Nights Like This

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Pay

Nakakairitang mukha ni Kuya Nikko ang agad na bumungad sa akin nang makauwi.

"How's work?" excited niyang tanong. He looks stupid with his wide smile.

"Please don't talk to me," I replied because I just want some peace. At hindi ko makukuha iyon kapag mangungulit siya.

"You're grumpy. Bad day?"

Hindi ako sumagot at nagpatuloy na sa ikalawang palapag. I thought he got the hint to leave me alone but instead, he followed me.

"Umuwi ka na nga, Kuya. I don't want to talk." Alam ko talaga bakit niya ako sinusundan. He'd probably ask a lot of questions about how and why I got a part time job. If I'm not beat, I'd humor him. Pero gusto ko na lang talagang magpahinga. The medicine worked but I'm sure the pain will come back. At gusto kong tulog na ako kapag nangyari iyon.

"Fine. But treat me food when you get your first pay."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. May pera naman siya, ah? Bakit magpapalibre sa akin? Besides, nakaplano na kung saan ko gagamitin ang makukuhang pera. Babayaran ko si Rex Niccolo at bibigyan ko si Jao.

"Can't you buy your own food?"

"I can but it would be nice if you buy me one using your earned money."

"Tss. Saka na kapag may sobra."

"Bakit? May babayaran ka? Kanino?"

"Basta..."

May mga kasunod pang tanong si Kuya Nikko pero inignora ko na. Dumiretso ako sa kwarto ko at agad nang naglinis ng sarili.

I wasn't supposed to check my phone anymore but then it beeped for a new message. Bukod sa usual texts na natatanggap ko sa mga kaibigan, mayroon ding mensahe galing kay Rex Niccolo. I opened it.

Rex Niccolo Uvero:

How are you feeling?

I got weirded out. Ang bait niya ngayon, ah? He wasn't always like this?

Ako:

Fine for now.

I thought he just needed to know that but to my surprise, he called! And as a person who's naturally nice to people who are nice to me, I answered the call. I just think it's rude to ignore it. Lalo na't masyado siyang mabait ngayon.

"Do you always experience that?" Wow. He actually sounds genuinely concerned...

"Yeah but most of the time it's bearable," awkward kong sagot.

"Did you get yourself checked for it?"

"Of course," I replied. "Why are you asking these things, though. So unusual for a guy..." Most of my guy friends don't care about it. Kapag may nagca-cancel sa hangout na babaeng kaibigan dahil sa ganoong nararamdaman, hindi sila naniniwala. They think it's just girls being too dramatic and OA. Hindi nila alam na minsan, sobra sobra ang sakit.

"What do you mean? I have a sister, of course I know those things."

Yeah, not just a sister. Marami rin siyang babae ayon kay Ali. He learned, huh?

"New to me. My friends aren't like you."

"Well then you're friends with the wrong people," he said. Tunong nangangaral na naman kaya umirap ako.

"Sure, whatever. Baba ko na 'to. Thanks for checking," I said.

"Next time, just call in sick at your work if you're not feeling well. Huwag mong pilitin ang sarili mo."