Chapter Text
February 1
Even though he was already running late for his first class, Ed Rusca had to suppress his laughter. It was just seven in the morning of the first of February and he already bumped into five disgruntled students who were glaring with dislike at the decorations littered around the school. The love songs blaring softly through the speakers didn’t help the matter either.
Ed didn’t mind – not really. He knew he wasn’t good looking or interesting or smart or popular enough to be noticed, especially as he was just a skinny freshman taking up Multimedia Arts. He wasn’t even sure how he ended up working as a graphic artist for the IT department’s school paper. He would be happy during the season of love as long as he had a steady supply of ensaymada.
Luckily the elevator was empty when he stepped in – or so he thought. Greg del Pilar, blockmate and a photographer for the paper, stepped into the elevator right before it closed. The two freshmen stared at each other for a split second. Greg gives him a small smile. As tiny and awkward as it was, it was like gazing into the sun. Ed smiled back before he broke off from the gaze and hoped he wasn’t blushing. Of all the people he had to bump into, first thing in the morning, he had to bump into that boy who made his stomach flutter. He fought back the slightly elated chuckle that was threatening to escape from his lips. Del Pilar can’t know, of course.
Of course, everyone knew what happenned when one’s object of infatuation found out about a person’s feelings.
He can’t let that happen.
He dashed out of the elevator the moment that the elevator doors opened, aware that Goyong was actually headed the same way as he was. He clutched his brand new sketchbook close to him, kept his head down, and focused on reaching the classroom before his blockmate caught up. Luckily he made it before their professor and takes his usual seat beside his best friend and fellow graphic artist, Jose Bernal. Jose gave him a thumbs up. “Akala ko late ka nanaman.”
Ed shrugged. “Ayokong ma-late ngayon, Lunes pa naman.”
As if on cue, Greg stepped through the backdoor, head bowed down, looking lost in thought.
Jose sighed and changed the topic. “Putangina, love is in the air nanaman. Ayos ka lang ba sa ganyan, bro?”
Ed shrugged. “Eh ano ngayon? Wala akong interest sa lovelife.”
“Wooh, wala daw interest, eh anong tawag mo kay del Pilar?” At least Jose had the decency to keep his voice down. “Balita ko wala pang girlfriend yung gago, baka chance mo na to oh. Sakto love month na!”
“Madaming magaganda at gwapo at cool diyan.” Ed tried to block off Jose’s voice and focused on his drawing. Epic fail. “Ano namang makukuha niya sakin, aber?”
Jose chose not to answer that. He peered at his friend’s work instead. “Uy, parang familiar yan ah. Teka, teka, hindi ba si del Pilar yan, ha? Nakow, pre, sabi na nga ba’t tinamaan ka na ng todo sakanya.”
Their Algebra professor’s arrival saved Ed from the effort of finding a proper response. He closed his sketchbook before Jose could tease him further and pulled out his notebook. He paid extra attention to their class today just so that he didn’t have to listen to Jose teasing him about del Pilar. During a lull in the discussion, he chanced a glance at the photographer. Greg was seated at the seat right in front of the professor’s desk, right beside the window overlooking a portion of the school grounds. He had a sad, thoughtful look in his face as he jotted down something on his notebook. Something warm and happy flipped in Ed’s stomach. He knew that he was probably feeling something more than infatuation, but he refused to acknowledge it.
February 3
He held his sketchbook close to him yet again when he searched for a spot to doodle in. He was supposed to be with Jose, but the latter had to run home to grab his laptop. At least he had some time alone to finish some drawings and maybe stay away from his best friend’s teasing. He sat atop one of the bleachers beside the occupied volleyball field and began to draw meticulously, nigh-oblivious to the sound of girls shrieking and laughing and yelling as they played against each other.
He wasn’t even sure why he did it, but he started drawing Greg del Pilar from memory. Maybe it was to sort out his thoughts, or maybe he just needed an outlet so he could pour out his emotions.
He’s known the boy for more than half a year – after all, they have been blockmates since the first semester - and have made small talks since then, though Greg mostly ran around with Nonong Quezon and Vicente Enriquez. It was only recently that he realized that he was developing feelings for him, though. Not that it would matter. A lot of girls had their eyes on Greg, who was pretty and nice and amazing and talented. Why would he notice skinny, silly Ed Rusca?
“Nag-eemo ka nanaman diyan,” a familiar voice called out to him.
He glanced away from his work and spotted Paco Roman, assistant editor-in-chief. The third year student smiled and made his way up to join Ed. “Buti nalang nagpiprint na yung Valentine’s issue,” he noted nonchalantly. “Kung hindi, baka beastmode na si Kuya Tonyo ngayon.”
Ed chuckled and shook his head. “Ano ka ba, lagi namang beastmode yun.”
Paco nodded amiably. “May balak ka na ba sa Valentine’s day?”
“W-wala naman, kuya!” Rusca felt himself turn red, and he quickly closed his sketchbook before Paco noticed who he was drawing. “Alam mo naman, wala akong love life at mukhang hindi ako magkakaroon.”
“Ano ba yan, sayang naman.” Paco glanced knowingly at his sketchpad. “May balak ka bang umamin kay Greg?”
Ed’s cheeks burned red. “Kuya! Anong sinasabi mo? H-Hindi naman ganun. Nasakanya na ang lahat at dakilang lutang lang ako.”
Paco smiled widely and shook his head. He patted Ed’s leg. “Sige, mauna na ako. Wag kang panghinaan ng loob.”
Right.
February 5
The team’s headquarters was a little cramped, meaning that Ed had to share his cubicle with Jose and Greg . He didn’t mind it normally as Jose sat in the middle most of the time, but Jose found some excuse or another so he wasn’t in the office that day.
He focused on cleaning up some personal sketches as his work for the Valentine’s day issue were already done. He chanced a glance at the apple of his eyeson the other side of the cubicle. Greg was busy peering at a few things on his laptop. He was definitely good looking, despite being half-bathed by the shadows of the cabinets situated above his head.
Before Ed could look away, Greg lifted his gaze and locked eyes with him. Neither of them broke the staring contest… until Greg broke out laughing.
Even his laugh sounded golden. Where’s the justice in the world?
“Kung gusto mong maglaro ng titigan, sabihin mo lang!” Greg swiveled his chair around to face Ed. “Nakakainip nga pag tapos na yung trabaho, ano? Sana pauwiin na tayo ni Kuya Tonyo.”
“May meeting daw tayo mamayang konti eh.” Ed raised his eyebrow, steadying his wildly beating heart and trying to keep up the air of calmness. “Focused na focused ka diyan pero tapos na pala yung trabaho mo? Grabe ka rin, ha?”
Greg looked away, looking nervous all of a sudden. Even something as simple as that made him look absolutely cute. "May tinatapos kasi ako para sa Valentine’s… or at least yung araw bago yun.“
Irrational disappointment filled Ed, though he knew from the start that he would never, ever stand a chance. Why couldn’t he just despise the boy that he was falling hard for? He noted that it would have been easier to hate him if he wasn’t so damn nice.
"Ah, Valentine’s. Ikaw din pala.” He felt his cheeks turn red, and he was afraid that Greg would notice the change in his expression. “Sa tutal, lahat naman ata naghahanda na para diyan, ano?”
Greg was quiet for a while, his eyes back on his laptop. “Parang ganun na nga. Di rin naman importante, nararamdaman kong wala naman siyang feelings para sakin.” His smile was back, though it was smaller, sadder – as if the moon rose in place of the sun. “Ikaw ba, wala kang balak?”
Ed’s heart went out to him. How he wished that Greg felt something for him instead. He would never let him down. “Wala eh. Alam ko namang walang feelings sakin yun.”
Greg raised an eyebrow. “Ba’t di mo muna subukan?”
He shrugged. “Ikaw, ba’t sigurado kang walang feelings sayo yung gusto mo?”
“Good question.” Greg began to fumble with the buttons on his uniform. “Napapansin ko namang mas mauunang magkagusto yun sa best friend niya bago sa akin. Cool, sobrang kalog, gwapo, witty…” he shrugged.
Ed nodded sagely. “Yun nga eh, kaya din naisip kong wag nalang, kasi sa dami ng mga tao sa school nagkagusto pa ako dun sa malayo sa league ko.” He laughed though it sounded half hearted. “Ano, gagawa na ba tayo ng Samahan ng mga Hopeless Loverboys?”
At least that made Greg laugh. “Gusto ko yan. Ikaw na bang bahala sa mga tshirt design?”
“Oo, basta ikaw nang bahala sa documentation ng mga meetings,” Ed shot back with a grin.
“Hoy, mga hijo de puta!” Kuya Tonyo bellowed from the Editor in Chief’s desk. “Meeting na! Mamaya na ang landian!”
Ed was blushing and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. Greg was already on his way to join the rest of the team so there was nothing else to do but follow. The rest of the team – Kuya Tonyo, Kuya Paco, Jose Alejandrino, and Pepe Rizal – were already assembled on the small lounge by the door. Surprisingly, Miong Aguinaldo and Pole Mabini from the student council were there.
He could barely register the fact that they were there only to hear of the council’s Valentine’s day project, meaning that the council would be delivering gifts and letters across the campus for students over the duration of the following week. He thought it would be something more important than that, as Kuya Tonyo was on edge.
It didn’t even matter to him – the boy he was in love with seemed to be in love with someone else.
February 7
“Oy, Ed!” Jose’s voice never changed even over the phone. He was still as bubbly and as enthusiastic as ever.
Of course, Ed would always answer his best friend’s call – even if he was in the middle of drawing under a tree in the school grounds. He had no classes as it was a Sunday, but he loved the peace of the school gardens.
“May problema, brad?” he asked his best friend, wondering what Jose was up to.
The latter laughed evilly. It was amusing most of the time but somehow it was infuriating that day. “Nabalitaan ko na yung project ng Student Council. Ba’t di mo gawan ng drawing si Greg? Tapos ipadala mo sakanila? Pwede naman daw anonymous eh.”
“Tangina mo.” That was the actual reason that Ed never told him about his conversation with Greg before that Friday meeting. “May ibang bebelabs yun.”
“Akala ko bang walang dyowa yun?” Jose’s tone sounded concerned, which made Ed’s heart ache all of a sudden.
Ed sighed. He stopped drawing and set down his sketchbook. “Hayaan mo na. May narinig lang ako sa office nung Friday. Wala lang yun.”
“Pero shet naman Ed. Shet. Chance mo na to. Kahit something lang oh – bat di ka magdrowing tapos ipadala mo sakanya sa balentayms?” Jose asked. “Di naman niya kailangang malaman na ikaw.”
“Pag-iisipan ko, sige,” Ed replied.
He looked down at his drawing. Greg, yet again. It was hard to keep him out of his thoughts lately.
February 9
He was alone again. He wasn’t sure why Jose kept excusing himself lately, but there he was, alone in the office, drawing away yet again. He wasn’t sure how he ended up continuing his drawing of Greg. Hell, he started coloring it. He was intent on finishing it, though he knew that he would end up throwing it away before the week was over.
He was so engrossed in his work that he nearly jumped when he heard the door creak open. Greg stepped in, camera in hand, looking as fresh and as handsome as ever. He stopped when he saw Ed and hesitated before breaking into a brilliant smile.
Looking at him when he smiled actually hurt.
Heart racing, Ed quickly closed his sketchbook and held it close to him. “Um, hi.”
“Hi!” Greg motioned at the camera he was holding. “Titignan ko lang kung gumagana ng maayos yung bagong lens, ayus lang ba kung kuhanan kita ng picture?” he asked.
Ed looked down. Greg was going to take a picture of him? Why? Why not? He smiled back but kept his arms tightly around his sketchbook. “S-Sige.”
Greg pouted. “Ngiti ka naman! Para kang nakakita ng multo.”
Ed forced out a smile – which widened and widened as he locked eyes with Greg. Greg raised his camera and snapped five pictures, reflecting his grin.
Greg eventually sat down on his usual swivel chair, a cat-like grin on his face. “So, napag-isip isip ko yung sinabi mo sakin nung minsan,” he said. “Na hindi naman ako nakasisigurado na walang feelings sa akin yung gusto ko.”
“At tinanong mo ako kung ba’t di ko subukan,” Ed agreed. It was hard to forget Greg’s words.
Greg nodded. “Ba’t di natin sila subukang padalhan ng something? Tapos gumamit nalang tayo ng codename? Tapos dun nalang natin pakiramdaman kung… ano… yun.”
That sounded like a good idea. It was time to throw caution to the wind – after all, wasn’t Jose advising the same thing? He was still sure that he stood no chance, though.
“So anong gagamitin nating codenames?” he finally asked.
“Ako si Aguila,” Greg said quickly. He turned red and looked away. “Ikaw ba?”
He couldn’t really think of any good codenames, so he ended up with his favorite food. “Ensaymada.”
February 12
The next day was the last day of submission.
He had to finish his art. He had to.
He signed Ensaymada at the bottom in red ink.
February 13
He barely had any time to drop off the laminated artwork at the Council Office before running off to his next class.
His heart was hammering as the council members began to roam around the school, giving off gifts.
The council dropped by their classroom over the second period. Jose Alejandrino was assigned to their class – and he only approached two boys: Greg and Ed.
Ed received a big brown envelope.
He nervously opened it and pulled out a big printed picture of him in the office, an awkwardly brilliant smile on his face, sketchbook held close to his chest. He turned the print over and saw Aguila written on the lower right corner in blue ink.
He looked up and exchanged glances with Greg, who called out, “You did this all for me?”
Ed nodded. “Labyu,” he said half-teasingly.
Greg nodded back solemnly. “Labyu din, gago.”
The two boys exchanged smiles and looked away, turning back to their slightly-annoyed Sociology professor.
There would be time for proper words later.
Putangina, love is in the air nanaman, indeed.