A Hundred Days With You

T E N

"NAY SI ATE nag-cutting kanina!" sumbong ni Leang kay Mrs. Bernardo.

"Totoo ba yun, anak?" baling sa akin ng nanay nila.

I was about to lie when I met my sister's eyes. Nakatitig ito sa akin na para bang tinitingnan niya kung magsisinungaling ako kaya wala akong nagawa kundi umamin.

Kanina kasi ay nakita nila ako na naglalakad pabalik sa university ng 3:45. I think mas maaga ang labas nila at hinihintay nila akong makalabas para sabay-sabay kaming uuwi. Pero nakita nila na nasa labas na agad ako kahit hindi pa uwian at nanggaling pa ako sa ibang direksyon.

Si Lady V naman ay bigla na lang akong iniwan pagkatapos sabihing lagot ako kaya wala akong nagawa kundi harapin ng mag-isa ang dalawang bata. It's very obvious that I cut classes so no need to lie and deny.

"That's true." sagot ko na lang. Sje sighed but didn't say anything. They just continued talking while I am avoiding to be in the conversation. Baka may masabi pa akong kung-ano.

I'm trying. I'm really trying to act like Leinnie. Kanina pa akong nagdadalawang-isip na kainin ang isda na nasa harapan ko. I heard them calling it 'tuyo'. I also saw some tiny red shrimps and they call it 'alamang'.

Ang kinain ko lang ay kanin and sabaw. The soup actually taste good. I think Mrs. Bernardo is good at cooking. Hindi na ako kumuha ng tuyo at alamang. The names are weird and also its smell and appearance.

Pagkatapos kumain ay lumabas muna ako ng bahay at tumambay sa labas. I inhaled the fresh air while thinking about the things that I and Lady V talked about a while ago.

While staying in this body for a hundred days, then I need to face those bullies on the school everyday. I also need to suffer the judgement they will give me about the face I have right now. I think that would be really unfair to me.

That's too much for me to handle!

"Anak.."

Napalingon ako nang may magsalita sa likod ko. Nakatayo si Mrs. Bernardo sa likuran ko. She smiled gently.

"May problema ka ba anak?

Huh?

"Wala naman p-po. Bakit?" Medyo nautal pa ako sa po. I'm not used to saying that word.

"Napapansin ko kasi na parang nag-iba ka. Anong nangyari?"

Huh? They're noticing it?! Oh my!

"Ah eh medyo nahihirapan lang ako sa pag-aaral. You know, those hard subjects I studied." Tuloy-tuloy na sabi ko. I'm getting really nervous.

Like what if they found out?! Ipapadala ba nila ako sa mental hospital? Papalayasin ba nila ako?!

Matagal siyang tumitig sa akin kaya napaisip ako kung meron bang mali sa sinabi ko. She sighed.

"Pwede mo bang sabihin sa akin kung bakit ka nag-cutting kanina?" banayad na tanong niya habang nakangiti.

I stared at her eyes and saw motherly love and care on it. I was shocked. Honestly, I was thinking na magagalit siya sa akin dahil nag-cutting ako, just like what my mother always do, and what I think every mother should do. It feels.. different. And I'm not used to it.

"Uhm..." I bit my lower lip while thinking.

Anong isasagot ko? Sapat na ba yung nabadtrip ako dahil sa babaeng sumabunot sa akin kanina? Sapat na ba yung dahilan na nag-crave ako sa ice cream?

Huminga ng malalim si Mrs. Bernardo nang hindi ako nakasagot. Hinaplos niya ang ulo ko na ikinagulat ko. I almost step away because of shock. I didn't expect the warmth I felt.