Chapter 3

Kim ano na naman ba yang pinasukan mo? Kim thought to herself as she drove home after doing what must have been the stupidest thing she’s ever done in her entire life. “Naku, ang tanga tanga mo talaga,” she told herself out loud and cringed as the vision of her walking out from her friends kept rewinding before her eyes.
I need to get away for a while…I need time to think, she thought as she took out her cell phone and called her Mom at the hospital.
“Mom, I’m coming over in a few minutes. Bye!”
Her friends would be calling her anytime now, she was very sure of that so she immediately put off her cell phone after calling her mother. She needed to gather her thoughts and come up with a plausible and very convincing story to get out of the mess she herself had created.
When she arrived at their house, she just stowed away her school bag and then gathered the books, movies and toys she has bought to bring to the children in the cancer ward of the hospital. Without even changing clothes, she drove to the hospital where her mother worked as a nurse. Her mother was waiting for her at the entrance.
“Kim, what happened? You sounded so distraught over the phone,” her mother asked as soon as she saw Kim.
“Oh Mom,” she just broke down and cried in response to her mother’s question. Her mother quickly guided her towards the nurse’s quarters so Kim could cry in private. While waiting for Kim’s tears to subside, her mother rubbed her back and crooned soothing noises to her.
After all her tears were spent and she could finally speak coherently, Kim narrated to her mother the kiss between Gerald and Brenda that she witnessed.
“Mom, why does it hurt so much?” she asked her mother.
“That’s because you love him. Loving someone is never easy, you know.” Her mother replied before kissing her on the forehead.
“My baby has grown up already,” her mother smiled wistfully at her. “Before, you use to come running to me and cry over petty fights you had with your friends. But now, you come running to me about your love life.”
Kim looked at her mother in gratitude for she can see the sympathy in her eyes. Her mother was her most trusted confidant, the only one who knew about her real feelings for Gerald. She can tell her mother anything. Her relationship with her mother was based more on friendship than authority, making them very close to each other that some of her friend even envied her for it.
“You rest here for a while okay? There is food in my locker if you are hungry. Just go to the children’s ward if you are ready. I need to go now for my rounds.” Her mother stood up and left.
After a few minutes, Kim has calmed down and was ready to do some volunteer work. She grabbed the paper bag she brought and proceeded to the children’s ward.
“Hi Tita Alma,” Kim greeted the nurse, and her mother's good friend, who was standing by the door of the children's cancer ward.
“Kim, nandito ka pala. Wala ka bang pasok?”
“Tapos na po, at wala naman akong homework kaya naisipan kong pumunta dito.”
“That’s good. Sige, iwan na kita dito. Alam mo naman kung saan lahat ng mga kailangan mo, di ba?”
“Opo, Tita.” Kim replied and then went inside the room.
“Ate Kim!”
“Ate Ganda!”
Some of the children exclaimed when they saw Kim. All their little faces lit up when they saw her and it warmed her heart. Just making them smile was such a great accomplishment that she try to visit them when she has free time.
Those who were strong enough went down from their beds and ran towards Kim to hug her. She went to each children and took time listening to them. The children then asked her to read something to them so she took out one of the story books she brought and read to them aloud.
After the story reading, Kim saw some of them drooping in fatigue already so she told them to lie down on their beds as she put on the television and played one of the DVD cartoons she brought.
Towards the middle of the movie, her mother came into the room and told her that Gerald was on the phone, looking for her.
“Mom, please don’t tell him I’m here. Tell him you do not know where I am!” Kim informed her mother.
“But what if he will panic? He said he’s been calling you non-stop and your cell phone is off and nobody was answering at the house.” Her mother asked.
“Uhm…tell thim that… that maybe I had fallen asleep at the house. Just don’t tell him where I am yet. I am not ready to face them. Please Mom, maawa ka!”
“Ok then, if that’s what you want.” Her mother replied before stepping out of the ward.
While the children watched the movie, Kim was busy thinking of explanations and reasons to justify her dramatic walk out earlier. But the more she thought about reasons and explanations, the more she wanted to whack herself in the head. She knew now that she might get away with a little explanation and drama from the rest of their friends. But she knew it will never be enough for Gerald. “Hay naku, bahala na si Batman!” She blurted out loud, which made some of the kids near her giggle.As she waited for her mother’s shift to end, she spent her time helping the nurses give medicines to the kids and assisted them with their dinner. Then, she and her mother went home together.
“Ooopsies!” Kim muttered when she turned on their street and saw a lot of cars parked in front of their house. Gerald’s SUV was there, along with Melissa and Cathy’s cars.
Gerald was the first one to get out of the car when he recognized the oncoming car as Kim's. The others followed suit – Matt, Aldred, David, Melissa, Brenda, Cathy, Regine, Romeo and even Fred was there.
“Ano, kaya mo na bang harapin si Gerald?” Her Mom asked.
“Kayang kaya ko na po. I can handle this. I had ample time to think and to come to my senses.” She replied, causing her mother to laugh.
“Good evening po Tita,” Gerald called out to Kim’s mother when she stepped out of the car. The others greeted her too.
“Good evening sa inyong lahat.” Kim’s mother replied. “O sige, mag-usap muna kayo diyan ha?”
“Sige po. Thank you po Tita.” Gerald replied.
Kim gingerly got out of the car. She wanted to crawl into a hole and hide there because she never imagined that her little outburst would grow this big and involve the whole group. Now, the spotlight was focused on her and she did not like it one bit.
“Uy teka sandali, nakakahiya naman ito. Lahat kayo nandito. Ok lang ako, ano ba kayo. Di ba sabi ko na kanina, I’m okay.” She forced a laugh which no one believed at all.
“Kim, ang sasabihin ko sa yo….”
“Kim, let me explain!”
Gerald and Brenda spoke simultaneously.
“Hep teka!” Kim replied, raising her hand. “Wala kayong dapat i-explain. Kung kayo na talaga, hindi naman kayo dapat mag-explain kahit kanino eh, lalong lalo na sa akin!”
“What?”
“Ano?”
“Mag on si Gerald at Brenda?”
“Kelan lang yun?”
Came the simultaneous reaction from everyone around them.
“Bakit nyo tinago sa amin?” Romeo asked with matching pout and hands on his hips. “Wala ba kayong tiwala sa amin?”
“TEKA LANG! STOP! TIGIL!” Gerald shouted, causing everyone to keep quiet. “Kaya nga we are here to explain kung anong nakita ni Kim!”
Gerald explained to everyone what happened during basketball practice earlier and the kiss Kim witnessed. The others were a little sceptical but Matt confirmed Gerald’s story.
“Yes, I was there watching Gerald’s practice earlier. I know the winning team would get a prize, pero hindi sinabi muna kung ano ang prize.” Matt explained.
“Yung prize nga nila is kiss from the cheerleaders.” Brenda piped in. “Kinausap ni Coach Noel si Ms. Reyes, yung in-charge sa amin before the game. Eh, harmless naman yun at for fun lang naman, kaya ok lang sa amin lahat.”
“Kim, kung ayaw mong maniwala, gusto mo tawagin ko pa ang buong basketball team, cheerleading team at si Coach Noel to attest na totoo ito?”
Kim was speechless with mixed emotions: shame, disbelief, joy.
“Kaya Kim, please, huwag ka ng magalit, huwag ka nag magselos.” Gerald continued.
“Hoy, Gerald Randolph Anderson, ang kapal mo! Do you think I was angry at jealous dahil nakita ko kayong naghalikan ni Brenda? Hindi no!”
Oh Lord help, sana po huwag kumidlat kasi siguradong tatamaan ako, she thought to herself.
“Kayo talaga, touched naman ako sa concern ninyong lahat pero di ba, I told you na kaya ako nagmamadali kasi I’m late for my date with my Mom?”
“Magkasama kayo ni Tita all this time na hindi ka naming makontak?” Gerald asked.
She looked at Gerald because she heard the smile in his voice and saw a glint of mischief in his eyes. She nodded hesitantly. “Oo, magkasama kami.”
“Ahh…pero bakit nung tinawagan ko siya kanina sabi nya hindi daw kayo magkasama? Ilang beses ko pa nga siyang tinawagan.”
Naku patay! Huli ako. She thought silently. Lord, bakit hindi ko naalala na si Mommy ang ginawa kong excuse sa dramatic exit ko kanina? She cannot find a way out of the situation anymore so she just kept quiet.
“Uhm, guys, pwede bang mag-usap kami ni Kim na kaming dalawa lang?” Gerald asked their friends. They gave in to Gerald’s request but not before making sure that Kim was alright.
“Ok na ako, mga friends. Salamat talaga sa concern nyo sa akin. Nakakahiya sa inyo.” Kim remarked as she waved goodbye to them.
“Kim!” Brenda called from the car. “Sabi pala ni Michelle kailangan ka daw niyang makausap tomorrow. Urgent daw. Yan ang dapat na sasabihin ko sa iyo kanina.” Michelle was the president of the Commerce Department of their university, where Kim and most of them belong since they were taking commerce courses.
“Ah, ganun ba? Ok, salamat Brendz,” Kim called out to Brenda, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment. She should have let Brenda finish speaking earlier, then all of this would not have happened.
When all their friends have left, she turned towards Gerald. “Oh, ano na ang pag-uusapan natin?”
“Kim, I know you are lying.” Gerald said. “And you are a bad liar, you know that. Kaya sige na, aminin mo na nagselos ka at nagalit ka talaga sa akin!”
“Ang kapal mo talaga! Bakit ako magagalit at magseselos nga, hindi mo naman ako girlfriend para magkaroon ng karapatan para magselos at magalit dahil nakipaghalikan ka sa kung kani-kaninong babae!” She replied. Kasi nga best friend mo lang ako. She added silently.
“Nagseselos ka kasi nga nakita mo akong hinalikan ni Brenda. At alam mo si Brenda yun, kaibigan natin at hindi kung sino sino lang!”
“Sabi nga hindi ako nagseselos, ano ba! Ang kulit mo!” Her face was all scrunched up, nayayamot na.
“Kilala kita Kim, I’m very sure how your mind works. I can almost see the wheels turning and it’s projecting jealousy kasi akala mo may girlfriend na ako at hindi ko sinabi sa iyo. Di ba, tama ako? I am almost clairvoyant when it comes to you kaya huwag ka ng magdeny! The fact that you walked out sa barkada kanina at naging unreachable sa lahat for several hours were the ultimate proof na galit ka.”
“Hindi nga ako galit at hindi nga ako nagselos sabi eh!” Kim persistently denied.
“Sige, kumbinsihin mo ang sarili mo. Tatayo lang ako dito at hindi kita titigilan hangga’t hindi mo inaamin ang totoo!”
Kim heaved a great sigh, torn between denying to death or just admitting that she indeed got jealous and settle the matter before the night ends. After a few seconds she decided to admit the truth.
“Sige na nga, oo na, aminin ko na, nagselos talaga ako. Nasaktan ako kasi akala ko, may girlfriend ka na tapos hindi mo man lang ako sinabihan at pinakilala sa akin.”
“Woohoo! Sa wakas inamin din!” Gerald exclaimed, pounding his fist in the air. “Kim, I’m really sorry about what you witnessed but like I said, it was all part of the game. Nothing’s going on between Brenda and me. And I assure you, ikaw ang unang-unang makakaalam kung magkakaroon ako ng girlfriend.”
“Oo na, sige na, naniniwala na ako sa yo.”
“At pinapatawad mo na ako? Please, please? ” He pleaded with such an adorable expression on his face that Kim cannot help but smile and took a deep breath. Lord, bakit hindi ko talaga siya matitiis?
“Sige na, oo na, pinapatawad na kita!”
“Kim, thank you, thank you, that’s why I love you so,” Gerald said so casually while hugging Kim at the same time. Kim’s heart beat so fast. Oh my God, totoo ba yung narinig ko? Pero Kim, huwag mong isipin iyon. He just meant that he loves you as a friend, best friend, and nothing more. Huwag mong bigyan ng kulay ang sinabi nya.
“At hayaan mo sa susunod na practice, aalamin ko muna ang prize before motivating my teammates to win. Kasi kung kiss uli, magpapatalo na ako para hindi tayo mag away.”
“Sira ka talaga Ge,” Kim laughed and whacked Gerald in the stomach.
“Ano, okay na talaga tayo?” Gerald asked.
“Wala naman akong choice no! Kesa sa kulitin mo ako dito ng kulitin.”
“Okay, now that I’ve apologized, I think it’s your turn to ask for an apology.”
“My turn? And why is it my turn to apologize to you, aber?”
“One, for almost giving me a heart attack; two, for getting me into a fight with a wimp; and three, for lying to me!”
“WHAT?!?!” Kim asked, horrified. “Hoy Geraldo, ano ang ginawa mo? At bakit ako ang may kasalanan at ginawa mo yun lahat?
“Well, you seem to have a very short memory today, Ms. Chiu! So let me refresh it for you. Do you remember shouting to the world that you had the most beautiful day because Renz kissed you?”
“Hoy, exag ka ha! Hindi ko pinagsigawan yun no. Sinabi ko lang sa barkada!”
“Hah! Dami kayang nakarinig sa yo, isa na ako doon!”
“Ano? Narinig mo yun?” Oh my God! When will this day end? Kim silently asked.
Gerald then narrated to her the series of events that led to him being at the parking lot when she blurted the info.
“OO kaya muntik na din ako ma heart attack nung narinig ko yun. Pero I managed to squeeze out the truth from Villaruel at sinabi niya na accident lang yung kiss.” He finished but he couldn’t resist not pinching her nose.
“Naku! Ano ginawa mo kay Renz! At pano mo sya napaamin?”
“Sa akin na lang yun. Kaya alam na alam ko na nagseselos ka kaya mo ipinagyabang na nahalikan ka rin ni Renz! Tapos nagsinungaling ka sa akin nung hinanap kita sa Mommy mo at pinasabi mo sa kanya na wala ka doon.” He laughed.
“Kakainis ka! Bahala ka dyan sa buhay mo!” She stomped towards her house but Gerald grabbed her arms to stop her.
“Kim, ayan ka na naman eh! Ang dali mong mapikon. Sorry na please? Huwag ng magalit. Sorry na talaga. Uy, tatawa na yan?”
Kim refused to be charmed that easily, she turned her back to Gerald. Suddenly she screamed and couldn’t stop laughing when Gerald tickled her at sides.
“Ge, tama na…hahaha…” She raised her arm to beat him. But Gerald was ready, he reached for her armpits and tickled her there.
“Tama na…huwag…huwag diyan… tama na…GERALD!” She gasped trying to dislodge Gerald’s arm.
“Ok na, tama na, pinapatawad na kita uli!”