Chapter 12
"Ma, mamamasyal po ako."
"Sa'n naman?" Mama asked.
"Do'n lang sa plaza. I'm kind of bored." sagot ko.
"Sige, mag-ingat ka. Bumalik ka bago magtanghalian."
I agreed and left our house.
Today is Saturday and I don't have any classes. I decided to go to the plaza to enjoy the view. Sobrang stress ako sa school works lately at sa tingin ko kailangan ko ng pahinga.
Giving myself a break will do.
I'm bringing this novel I just got from a book store. Malapit ko ng matapos ito. Siguro bago magtanghalian matatapos ko na ito at maka-uwi na ako.
Hindi kalayuan ang plaza dito sa bahay namin. Ilang minutong lakad lang ay makakarating na ako. Dave and I used to study there on weekends.
Kaya ayaw ko ng ganito, eh. I didn't imagined the situation to turn out like this. We were inseparable before and now I can't even say a word to him.
Nakarating na ako sa plaza at may nag-lalaro ng basketball. Na sa malapit lang din ang munisipyo kung saan nagtatrabaho and Daddy ni Mazro.
I walk towards a bench under a tree. The shade is enough for me not to get struck by the heat of the sun. Hindi rin ito gano'n ka lapit sa mga naglalaro ng basketball at paniguradong hindi ako madidisturbo rito.
Dave and I used to sit at the bench far from the ones playing. Now, the bench is empty.
Why am I bringing him up?
Erase!
I took a deep breath and opened the book I'm reading. It's the second book I bought this week. I just can't stand without reading something. I'm saving my allowance for this kind of stuffs.
Hindi sobrang dami ng mga tao ngayon, minding it's weekend. People hang in here, its a nice place.
I minded my own bussines. Pinagpatuloy ko ang binabasa ko. Letters after letters, words after words, sentences after sentences, paragraphs after paragraphs, and pages after pages. Making sure I covered everything.
"Aray!"
I felt a force attacked my head. A ball. Hindi naman siya gano'n ka-sakit pero hindi naman gano'n ka-ganda ang pakiramdam ko. Sitting here at a bench that's not far enough from the ones playing basketball is not a good idea.
"Sorry. May masakit ba sa'yo?"
I heard a voice while I am facing down the ground and massaging the spot that was hit.
"Hindi naman gano'n ka-sakit." sagot ko at tiningnan ang nagsasalita.
His eyes widened. Kilala niya ba ako? I am not familiar with this face.
"A-Ah, sorry ulit. Hindi k-kasi nasalo ng kaibigan ko ang bola, tumama tuloy sa'yo." sabi niya sabay kalmot ng ulo niya.
"Okay lang. Laro na kayo ulit." sabi ko.
I'm interrupting their game. The remaining players are looking at us. I hate this scenario.
"S-Sige. Ako pala si Troy." pakilala niya at unti-unting inangat ang kamay niya.
I heard his friends calling his name.
I accepted his hand. "I'm Jenim." I also introduced myself.
"Sorry ulit. Babalik na ako."
We released both our hand and he picked up the ball near me. He waved his hand at me.
I waved back, "See you around." I said.
I picked up my book beside me and stood up. Kailangan kong lumipat ng upuan. Hindi maganda kung matatamaan ako ng paulit-ulit. That's dumb.
I'm left with no choice. The only available bench is the one where Dave and I used to hang out a lot. Oh, God.
It's not hot in here, it's better to be honest. I'm just kind of off for some reasons.
I look around. Peaceful, beautiful, and calm. Sana'y may mga ganitong araw pa sa hinaharap.
Wait! Could it be...
They caught my attention. Anong ginagawa nila? I know it's out of my line but I'm curious. I don't have a single idea on what's going on between them. Pwede naman sigurong tanungin ni Dave si Maz pagkabalik ng klase kung para sa school purposes ang hangarin niya.
What's making him talk to Maz during weekends? As far as I can remember, Dave never mentioned to me about him and Mazro being friends. Mazro? With no doubt, they're not into each other.
Unti-unti akong naglakad papalapit sa kanila. Nakatago ako dito sa isang halaman. I am facing Dave's back. It's not that near but it's enough for me to hear them.
I know I'm being nosy but, I just can't help it. Parang may bumubulong sa akin na pumunta ako dito.
"Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa'yo na hindi gagana ang paraang 'yan? Playing nice to have her won't work." it's Dave.
Her? What are they talking about?
"What's between her and me is far from what's between us. 'Wag natin siyang isali." Mazro said.
"'Yon lang ba talaga ang gusto mo kaya gusto mong makipag-usap? That's insane."
"Ilang beses na ba naming sinubukan ni Ate Mizee? No matter how many times you ignore us, that won't stop us."
Ate Mizee? What's the connection?
"We tried our best, Dave. Bakit ba hindi mo maintindihan. Hindi na alam ni Ate Mizee ang gagawin at pati na rin ako. The least thing I know is that we need to reconcile."
Reconcile? This is making me confuse.
"Reconcile? Bakit? Ni minsan bang naging okay tayo? Tanong mo sa tatay mo kung anong opinyon niya sa ginagawa niya. Proud ba siya, ha? Tanungin mo." this is a different Dave.
"He knows it was a mistake but that doesn't make you a mistake. Mali ang ginagawa niya pero hindi ka pagkakamali."
This is making me confuse one hundred times than before.
"Of course pagkakamali 'yon! Saang anggulo ba naging tama tingnan na may nangyari sa kanila ni Mama tatlong buwan pagkatapos ng Mommy mo? Kasalanan ba ng Mama ko na hindi niya alam na may pamilya na ang Daddy mo?!" Dave's voice rose. This is not good.
Mommy at Daddy ni Maz? Mama ni Dave? This is crazy.
"Kahit saang anggulo tingnan alam ko, ni Ate Mizee, at ni Daddy na walang kasalanan ang nanay mo. Inaayos namin 'to dahil kahit anong gawin o tanggi mo, we have the same blood flowing withing us."
This is crazy.
"Magkapatid kayo?" I revealed myself.
^_^
