The rain was pouring down so hard. I can hear every single drop on the roof that made me cuddle my teddy bear tighter. It’s a cold Saturday morning and I planned to go out with my friends because it’s been weeks since the last time that we dined out and enjoyed the laughs but since it’s raining, we decided to cancel the gala to get more rest. 

“Seulgi?” I heard a faint voice and knock outside my room, “Hmmm? Bukas ‘yan.” I lazily answered with my eyes still closed, feeling the sweater weather.

“Kape,” She smiled as she went inside with a hot coffee and bread on a tray. “Wow, bago ‘yan ah.” I laughed and sat. Ate gently put the tray on my bedside table, “Ikaw kasi ang parating nagtitimpla ng kape ko. So, ayan…” She gestured her hand shyly. Napansin ko naming naka-uniform na ‘to kaya inabot ko na ang kape at ininom ‘to. It tastes good! It’s not brewed from a high-end espresso machine but the bitterness and creaminess that I love was there. “Mmmm, ang sarap, ate!” I excitedly commented that made her smile grow wider.

“Sige na, aalis na ako. May ulam sa table, i-init mo na lang kung mamaya ka pa kakain. Ingat ka rito!” She waved her hand and combed her hair with her fingers. “Ingat ka, ate!”

As soon as the door shuts, inubos ko na ang kape at tinapay na dala ni ate ‘saka humiga ulit. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam! It’s chilly enough to not turn the fan on and have half of my body covered with my soft blanket. Naka-hoodie na rin ako para full effect talaga ang sweater weather… 

Wait. Speaking of hoodie, hindi pa rin bumabalik si customer JM sa café at hindi ko pa rin naibabalik ang journal-slash-writing book niya. Sa totoo lang, medyo familiar ang writing style nito. Parang nabasa ko na somewhere eh.

Out of curiosity again, kinuha ko ang journal na na sa bag ko lang. Inuwi ko na kasi ‘to las week dahil nag-general cleaning and maintenance kami sa café. Since nirepaint ang lockers namin, I had no choice but to bring all my things home.

“Man, I called. You’re tall, yet I'm Lin. I’m a high goddess residing beside the sun. So, oh—forget me.” 

Ano raw? Ayos lang ba si Author JM? 

Oh, wait… Should I call her author? Parang ang weird kasi na JM lang ang tawag ko sa kanya dahil hindi ko alam kung sino ba talaga siya, kung mas matanda ba siya sa akin or mas bata, o baka doctor siya or may ibang title before her name that needs to be addressed. Na-wweirduhan ako sa sarili ko.

As I read more of her poetry and story lines, I get to know her. Like, how she likes writing about the moon and how bright it is despite the gloomy darkness, and how she hates the idea of learning in school—and she also hates capitalism! I mean, who doesn’t like capitalism?

But as I dive in her words and try to know her more, mas lalo lang siyang naging mysterious. She’s like an enigma that I want to solve. Siguro, kapag nabasa ko na lahat ng mga nakasulat sa journal niya ay kailangan ko ulit ulitin dahil hindi ko talaga na-gets! Para akong nag-dedecode ng isang malaking murder case na kahit si detective Conan ay hindi masolve. I don’t know if there is one big collective meaning behind every page or it’s just a simple random dump file but I feel something inside me that ignites when I read it.

My phone suddenly rang as I was thinking about the last thing I read in JM’s journal, “Hello?” 

“Seulgi, I need you to come over to my house now.” The person from the other line said. Bastos talaga. Matalino nga, wala namang modo.

“Oh, I can’t right now.” I retorted with a sinister smile. I heard her heave a sigh in frustration and said, “Fine, if you can’t come here then I’ll gladly remove your name on the paper. I can do this activity by myself anyways.”

“Bakit ba kailangan ko pa’ng pumunta riyan? Can’t I just send my part via email? I’m done with it anyways.” I answered in disbelief. This is why I hate groupings or by partner activities! Buti sana kung si Wendy ang partner ko, chill lang kami.

“We’re going to discuss it on Tuesday. We have to prepare because ayaw kong magmukhang tanga ang group natin sa harapan ng klase.”

Wow. Nabasa ko naman na buong paper namin, at na-annotate ko na rin ‘yon so what’s her problem? “I’ve already read it and I’m ready for the reporting. I don’t have to come there just to practice. Pwede mo namang i-chat na lang ang mga gusto mong sabihin sa akin regarding the activity.” I said calmly. I just said it calmly pero sa loob ko ay medyo nanggigigil na ako eh! Alam nang umuulan, at sabado ngayon. We’re not supposed to do any school related works dahil rest day. Grabe lang talaga ‘tong Mantolino na ‘to.

“Ok.” She said and ended the call.

Napaka-bastos lang talaga!!! Nahi-highblood ako ng husto. Bakit ba ‘pag nakikita o naririnig ko ang boses o pangalan ni Joohyun ay kumukulo ang dugo ko? Chill lang talaga akong klase ng tao pero ‘tong Mantolino na ‘to, she’s always on my nerves, if not near, at the tip na! Grabe! Grabe talaga. I don’t even know what kind of feeling to feel first.. I’m shocked and pissed but it's also good to know that I have her as my partner because she values her studies and she’s such a perfectionist. Gusto kong sumigaw out of frustrations but that would make me a loser. So I sipped my coffee and relaxed myself, good thing it’s still hot for my liking. 

To:

Mantolino, Joohyun

    I sent my notes on your email.

And she just replied with plain Ok.

I’m really out of words! Ibang klase talaga ‘tong Joohyun na ‘to eh. Ok na sana siya maging ka-partner kung hindi lang siya… Ganito. 

Pagkarating na pagkarating ko pa lang sa room, kitang kita ko na si Mantolino. Inirapan pa niya ako! I just slightly tilted my head, questioning and remembering what I did to her to act like that? I’m acting cool but I have the urge to punch someone right now and it’s only 10 A.M. God, please give me patience. It’s still too early for the chaos and stupid ruckus. 

“Problema mo?” Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay when I saw her walking towards me. Nakasimangot lang siya. She’s wearing our uniform with her sweater on top her blouse. Pansin ko ring naka-slacks pants siya ngayon, not the usual. Parati kasing pencil skirt ang gamit niya o kaya naman, ‘pag Monday, gamit niya ‘yong mismong uniform skirt na plated. Parang tennis skirt ‘yon pero flowy. Ako, pants all the way! ‘Di kasi ako ganoon ka-comfortable kapag nakasuot ako ng skirt at mainit sa balat ang araw kapag pauwi na. Extra protection din ang manipis na tela ng uniform namin.

“Ikaw.” Sagot niya. Aba naman talaga, ang aga aga pa eh! Hindi pa ako kumakain ng breakfast at pagod ako mula sa shift ko tapos kung anu-ano ang sinasabi nito. Parang adik lang. Kung ‘di lang ako mabait ay nahila ko na ang itim nitong buhok. 

“You told me you sent your notes on my email, I didn’t receive one.” She said and put her hands on her waist, “Magsasabi kang may isisend ka, tapos wala naman pala. E ‘di sana, naaral ko na ‘yon di’ba? Bukas na ang reporting pero wala… Anong balak mo niyan.” Mataray at sunod-sunod niyang wika. Nang naayos ko ang bag ko, I sat on my  designated seat for beside Wendy. Wala pa ‘yon ah, late na naman?

“I sent one, have you checked spammed emails?” Nag-scroll ako sa phone ko to give her the proof na nag-send ako. “See?” Sinadya ko ring itapat ito malapit sa mukha niya so she get more irritated. Ang galing ko talaga.

“K.” She just said pagkatapos, at umalis na lang bigla. Itong si Joohyun, ang ganda na sana niya kaso ang ugali mas masama pa sa demonyo. Kaya wala ‘tong kaibigan e!  Ay hindi, hindi naman siya ganun kaganda. Sakto lang. Ano ba ‘tong iniisip ko? Kulang na nga talaga ako sa tulog, gutom na rin ako.

I-text ko kaya si Wendy para magpabili ng pagkain? Kahit na panini o Japanese pancake, pwede na. Hindi pala ako nakapag-breakfast dahil pareho kaming nagmamadali ni Ate umalis ng bahay. Nalate kasi ako ng gising kaya hindi ako nakapag-luto. Samantalang si ate, maagang sinundo ng boyfriend niya.. Nilabas ko na ang phone ko at nag-tipa ng sasabihin sa kaibigan ko kaso, 

“Uy, ano ‘yon?” Wendy asked as she sat down her seat, nariyan na pala siya. Akala ko late na naman siya dahil kumain pa sila ni Joy. Ano ba ‘yan, nag-crave tuloy ako sa Japanese pancake! 

“Aga mo ah.” I commented, nilabas naman niya nag phone niya para i-update girlfriend.

“Wala si Joy eh. May training sila sa main campus.” Tumango lang ako at nag-ready nang umidlip. Itutulog ko na lang ‘to kaysa sa isipin ang gutom. It’s also a lot better to sleep than to spend my remaining energy papunta sa cafeteria. Baka maraming tao doon ngayon. May thirty minutes pa naman kasi bago ‘yong class kaya kaya pang matulog. Nilagay ko ‘yong braso ko sa mesa at ipapatong na sana ang ulo ko nan