Just the Ticket

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 #jttwbs

Inabot ni Kuya Lev kay Camara ang mga mass cards. "Pakiabot na lang din 'yung sa Kuya mo saka kina Chett."

"Hey, wait!" Camara loudened her voice because he was already walking away from us just like that.

"Chapel duties," sagot ni Kuya Lev na hindi man lang kami hinarap ulit at tuluyan nang iniwan sa counter ng canteen.

"My God," Camara mumbled. She raised her hand as if she was reaching for Kuya then she did a sign of the cross. "That future Father."

"Huy, Rara," I called her because the cashier was failing to steal her attention.

Kumunot ang noo ni Camara nang tanggapin ang mga dilaw na Maxx. "Ate, I didn't buy candies."

"Walang coins panukli. Sorry."

Napanguso si Camara at inabot na lang sa akin ang dalawa sa apat niyang Maxx. Umalis na rin kami bitbit ang binili. Habang naglalakad, ch-in-eck namin ang mass cards at sinigurong walang nakaligtaan si Kuya Lev.

It is what mandates us to attend a holy mass. Dapat iyong papirmahan sa priest tuwing pagkatapos ng misa bilang attendance at mino-monitor iyon ng school.

And we have another shot of privilege there. Sakristan kasi si Kuya Lev kaya hindi tulad ng iba na magsisiksikan pa para makapagpapirma kay Father o sa ibang tagapaglingkod sa simbahan, siya na ang bahala sa mass cards namin.

Galing kaming misa kahapon dahil Linggo. Pero ang mamataan si Fern sa pasilyo ngayon, naalala ko ang araw bago kahapon... iyong Sabado.

"Ra... Saan nakatira si Fern?" I mindlessly asked while my eyes were following Fern with his friends, heading to a direction opposite from us.

"Huh?"

Camara's puzzled tone pulled me out of the trance. Umiwas ako ng tingin kina Fern na nag-uusap habang nagpapasahan ng bola. Hindi nila kami nakita dahil masyadong nagkakatuwaan at magkaiba kami ng dinaanan.

"H-Huh?" I copied her, my version quavered out of shame. Nag-isip agad ako ng alibi. Kung bakit ko ba kasi tinanong?

"Fern?" Camara repeated which locked the door for my escape. "Sa ano... Alam mo saan sina Caelan?"

Napatigil ako saglit at napatitig sa kaniya. Hindi niya napansin kaya humabol na ulit ako sa paglalakad. I know where Caelan lives because that's where our practice was held last Saturday and Fern even went there too.

"Oo? Bakit?"

"Ayun! Doon! Malapit sa PNS. Kapitbahay lang sila." She stopped and eyed me with her crumpled forehead. "Wait, why?"

"Huh? M-Magkapitbahay lang sila? Sigurado ka?"

"Uhuh! I am! Pero bakit nga?"

I poked my inner cheek with the tip of my tongue. Para kasing hindi ko gustong ikuwento iyong nangyari. Because what's with it? It would look like I was making a big deal out of it...

"Hey! Ra!"

I closed my eyes in relief brought by Jiro. Napalingon si Camara sa manliligaw na malaki ang ngiti nang lumapit sa amin. Immediately, she got engrossed by her lover that she had fully forgotten about our topic.

But recalling that Saturday night made me so restless deep inside. It was totally awkward.

Matapos naming magkatinginan ni Fern sa tapat ng gate nina Caelan, tumikhim siya at inilahad ang daanan. Nauna nga akong humakbang at umalis. I sensed his presence behind me until I hailed for a ride. Sumakay rin siya kasunod ko ngunit hindi kami nagkausap na.