Pursuing Our Freedom| ✓

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23

"Best friends lang talaga kayo ni Iscalade?" tanong ni Naiara habang naglalakad kami papunta sa sakayan. They offered me a ride but I declined. Nakakahiya na, marami na silang nagawa para sa akin.

"Opo," matamlay na sagot ko.

"Naiara, pagod na 'yata." Kile decided to butt in. "Ginawa mo na namang trabaho maging armalite."

"Hala, sorry! Medyo na-excite lang ako. Sorry talaga!" she bit her lip. "Pero pwede favor?"

"Ano po 'yon?" I almost yawned. I was feeling lethargic, she was as hyper as Iscalade. Parang hindi nawawalan ng sasabihin.

"Please don't tell him or anyone that I'm N," pinagdaop niya ang kanyang mga palad.

"Yes po, I respect your privacy." I smiled at her. She smiled back and gave a flying kiss.

Nauna tumawid si Naiara. Tumingin ako sa harap namin. I gulped immediately upon hearing the sounds of the cars passing by. Hindi ko namalayan ay nahihigit ko na ang damit ng katabi ko.

"Ano ba 'yon?" Kile's deep voice penetrated through my ears. I was startled when I notice he was raising an eyebrow at me, nakahalukipkip siya. Siya pala 'yung katabi ko.

"W-wala po bang footbridge?" I asked.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "May pedestrian naman."

"Takot po ako tumawid mag-isa." I confessed, shyly.

I don't really travel alone. Madalas ay hinahatid pa ako ng kotse kahit sa mall lang ang punta ko. Kaya naman hindi ako sanay sa pagtawid o sa kalsada mismo. I'm afraid that I'll mess up if I do it alone.

Bumuntong hininga ako. See? It's not really fun when you look ignorant just because you're sheltered. Hindi naman ako habangbuhay na bata. Hindi ito maintindihan ni Mommy at ni Daddy. This isn't rebellion — I just want to learn how to be independent.

"Hindi ka marunong tumawid mag-isa?" he asked in a low tone.

"Hindi po."

He looked at me, tumitig pa siya sa akin bago bumuntong hininga. He offered his hand and I immediately furrowed my eyebrows.

"Sasamahan kita."

I took his hand, tumawid kami ng hawak niya ang kamay ko. He was looking at the cars, nasa side siya kung saan papunta ang mga kotse.

"Palit tayo."

"Po?" I was confused.

"Palit tayo ng pwesto. Dito ka sa kabila para ako 'yung mas malapit sa mga kotse."

I nodded and we switched places. This time, tumawid muli kami. He immediately let go of my hand when we reached the other side.

"Bakit ang tagal niyo?" Naiara asked. "Nagusap pa kayo sa gitna ng kalsada?"

Nahihiya akong umamin na hindi ako marunong tumawid. I was about to say something when Kile scoffed.

"Ihatid ko na lang kaya kayo? Gabi na rin e. Try mo nga mag-grab..." he squinted his eyes. "You never told your name."

I shook my head. I did though, baka hindi niya lang narinig. He was busy typing on his phone when I introduced myself.

"My name's Philomena..."

"Love..." he mumbled, grinning. Yumuko siya at umiling-iling bago tumingin muli sa akin.

"Ano po?"

"Your name means love. May Philosophy class ka na ba?"

"This school year pa lang po. Incoming grade twelve pa lang po ako," I answered as we walked towards the parking lot.