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“Okay, bukas ng umaga ang pasahan niyan kaya dapat tapos na yan, ah. Class is dismissed.”
The teacher clapped their hands signaling for the students to leave. Everyone started packing their belongings into their bags. While some had chosen to stay inside, most had already stood up from their seats and bolted out of school.
Si Bamby, na atat na atat umuwi, ay binilisan ang pag-iimpake ng kanyang gamit at umalis sa loob ng classroom.
“Hoy! Bamby Chae!" A silver haired boy called out to him.
Bamby abruptly stopped. He sighed at the familiar voice and turned his heel to face him,
“Eunho, ano ba ‘yun?"
“Antayin mo naman ako. Kating-kati na naman niyang pwet mo umuwi.” Eunho, who was still inside the classroom, had started packing his things inside his bag, albeit recklessly.
"Aba, bilis-bilisan mo rin.” Sigaw ni Bamby, “Alam mo namang unahan sa jeep kapag ganitong oras.”
"Oo eto na, boss.”
Bamby rolled his eyes, the exhaustion from being at school was really creeping up to him. Good mood sana siyang uuwi kung hindi lang siya natambakan ng mga gawain para sa school. Mas nagmamadali na tuloy siyang makabalik ng bahay.
Umakbay si Eunho sa balikat niya pagkatapos niyang mag-impake.
"Oh halika na, alis na tayo. Baka mag sungit ka pa.” Eunho teasingly pinched Bamby's cheeks.
Siniko ni Bamby si Eunho sa tiyan ngunit naiwasan niya ito at tinawanan lamang siya.
🍎🍑
In the jeepney terminal, Bamby and Eunho—as well as multiple other students—stood under a shed, patiently waiting for a jeep to pass.
Bamby exhaled through his nose, kanina pa sila nakatayo ng ilang oras pero hanggang ngayon wala pa rin dumadating na jeep. And to make matters worse, the weather wasn't nice, it was really scorching hot—which only made Bamby more frustrated and impatient.
But alas, a blue colored jeepney came to the rescue. Relief washed over Bamby.
“Bilisan na natin!"
Bamby pulled Eunho’s wrist and raced the other passengers to the jeep so that both of them could secure a seat inside; Umupo silang dalawa sa loob, sa may side ni kuya driver pa-gitna. Eunho sat to the left of Bamby, near to the driver.
Soon, other people came in to overcrowd the jeepney,
"Pasok-pasok ho! May space pa dito.” The jeepney driver called out.
“Kuya baka nasa outer space yung natitira.” Eunho mumbled.
Bamby chuckled in reply. Eunho's remarks somehow lightened up his mood. The silver haired boy continued with his quips, making Bamby chuckle even just a little bit to ease the stress that was harboring on his head.
As people had entered to take their seats, a certain figure stood out to Bamby's nose.
A cool forest scent?
It smelled good like nature on a weekend morning hike, holding hot coffee in a thermos and feeling the cold fog around the forest. It was a scent Bamby was most drawn to. A scent he absolutely loved.
Hinanap ng mata niya kung saan ito o sino man ang nagmamay-ari ng amoy na iyon. His nose pointed him to his right side. Tumingin siya sa kanyang katabi…
Itim na buhok na nakabagsak sa kanyang noo, moreno, mukhang matangkad—halos nakayuko na siya sa may tuktok ng jeep, pareho din na high school uniform ang kanyang suot, at may pagka-nonchalant ang itsura pero…
Ang gwapo ng mukha niya.
The black haired boy moved his eyes to look at Bamby, who hadn't realized that he was staring at the other for too long. Bamby immediately looked away—turning slightly red at the sudden eye contact.
Eunho looked at Bamby puzzled but decided to mind his own business for now.
🍎🍑🍈
The jeepney has finally started moving after cramming all the passengers inside—halos magkapalit-palit na sila lahat ng mukha.
Although, Bamby could not ignore the handsome boy next to him. He kept peeking to his right just so he could get a glimpse and then quickly looking away to not get noticed.
Because they are all squeezed inside, Bamby could smell the other's strong scent. He couldn't get over that god-damned thing. Almost as if it was long engraved in his head. He wanted it to stay that way and revel on it for very long.
Nagsisimula ng magbayad ang mga tao sa loob, calling the other passengers to pass the fare money over to the driver.
“Bayad ho." The handsome boy spoke as he handed his fare to Eunho to pass it on.
Bamby’s head absolutely went crazy when he heard the voice. It was deep and smooth, spine-chilling but in a good way! Na para bang isang male lead na heartthrob sa teleserye. At kung titingnan niya nga ulit, hindi siya nagkakamali sa kanyang sinabi.
Eunho opened his bag to get his money and so did Bamby.
But when Bamby grabbed his wallet and opened it…
"Pakshet.” Bamby muttered, closing his eyes in disbelief.
“Bakit?" Eunho tilted his head to face Bamby.
"Nawawala yung isang daan ko, pre.” Sabi ni Bamby habang hawak ang wallet niya na pwede ng bahayan ng mga langaw.
"Huh? Bat naman nawala?”
"Nahulog ko yata siya nung nasa kanteen tayo…" Bamby sighed the sighest of sighs he could.
“Akala ko ba marami kang pera?”
"Syempre, di ko naman dadalhin lahat ‘yun.” Bamby furrowed his brow.
Eunho frowned, "Eh pano yan? Sakto lang yung dala kong pamasahe.”
Bamby placed his face on his palms, embarrassed dahil malalaman ni pogi na mabango na nawala ang ka-isa-isang one hundred pesos niya, frustrated dahil dumagdag pa ito sa mga poproblemahin niya.
Ngunit may biglang kumalabit sa kanya. Napatingin si Bamby sa kanan niya.
Si pogi ay nakatingin sa kanya, nonchalant pa rin ang itsura pero may inaabot na siya sa kanyang kamay.
“Ay, para san po ‘to?" Bamby asked.
“Eto, pamasahe niyo po."
Nanlaki ang mata ni Bamby at si Eunho, na narinig ang kanilang usapan, ay nakabuka ang bunganga na para bang nanalo na siya sa lotto.
"Ah! Wag na, okay lang.” Bamby waved his hands, dismissing the kind gesture. He could feel the heat in him starting to rise up to his head.
"Pano po kayo uuwi?” the black haired boy retorted.
Bamby stopped to think for a second. Paano nga naman siya uuwi kung wala siyang pambayad? Pwede naman niya takasan ang pagbabayad pero markado na siya kay kuya driver. Hindi rin kakayanin ng konsensya niya dahil hindi naman siya pinalaki ng nanay niya na ganun. At baka lumabas pa siya na ungrateful kung tatanggihan niya ang inaalok ng isa.
Nag dalawang isip si Bamby kung kukunin niya ba o hindi ang pera sa kamay ng lalaki.
Eunho gave a strong nudge to Bamby's elbow, whispering at him to just take the money.
And so Bamby did. He took the fare money off of the handsome man’s hand—slowly so as to not seem desperate. But during that quick moment, he felt the other’s touch.
“T-thank you po." Bamby stammered, his face almost the same color as Eunho's eyes.
Eunho's face now plastered an annoying smirk that Bamby absolutely despised.
Bamby passed the fare through and managed to secure his journey on the way home. And it was all thanks to the good-looking guy sitting next to him—unfortunately not Eunho.
🍎👀🍑‼️🍈💸
The whole ride was quiet but Bamby's thoughts inside his head were deafening,
Fuck, ang gwapo at bango niya… Yung boses niya pati? Shet, nakakahulog panty ‘yun ah. Tas nag-abot pampamasahe para sa akin? Hindi ako magtataka kung marami na nanliligaw sa kanya. Wait, nakatingin ba siya sakin- ay, di pala. Ay shet, nakatitig na naman ba ako?
His thoughts competing with one another, it became the only thing occupying his headspace at the moment. At least it wasn't assignments and projects he was exhaustingly thinking of.
Things started to get a little heated when the jeepney… literally felt hot inside.
Pagtutok ng alas tres ng hapon, doon na papasok ang “devil's hour" kung saan ang araw ay laging nakatapat sayo—na para bang sinusumpa ka dahil sa lahat ng mga kasalanan mo.
Bamby could feel a sweat trickling down his forehead. He wiped it away with the back of his hands, trying to stay nonchalant despite the current position he's in. Annoyingly enough, none of the passengers have been dropped off their destination yet and all of them are still clustered inside the jeepney like a bunch of pandesals being baked.
Certain smells started emitting inside. May masangsang, may maasim, at mayroon naman na nakakapit lahat ng iba’t ibang amoy sa kanya.
Ngunit sa lahat ng mga amoy na iyon, may isa pa rin na hindi nawawala at umaalis sa ilong ni Bamby. He took a glance at the boy sitting at his right.
The boy was now on his phone seemingly scrolling through social media. But Bamby had taken notice. Even with the devilish heat of the sun, the boy didn't look bothered about it in the slightest—not a single drop of sweat was visible.
Hala, alien ba ‘to? Bamby thought to himself.
It wasn't really common to get to see someone who doesn't or won't break a sweat at this time of day. It's either that he's really good at masking it or he just inherited good genetics.
Bamby kind of got jealous.
🍎🍑👃🍈🌳
Even though Bamby and Eunho managed to snag a ride to get home, there was still a major issue to consider. Traffic.
However, traffic wasn't Bamby's big problem for now. He's actually quite grateful there was one or else he wouldn't get to admire—and lowkey obsess over—the fellow sitting next to him.
His big problem lies in his best friend. A battle he had always faced but still lost to.
Eunho’s blabbering mouth.
Hindi natigil si Eunho sa kanyang pagsasalita dahil sunod-sunod ang pagpasok ng bawat topic sa utak niya.
Nung una tinanong niya lamang si Bamby kung anu-ano yung mga assignment at darating na projects na mayroon sila, tapos napunta naman ito bigla sa mga tsismis tungkol sa kanilang mga kaklase at mga video games na nilaro niya kahapon. Tas nauwi ito sa pagpili kung ano ang pinakamasarap sa dalawa: sinigang o tinola—parehong ayaw ni Bamby ang sinigang at tinola pero pinilit pa rin siya ni Eunho pumili.
Hinayaan lamang siya ni Bamby na magsalita ng magsalita ngunit para na siyang lamok na pa-ikot-ikot sa tenga niya.
Malapit na siyang hambalusin ni Bamby pero dahil katabi niya si pogi na mabango, he chose to put his sword down and put up a good and brave face.
Eunho soon ran his mouth out and stayed quiet. Bamby was finally at peace—even if he knew it'll only last for a while.
And because he had tired himself of Eunho, he closed his eyes to take a short rest while the jeepney stayed stagnant in traffic. His mind once again went back to the boy. He seriously could not take his mind off of him.
This has absolutely never happened before. All his crushes never occupied his head as much as this. Thinking about them never drove him crazy either. It was only when this person caught Bamby’s eyes—and nose, of course.
He wanted to ask for his name and possibly his phone number but his shyness and fear of embarrassment got the best of him. Sucks for him.
The jeepney has finally moved once again and everything is back on track. Except when the path started to get all rough and the jeepney driver was driving a little bit faster.
Lahat ng pasahero sa loob ay umaalog dahil sa lubak-lubak na kalsada. Curse the government for their incompetence.
Bamby suddenly felt light-headed with all the shaking. He opened his bag and tried to reach for the small bottle of efficascent oil to rub on the temples of his head.
When he pulled it out though, may nadaanan si kuya driver na malalim na butas sa kalsada causing him to drop the bottle on the ground.
It began rolling away from him as the jeepney moved. Bamby tried to chase after it but in a state of panic he slipped.
Before he could even fall to the ground and feel shame take over him, someone had caught his body. Thick tan arms held him in a position that's almost close to a hug,
“O-okay lang po kayo?" The boy asked.
Their faces were quite close to each other, Bamby could feel the other's breath brush on his ears. Mas lalong bumilis ang pagtibok ng kanyang puso.
"Ay opo. Sorry.” Bamby quickly pulled himself together and sat back down into his seat.
Out of embarrassment, he looked down. Ayaw niya makita ang mukha ni pogi at kung sino man ang nasa loob ng jeep. Regardless of doing so, he could feel an unnerving amount of eyes pinned to him. Mayroon din mga nagbubulungan kaya mas nararamdaman niya ang pag-init ng kanyang mukha.
“Eto po yung nahulog niyo." The boy gave the bottle of the efficascent oil back to him.
Bamby must not have noticed him picking it up. He grabbed the bottle from the other's hand, nodding his head as thanks.
Just as Bamby had settled down, someone on his right nudged his shoulder.
It was Eunho. Grinning like the absolute fool that he is. He raised his eyebrows in a playful way, still teasing after everything they've been through this day. Sinuntok ni Bamby ang kanyang braso kaya siya’y napa-aray. He chuckled one last time before going back to mind his own business.
The ride was quiet.
🍎💢🍑💫🍈
Sa katahimikan, si Bamby ay nakapag-pahinga pa. Muling umikot sa kanyang isipan ang mga naganap sa loob ng jeepney. Oo, nakakaloka dahil minalas-malas siya sa ilang sitwasyon pero nabahiran din siya ng swerte kahit papaano dahil kay pogi na mabango at mabait.
Tanungin ko na ba siya? Inisip ni Bamby.
Matagal na niyang pinag iisipan yan habang nasa byahe. Naduduwag lang siya dahil hindi niya alam kung paano kakausapin ang isa at marami na namang mata ang lilingon sa kanya—he wished to deflect all those attention away.
Bagama’t may mga pasaherong bumaba sa jeep, nabawasan ng kaunti ang mga maaasim at mga spectator.
Shet, pano na? He closed his eyes.
Nervous, he carefully planned out what to say to not come off like a fool. Should I just ask for his name? Maybe ask about the school he's attending since it seemed that both of us go there. Or just wing everything and see how it'll go.
He still thought about it hard enough.
Though not long before he could make up his mind, a voice broke through the silence,
“Kuya, para po." The black haired boy called out.
Bamby's plans were suddenly brought to a halt. Oh no.
He wasn't expecting his abrupt departure but here they are.
The pink haired boy could only look with sorrow as the jeepney stopped to the other's destination. His eyes followed the boy as he quietly left the jeep, only leaving traces of the scent he had been long fond of.
It was… disappointing.
Disappointing because their meeting simply ended just like that. Disappointing because Bamby let his cowardice take the wheel. Disappointing because he didn't get to say what he wanted to say.
So, ganun-ganun lang?
He couldn't believe he really let that one go. Ang perpek na ni pogi, eh. Tinanong niya man lang sana ang pangalan niya o kung anong strand niya… pero hindi.
“Ouch, ayan ba yung sinabi nilang TOTGA?" Sabi bigla ni Eunho.
“Ano na naman pinagsasabi mo?" Bamby shot a glare at his side.
“Ikaw tas yung katabi mo.”
"Hah?” Bamby raised his eyebrows.
“Hatdog, sa tingin mo ba hindi ka halata?" Eunho shoved Bamby as he laughed, “kung makatingin ka sa kanya parang nakakita ka ng ginto."
Siniko ni Bamby ang braso niya pero hindi niya tinatanggi ang kanyang sinabi. Namula bigla ang mukha niya.
"Eh ano naman kung ganon? Hindi na ba ako pwedeng humanga? Mukha naman siyang… cool, eh.”
“Humanga? More than hanga na ginagawa mo, pre. Baka gusto mo na rin siyang halikan-"
Eunho got cut off by Bamby suddenly putting a hand on his face to stop him from finishing his sentence.
After Eunho shielded himself from his attacks, he laughed at the pink haired boy’s face,
“Ngayon na lang kita nakita uli na lovesick ng ganyan.” Eunho said, "Nung last, grade one pa tayo.”
"Sige, ilabas mo na lahat yan. Baka gusto mo na rin ilabas mga lihim mo dahil huling araw mo na ‘to, hayop ka.”
Eunho continued to laugh, prompting Bamby to scuffle his hair and push him around. They kept up with their banter until both of them got home.
It is upsetting that a moment like that set out to be the beginning of a new chapter ended so suddenly like a discontinued TV series.
Bamby was ready to face everything only to be met with the harsh reality that nothing is ever perfect as he wanted it to.
Maybe there'd be another chance? Baka matuloy ang kayang serye ngunit iba na ang gaganap sa kanyang kwento. Who's to say, maybe they'll meet once again? Though it's very unlikely.
Bamby didn't wish to entertain those thoughts any longer. Siguro nakatadhana na na isang beses lang sila magkita... at hindi na mauulit.
🍑💔
Saturday afternoon, Bamby had just gone to lunch with his friends and was going home to recharge.
He waited for a jeepney to arrive before boarding in. As he took his seat, he sighed.
Weekend na rin sa wakas; natapos niya rin ang mga assignments at mayroon na siyang simulan sa kanyang paparating na project. Makakapag pahinga pa siya at least.
Pinikit niya ang kanyang mata, nakasandal ang katawan sa may kutsyon ng jeep.
He tried to think of what to do after this. Maybe scroll on his phone? Work out those muscles a little bit? But his mind went back to something he'd been ignoring for the past few days.
That boy…
To be honest, Bamby had never stopped thinking about that moment from his jeepney ride with him. He thought he'd be able to get over it quickly—with one flick of his fingers, everything that happened that day would be erased. But, no.
May mga araw na hindi siya makapagtapos ng gawain dahil na-di-distract siya sa lalaki na iyon. Nakakalimutan ni Bamby bigla ang kanyang paligid kapag bumabalik si pogi sa kanyang isip.
In school, he'd sometimes look around to see a familiar face—maybe even a familiar scent. Umaasa na baka sakali matagpuan nila ang isa’t isa uli pero, sa kasamaang palad, wala siyang nahuli sa kanyang tingin.
He frowned at his thoughts. It was just a short meeting anyway so what's the point of bringing it up again?
He brushed it off and tried to shift his focus to what he would do once he got home.
Then it came back.
The scent.
It felt like a warm kiss on a tiring day. An embrace one had been yearning for.
It felt like it had been forever since he smelled it. He couldn't lie to himself by saying he didn't miss it.
He looked to his side to check. Tilting his head over but not too much as to not be obvious…
At ayun na nga siya. Itim na buhok, moreno, at mabango pa rin.
This time, iba ang style ng buhok niya. Instead of his hair piling up to the front, it was slicked back—with a strand perfectly down on his forehead. He looked even more unbelievably handsome. Iba rin ang suot niya ngayon.
The pink haired boy's heart races at the sight.
It was the same boy but the aura felt somewhat different.
There were no scorching hot suns pointed at them, there were no pungent smells around, and there were less passengers inside the jeep.
It felt close. Almost intimate.
And what boggled Bamby's mind the most was that the boy could've sat anywhere. He could've taken the vacant seats opposite of Bamby or at the farther end.
But he didn't. He chose to sit next to him the same as before.
Bamby didn't want it to get over his head. It could've been a coincidence. Baka hindi lang napansin ng isa na siya uli ang kanyang katabi—baka nga hindi pa siya naaalala.
Bamby didn't want to get his hopes up so he kept his feelings to himself. Casually sitting down like the situation wasn't setting off the love alarm on his head.
But then he felt a tap on his shoulder.
It couldn't be anyone else, no… Bamby turned his head.
“Sorry po sa abala pero nag-aaral po ba kayo sa Seonghwi Art High School?" The black haired boy asked.
His face wasn't the same nonchalant face Bamby saw last time. It was quite softer—and cuter—this time,
"Ay oo, senior high actually.” Bamby nervously chuckles, trying to mask the blush creeping up to his face.
"Ganun po? Namukhaan ko lang kasi kayo nung nakaraang araw sa campus."
“Ah talaga? Hindi ata kita nakita nun.” Bamby said, “Anong strand ka ba?"
“Grade ten pa lang po."
“Ah junior…”
Katahimikan ang sumunod sa kanilang maikling usapan. Hindi na alam ni Bamby kung paano niya pa itutuloy ang pag-uusap nila. He could try with some small talk, but he didn't like doing those—he hated it. He could compliment his outfit or hair. Maybe even ask for his perfume but then that would just be it.
Baka nga hanggang dito na lang talaga…
“Hamin Yu.”
Bamby gazed at him with surprise as the boy suddenly spoke, "Huh?”
"Pangalan ko.”
Bamby stuttered at his response. Unsure about how he'd take the situation at hand. Kahit na pinagplanuhan niya ang araw na ito siya'y nabigla sa mga pangyayari. Especially na hindi niya ineexpect na ang unang magpapakilala ay ang isa.
Pero tatanggi pa ba siya kung inihain na sa harap niya ang kanyang hinihiling?
"Bamby Chae.”
🍑🍈