Chapter 17

 

-recap-

 

Kim: Can I hug you Ge?

 

Gerald: (shocked) why?

 

Kim: To make sure that we are fine. Please.

 

Gerald: Sure. Come here Kimmy. (opens his arms)

 

Kim and Gerald hugged each other. 

 

-end of recap-

 

What Kim and Gerald didn’t know is that Kim’s barkada saw them hugging, and not only them but also enchong.

 

Kim’s barkada was shock.

 

Maja: OMG! Is that Kim and Gerald hugging?

 

Empress: Oo, sila nga! Tara puntahan natin!

 

Empress was about to go to the two when Mel stopped her.

 

Mel: Ano ka ba Empress? Wag mong sirain yung moment nila.

 

Erich: Tama ka diyan Mel, nag momoment yung dalawa e. Pero nakakapagtaka, bakit sila nag huhug?

 

Maja: Don’t worry, magkikita kita naman tayo mamaya, saka natin tanongin kung para saan yung yakapan na nagaganap ngayon. Diba?

 

Mel: Tama si Maja, basta hayaan muna natin sila, baka magalit pa si Kim sabihin iniistorbo natin sila. (laughs)

 

Beauty: Wait Mel. Are you saying may gusto si Kim kay Gerald? (shocked)

 

Mel: I’m not saying that. It came from your mouth not mine. (still smiling)

Beauty: My Goodness! It is possible! Pwede nga na may gusto si Kimmy kay Gerald!

Erich: Wait guys. Let us not jump to conclusions. Saka isn’t it too early for either of them to feel that? They just started hanging out and getting to know each other better.

Maja: Erich has a point. Knowing you guys, you would immediately make a move and try to match make the two.

Beauty: Excuse me?! So kami pa talaga? Isn’t it you who always do that? (laughing)

Everybody except Maja starts to laugh as well.

Maja: Stop ganging up on me and focus on the two.

Mel: There is nothing to focus on, they already left.

Maja: Oh, you’re right. Let’s just go to our rooms and ask them later.

The girls went on their ways to their classrooms.

While on Enchong’s side, he was shocked to see Kim and Gerald hugging. 

Enchong: (thingking) Is this why Kim didn’t let me join her for recess? Does Gerald like Kim too? I need to know.

And so, Enchong went to his classroom.

Gerald was first to let go of the hug.

Gerald: So, are you okay now? Did this hug prove that I’m not angry?

Kim: (Very happy) YES! 

Gerald: Wipe that smile off your face will you, you look weird. I think we shoutd go to our classroom already, it is nearly time.

Kim: You are so mean. Pero kahit pa, pagtitiyagaan na kita, lagi mo akong nililibre eh. (smiling)

Gerald: At ako pa ang pinagtitiyagaan mo ha? Baka ako ang nag titiyaga sa iyo? Sa kulit mong yan. Buti natitiis pa kita noh. (laughing while pinching Kim’s nose)

Kim: Kaasar ka talaga Ge! Bahala ka diyan. 

Kim left Gerald. But Gerald caught her arm and joined her walking.

Gerald: Ikaw talaga, asar talo. (still laughing) Pero sige na, sorry na ulit. Wag ka mag-alala, ililibre pa rin kita. (poking Kim’s under arm) Uy, tatawa na yan.

Kim: bahala ka diyan, punta na ako sa room, ikaw din, pasok ka na mapagalitan ka pa e. 

Gerald: Yes ma’am! (saluting to Kim while laughing)

Kim went to their room with a smile on her face and her friends didn’t let the opportunity to tease Kim pass.

Mel: Kim, ano na naman ang dahilan ng ngiti mong yan?

Erich: Sino pa ba Mel? E di si Gerald!

The both of them laughed.

Kim: oh, ano na naman ang trip ninyo? Tuwing naka ngiti ako nang aasar kayo? Bawal na bang ngumiti ng wala lang?

Erich: Kim naman. Bawal na bawal yun.

Kim: Bakit naman?

Mel: Kasi baliw lang ang ngumingiti ng wala lang. 

Mel and Erich laughed again.

Kim: E kung ganun, sige, si Ge ang dahilan ng ngiti ko. Ayaw kong matawag na baliw no! (laughing)

Mel: So, lately palagi kang naka ngiti dahil kay Gerald. Maaari bang itanong kung bakit?

Kim: Well, Masaya kasi siyang kasama.

Erich: And?

Kim: yun na. Masaya siyang kasama.

Erich: nothing more? 

Kim: oo. Bakit? Are you expecting another answer?

Mel: wala naman. 

When their teacher came in, Kim, Mel and Erich stopped talking and listened.

After dismissal, the whole barkada met up and waited for Gerald who would be treating them food.

Beauty: Asan na ba yung Gerald nay un? Gutom na ako.

Empress: Aba, demanding ka pa, eh sabit lang naman tayo sa panlilibre niya kay Kim. 

Everybody laughed.

Kim: wait lang, para hindi na mag dabog yang si Beauty, hahanapin ko na si Ge.

Kim went out looking for Ge near his locker.  

Kim: Ge! Bakit ang tagal mo? Kanina ka pa naming hinihintay.

Gerald: Sorry ha, medyo natagalan bago kami pinalabas ng teacher e. 

Kim: ok lang yun. Bilisan mo na lang, gutom na mga alaga ko sa tiyan e. (laughing)

Gerald: o, ayan tapos na, so ano? Tara na. Saan ninyo ba gustong kumain?

Kim: MCDO na lang. para mura lang.

Gerald: okay lang kahit saan Kim.

Kim: e ang dami natin baka maubos pera mo.

Gerald: okay lang talaga Kim, don’t worry about me.

Kim: basta sa MCDO na lang tayo.

Gerald: sige, kung doon mo gusto. 

They went to MCDO and there, all of the girls ordered what they want. While eating, the girls began their “test” for Gerald.

Erich: Gerald, wag ka magagalit ha. Pero bading ka ba?

Gerald chocked when he heard what Erich said. Kim also did out of embarrassment for her friend.

Kim: Erich! Mahiya ka naman. Ano ba yang mga tinatanong mo?

Erich: just to make it clear, there is nothing wrong with my question.

Gerald: (smiling) well, the truth is…

Everybody was waiting for his answer and they were thinking that he might admit that he is gay.

Gerald: hindi ako bading. Iyan ang totoo. Satisfied?

Erich: ok, if you say so. 

Maja: Kung hindi ka bading, bakit wala kang nililigawan or niligawan?

Gerald: kasi wala pa sa isip ko yan, saka distraction lang yan sa pag-aaral.

Beauty: ganyan ka ba talaga kaseryoso lagi? Or kasungit?

Gerald: hindi naman, maalam din naman akong magsaya.

Empress: pero wait. Katahimikan please. May gusto ka ba kay ate Kimmy?

Kim coughed because of Empress’ question.

Kim: Teka, teka, teka muna! Tumigil ka nga empress! Ano ba naman yang mga tanong mo.

Empress: ate Kim, tahimik ka muna, si Gerald ang tinatanong ko e. So Gerald, ano? May gusto ka ba kay ate Kim?

Kim: Empress! Sinasabi ko sa iyo, pag hindi ka tumigil hinding hindi ka na makakatungtong sa bahay namin! 

Empress: Ate naman e! 

Mel: sige Empress, I will take charge of questioning. Gerald, may gusto ka ba kay Kim?

Gerald: bakit niyo ba naitanong yan, pano ninyo naisip yan?

Mel: well, we saw the two of you hugging kanina e.

Kim: (shocked) you saw that?!

Maja: YUP! So Kim, stop commenting and let Gerald answer. Or are you the one who likes Gerald? (smiling)

Kim was about to react when Gerald answered.

Gerald: for the record, I don’t like Kim. So is it settled then?

Erich: fine, we believe you. Tutal nilibre mo kami, paniniwalaan ka namin.

Everybody laughed while Kim looked at Gerald with an apologetic look.

Kim: (mouthing) sorry.

Gerald: (mouthing) it is fine.

When everybody finished eating, the girls started going home. Kim and Gerald were the only ones left.

Kim: Ge, sorry talaga sa barkada ko ha. Makukulit lang talaga yung mga yun e. Wag mong seryosohin ang mga pinagsasasabi.

Gerald: Kimmy, sabi ko naman sayo okay lang diba. Nakakatuwa nga sila, halatang halata na importante ka sa kanila.

Kim: (confused) huh? Paano mo naman nasabi na importante ako sa kanila?

Gerald: well, doon pa lang sa pang-aasar at pag tatanong nila obvious na ginagawa nila yun para maka sigurado silang safe ka sa akin.

Kim: so what you are trying to say is, parang test? Ganoon ba?

Gerald: exactly! And I am sure simula ngayon they would be more at ease pag magkasama tayo, kasi kahit papaano na kilala nila ako ng mas maigi. You are very lucky to have friends like them Kimmy. 

Kim: Yeah, I sure am lucky. Alam mo Ge, iba ka talaga.

Gerald: Bakit? Kasi bukod sa gwapo, matalino din ako? (smiling while doing the pogi pose)

Kim: (pinched Gerald’s side) KAPAL! Hindi no!

Gerald: (laughing) kung hindi yun ano?

Kim: kasi imbis na maasar ka or ma offend sa mga kaibigan ko, you tried to understand why they are doing it. Hindi ka tulad nung iba na mag rereact aggressively or immediately without thinking of the reason why at the first place they were doing that. And for that thank you.

After her speech, Kim hugged Gerald. At first, Geraldwas surprise with what she did but he hugged her back.

Gerald: naks naman, I feel flattered. (laughing)

Kim: (moving away from the hug) CHE! Tama bang tawanan ako? Eh, ang seryoso nung sinabi ko. HMP!

Gerald: Ang cute mo talaga pag nagagalit Kimmy. (pinching her nose)

Kim: Ewan ko sayo. Pero dahil naging behave ka kanina, palalampasin ko ito. Okay? (smiling)

Gerald: sus, yun ba talaga ang dahilan, baka naman dahil nilibre kita kanina?

Kim: (widely smiling) Isama mo na din yun! 

As the two of them were talking, Kim’s phone vibrated. When she looked at the text message, it was her dad telling her that he is already outside to fetch her.

Gerald: Kimmy, sino yang nag text?

Kim: Ay si daddy, nasa labas na daw siya e. Sige alis na ako.

Gerald: Wait, sabay na tayo, paalis na din ako e.

Kim: Sige.

Outside Mcdo, Kim’s dad is waiting for her and so Gerald greeted him and said his goodbyes.

Kim went to her dad and gave him a kiss.

Kim: Hi, dad. (kiss)

Frank: hi princess. (kiss)

Gerald: Good afternoon ho, Mr. Chiu.

Frank: Good afternoon din. Gerald, tama ba?

Gerald: Yes sir tama po.

Frank: matanong nga kita, nililigawan mo ba anak ko?

Gerald was caught off guard with Frank’s question so he wasn’t able to answer immediately. Instead Frank repeated his question.

Frank: I will repeat. Nililigawan mo ba ang anak ko?

Before Gerald can answer Kim butted in.

Kim: DAD! Hindi niya ako nililigawan, we are just friends. (slightly blushing)

Frank: Is that true?

Gerald: (stuttering) a-ahm, y-yes sir. Totoo po yun. Magkaibigan lang po kami.

Frank: eh, bakit lagi na lang kayong magkasama this past few days.

Gerald: A-ano po kasi…

Kim: Wala lang dad. Nakain lang, tambay bago umuwi. Ganoon lang.

Frank: Ok, if you say so. Kung ganoon, don’t call me sir or Mr. Chiu, you can call me Tito Frank. It seems like you are a close friend of my princess kaya yun na lang ang itawag mo sa akin. (smiling)

Gerald: Yes si- ay, Tito Frank.

Frank: Sige Gerald, una na kami. Mag-ingat ka.

Gerald: Sige po, salamat po. Mag-ingat din po kayo. Bye Kimmy. (waving)

Kim: (looks back to Gerald) Bye din Ge!

After that Gerald was fetched by Mang Cardo.

Mang Carding: Ge, napapansin ko lagi kang Masaya nitong mga nakaraang araw. Dahli ba ito sa isang babaeng nag ngangalang Kim? (smiling at Gerald through the car mirror)

Gerald: ano ba naman kayo Mang Carding. Matagal na akong ganito.

Mang Carding: Hindi eh, may iba. Parang mas maaliwalas ang inyong mukha.

Gerald: baka nga tama kayo, may nag iba sa akin. Feeling ko nga mas magaan ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. 

Mang Carding: Wag mo na kasing isang tabi yung feelings mo. Aminin mo na kasi.

Gerald: (confused) aminin? Feelings? What do you mean?

Mang Carding: Pag-isipan mong mabuti. Alam kong alam mo ang ibig kong sabihin ayaw mo pa lang aminin. (smiling)

As Mang Carding said that, they arrived at Gerald’s house. When Gerald got to his room, he is still thinking about what Mang Carding told him.

Gerald: (thinking) What feelings is Mang Carding talking about? Yun ba yung sobrang saya ko, yung parang ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko, yung iisa lang ang lagi kong iniisip at yung handa akong gawin lahat. Mga bagay na nararamdaman ko lang kapag siya ang kasama ko. Ang babaeng noon pa lang ay nagustohan ko na. Ang babaeng nagparamdam sa akin na may silbi ako. Ang babaeng nakita ko noong mga bata pa kami na nahulog at nabagok ang ulo. Ang babaeng iniligtas ko. Ang babaeng masayahin, mabilis mapikon, matakaw, mababaw ang kaligayahan at luha. Ang babaeng nag titiyaga sa akin. Ang babaeng ang pangalan ay Kimberly Sue Yap Chiu. Siguro nga tama si Mang Carding. I need to acknowledge what I truly feel. Kailangan ko ng tanggapin na ang totoo ay mahal ko siya. Mahal ko si Kimmy.