Chapter 24
It's our last day today, and this whole week has been exhausting. We've barely had any rest, constantly moving, fixing things, and making sure everything was in place. There wasn't a moment to sit still—we just kept roaming around, getting things done.
I spent most of the time filming them, capturing every little moment, following everyone wherever they went.
Watching them laugh, work, and sometimes even complain about how tired they were made everything feel more real.
It was tiring, yes, but it was also fun.
So much had happened in just a few days, and looking back, I knew these were the kinds of moments I wouldn’t forget.
Since we finally finished everything we needed to do, we decided to spend our last day relaxing. There was a swimming pool nearby, and we all agreed—it was exactly what we needed.
"Wala akong damit pang-ligo, hindi naman kasi nila sinabi nung nakaraan na maliligo pala. Sana nag dala ako," reklamo ni Cecilia habang nagliligpit ng damit niya.
I'm here in their room, just waiting around since I’ve already finished packing up my things. My body feels heavy, exhaustion settling deep into my bones. I can barely keep my eyes open—I haven't had enough sleep these past few days.
I've been up late editing our documentary, staring at my screen for hours, making sure everything was just right. The long nights and early mornings are finally catching up to me, and now, all I want to do is close my eyes, even just for a little while.
But for now, I just sit here, letting the quiet hum of their conversations fill the room, fighting the sleep threatening to pull me under.
"May panty ka pa diyan, Cel?" tanong ni Kinsley habang naghalungkat sa bag niya, halatang may hinahanap.
"Oo, bakit?" sagot ni Cecilia, nakakunot-noo habang inaayos ang mga damit niya.
"Pahiram nga ako, nawawala 'yung isa kong panty," sagot ni Kinsley, parang wala lang.
Napataas ang kilay ni Cecilia at agad na napaatras. "Kadiri ka! Pati panty hihiramin mo?"
"Ano naman?! Parang hindi tayo magkaibigan ah!" reklamo ni Kinsley, kunwaring nagtatampo habang tumatawid papunta kay Cecilia. "Isang beses lang naman! Isasauli ko rin naman pagkatapos!"
"Ew! Bakit ko ibibigay 'yung panty ko sayo?! Bili ka kaya ng bago!" sigaw ni Cecilia, agad na tinakpan ang bag niya.
Kailan pa kaya darating ang araw na kahit isang beses, hindi magtatalunan ang dalawa? Malabo pa ata sa malabo ‘yun.
It's already been an hour since they finished cleaning up, and I almost fell asleep in their room while waiting. Ang tagal nilang magligpit, at sa sobrang pagod ko, muntik na talaga akong makatulog.
Finally, we headed out, and by the time we reached the bus, halos lahat ng tao nasa loob na. The swimming pool was quite far from here, so we had no choice but to take the ride.
Pagkapasok namin sa sasakyan, I immediately noticed how crowded it was. Halos puno na ng mga estudyante, bawat upuan occupied na. My friends had already found their seats, but when I scanned the bus, I realized—wala na akong mauupuan.
I sighed, stepping further inside, my eyes searching for any available space. Napapailing na lang ako, thinking I might have to stand the entire ride. But then, as I walked towards the back, I spotted someone sitting alone.
Ms. Sanchez.
She was by the window, her expression unreadable as she stared outside. The seat beside her was empty.
"Can I sit beside you, Miss?" I asked, but Ms. Sanchez didn’t respond. She kept her gaze outside the window, as if she hadn’t heard me at all.
I sighed. Ano pa ba ine-expect ko rito? Of course, she wouldn’t care. I, then turned around to look for another seat. As I moved through the aisle, I spotted one last available seat beside Ms. Dizon. I was about to sit when I suddenly felt a hand wrap around my wrist.
Nagulat ako. Tumalikod ako agad—at si Ms. Sanchez ‘yon.
"Sit beside me." Her voice was calm, firm, as if it wasn’t up for debate. Then, just as quickly, she let go of my hand and turned her attention back to the window, as if nothing had happened.
I quietly sat beside her, settling into the seat. The bus was moving steadily now, the low hum of conversations filling the space. I turned to her with a playful grin.
"Akala ko ayaw mo?" I teased.
Without even looking at me, she replied, "Be quiet, Gomez."
I chuckled, but I knew better than to push my luck. If I annoyed her any further, baka maging dragon na naman siya nang wala sa oras. So, I leaned back, closed my eyes, and let the exhaustion take over.
I didn’t even notice when I fell asleep.
The next thing I knew, I was hearing voices—muffled, distant at first, then clearer. Students were already standing, gathering their things, and walking down the bus steps.
I blinked, still groggy. That’s when I realized something—my head was resting on something warm.
Slowly, I turned to the side, and my breath hitched.
I had fallen asleep on Ms. Sanchez’s shoulder.
Napatingin ako sa kanya, and to my surprise, she was already looking at me.
"Why didn't you wake me up, Miss?" I asked groggily habang kinukusot ang mga mata ko, trying to shake off the sleepiness.
Ms. Sanchez barely spared me a glance before standing up, her movements still composed, as if nothing happened. "You slept soundly. Like you haven’t gotten any proper rest for days."
"Well... I haven’t really been sleeping much lately," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "But thank you, Miss."
She didn’t respond right away. Saglit lang niya akong tiningnan bago siya naglakad pa-exit ng bus, her posture still as straight and confident as ever.
When I got down from the bus, I finally took in the place.
Ang ganda.
The swimming pool was huge, its clear blue water reflecting the bright afternoon sun.
The whole area was peaceful, surrounded by tall trees that swayed gently with the breeze.
Kami lang ang tao rito since we had rented the place for the day.
I could hear the students murmuring around me, their voices filled with excitement.
"Ang ganda rito!" "Ang laki ng pool!" "Grabe, ang fresh ng hangin!" Almost everyone was admiring the place, and I had to agree with them.
The atmosphere, the scenery—everything was just perfect.
It felt like the perfect way to unwind after such a long and exhausting week.
"Let's eat first, everyone," Ms. Martinez announced, catching everyone's attention. Agad kaming nagtipon sa isang malaking lamesa, where the food was already prepared.
Good thing may naihanda na kanina, so we didn’t have to wait long. The moment we sat down, halos lahat ay gutom na gutom, excited na kainin ang nakahain. Pero kahit may pagkain na, we still planned to cook more later—para mas madaming makain habang nag-eenjoy sa pool.
It was already 1 PM when we started eating. Laughter and conversations filled the air as we enjoyed our meal, sharing stories and jokes. Hindi namin namalayan ang oras, and before we knew it, it was already 2 PM.
"I think we deserve a drink," parinig ni Ms. Martinez kay Ate.
"Tama ka po, Ms. Martinez," sabat ng isa kong kaklase, clearly agreeing with the idea.
"Tama na 'yan, inuman na!" biglang kanta ng isa pa naming kaklase, making everyone laugh. The excitement was building up, and I could already see the mischievous grins spreading across their faces.
"Ehem," Ms. Martinez cleared her throat dramatically while looking at Ate, waiting for her response. Ate, on the other hand, just rolled her eyes.
"Fine." she finally gave in.
At doon na nagsimula ang hiyawan ng lahat, as if they had just won a battle. Some even started clapping like kids who just got their way.
Ms. Martinez wasted no time—umalis na agad siya para bumili ng inumin, while the others excitedly rushed to the pool. Halos lahat ay nag-uunahan pang lumusong sa tubig, their laughter and splashes filling the air.
Ako? Wala akong energy para maligo. I just sat at the side, watching them enjoy. The water looked inviting, but my body felt too drained to even think about swimming. So, for now, I stayed where I was, letting the sounds of their fun surround me as I simply took in the moment.
"Hoy! Ibaba niyo ‘ko, ayoko maligo!" hiyaw ni Cecilia, her voice filled with panic as she kicked her legs in protest.
Eliana and Kinsley, on the other hand, just laughed, ignoring her pleas as they carried her towards the pool. Wala talagang awa ang dalawang ‘to—walang ligtas pag gusto nilang mang-asar.
"Ang sasama talaga ng ugali niyo!" Cecilia whined, her voice almost breaking as she hit the water with a loud splash. The moment she resurfaced, she glared at the two who were now laughing uncontrollably, clutching their stomachs like they just pulled off the prank of the century.
Napailing na lang ako. Nakakapagod na nga ang mundo, mas pinapapagod pa nila.
I sighed and decided to take a shower and change. Hindi ko rin naman mahanap si Ms. Sanchez kanina pa, so I assumed she was also freshening up.
Almost half an hour later, I was done. I stepped out, feeling refreshed, my wet hair cascading down my shoulders. I was only wearing shorts and a bra on top. As I walked back to the pool area, I slowly noticed something—everyone was looking at me.
"Hottie natin ngayon ah," Kinsley murmured teasingly, her voice playful yet laced with amusement.
Ms. Martinez was finally back with the drinks, kaya nagsi-ahon na rin ang mga estudyante mula sa pool. The excitement doubled as they gathered around the table filled with different kinds of alcohol. Some were already opening bottles, while others were mixing drinks, eager to start the night.
My eyes wandered around the area, and that’s when I saw her—Ms. Sanchez. She was sitting beside Ms. Flores, arms crossed, her sharp gaze locked onto me.
Cecilia handed me a drink, kaya agad ko iyong kinuha at ininom. Matagal-tagal na rin mula noong huli akong uminom ng alak, and the familiar taste instantly hit my tongue. It was sweet, smooth, and just as good as I remembered.
My gaze flickered back to Ms. Sanchez. As expected, she wasn’t drinking. Instead, I saw her walking away from the crowd, heading towards the pool. She sat at the edge, dipping her feet into the water.
I stared at her for a moment, swirling the drink in my hand.
A smirk played on my lips. Since wala naman akong ginagawa… why not pikunin natin siya?
With that thought, I made my way toward her, my steps slow and deliberate. Pagkaupo ko sa tabi niya, I let the silence stretch between us, taking my time before finally speaking.
"You okay?" I asked as I sat beside her, my voice laced with curiosity.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she replied, her tone calm as she absentmindedly played with the water, her fingers creating small ripples on the surface.
I watched her for a moment before grinning. "Wanna swim?"
"No." matipid niyang sagot, but I noticed the slight hesitation in her voice.
She says she doesn’t want to, but her body says otherwise. The way her eyes lingered on the water, the way her feet gently kicked against it—it was obvious. She wanted to, but something was stopping her.
"You don’t know how to swim, right?" I said, teasingly.
That made her pause. Slowly, she turned to me, her brows slightly furrowing. I knew it. I chuckled.
Without another word, I stood up and jumped into the pool, the cool water immediately enveloping me. As I resurfaced, I stretched my hand out to her, an inviting smile on my lips.
"Jump, Miss. I’m here to guide you," I said, my voice laced with amusement as I stretched out my hand towards her.
She hesitated, shaking her head slightly before letting out a small sigh. She was about to stand up, but before she could back out, I reached for her arm and gently pulled her forward—straight into the water.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips before she fell in, splashing water everywhere.
"For goodness’ sake, Gomez!" she sputtered, her eyes squeezing shut as her arms instinctively wrapped around my shoulders.
That’s when I felt it—her warmth pressed against me, her curves molding perfectly against my body. My breath hitched, and I clenched my jaw. Gosh, please don’t make anything stupid, Sylvia.
"It’s okay, Miss. Open your eyes," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the way my heart was pounding against my ribs.
Slowly, hesitantly, she opened them. Our faces were so close that I could see every detail—her slightly furrowed brows, the droplets of water clinging to her lashes.
I smiled.
She seemed to realize how tightly she was holding onto me, and just as she was about to pull away, she froze. Right. She couldn’t swim.
"Subukan mong bumitaw, ikaw din naman ang malulunod," I teased, my arms tightening around her waist just a little.
She rolled her eyes, but I didn’t miss the way her grip on me stayed firm.
"I don’t want to swim anymore, Gomez. Put me back up," she said, her voice as sharp as ever, but there was an edge of nervousness to it.
"I don’t want to, Miss. Kiss muna." I grinned, half-joking.
She gasped before splashing water straight into my face, making me cough and nearly lose my balance.
"Stop it, Miss! Pag talaga ako nalunod, madadamay ka!" I warned, half-laughing, half-drowning.
She stilled instantly. Takot pala ‘to malunod eh.
"Put me back now, Gomez." She huffed, her breath warm against my wet skin.
I tilted my head, my grip firm as I pulled her even closer.
"What if I don’t want to? I like holding you this way, Miss." My voice was softer now, more serious. I could feel her heartbeat against mine, the way her legs instinctively wrapped around me for support.
For a moment, she just stared at me, her usual cold expression faltering.
"I hate you. I really do," she muttered.
I chuckled. "I like you so much."
She didn’t answer. She just gave me that same unreadable stare. Slowly, I walked towards the pool’s edge, my arms still securely wrapped around her.
"You can let go now, Miss. Or would you rather stay in this position?" I smirked, raising a teasing brow. In an instant, she pushed away from me, and scrambled to the edge of the pool. She's really adorable.
Umahon na rin ako at bumalik sa upuan ko, pilit na tinutuyo ang buhok gamit ang kamay. I was about to take another sip from my drink when Cecilia leaned closer, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"What's that? May pa-ganon na kayo ha," she teased, nudging my arm. And I didn't notice that most of the students were looking at us earlier. But I don't care.
"Karaoke tayo guys!"
The energy instantly shifted as everyone cheered in agreement. Agad nilang inayos ang karaoke machine at nagsimulang pumili ng kanta. The first song played, and just like that, the peaceful noon turned into a full-on party.
I just sat back, sipping my drink, watching my classmates turn what was supposed to be a casual karaoke session into a chaotic mini-concert. May sumisigaw na akala mo nasa gig, may sumasayaw na parang nasa club, at may ilang mukhang seryosong nilalamon ng kanta.
Napailing ako. Karaoke pa ba 'to o disco?
Narinig ko ang boses ni Ms. Martinez sa gilid namin na katabi si Ate at mukhang sinusuyo ito. Mukhang may pinag-awayan nanaman.
"An? GusTo nG bEbekO?!" tanong nito kay Ate, na agad namang napatingin sa kanya nang masama.
"LiMa??" dagdag pa ni Ms. Martinez.
"Limaa?" ulit niya, mas malambing pa ang tono.
Bigla na lang siyang napakanta, pero imbes na normal na lyrics, parang alien language ang lumabas sa bibig niya—
"W?MaNGJing xAngXori SeemXaM Xam~"
Nagkasalubong na ang kilay ni Ate, halatang wala na siyang pasensya sa kalokohan nito.
"Naka-hit ka ba?" seryosong tanong ni Ate, sabay singkit ng mata.
Ms. Martinez dramatically clutched her chest. "Luh, grabe ka. Ayoko na sa’yo, masakit ka rito oh." tinuro pa nito ang kanang bahagi ng dibdib niya, kunwari’y nasaktan.
Hindi na napigilan ni Ate ang sarili at napailing. "Your heart is on the left, dumbass."
Pinanood ko lang sila habang umiinom, napapaisip. Hmm. May something nga kaya sila? Pero imposible, Ate is straight.
Or at least, that’s what I thought. But who knows? Baka bendable rin pala siya.
"Sylvia, kantahan mo naman kami!" sigaw ng kaklase kong may hawak ng mic, kaya nagulat ako. Tuloy, lahat ng tao rito ay napatingin sa akin—including Ms. Sanchez, who was sitting with Ms. Dizon and Ms. Flores at the other table.
"I don't know any songs," sagot ko, trying to make an excuse. Wala ako sa mood kumanta.
"Dali na! Kakanta na 'yan!" pilit pa ng kaklase ko. Now, everyone was cheering for me to sing. I sighed heavily, realizing I had no choice.
I picked a song—not because I was a fan of it, but because it was one of the few I actually knew. And maybe, just maybe, I could relate to it right now.
"Love you na agad!" sigaw ng isa kong kaklaseng babae. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang kanta, pero ang ingay na nila.
With a deep breath, I began, my voice smooth and steady.
"There I was, an empty piece of a shell
Just mindin' my own world
Without even knowin' what love and life were all about"
I smiled as I sang, my voice warm. My classmates swayed along, some whispering excitedly, but I didn’t care. My attention was locked onto Ms. Sanchez—graceful, poised, and as beautiful as ever.
"Then you came
You brought me out of the shell
You gave the world to me
And before I knew
There I was, so in love with you"
My eyes never left hers. Every lyric, every note was meant for her and only her. The moment I met her, my world changed. She wasn’t just another person—she was the person. The one who made love real to me.
I sang softly, letting the melody wrap around me.
"You gave me a reason for my being
And I love what I'm feelin'
You gave me a meaning to my life
Yes, I've gone beyond existing
And it all began when I met you"
I hummed under my breath, lost in the memory. It really did begin the day I met her. That was the day I knew what it felt like to admire someone so deeply, to fall so hard without even trying.
I let my voice dip, carrying the next line with tenderness.
"I love the touch of your hair
And when I look in your eyes
I just know, I know I'm on to something good"
I breathed in, steadying my voice as I thought of her. Gosh, I adored everything about her. The way she carried herself, the way she spoke, the way her hair fell effortlessly in place. Everything about her was mesmerizing.
I closed my eyes briefly, pouring emotion into the words.
"And I'm sure my love for you will endure
Your love will light up my world
And take all my cares away with the aching part of me"
I let the lyrics settle in my heart before continuing. The words flowed so naturally, as if they had been written just for her. Because if love had a definition, it would be her.
I held the microphone a little tighter, my voice unwavering.
"You gave me a reason for my being
And I love what I'm feelin'
You gave me a meaning to my life
Yes, I've gone beyond existing
And it all began when I met you"
I held the last note, letting it linger in the air. The cheers exploded around me, hands clapping, voices calling out my name.
"Galing talaga ng bebe namin na 'yan! Halatang may pinopormahan." sabi ni Kinsley sa tabi ko.
"Iba talaga pag in-love 'yung isang tao 'no." dagdag pa ni Cecilia sa aking tabi.
Actually, I'm not nervous about singing in front of many people, but knowing that Ms. Sanchez was watching me earlier made me nervous.