Hues of an Abstract Mind (Arte del Amor #4)

Chapter 9

That's weird. This feeling is so weird, yet not so new to me.

It feels like the first time my mother allowed me to leave the house without her company, but the difference - this embraced my heart with something warm, something that the first thing didn't.

"Talaga? Pwede kitang yakapin?" paninigurado ko kahit na narinig ko naman siya nang malinaw pa sa malinaw.

Ambrose didn't answer.

As always, imbes na sa daan ako tumingin ay nasa kaniya ang buo kong atensyon.

"Ambrose, talaga? You'd allow me?"

God, imagine hugging a real person. Someone that's not your mother, nor your father, nor your sister, nor your cousin.

Especially not a stuffed toy... Iniisip ko pa lang na mayayakap ko si Ambrose tulad ng pagyakap sa kaniya nung kaibigan niya ay sobra na akong natutuwa.

To hug a friend?

That excites me and that sounds like something I can actually look forward to!

"I said it once already, Pierre."

Ngumiti ako at paulit-ulit na tumango, "Okay, maybe I will."

I will.

Maybe, one of these days, I will.

Natigil ako sa paglalakad nang tumigil din si Ambrose.

My jaw dropped when I realized that we literally just left the school premises.

I was quick to turn my head and look back at the gate and the lady guard whom we just passed by without even noticing.

Tumingin ako kay Ambrose pero ang itsura ng mukha niya ay tila nagtatanong din kung paano kami nakarating dito.

I shrugged because I wasn't paying attention and he knows that.

"Sorry, let's just go back inside. I'll take you to your sister."

"Ah, no need. Malapit lang ang bahay namin sa school. Kung tutuusin ay kung hindi maarte, walking distance lang siguro..." sabi ko, kahit na hindi ko pa kailanman nasubukang lakarin mula UGA hanggang sa subdivision namin.

Nagsimulang maglakad si Ambrose at nasabayan ko naman siya dahil mas mabagal ang lakad niya kaysa sa dati.

"I think I know the place," aniya. Isa lang naman kasi talaga ang pinakamalapit na subdivision.

"Doon ka rin ba umuuwi?" tanong ko dahil hindi pa naman kami nagsasabay pauwi.

"No, but I'm going to the shop. Pareho ang daan, hindi ba?"

"Paano ka uuwi? May susundo sa'yo, or commute?" Saktong mayroong dumaan na yellow na jeep sa kalsada at tumabi sa sidewalk, sa tapat mismo namin.

"Sakay na! Kasya pa ang apat!" sigaw ng driver na nagpagulat sa akin.

Tahimik lang si Ambrose na nakatingin doon at nang hindi kami sumakay pagkalipas ng ilang segundo ay umalis na ang jeep.

If I was alone, I would have hopped in because I'd feel bad that if I didn't... and that would put me in so much trouble.

"I recently got my license so I drive."

"Wow!" bulalas ko dahil sa biglaang pagka-excite. "Kailan pa? Are you even old enough to drive? Is it difficult to get a license? And to drive? Wow,"

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Ambrose, "I guess driving's fine... Convenient."

"Have you tried driving late at night?" I asked.