Something Tells Me This Is It |
by Catherine San Miguel |
The bright red letters on the shiny apple green cover caught my eye as I was going through the cassette tapes on the shelf. Original Pilipino Music Love Songs. I couldn't resist playing the tape on my newly bought Sony CD Radio Cassette Recorder. "Every time I see you I melt like ice cream that's left under the sun." The familiar words of the song "Pers Lab" (first love spelled in Tagalog) brought me back to my last year in Garcia High. Mark Santos hunched his shoulders as he stood in front of the class with Ricky Ramos, Jose Chan, Tony Diaz and Beth Gonzales. Mark had always felt awkward with his lanky figure. He stood there like an overgrown kid wearing that plain white shirt which seemed two sizes smaller on him. He was reading the part of Bassanio in the Merchant of Venice. The words of Shakespeare came out from his mouth as if he wrote them himself. I sat on the front row mesmerized by his soft-spoken words. At that moment, I imagined that I was Portia as he occasionally glanced at me while he read from the book. After class, my best friend Emma and I walked home. I usually rode a jeepney in the mornings, but in the afternoons, I would walk home with Emma. She didn't get allowance for jeepney rides. Although I did have money for my own fare, I always chose to take the long walks with her. As we walked leisurely that afternoon, we noticed Mark trailing a bunch of first year students behind us. "He couldn't be walking from school all the way to his house," Emma said in a low voice. "He lives in town." "Maybe he's running an errand," I said. "I think he's following us," Emma muttered. "He's following you. He likes you, Isabel. I saw the way he looked at you in English class today. He pulled me aside in the library and asked me where you live. I warned him that your parents are strict." Suddenly, I felt the tight grip of Emma's skinny hand on my arm. "What are you doing?" My voice shrilled as she pulled me to the side of Joey's Convenience Store. "Shh, not too loud," she whispered. "He'll hear us. Let's lose him." We entered this labyrinth of alleys and pathways between houses that were behind the two apartment buildings on Gomez Street. "Emma, wait!" I tried to catch my breath. "My shoe strap got unbuttoned." My companion just ignored me and continued running. I followed her with my left shoe flapping under my foot. We ended up in Mrs. Gimena's backyard and hid behind the starched cotton sheets and blankets spread on the clothesline. We peeked and saw Mark coming through the front of the house. He looked so confused. A brown Doberman, tied on a leash by the front gate, started to growl. Mark hurriedly took off. Emma and I tried to hold back our giggles. In English class the next day, I saw Mark coming towards me. I immediately looked down, for I wanted to avoid his eyes. He brushed against my chair and went to his seat at the back. I noticed the small piece of neatly folded paper that he left on my desk. I carefully opened it and read his tiny neat handwriting. "Can I walk you home today?" it said. I leaned over to my right and showed Emma the note. "So, do you like him?" Emma asked me, flickering her long eyelashes. "Well, I, um," I stuttered. "Well, you know, he's too tall for me. But he seems to be a very nice fellow." "Just be careful," Emma said thoughtfully. "You know his reputation. He's a skirt chaser." After English class, the girls headed to the Home Economics room. We were writing our final exams that day. I took my seat next to the door and quickly browsed my notes one more time while waiting for Miss Loreto. When I looked up, I saw Mark sitting in an empty room from across the hall. He was facing me and reading a book. I noticed how he stole quick glances of me. How could I concentrate on the test when I knew that he would be staring at me? Miss Loreto entered the room and began handing out the test booklets. I started to get uneasy. I asked Emma, who was sitting next to me, if we could switch places. "Please," I begged her. She agreed, but with a puzzled look on her face. The metal legs of the chair clanged on the concrete floor when I hastily got up. "Everything alright, Rodriguez, Ortega?" Miss Loreto asked from the back of the room. "Yes, Miss," I answered with a quivering voice. Soon enough, Emma's face lit up for she had discovered the reason of my restlessness. After school, Emma and I started walking home. Mark suddenly appeared from around a corner. "How are you lovely ladies," he greeted us, "this beautiful afternoon?" Emma nudged me. "Do you want me to leave you guys alone?" I grabbed her arm tightly and said, "No, please stay with us." The three of us walked together until we reached Emma's street. "Okay, this is my stop," Emma said. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." "Bye," I nervously waved my hand at her. As Mark and I got closer to my apartment building, we walked more slowly. He stopped and held the wooden gate. "Can I call you tonight?" I lifted my face to look at his handsome face. I shyly met his peering eyes, mused for a moment and finally said, "Okay, but please call only after 8:00. My parents usually go upstairs in their bedroom at that time." I wrote my phone number on his notebook, which I clumsily handed back to him. I heard a door open. "I better go in now." I said goodbye and went inside with a wide grin on my face. |
May 28, 2004 |
Copyright © Catherine San Miguel |
