gabi na nga. Hiramin ko kaya yung cellphone ng parents ko? Meron naman silang isa, share sila dun kaso nasira naman kaya pinapagawa pa at yun ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ko sila matext kagabi na sunduin nila 'ko sa gate ng subdivision, tatawag nalang sana ako sa landline namin pero kulang nga yung 2 pesos na pangcall. Buti nalang talaga dumating si Mike. Si Jelaine kaya? nevermind! ano naman ang hihiramin ko dun eh sa pagkakaalam ko within this month palang siya bibilhan.
Sabado naman na, pwede na kong bumili..ang problema nga lang, wala akong pera! Sarili ko kasing allowance ang ginagamit ko para do’n. So here I am, my questions weren’t answered. Yung angel?
wala! hindi na nagreply!! loko yun ah!
I’m so hopeless naman!
Makagala na nga lang sa labas.
“pa, ill just have some walk..” I told him when I found him watching television with Jelaine. I was about to turn when Jelaine started to speak.
“aalis ka? eh pano yung project mo?” she asked with a devious look. Kung magtanong ‘to parang sa kanya ako nagpaalam ah! Nanay?
“may project ka pala?” my dad asked.
“meron yan, next week na nga daw yung pasahan eh, nitong monday na”Nice one Jelaine! May bibig naman ako para sumagot ah! Ikaw kausap?
“ah..eh..yup..kaya ko naman tapu--““i-ninform daw sa kanya ni CARLA kagabi!” [she gave an emphasis on Carla’s name.
ano bang problema nito? ba’t pa niya i-nopen yung tungkol dun, eh gawa-gawa ko lang naman yun!
“within the subdivision lang naman ako eh, I’ll just stroll and Pa, besides essay writing yung project kaya I can finish that on due time.” I said that while exchanging glances with Jelaine.
I saw my dad doing a thumbs up so I turned and started to walk. When I was a few inches away, napabulong nalang ako:
"essay writing? charing!" Ito namang si paa, kung sa’n-sa’n ako dinala. Lakad dito, lakad do’n, kaliwa sa may kanto, mamaya kanan naman..hanggang sa napadaan ako sa court. May mga naglalaro kaya naupo ako sa bench para manood ng game nila.
Ang galling naman nung nakikita ko. Takbong takbo pa nga eh. Siguro varsity siya sa school nila, matangkad eh. Ayun, naka-shoot nanaman. Tapos..teka lang, ba’t huminto sila? oh! lumingon pa siya sa’kin..ang gwapo naman pala.
Naglalakad na siya..
..papunta dito?!
“hey, taga-rito ka pala?” he sat right next to me.
“you look familiar? have we met before?” was what I asked as I looked at him.
Nagtaka nalang ako nung bigla siyang nag-snap in front of my eyes using his fingers.
“ok ka lang?” his hand was still in front of me then he touched my forehead.
“wala ka namang sakit ah..” then he smiled. Yun yung time na bumalik yung katinuan ko.
“ayy!” 
I exclaimed. Si Jake pala!
“ji-no-joke lang kita noh!” 
then I forced a fake laugh.
“that’s good..akala ko naman kinalimutan mo na agad kung sino ako eh..” he has still the smile on his face.
Naniwala naman?
Ang tottoo kasi, hindi ko siya ka’gad napansin, nawala ako sa sarili ko kanina eh. Ano ba naman kasi ako! Buti nalang nauto ko ‘to este napapaniwala pala na ji-noke ko lang siya. Parang pareho lang yun ah? Nauto, naniwala? whatever!
“kalimutan kung sino ka? pa’no kaya yun mangyayari eh classmates tayo?!” 
Nagtanong pa ‘ko eh nangyari na nga kanina diba? harhar!
“..ba’t ka nga pala napadpad sa court dito sa’min?”“may kabarkada kasi ako dito eh..nagkayayaan na magbasketball..”“ahh ganun ba..” I glanced at his mates who continued playing.
“napanood kita kanina..” then looked at him once again.
“high spirited ah!”“it's your ability.."Ability ko?
"it was you who was playing..not me." Then I turned my body to face him.
"so what ability are you talking about?" I inquired.
"when I saw you sitting here..it's like, you gave me vigour.. 
” he beamed.
I returned a smile too. Then there was moment of silence. Pero okay ‘tong opportunity na ‘to, I don’t need a cellphone load anymore to ask him. He’s right beside me!
“I want to ask something” I broke the silence.
“then what is it?”“about the text..what was that supposed to mean? and sorry nga pala, I ran out of load eh..” I was just looking straight ahead waiting for his answer..
I’m waiting..
..still waiting..
..ang tagal ah! so I looked at him and he was smiling. Baliw ba ‘to? Kanina pa ngiti ng ngiti eh!
Then he leaned closer to me.
“what?” “I was thinking about you..”“yeah, that’s what you texted..pero bakit?” I paused to contemplate.
“ahh siguro kasi sa Monday na ‘ko kakanta kaya naisip mo ko..i-chi-cheer mo nga pala kasi ako” I slightly smiled at him but he’s just staring in a strange way. Nakakaloko!
“oi Jake! Tama na muna’ng career, game ulit!”A guy called him so he stood up and walked towards them. Just about 7 steps away, he made a halt but didn’t turn to look at me..
“I meant what I said..
..literally.”
