Chapter Text
Another day, another kayod. Tirik na tirik yung araw sa labas pero ano pa bang magagawa nila? Kailangan na talaga nilang ayusin yung setup ng cameras and booth nila for the University Week. With the event nearing, the members of the University Student Government were in a bit of a panic, trying to finish everything before they got swamped with other responsibilities.
“Ang init, jusko…” Sheena, the youngest of the pack, complained habang nagbubuhat ng camera equipment. “Ayoko n-” Sheena jokingly slumped across the chair in front of her.
“Sheena.” Aiah, the USG President interrupted and looked at Sheena with a serious expression then nodded her head towards the remaining boxes of equipment Sheena needed to sort out. “Tapusin mo na. Ikaw nag-volunteer for that, so kasalanan mo rin.” Aiah added with sternness in her voice.
“Wow, strict yan?” Stacey, their PIO joked.
Aiah glared at her. “Ikaw ang Public Information Officer, pero si Sheena ang gumagawa. Inutos mo na naman ba sa bata?” The older girl questioned.
Behind them, nagtatawanan na ang ibang members kasi alam nilang wala na naman sa mood makipagbiruan ang President nila.
“Hoy!” Stacey protested. “Siya yung nagkusa ah! Di ko yan inutu-” She wasn’t even able to finish her sentence because Aiah already turned her back on her and looked at the other members who just got back from getting their lunch.
“Sus, inuto mo na naman yan si Shee, no?” Maloi jokingly said as she passed around the bento boxes she, along with Mikha and Colet, bought.
“Oo ate… Inuto po kasi ako,” Sheena suddenly said while pouting and clinging to her Ate Colet and Ate Maloi.
“Dapat di ka nagpapauto diyan kay Staku…” Colet warned while trying to suppress the giggle that was about to come out of her mouth. “At ikaw naman, paano mo napa-volunteer yan para gawin ang trabaho mo? Pahingi tips…” Colet joked.
“Anong tips?!” Aiah looked at Colet with a deadly glare.
Tinaas nalang ni Colet ang dalawang kamay para ipakita na suko na siya kasi ayaw na niya lalong painitin ang ulo ni Aiah, pero ang mga ibang kasama niya mukhang ayaw pa rin tumigil sa biruan.
“Kay Jho, Ate Colet… Di mo na kailangan ng tips.” Gwen, the ever-quiet treasurer of their USG butted in. Minsan lang humirit si Gwen kaya mas lalo silang natawa.
“True…” Mikha silently agreed, resulting in Aiah directing her annoyed stare at her. “Oh, why? It’s true naman talaga.” Mikha said like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Even if I don’t utos, tumutulong na agad yon si Jho…” She added.
Everyone agreed with what Mikha said kasi totoo nga naman talaga. Si Jhoanna ang Secretary nila kahit na second year palang. Noong first year palang si Jhoanna, siya na ang nanalong batch representative during the election. Seeing as to how dedicated, disciplined, and smart Jhoanna was, pinush na siya ng mga ate niya na mag-run for secretary this year kasi alam naman nilang kayang kaya niya.
Sa dami ng pros na meron kay Jhoanna, isang con lang ang meron siya according to her Ates. Ano yun?
Masyadong mabait.
Kahit hindi mo pa inuutusan, mago-offer na agad ng help. Kahit na sobrang dami ng tasks on her plate, she wouldn’t hesitate to give assistance para lang ma-lessen ang burden ng iba. Minsan, silang officers na ang nagagalit kasi ang ending ay lagi siyang pagod at nagkakasakit.
“So pwede ko tong iutos kay Ate Jho?” Sheena said while a menacing smile appeared on her face.
Na para bang may binabalak.
“No.” Aiah firmly said.
“Pero-”
“Shee, stop na…” Colet grabbed Sheena’s arm to stop her kasi alam niyang mang-aasar pa dapat si Shee.
“Speaking of, where is she na ba? She’s late ah…” Mikha asked while setting up the decorations for their booth.
“Pinabili ko ng drinks,” Gwen mindlessly answered.
Oh no.
“What?!” Aiah bit her lip, frustration evident on her face. “Ang init-init oh!” Her voice was slightly raised.
Ayan nga ba ang sinasabi nila. Nagkatinginan sina Colet at Maloi at napangiti nang patago.
Lagot na talaga.
Bago pa makapag-explain si Gwen, narinig na nilang may tumatakbo papalapit sa kanila. Pag-angat ng mga tingin nila, nakita nila si Jhoanna na may dala-dalang mga papers habang may hawak na isang plastic na puno ng softdrinks.
“Guys!” Jhoanna waved and smiled at them. “Ito na drinks niyo!” Malayo pa siya, pero kitang-kita na agad nila yung malaking ngiti niya kahit na may mga tumutulong pawis na mula sa kanyang noo.
After a few seconds, Jhoanna reached their area. “Hi! Sorry ang tagal ko,” Jhoanna apologized with a big pout. “Wala kasing Coke doon sa isang tindahan, kaya medyo napalayo ako…” The younger girl explained while handing out the drinks.
“Ate Aiah…” Jhoanna started.
“Hmm?”
“Sorry late ako,” Jhoanna looked at Aiah with a soft smile. “Bawi ako?” She tilted her head to the side and scrunched her nose a bit to fix the position of her glasses while still donning her smile.
“No need bumawi, Jho… It’s okay,” Aiah softly said.
“Ay? Bumait?” Stacey snickered.
Aiah, on the other hand, gave her a side eye.
“Sure po?” Jhoanna asked, biting her lip as she looked around to see if there was anything she could do to help.
“Ate Jho-” Sheena called.
“I said no, Shee.” Aiah closed her eyes and let out a huge exhale.
“Ayan, isa ka pa…” Maloi scolded the youngest.
Jhoanna, sensing a slightly tense atmosphere, focused her attention on the ground and started fidgeting with her hands. Suddenly, a slow and ragged breathing was heard around them.
“Jho?” Aiah carefully took Jhoanna’s hands and leveled herself to look at the younger girl who was keeping her head down.
Colet, who was like another Mother to them, quickly walked to where Jhoanna was standing and lifted her chin up. “Jho?” She repeated Aiah’s words.
Jhoanna looked up, slightly pale. Worried glances were shared around them as they all knew na baka ina-asthma attack na si Jho.
“Fan,” Mikha quickly stood up and gave her fan to Colet while Sheena stood up from where she was sitting and immediately offered her seat. “Jho, upo muna…” Colet guided Jhoanna, making Aiah lose her grip on Jhoanna’s hand.
Aiah slowly backed off and let the other girls tend to her.
“Ate, hingal lang po…” Jhoanna said shakily. “Nabigla po ata ako sa init and sa pagtakbo,” Jho explained while gripping the end of her shirt.
Aiah felt helpless. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin. She looked around and saw Maloi staring at her. Maloi looked at the water that was in her hand and sneakily passed it to Aiah. “Go na,” Maloi whispered while nodding her head towards Jhoanna.
“Colet,” Maloi called.
“Oh?” Colet answered, still not taking her eyes off Jhoanna.
“Colet,” Inulit lang ni Maloi.
Colet finally turned her head towards Maloi. Tatanungin na sana niya si Maloi kung bakit, pero agad na tumingin si Maloi kay Aiah at sa tubig na hawak-hawak ng President nila.
Gets.
“Tubig, Jho?” Colet asked Jhoanna. Tumango naman si Jhoanna kaya patagong tinulak ni Maloi si Aiah papalapit sa kanila.
“Here,” Aiah softly said while sitting down on the chair next to Jho. “Inom ka slowly, okay?” Aiah quickly removed the cap from the bottle and softly raised it towards Jhoanna’s lips.
“Ako na po,” Jhoanna shyly said, but her hands were still a bit shaky, so Aiah gently refused. “Jho, wag na makulit…” Aiah reprimanded but still smiled at Jhoanna.
Aiah carefully helped Jhoanna drink water, and while she looked at the younger girl, she couldn’t help but notice the two cute moles on the top of her lips. Smiling to herself, Aiah just continued looking at the soft features of their Secretary.
“Okay na?” Aiah asked.
“Yes po,” Jhoanna responded. “Thank you po,” She added.
Aiah could only nod and smile. Looking around, she noticed that everyone around them was already occupied and doing their own thing. Without a second thought, she removed Jhoanna’s glasses and brought out a pack of tissues from her bag.
“Ate-”
“Pawis na pawis ka oh,” Aiah said while dabbing Jhoanna’s forehead to remove any remnants of sweat from her face. “Yung nose mo rin, may pawis na…” Aiah poked her nose, earning a soft giggle from Jhoanna.
“Ate Aiah…” Jhoanna whined, embarrassment lacing her voice.
“Dito din oh… Around your upper lip,” Aiah took another tissue from the pack and dabbed it on Jhoanna’s upper lip area. Slowing her movements, she didn’t realize that she was touching the area where Jhoanna’s two moles were placed with her bare fingers.
Aiah, seemingly lost in a trance, completely forgot what she was doing and just admired Jhoanna’s face out in the open. “Cute ng moles mo,” Aiah whispered.
“Ah… Uh…” Jhoanna stuttered and bit her lip.
That action made Aiah close her eyes for a brief moment.
Lord…
Opening her eyes, she removed her hand from Jhoanna’s face and created some distance between them. “Cute nga,” She assured. “Ngayon ko lang kasi napansin,” Aiah admitted.
Jhoanna could only pout in response. “Ate…” She furrowed her brows and looked at Aiah. “Jino-joke mo lang ako eh,” Jhoanna challenged and squinted her eyes.
“Hindi ah!” Aiah laughed. “Cute talaga,” She added.
“Ikaw Ate ah!” Jhoanna sulked and crossed her arms. “Trip mo ko,” She pouted again.
“Oo.”
“Jho, sorry…” Gwen suddenly interrupted them. “Hindi ko naisip na sobrang init pala sa labas nung pinabili kita ng drinks,” Gwen added with sincerity.
“Gwenny!” Jhoanna abruptly stood up and hugged the taller girl. “Okay lang, no!” Jhoanna assured while still hugging a non-responsive Gwen.
“Ay,” Jhoanna disappointedly said. “Ayaw ako i-hug…” She pouted. “Di ko tatanggapin yang sorry mo, sige ka!” Jho threatened.
“Oh eto na nga,” Gwen quickly opened her arms and hugged Jhoanna. “Sorry na uli…” Gwen apologized again and wrapped her arms tighter around Jho. “Punta ka muna sa office natin, may aircon doon. Balik ka nalang mamaya, okay?” Gwen removed herself from Jhoanna and gently pushed the younger girl towards their office.
“Sure?” Jhoanna asked.
Gwen and Aiah nodded in response, but Jhoanna still asked everyone.
Hay nako.
“Go na, Jho…” Stacey answered. “You rest muna kasi,” Mikha added.
Jhoanna smiled and slung her arm around Mikha. “You care for me pala?” She teased.
“Kainis!” Mikha removed Jhoanna’s arm and rolled her eyes. “Go away na nga!” Mikha lightly pushed Jhoanna and turned around.
“Okay po! Balik ako later, promise!” Jhoanna grinned and waved them goodbye.
Aiah’s eyes followed Jhoanna until she knew she was already inside. She glanced at her friends and fellow officers, then assured herself. With everything that happened kanina, she thought na hindi lang naman siya. Lahat naman sila nag-alala, lahat naman sila maalaga sa sari-sariling paraan, at lahat sila may soft spot kay Jho.
Hindi lang siya.
While she was sitting by herself and reflecting, she felt someone sit on the chair beside her. “May napapansin ako,” Colet said.
“Te, ako rin…” Another voice from her right side appeared.
Mikha and Gwen giggled and stood in front of them.
“Ano yan? Ano yun?” Stacey and Sheena, obviously fishing for chika, popped their heads behind Gwen and asked, curiosity painted on their faces.
“You’re maalaga pala, Ate Aiah…” Mikha teased.
Everyone else had a knowing smile. They all knew what Mikha’s talking about.
“Huh?” Aiah said, acting clueless.
“Kay Ate Jho,” Sheena tried her luck and opted to be straightforward.
Aiah’s friends widened their eyes a bit at Sheena’s boldness, but quickly returned their attention to her. She noticed several eyes observing and waiting for an answer. Not wanting to give anything away or give a wrong impression, she just shrugged.
“Ah…” Aiah nodded and acted unbothered. “Syempre…” She looked at them like it was obvious. ”Bunso kasi,” she explained and quickly left to focus her attention on the decorations Mikha was fumbling with a while ago.
Maloi and Colet shared a glance then laughed. “Bunso…” Colet repeated the words and shook her head.
“Hala!” Sheena raised her voice. “Hindi ba ako yung bunso?” Sheena asked, confusion written all over her face.