Bay of Strangers (Manila Girls #2)

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

Rich

My family spent the rest of the summer in Switzerland. Iyon nga lang, naiwan si Atticus sa Pilipinas dahil na rin sa abala siya sa mga exams niya at kailangan niyang sumali sa triathlon. Malala ang ginagawa niyang pag eensayo at si Zina ang madalas niyang kasama. Ito rin ang nakakausap ko dahil kadalasan ay hindi ko ma reach si Atticus. The truth is, I am worried about him. Buti na lang at kahit papaano ay nariyan si Zina para sa kanya.

When we got back in Manila, I was immediately summoned to the academy so I can get my schedule and have a lunch date with my friends.

Dala-dala ko ang mga pasalubong ko para sa kanila at nagpresinta pa nga si Mama na magpadala ng kasambahay kasama ko kaya lang tinanggihan ko na. Kasama ko rin naman si Vanna.

"Lei, hindi ako sinasagot ni Kodiak! What's wrong with him? Seriously."

I sat still—quiet and a bit tired and sad. I wanted to see my brother, but he's out of town. I heard my father pressured him to attend a meeting with one of the country's top triathlon organizer.

I opened the car window by my side and was immediately greeted by the harsh wind. The soft moist from the outside because it was raining earlier kissed my skin. I closed my eyes and extended my hand as our vehicle increased its speed. For a moment, I got trapped in an eerie silence where the lonely stranger's eyes flashed in my mind.

I would lie if I'll say that I haven't thought of him in between seconds of intervals. Somehow, he was added to my memories and it wasn't easy to erase him.

"Ugh! Seriously! This boy is making me insane!" Vanna continued.

"Vanna, you're not his mother. Don't fret too much. You know how much he hates to be compared to Flash." Nagmulat ako ng mga mata at binalingan ang kaibigan.

"Kuya Flash hates to be compared to him too! Kodiak's boring and so serious!"

I chuckled and tried to comfort her. Nag-away daw kasi sila ni Kodiak noong nakaraan habang nasa bakasyon. Magkasama kasi ang pamilya nila dahil talagang magkadikit ang mga ito.

Hinaplos ni Vanna ang kamay ko. "Ugh, boys are stupid talaga."

Ngumiti ako at hinawakan din ang kamay niya. Nagkatitigan kami at biglang natawa.

"Kaya siguro hindi tayo magkaboyfriend eh." Tawa niya.

"I don't want to have a boyfriend,"

"Naku, it's because you haven't met the one yet."

"Do you think makikilala ko pa? Baka naagaw na ng iba?"

"Kahit ilang waiting shed pa ang hintuan niyan, kung sa'yo patungo—wala silang magagawa!"

"Paano kung walang para sa akin?"

"Ugh! What's with the pity talk, Lei? Mayroon 'yan! We're too young! You just turned 18 kaya hello!"

Napabaling ako sa driver na ngayo'y huminto na sa academy. Nagpasalamat kami ni Vanna at dumiretso na papasok. Pinag-uusapan pa rin namin kung talagang magkakaroon pa ba kami ng boyfriend.

Dala-dala ko ang paperbags para sa pasalubong ko kina Daven. Hinaplos ko ang dress ko at taas-noong tumuloy sa hall.

"Hi, Lei!" Bati ng iilang schoolmates namin.

Tumango lang ako habang itong si Vanna, kumakaway at bumabati pa sa ilan na akala mo talaga kilala at kadikit niya. I bet she doesn't even know their names or where they came from.

"Hi, Vanna! Hi, Lei!"

"Hi, guys!"

Vanna is always like this. Friendly talaga siya at magaling makisalamuha sa mga tao. Mabait naman talaga kasi si Vanna, minsan nga lang ay may pagkamaldita at spoiled dahil nag-iisang  anak at taga-pagmana ng Delgado Logistics at ng shipping line nila. Maalaga rin siya sa akin at kailanma'y hindi pa ako iniwan sa ano mang laban ko.