You Me Maybe

Chapter 3 | Can We Be Friends

CHAPTER 3 | Can We Be Friends At the arcade...

‘You wouldn’t quit calling me ‘cupcake’, so from now on, you’re my strawberry. Strawberry Cupcake sounds good, right?’ Paulit-ulit sa isipan ko ang sinabi ni Liam. Nakuha pa talaga niyang magbiro.  What’s that supposed to mean? An endearment? Magkagalit kami. Ano naman kaya ang binabalak ng hambog na iyon? For sure, he is orchestrating an evil plan just like before.

Aminin mo na kasi na kinikilig ka naman. Guwapo naman talaga siya. Pa-deadma effect ka pa.  Itong si brain, kung ano-ano na naman ang naiisip. Si puso naman, nakisali rin. Maiba lang ang ambiance, iniwan ko silang dalawa ni Mr. Ewan . . . este Liam. Makalipas ang ilang minuto, habang naglalaro ako sa may car racing game machine, narinig ko ang haliparot na boses ng dalawa. Sumama pa rin siya. Ginagalit talaga ako ni Liam!

“Beshie, Ang galing mo talaga sa car racing game!” puri ni Nica.

“I’m better,” maangas na sabi ni Liam.

“Pakialam ko! May nagtatanong ba sa ‘yo kung magaling ka? Wala, ‘di ba?”

“I smell something fishy,” sabi ni Nica. Pagkatapos ay bumulong ito kay Ernel.

“Yeah, right, Nica. Fishy! Very, very fishy!” Ernel shook her head. “Teka nga! Kanina pa kayo sigawan nang sigawan, eh, no’ng isang araw lang naman tayo nagkita. As far as I can recall, we did not have a moment of you two . . . introducing to each other. Bakit parang . . .?”

“Parang ano?” tanong ko.

“Do you guys happen to know each other? Kasi kung magkasigawan kayo, it seems like parang ano. Parang . . .  nag-break kayo. Liam, ex-girlfriend mo ba si Ryze?”

“Ex? Nica, seryoso ka ba? Magpapakain na lang ako sa buwaya nang buhay.  Mas pipiliin ko pang magpa-squeeze to death sa anaconda kung siya lang naman ang magiging boyfriend ko!”

“Eh, ano nga?! Because we are like in between? We deserve an honest explanation!” Ernel shouted.

“Tsk! Ang drama mo, Teresa! Nag-pick up line ka pa talaga?”

“She’s not my ex, Nica, but she can be my girl. Actually, we’ve known each other since we were kids. Our families are close friends.”

“Correction! Let me make that right. Our families are friends, but not us. Not me and you! The last time I remember, I almost died because you pushed me in the pool, and I drowned. I ended up being hydrophobic because of you! Kaya puwede ba? ‘Wag kang tatabi sa akin. Baka maaksidente na naman ako nang dahil sa ‘yo!” I was literally screaming right on Liam’s face.

‘She’s not my ex, Nica, but she can be my girl. Tsk! Ano raw? ‘She can be my girl.’ What does Liam mean by that? Nakabibinging pause ang naganap. Nawindang at natameme sina Ernel at Nica sa aming eksena.

“Look, Miss Reaghen Yzabelle Fuentebella. I sincerely apologize for what had happened nine years ago. I am really sorry for what I did. I was just a kid back then, and I admit I was troublesome. I’m not that troublemaker kid anymore. ”

“When I saw you the other day, I have this gut feeling that it’s you, Yzabelle, so I asked around who you are at the orientation. I want to apologize. I need to mend whatever pain I caused you. I am so sorry. Please, let’s forget the past. Can we start all over again? Please? Can we be friends?” Liam pleaded. Our eyes met.

His eyes showed how sorry he was. Kahit na sobrang nakakainis at nakaka-grrrr ang ugok na ito, ang guwapo talaga niya.  Sino ba naman ako para magmatigas at umarteng dyosa sa naghahabol na Adonis?  Naghahabol? As in chasing talaga? Ang OA ko naman yata masyado? Nag-apologize lang naman ‘yong tao. Si Lord nga ay nagpapatawad, ako pa kaya?

“Give me some time. I guess we can be civil. D-don’t assume we are okay, though. But I can consider the friendship with some conditions,” I responded. I looked at him straight in the eyes.

“Any condition, Reabelle.”                                                            

“Oh, yeah? Great! Here are my conditions.” I folded my arms across my chest, and I grinned. “Una, I will not quit calling you cupcake. Pangalawa, I don’t want to be called by my full name. I’m in RSI. Pagkakaguluhan ang beauty ko kapag nalaman nila kung sino ako. I am now living in an ordinary world.”

I paused a bit. Mas lalong umangat ang isang kilay ko. “Pangatlo, don’t call me Reabelle dahil ang pangit pakinggan! Parang rebelde. Matagal ka ngang nawala, Liam. Nobody calls me that name anymore. Pang-apat, hindi na ako ang batang si Yzabelle. Don’t mention that name anymore. Everyone calls me Ryze now. At ang panghuli, gagawin mo ang lahat ng gusto ko. Walang labis, walang kulang. Naintindihan mo? Okay? Gets?”

Plano kong pahirapan si Liam hanggang sa sumuko siya. Magpapa-hard to get lang naman ako. Kulang pa ‘yang mga ipapagawa ko sa mga naranasan ko after the swimming pool incident.

“Okay, but what’s RSI?” he asked, confused.

“Ryze’s Secret Identity!” Nica and Ernel said in unison.

“What-cha-mah-call you, then?  Strawberry?”

“Grrr! Buwisit ka! Pinag-iisipan ko pa lang na patawarin ka, tapos hihirit ka na naman?! Gusto mong bring back the past? Galit-galit ulit tayo? At puwede ba, ‘wag kang Inglisero. Nasa Pilipinas ka. Magtagalog ka nga!”

“No! No! Sorry na. Bati na tayo, Ryze. Kahit ano pa ang sabihin mo, I will do everything. Maging okay lang tayo.”

“Hmm? Talaga?” tanong ko kay Liam nang may pagdududa.

“Yes,” Liam assuringly replied.

“Sabi ko, magtagalog ka!”

“Kahit ano, gagawin ko, Ryze. Anything for you to forgive me.”

“Ah, okay. Anything pala, huh?!  Hmmm . . . ah! Ibili mo ako ng 100 tokens. Then nakikita mo ‘yang malaking Hello Kitty stuff toy? Iyang nasa redemption booth. Gusto ko ‘yan! Sasakay ka riyan sa bumper car nang katabi ‘yang Hello Kitty. Pagkatapos mong gawin ang lahat, pag-iisipan ko kung bati na tayo. Gets mo?” I bit my lips and crossed my arms.

“What? Ride on the bumper car with that Hello Kitty? No way!” Liam protested.

“Anong no way? Do it! Akala ko ba, kahit na ano ang sabihin ko, susundin mo to forgive you? Pero kung ayaw mong makipagabati ako sa ‘yo, eh, ‘di huwag! Madali naman akong kausap.”

“Excuse me! We are here, oh! Hindi invisible. Naririnig kaya naming dalawa ang mending at landian ninyo,” biglang singit ni Nica.

“Liam, if you will be hanging out with us, just to remind you, never call Ryze by her real name. And don’t mention that she’s from the north, and she’s Fuente—,” paliwanag ni Ernel na pinutol naman ni Nica.

“Ryze. Only call her Ryze!”

“Intrimitida kayong dalawa! Linya ko ‘yan dapat, ‘di ba? Kung nakikinig kayo, eh, nasabi ko na sa kaniya kanina pa. Inulit n’yo lang,” sabi ko sa dalawa.

“Mabuti na ang malinaw, Bestie. Mukhang shunga ‘yang boyfriend mo, eh,” Ernel commented.

“Hindi ko nga siya boyfriend. Ang kulit mo, Teresa!”

“Hindi mo boyfriend, Beshie? Eh, ano lang? Childhood sweetheart, ganern?” dugtong ni Nica.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Isipin na nila ang lahat ng gusto nilang isipin. Basta ako, operation revenge!

“It’s my pleasure to meet you again, Ryze.” Gentlemen ang pagkakasabi ni Liam in a British accent. Nakakatuwa siyang pakinggan. Gusto pa sana niyang makipag-hand shake sa akin, pero deadma ako.

“Let’s forget the formalities. Bumili ka ng token ko at ‘yong Hello Kitty. Bilis na!”

Mabuti at sinunod ni Liam ang mga demand ko. Bumili siya ng token, saka pumunta sa may Indian Joe na game. Ako naman, car racing pa rin. Pagkatapos ay pumunta kami nina Nica at Ernel sa bumper car. Nakita kong sumakay din si Liam sa kaparehong rides at katabi ang stuff toy. Palihim akong tumawa. Nakakaganti na rin ako sa wakas.

“Naglaro ka ba talaga para dito o binili mo lang?”

“I did not cheat. I won and redeemed it.”

“Hmm . . . I don’t believe you. You’re so cunning! Matanong nga sa redemption booth.”

“Ryze, mayabang ako. Hambog at antipatiko, pero hindi ako sinungaling. I got this for you.”

“Kuya, ni-redeem ba niya ito o binili?”

“Bawal bilihin ang prices dito. Naka-jackpot siya sa Indian Joe.  Ni-redeem niya ‘yang Hello Kitty ng isang libong tickets.”

“Ah, Okay! Salamat, Kuya. Naninigurado lang po.”

“Suwerte mo, Ryze. Ang sweet ng boyfriend mo.”

“Kuya, nag-redeem lang ng stuff toy, saka ibinigay sa akin. Boyfriend kaagad? Puwedeng manliligaw muna? Kaya lang, hindi siya papasa. Mukhang mas lalaki pa po ako kaysa sa kaniya.”

Napangiti si Kuya. Madalas kaming tatlo doon, pero hindi ko na matandaan ang pangalan niya.

“Tomboy ka?”

Sinundan talaga niya ako. Aba! Nakikinig sa usapan ng iba. Tinanong pa talaga ako, huh?

“Ay, hindi, Liam. Bakla ako.”

“Tomboy ka nga!”

“Ano ba? Makikipagbati ka ba o makikipag-away?”

“Can I take you home?”

“No! Mas lalong hindi! Hindi ako pick-up girl!”

“Sorry. I mean puwede ba kitang ihatid sa bahay ninyo?”

“Hindi puwede!”

“Bakit?”

“Basta hindi puwede. ‘ Wag kang makulit kapag hindi puwede. Hindi puwede.”

“Kami, Liam. Puwedeng-puwede mo ihatid,” sabi ni Ernel.

Napangiti si Liam. May dimples pala siya? Limot ko na. Hindi ko na alam ang mga pinag-uusapan nila. I walked far from them at nag-window shopping. Kasama ko si Hello Kitty.

“Ryze, classmate natin si Liam sa Financial Accounting, Entrepreneurship, at English Literature.”

“Jeez! Even his class schedule. Hindi ninyo pinatawad?”

“So, see you, Girls, on Monday?”

“I don’t want to see you!”

“Tumigil ka, Ryze! Ikaw ang facilitator sa first day of school at part ka ng student council. Siyempre magkikita kayo.”

“Kayo ang magkikita-kita, Nica, pero ako? Invisible sa Monday. I don’t exist at hindi ko siya makikita. Bulag ako sa Lunes.”

“Ryze, ano ba?  Matinong usapan. Are we going or not?” tanong ni Ernel.

“VP? Pupunta siya siyempre,” ani Nica.

“I’ll go ahead. See you, girls, on Monday. Ayaw naman ni Ryze na magpahatid,” paalam ni Liam sa dalawa. Akala ko ay aalis na siya nang walang paalam, pero huminto siya tapat ko. “Bye, Ryze. I’m happy to see you again. I missed you.”

Tuluyan na siyang naglakad palayo sa amin.

“Hoy, Ryze, na-miss ka raw. May past ba kayong dalawa?  ‘Yong totoo?”  usisa ni Ernel.

“Wala. Walang past. Itinulak lang naman niya ako sa pool. I got drowned. I was in coma for two months kaya galit ako sa kaniya. Mabuti na lang at tinanggihan ako ni San Pedro. Bad girl daw kasi ako kaya bumalik ako sa katawang lupa ko!” pabirong sagot ko.

“Beshie, seryoso nga?”

“I am not kidding, Nica. What he said earlier is true. We are family friends. Papa and Liam’s grandfathers are business partners and best friends. Madalas ay nagkikita kami sa party gatherings ng Chinese congregation noong mga bata pa kami. I remember our families have luncheons on Sundays too. ‘Yon nga lang, ang sama ni Liam kaya galit na galit ako.”

“Do you think that’s the reason he stayed in a boarding school in London?” Ernel asked.

“Boarding school?”

“He said, he studied sixth grade and high school in a boarding school. His Lolo Mano was sick, so he came home.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Paano mo malalaman? Wala kang ibang ginawa kundi ang sigawan at pahirapan si Liam,” sabi ni Nica.

“Bestie, you should give him a chance. Mukhang mabait naman, ‘di ba, Nica?”

“Ang guwapo niya, Beshie. Ang bait pa kaya forgive mo na. Siguradong maiinggit sa ‘yo si Vanessa, Emily, at Mindy kapag nakita ka nilang kasama mo si Liam.”

“I agree, Bestie. Ipamukha mo kay Vanessa na mali siya. Ang kapal ng mukha niya para sabihan kang pangit.”

“Eh, pangit naman talaga ako. Ano ang magagawa ko?”

“Hindi ka pangit, Bestie. Hindi ka lang palaayos. Saka matuto ka kayang manamit nang pambabae? Hindi katulad niyang suot mo,” asiwa ni Ernel.

“Eh, dito ako comfortable. Ano ba ang pangit sa suot ko?”

“Tara, bumili tayo sa Bench ng pressed powder at lipgloss.”

“Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa lipgloss?”

“Basta, Bestie. First day of school. Kami ang bahala sa ‘yo,” turan ni Ernel.

“The transformation of Reaghen Yzabelle Fuentebella,” sabi ni Nica.

“Ah, siya nga pala. As promised, I asked Papa to reserve the presidential suite for the weekend. I mean for the whole week. You can ask the boys to come over at Princeton tomorrow.”

“Are you serious, Beshie? Isang linggo tayo sa Princeton?” ani Nica.

“Yeah, why not? Pambawi ko sa inyong dalawa. So, let the boys know if they want to join us.”

“You’re the best, Ryze!” Ernel chortled ecstatically.

“Yeah, I know. Umuwi na kayo at magempake. See you tomorrow. We’ll meet at the Princeton’s lobby. Say, 5:00 p.m.?”

“Gotcha! 5:00 p.m. sharp,” pagsang-ayon ng dalawa.

“Toodles!” paalam ni Nica.

“Ta, ta!” said Ernel.

We said our goodbye hugs and kisses that took for another half an hour. We separated at around seven in the evening. Since it’s on the way home, I stopped by at Princeton’s checking on the reservation. I can’t take my friends to sleepover at home because of Sam. Spoiled kasi ako at ang lahat ng hinihiling ko kay Papa, he gives it to me. He makes the impossible possible. ‘Yon nga lang, I have rules to follow, and I need to abide by them, well, not all of them. Because sometimes I can be very impulsive. 

                                                               #

Little did Ryze know. Liam never left he heard about Princeton Hotel.