I have never liked group works unless si MJ yung kagroup ko. Buti na lang si MJ yung kagroup ko sa elective namin na feeling major. So now, I feel majorly inspired to go to class kahit ang boring at walang relevance ang elective na to sa major ko.

I’m a literal Marketing Major. Ang ‘P’ ba sa Jose P. Rizal ay kasali sa 4 Ps of marketing? Hindi naman diba? I really don’t need to know that our national hero was a womanizer. Sobrang irrelevant lang ang buhay ni Jose Rizal sa pagiging future marketer ko.

But I digress.

And I shouldn’t really be complaining when I’m sitting beside MJ who’s listening intently to our professor. 

Me? I clocked out the moment I found out I was in the same group as MJ. Hindi naman sa pabigat ako. I actually do my work. I carry my own weight. I just wanted to revel in the fact that magkagroup ulit kami ni MJ. Unlike last time kasi, it was our first time interacting so parang nahihiya pa ako sa kanya. This time, I’m pretty determined to let her know that I’m interested in her…in a not-so-ka-group-na-medyo-acquaintance kind of way but more in a I-like-you-want-to-go-out kind of way.

Ever since the last game, parang sinusundan na ako ng good karma. Dahil sa good performance ko, coach is letting me play more. Hindi pa rin starting five pero I’ll have more minutes in the court. 

Okay lang sa akin. Para saan pa yung training if hindi maglalaro right? And knowing that MJ watches the game (and hoping that she keeps watching it), mas nagaganahan akong maglaro. 

Inspiration ko ba siya?

Siguro. 

Pero it’s a confidence booster kasi seeing the person you fancy on the stands watching you. Kahit hindi niya alam na gusto mo siya. Okay na talaga sa akin that MJ sometimes catches my eyes when I look at her.

Like right now. 

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya habang nagnonotes siya and then she looked at me, catching my obvious staring at her. Hindi ko rin naman tinatago. It’s how I let her know that I exist. Sabi kasi ni Mama that doing eye contact lets the person know that you’re paying attention.

And I am paying attention! 

I am paying attention to how her ginger hair falls on her face when she takes notes. Nakikita ko yung pag-twirl ng pen sa mga daliri niya and how she bites the inside of her cheek when she’s focusing. I am paying attention to how her eyes widen when she looks at me and then smiles, effectively showing the dimples on her cheeks. 

Mama, I am paying attention!

Nakita ko ang pagtaas ng kilay ni MJ, as if she’s asking me a question. Napailing lang ako and smiled at her before I turned my attention to our professor. Hindi ko pa rin alam ang pinagsasabi niya. Nakita ko lang sa board yung Noli Me Tangere. 

I sighed internally.

Sir, i-mamarket ba namin yang libro na yan? 

“There’s a resurgence of interest in Philippine history, how would you market Noli Me Tangere today?” 

That would be a more interesting project than whatever we’re supposed to do. 

But wait. 

Kailangan ko pala makinig kasi ayokong maging pabigat kay MJ. If I’m going to show her I’m interested in her, I think better din if I show off na matalino din ako? Slightly shunga pero may alam naman. 

“Wow, para akong hangin.”

Nagulat ako nang may bumulong sa tabi ko. 

Oo nga pala. Kaklase ko si Ningning at kagrupo din namin siya. She’s friends with Wonbin na naging close ko na rin. 

Napatingin ako sa kanya, raising my brow questioningly at her. 

“Ayan, thanks for making pansin,” she said cheekily. I rolled my eyes at her. “Ang obvious mo.” 

Okay? Like I said, I wasn’t trying to hide it —

“Karina —” 

Mabilis akong napalingon kay MJ pagtawag niya sa akin. Humagikhik naman si Ningning sa tabi ko. 

“...Ningning, when are you both free to discuss the project?” 

She’s so efficient. 

“Wala akong masyadong gagawin sa Thursday since isa lang class ko,” sabi ni Ningning. 

I looked at my schedule on my phone. Thursday…Thursday…”Dalawa lang class ko pero may training kami until 7pm sa Thursday. Sorry,” I apologized kasi it seemed like free din si MJ sa Thursday at ako lang yung hindi. Ayoko naman maging special. “Uhm, ano, I’ll try na lang to leave early…” sabi ko na lang pero umiling lang si MJ.

“I think we can work it out.” MJ asked for Ningning’s schedule para i-compare. “Tapos si Ningning at 1pm and I end at 2pm. Okay lang ba Ning if you wait?” Tumango si Ningning. Tumingin si MJ sa akin. “Do you have spare time between 2-4?”

MJ is such a great student talaga. Ang bilis niyang mag-isip para mag-sync ang schedule namin.

“Oo, meron. I’m free.” Free ako para sa’yo. 

“Alright, I’ll see you guys. Gawa na lang ako ng GC. I have your numbers na I think.”

Hala.

Wait.

Seryoso? 

Keep the good karma coming! Hindi ko na lang isipin the fact that she’s a rep in our batch that’s why she has our numbers. Kinikilig ako. Alam niya number ko.

“Thanks, MJ,” pa-sweet kong sabi sa kanya. I smiled at her, yung tipong smile na nakikita yung dimple ko. Sabi kasi ni Mama maganda yung dimple ko.

My eyes followed her from the moment she stood up from her chair to the moment she left the classroom.

Mama, I am paying attention. 

I sighed dreamily when MJ was out of sight…to which earned me a slap from Ningning. “Grabe ka naman makatitig. Mapapasayo ba si MJ niyan?”

Hindi na lang ako nagugulat na alam ni Ningning na gusto ko si MJ. One, close sila ni Wonbin. Two, I’m really not hiding it. Dense lang talaga ang hindi makaramdam. (MJ, please don’t be dense.) 

 “Oo,” I said confidently. 

“Baka maweirdohan sayo si MJ niyan.” 

“Talaga ba? Pero…I’m flirting!” 

Ningning snorted. Niligpit na niya ang gamit niya at sinabing, “Iba ka rin eh. Sige lang, Karina. Kaya mo na yan,” before siya umalis. 

***

I rushed out of my class para pumunta sa library. Ang OA kasi ni Sir kung mag lecture, akala niya ang dami niyang time. Sometimes, professors have no regard for their students. Hindi ba nila alam na may ibang plano ang mga tao? It really should be illegal to go over the time. 

Nakakainis. 

Nakakahiya kay MJ (at kay Ningning na rin, I guess) kasi they've been waiting for over 30, minutes. Kanina pa ako nagmemessage sa GC namin tatlo, nagsosorry every five minutes that I am late. 

Sobrang understanding lang ni MJ pero like I said before, ayokong mag waste ng time. I especially don't like wasting other people's time kasi important yun. 

Some professors could learn a thing or two about that, though. 

Hingal akong nakarating sa library, pawisan dahil tumakbo pa ako. I quickly went to the corner where MJ said they would be. Feel ko ang dami na nilang napag usapan. Nakakahiya. Ayokong maging pabigat. Paano ko ma-impress si MJ if wala akong ambag? Right? 

“Sorry, sorry, I’m late.” Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan, which is next to MJ and right across Ningning. I said a silent thanks to Ningning for not sitting beside MJ. I took out my pen and notebook. “What did you discuss na? Catch up na lang ako.” 

“Ikaw,” bulong ni Ningning, pinipigilan ang tawa niya. 

“Huh?” I asked, confused. 

“Binabackstab ka namin. Ang tagal mo kasi.” Hala, hindi kaya ganyan si MJ! Napasimangot naman ako “Charot lang. Mukha mo, Karina.” 

Tumawa nang mahina si MJ, tapos sabi niya, “We were talking about your last game lang. I don't think I congratulated you. Congrats pala.” 

Hoy.

Teka lang, MJ! 

Mas lalo akong naiinitan sa sinabi niya! Pinagpawisan na nga ako. Hinubad ko na lang yung letterman jacket na suot ko, kinikilig at nahihiya nang makita ko ang pagngiti ni MJ sa akin.

“Thank you,” I giggled. Maliit na bagay. Seryoso, maliit lang talaga yun. Two points lang naman.

“Anyway, start na tayo?” 

Tumango lang kaming dalawa ni Ningning. 

While MJ was just finishing up dividing our parts for the project (yes, nakikinig ako kay MJ), I noticed na nilalamig siya. She kept on rubbing her arms together kasi. I didn't hesitate to give her my jacket. Hindi naman ako nilalamig. 

“MJ, suot mo. You look cold kasi.” Napatingin lang siya sa akin, unsure what to do. I extended my arm even more, urging her to take my jacket. Gusto ko sana isuot sa kanya pero baka mailang siya. I should know my boundaries. 

“Okay lang ba?” She asked. 

“Bakit naman hindi?” 

“Baka kasi hindi —” 

Napahinto si MJ sa pagsasalita at biglang binitawan yung jacket ko nang may biglang dumating at may humawak sa balikat ko. Si Wonbin pala.

“Hi, tapos na kayo?”

“Malapit na, Won,” sagot naman ni Ningning na nagtatype sa laptop niya. “Si Karina, maya pa yata.” 

“Oo, may training yan eh. Hello pala, MJ.” 

“Hi, Wonbin. Sinusundo mo si Karina?” 

Napatingin ako kay MJ. Napansin ko na lang na nasa sahig na pala ang jacket ko. Kinuha ko ulit ito and attempted to give it back to MJ pero she only shook her head and said she's okay. 

Bakit ayaw na niya sa jacket ko? Obvious kaya na nilalamig siya. 

“Karina, text mo ako kung magpapasundo ka mamaya. Baka uulan.” Sabi sa akin ni Wonbin. 

“Paano motor ko?” I asked, worried. Ayoko kasing iiwan dito. My precious. 

“Bukas na lang.” 

“Eh, ayoko.” Pag-angal ko.

“Too bad. Magagalit si Tita sayo, sige ka.” 

I was gonna argue pa pero narinig ko na lang ang pag-ubo ni MJ. Hala nalamigan talaga siya. “I think we're done na,” pag smile ni MJ. “Update niyo na lang yung doc whenever you guys can. I’ll go ahead.” 

Umalis na si MJ, my eyes following her until mawala siya sa paningin ko. Nakaligpit na rin pala si Ningning ng mga gamit niya. 

“Ang lagkit ng tingin mo, beh. Hindi ba naiilang si MJ sa patingin-tingin mo sa kanya? Baka creepy na siya ha.” 

Napatawa naman si Ningning sa sinabi ni Wonbin. “Flirting skills daw niya yan, Won. Bigla kang dumating, dumadamoves kaya siya kanina.” 

Hala creepy ba? “Talaga ba?” I got concerned sa mga ginagawa ko. Sinabi na rin to ni Ningning last time. Baka nga I’m starting to look creepy. I know I said na hindi ko tinatago ang pagkagusto ko kay MJ but like I also said, ayaw ko siyang mailang sa akin. “Ano ba ang dapat kong gawin?”

Wonbin just put his arm around me, reassuring me. “Hindi ko naman sinasabi na wag mo na siyang tingnan. Wag ka lang creepy, beh. Don’t overdo it. Respeto pa rin.”

Napatango ako, internally questioning lahat ng ginagawa ko. Okay I should not stare at her too much to the point of being creepy. Just enough for her to acknowledge my existence (thank goodness, she does).

“Pero sayang dumating ka bigla, Won,” pagsingit ni Ningning. She looked at me differently tapos bigla siyang napa-smirk sa akin. Okay? “May theory ako pero ayaw kong sabihin sayo.” Sabay belat sa akin. “May napansin lang ako.”

“Ano?”

“Ayaw ko ngang sabihin sayo! Confirm ko muna.” 

Tinapik-tapik namin ni Wonbin ang balikat ni Ningning. “Bulong mo sa akin.”

“Sige!”

Ang daya! Gusto ko rin malaman! 

Wonbin suddenly gasped, eyeing me as Ningning kept whispering in his ear. “Seryoso ka ba diyan?” 

“Mga 76.8% sure,” natatawang sabi ni Ningning. “Experiment lang ako when I see the chance.”

“Ang daya niyo!” Inalis ko yung kamay ni Wonbin sa balikat ko and stomped my feet. Bakit ayaw nilang sabihin sa akin? “Punta na nga ako sa training,” padabog kong sabi. Kinuha ko na lang yung bag ko na dala ni Wonbin at inirapan silang dalawa. Tinawanan lang nila ako. 

Ang bait talaga.

Naghiwalay kaming tatlo paglabas namin sa library. Gagala daw sila. Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa gym, I randomly remembered that MJ has my number. Therefore, I have hers.

Of course! May GC na nga kami. 

Pwede ko kaya siyang i-text privately? 

Napahinto ako. This is considered weird no? I don't want MJ to think na tinetake advantage ko yung pagiging groupmates namin para lang makausap siya.

That's right. 

Maghintay na lang ako ng opportunity. Baka umextend ang good karma ko for the rest of the school year. 

Basta, know your boundaries lang, Karina. 

***

Ang sarap gumising sa umaga especially if may meeting kayo kasama si MJ. 

I rarely wake up before my alarm but this time, I did — a whole 10 minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off. I think excited lang ako. Kasi porket kaklase ko si MJ, kabatch ko siya, and we’re basically in the same course, I barely get to see her and talk to her. 

Busy kasi siya. Plus, she’s always with Giselle. And I don’t want to bother her if wala naman akong kailangan sa kanya.

I got to school so much earlier than usua