THORNS ALL OVER THE STEM (SHS Trans Series 1)

Chapter 7

"I insist, there's no need for that. I don't want to raise a petty issue here in school."

Hindi ko alam kong hindi ba marunong umintindi itong taong 'to o ano. I'm still arguing to him at wala
akong balak na sumuko hanggat hindi niya tinatanggap ang gusto kong mangyari.

Actually, I should be thanking him, Prof. Alvarez. Dahil kung hindi sa kanya, baka kung ano na iyong
nangyari sa akin dahil sa napaka-bastos na estudyanteng iyon!

I could still recall of what had happened earlier.

"And what's going on here?" A voice from somewhere cut me. At nang nilingon iyon ng lalaking may
hawak sa akin, mas mabilis pa sa segundo ang pagbitaw nito sa aking kamay.

“What’s happening, Vasquejo?” He was raising a brow at me. Hindi ako makapag-salita.

"Uh-uhm..." The guy can't grasp a word either. Tsk.

"I've actually saw what you've did to my student, kid." Prof. Alvarez said to the guy who'd held my hand.
"You three, go to the guidance office right now." He sternly commanded to the guys.

And just like a little puppies, these three guys did nothing to do but to succumb to what Prof. Alvarez
said. Tila naging masunurin nga ang mga ito at sabay sabay na naglakad. And I'm too informed enough
kung saan sila tutungo, guidance office.

"Ikaw rin, sumunod ka sa'kin." Salita ni Prof. Alvarez sa akin. I stood straight.

"Ayoko nang palakihin ito. So, there's no need to take those guys in the guidance office. I also don't have
plans to raise complaints to those guys, it will just drain myself. "
I snapped back in the present when Prof. Alvarez spoke. "Funny how you don't want to raise such petty
issue, when it was the first thing you have accused to me back then, remember?"

It made me stunned. Hindi pa ba niya iyon nakakalimutan? "W-what I am saying is that those three were
varsities here in school. Ang bilis kumalat ng mga usap-usapan dito. And the least thing that I want here
in school is to be the subject of gossips."

Partly that was true, but the real reason kung bakit ayaw kong ipaabot ito sa Guidance office, dahil alam
kong aabot at aabot ito kay Mommy. I don't want to be a distraction to my mom.

And when I said distraction, it means I don't want to get involve to any of the students here in school in
a negative note. Not because for myself, but for Mommy. Kasi alam na alam ko kung ano ang sasabihin
niya. Na naman.

"Are you even listening to what you were saying. You're the victim—"

"That's right. I am the victim. I hold the decision kung ipapaabot ko pa ba ito sa Guidance office o hindi.
And in my case, ayoko na." I stubbornly stated. "Ayoko ng gulo. Ayoko ng ingay. 'Yun lang. So, please for
the last time, mind your own business, huwag ka nang maki-alam."

For a second, it made him appalled. Now, I'm starting to think if I am being harsh to my words towards
him. Geez, he's my Professor!

"Thank you for your concern though.” I still acknowledged him. I mean he helped me out with that rude
punk.

“I appreciate it. It's just that, there's no need to cause a further ruckus." I pointed my final stand. "Hope
you understand me, Prof. Alvarez." 'Yun lang at lumisan na ako palayo sa kanya. My heart was racing a
little. Was I mean?

"Can we change our topic? I really don't want to talk anything related to him." Medyo naiirita kong ani
kay Bobbie.
"Luh, problema mo? Red days mo, sis?"

"I don't really want to talk about that person. Kaya nga nandito tayo eh, dahil..."

Dahil ano nga ba? Gosh! I don't want to talk about it anymore! Nasa sa isang Bistro kami ngayon ni
Bobbie, iyong tinutukoy niya sa akin kanina sa room. Totoo ngang malapit lang ito sa school. Karamihan
din sa mga costumers dito ay mga kapwa rin namin estudyante, others are from different schools.

Right after I walked out the scene earlier, pinuntahan ko na lang si Bobbie sa room para sabay na kaming
magpuntang canteen. But when we're about to enter to the canteen, nakita ko sa isang table si Prof.
Alvarez with his co-teachers, eating.

I don’t even know kung bakit parang sa lagay na iyon ay umiiwas ako. Basta ang alam ko lang, I don’t
want him to have a chance to insert about the incident kanina! He was kinda persistent on making those
guys be reported to the guidance office. I’m grateful, but that was really unnecessary. At least for me.

That's why I refused to proceed to the canteen. The least thing I want as of the moment is to be engage
to a conversation about those arrogant guys and talked about what happened, and to face that feeling
mighty prof of us. I cannot.

Kaya't nandirito kami ngayon ni Bobbie. At hindi ko na nga nakayanan dahil kung ano naman iyong
ginawa ko para lang maka-iwas sa propesor naming iyon, iyon naman ang ikinadaldal ni Bobbie at
ginawang topic pa iyong propersor.

"Dahil?" Tanong ni Bobbie nang hindi ko matuloy iyong sasabihin ko.

"Nevermind. Can we just not talk about any guys, especially Prof. Alvarez? Why don't we just focus on
our foods na lang?"

"Arte mo." Bobbie snapped. "Okay since you don't want to talk about Prof. Alvarez..." Bobbie trailed, he
leaned over the table at pabulong na nagsalita. "Bakit hindi na lang iyong dalawang lalaki sa kabilang
table ang pag-usapan natin?"
"Dalawang lalaki?" I was about to turn my head to which 'two guys' Bobbie's pertaining to, pero hindi ko
nagawa dahil sinapa niya ang paa ko sa ilalim ng lamesa.

"Oh, titingnan pa, 'de nahalata tayo niyan!" Medyo mahinang saway ni Bobbie at mabilis na bumalik sa
iniinom niyang iced coffee.

Pinanlisikan ko na lamang siya ng mga mata at bumalik na sa kinakain. Ang sabi ko not talk about any
guys. Bobbie really needs fixing.

But rather than thinking of what have happened earlier and being weirded out by Bobbie's silliness, I’ll
be enjoying and try to full myself with my pasta instead.

Tapos na akong kumain. I was already wiping my lips with my handkerchief nang biglang yumukod si
Bobbie sa akin at may ibinulong. "Sis umayos ka, pupunta ata sa table natin 'yun lalake oh. Basta sa'kin
'tong lalapit ah. Sa'yo 'yung nasa sa may table pa nila."

My brows met, lilingon na sana ako sa likuran ko nang matigil ako dahil bago ko pa man magawa, may
lalaki nang nakatayo sa may table namin.

"Uhm, hi..." salita niyong lalaki. Nakapang-Archi siya na uniform, and if I'm not mistaken, it's a uniform
of Archi students in UST.

I looked at Bobbie's side nang magsalita ito. "Yes?" Tila dalagang pilipina kung ito'y makangiti. I fought
the urge to roll my eyes.

"Madalas kayo rito?" Tanong no'ng lalaki.

"Uhm no, actually first-time pa lang namin magpunta rito."

"I see, ngayon ko pa lang din kasi kayo nakita dito eh." Sabi ng lalaki, scratching the back of his head.
"Oh, by the way, I'm Steven, from UST."
"Wow, Archi ka rin ba? May pinsan din kasi akong Archi from UST din, parehas kasi kayo ng uniform."
Pakikipag-usap pa ni Bobbie.

"Yeah, second year archi student. Ano ba name ng pinsan mo, baka kilala ko?"

"Miles Gue—"

"Uh sorry," Pagpuputol ni Steven kay Bobbie. "Won't you mind if do'n tayo sa table namin mag-usap? It
seems like there's no vacant seat for me in here." The guy said, acting shy.

There will be no vacant seat na talaga dahil nasa sa two-seated table lang kami ni Bobbie naka-puwesto.
"I also have a friend there; it would be nice to be friend with you." This Steven guy said, as much as I'm
not fond of judging people, his words are such a give-away na parang hindi lang pakikipag-kaibigan ang
intention nito. Tsk.

Lumingon ako sa itinuturo ni Steven at nakita iyong tinutukoy niyang kaibigan, nakapang-Archi uniform
din. Kaya pala iniimbeta niya kami sa table nila kasi nakapwesto sila sa four-seated table.

"Of course, it would be also nice to be friend with some UST guys—"

"Uhm Bobs, mag-o-one na oh, let's go back to school na kaya?" Pagpuputol ko kay Bobbie. This person!
Basta-basta makikiupo na lang sa ibang mesa as if wala kaming sariling pwesto, 'tsaka ni hindi pa nga
niya napapakilala sarili niya!

"What? 12:30 pa lang sis oh." Tila mahinhin nitong sabi.

"Kaya nga mag-o-one na diba kasi 12:30 pa lang?" I smiled, but behind that was my eyes conveying
another message. "Balik na tayong school, baka ma-late pa tayo." Sabi ko at tumayo na.

"What? Ano—"

"Uhm sorry Steven ha," I faced the guy. "We have to go to our school na, baka mahuli pa kasi kami eh."
Steven suddenly looked at me awkwardly. "Uh a-ayos lang." He hesitantly said. "But can I at least get
your friend’s IG’s or Fb's?"

"Oh, it’s itsyour—"

"Ay sorry, Bobs do not use social media. Actually, we don't use social medias..." Pagpuputol ko kay
Bobbie. Really, sometimes naiirita rin ako kay Bobbie. Ang clear naman kasi ng motibo nitong Steven na
ito eh! “You know, the toxicity and the likes.”

"Uhm numbers, perhaps?" Steven asked instead.

"Sure, mine is 098—"

"I think it would be useless, hindi rin kasi kami nagpapaload eh." Putol ko na naman sa biglaang salita ni
Bobbie. This specie is really something!

"O-kay..." Tila nahihiya nang saad ni Steven. "Can I just at least know your names?"

"I'm Avi. Nice meeting you, bye alis na kami. Halika na Bobs!" Agad akong lumapit kay Bobbie at hinila
para umalis na sana kami.

"Teka lang sis, di pa 'ko nakapag-papakilala eh." Maarteng saad ni Bobbie. My god!

"How about your friend?" Tanong naman ni Steven.

"My name is Bo—"

"Bartolome pangalan niya. Sige alis na kami!" I impulsively cut Bobbie off at tuluyan na ngang hinila
paalis.
Nang nasa puwesto na kami no'ng sinasabing table ni Steven, biglang tumayo iyong kaibigan niya. I don't
know if he was expecting na tinanggap namin 'yong offer ni Steven because he tends to offer his hand to
me.

"Hi, I'm Drake," preskong pakilala nito. I forced a smile.

"Yeah, friend ka ni Steven, right?" I said, not accepting his hand. "Sorry, kailangan na naming umalis baka
kasi ma-late kami. Bye, nice meeting you." 'Yun lang ang sabi ko at hindi na hinayaang makapagsalita pa
si Bobbie. I dragged Bobbie again, leaving the Drake guy dumbfounded. Psh. College guys, really.

"Bobs, hintay naman!"

"Ewan ko sayo, Ressia Avi!" Nagtatampong saad ni Bobbie nang binitawan ko na siya, nandirito na
kaming school.

Nang makalabas kami ng Bistro at hanggang sa paglalakad namin pabalik ng school dahil walking
distance lang naman din iyon, hindi niya talaga ako pinapansin.

"Eh akala ko ba may ka-chat ka? And yet you're giving your number and such to other guy?" I said, trying
to give a stand. Though that was not really my reason as to why I did that, it's just really bothering how
guys approach you with such evident agenda. Yes, kay Bobbie lang naman, but he also got a friend daw,
and I know where would it lead into. And gosh, I totally got harassed kanina with an arrogant guy, tapos
makikipag-barge in kami sa ibang guys naman na halata ang motif? It would make me a hypocrite!

"Gagang bobita 'to oh! 'Di porke may ka-chat akong lalaki 'di na pwedeng makipag-chat pa sa iba. Parang
lotto lang 'yan sis. More entries, more chances of winning, ganun!"

"Just forget about those guys. 'Tsaka you know naman kung anong nangyari sa akin kanina diba? It
pisses me off to see guys having that same agenda deep down in their words." I stated matter of fact.

"Sis, cinat-call ka kanina, ang ganda nung approach nung guy eh. Parang sinayang mo lottery ticket ko,
tsaka 'yung about sa pangalan ko gaga ka!" Lumapit siya sa akin at may kalakasang hinila ang buhok ko.

"Ouch! Bobbie ang sadista mo!" Hinihimas ko ang anit ko dahil sa pagsabunot niya. This specie, really!
"Dapat lang 'yan sa'yo noh! Gaga neto, ipangalandakan ba naman 'yong mabantot kong pangalan sa
Steven na 'yun. Nakakasira ng bangs 'yong Bartolome, shuta ka!"

"Ang arte mo," saad ko na siyang naging dahilan upang panlisikan pa ako ng mata ni Bobbie. "I mean,
you should be grateful at least pinangalanan ka pa ni Tita Vergie at may pagkakakilanlan ka pa dito sa
mundong ibabaw."

"Wow, kaso wala sa mundong ibabaw ang pride ko para ipangalandakan mong Bartolome pangalan ko.
Sa susunod na gawin mo 'yun ulit, ikaw na mawawalan ng pagkakakilanlan dito sa mundong ibabaw."
Bobbie threatened, mimicking me.

"Okay fine, sorry na. That would be the last time it'll happen; I was just in rush kaya na spill ko tunay
mong pangalan."

Partly that was not true. I mean, it's not really my intention to make Bobbie upset to me, I just couldn't
find a way to make that Steven guy stop. Though I know na wala namang barring iyong pangalan ni
Bobbie na Bartolome because I just know how Bobbie can wrap guys around his finger, but who would
have thought that the mere mentioning of Bobbie's real name has taken aback that Steven guy's
agenda. However, that was really so rude of me towards my bestfriend, that's why hindi ko na talaga
uulitin 'yun!

"Dapat lang noh! Naku makikita mo 'pag inulit mo pa 'yun, Ressia Avi!" Bobbie said.

"Okay! Di na nga mauulit diba?" Pangako kong muli. "Tara na baka ma-late pa tayo."

Hinila ko na ang braso ni Bobbie para makapagpatuloy na kami ng paglalakad ng hallway papuntang
school.

"Ay no! Ano akala mo gano'n-gano'n lang?" Pag-aagaw ni Bobbie ng kanyang braso. "No, no, no, Ressia
Avi. Alam mong forbidden 'yong pagbanggit ng mabantot kong pangalan."

"Yeah, kaya nga hindi na mauulit diba kasi forbidden nga ika mo." I said, trying to not be annoyed 'cause
I know that it was my fault.
"Hindi ko kailangan ng mga words lang sis!" Bobbie said. "And because you have wronged me, might as
well take it as my advantage, right?"

"What do you mean?" I asked. I fought the urged to point out how exaggerated his words saying I've
wronged him.

"Diba you know naman na if ever may isa sa 'ting nagkasala, one has to make it up towards the person?"
Bobbie asked.

"Okay..." I trailed off. Though siya lang naman talaga iyong nag-implement ng bagay na iyon. Like sa
dami at lala ng mga kalokohan sa’kin ni Bobbie, kailan pa ba siya nag-make up with me. I doubt not even
once.

"I just remembered na diba may possible quiz tayo kay Prof. Alvarez sa Basic Cal bukas, right?" Ngiting
aso nitong tanong. My brows met.

"And?"

"Hindi naman kalabisan na if ever kung meron nga, pakopyahin mo ako ah? Hindi ko kasi talaga na-gets
lesson niya kahapon sis." Bobbie said, acting like a cute puppy.

"What? That's cheating, Bobs!"

"Ang exxage mo naman! Quiz lang naman sis hindi recit or exam!" Bobbie argued.

"It's still cheating Bobs." I firmly said.

"May atraso ka..." Pagpapaalala ni Bobbie. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. He just raised a brow at me.
Gosh! This specie, really!
I was just looking at him. Tinitimbang kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin. I know that it's just a quiz, mga
iba ko ngang classmates bulgar at harap-harapang nagpapasahan ng kani-kaniyang answers. But it's
kinda different pala if there's a possibility na mai-involve ka na sa gawaing iyon. Never in my life I cheat
nor do such things correlated with dishonesty. I'm always striving playing the games fair and square.
Argh! Bahala na nga!

"Fine!" Pagsuko ko. Ngumisi naman si Bobbie. "Pero ngayon lang ah, and if ever na walang pa-quiz bukas
si prof, that deal will be called-off na ha?"

"Ano 'to load? May expiration date?" Bobbie asked.

I grinned. "Exactly."

"Exactly what, Vasquejo?" I heared a voice from my behind. Tila nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Bobbie.

I turned around to see kung sino iyong nagsalita. And just what I expected, it was...

"Uhm, wala po Prof. Alvarez." I said in a monotone. Is this some sort of deja vu?

"Uh-huh? I thought I heard about cheating or something?" Prof. Alvarez probed.

Bobbie faked a laugh. "Ah, baka iyong about po sa Tatay ng kaibigan po namin sir. Nangaliwa raw po kasi
kayo ayon, hiniwalayan ng asawa."

I bit my lower lip. Ang galing talaga nitong si Bobbie when it comes to excuses and making stories!

The latter raised a brow and looked at me. Why at me?! "Was that true Vasquejo?"

"Uhm... I suppose, sir?” He looked at me suspiciously. What’s with him? “However, that is a very
personal matter of our friend. And I feel like there's no need to talk about it to you na po." I tried to
sound respectful as much as I could but I felt like I sound provoking. Did I misuse my words talking to
him again? Or was it just really my tone?
"Okay…" Prof. Alvarez arrogantly nodded. "Just want to remind the both of you that I do not tolerate
cheating. Mapa sa aspeto man ng pag-aaral o sa buhay. Hope you do the same, Vilandro, Vasquejo." I
gulped when he said my surname in another level of ruthlessness. 'Yun lang at linampasan na niya kami,
pupunta na ata siya sa room ng klase niya ngayon.

"May galit ba si Prof. Alvarez sa'yo?" Bobbie said, snaking his arm onto my right arm.

Lumingon ako sa kanya na kunot ang noo. "I don't know. Tingin mo meron ba?"