Five O'clock Sky (Nueva Caceres#1)

CHAPTER 13

"Oh, gosh, is that Lola Riyena?" I uttered  while looking outside through the car's window.

I came from my university to get some important documents. On my way back home, Mom texted me to buy her avocado for the dessert she'll make tonight kaya dumaan muna kami ni Tang Kael sa market. It was Tang Kael who went inside the market while I just waited for him inside the car.

I stared outside through the SUV's window, bored. Ngunit tila nagising ang aking diwa nang mamataan ang pamilyar na matandang babae na nakatayo sa labas ng palengke, perhaps, waiting for a tricycle.

I rolled down the tinted window to have a clearer view, confirming if I was really seeing Sandro's grandmother at the moment. Nang makumpermang si Lola Riyena nga ito ay bumaba ako ng sasakyan para lapitan ang matandang babae. She's holding plastic bags in both of her hands.

"Lola Riyena,"

The old woman squinted her eyes, recognizing me. "Senyorita Lucy." May halong gulat at pagkamangha sa kanyang tinig. As if it was unusual for her to see me in this place.

A smile affiliation was my only answer.

Isang munting tawa ang kumawala sa matanda. "Huling kita ko sayo ay iyong pumunta ka sa bahay at hinanap si Sandro. That was perhaps two years ago ngunit tandang-tanda ko kung paano ka sumimangot nang sabihin kong wala doon ang aking apo."

I blushed in embarrassment. Mio dio! How can the old lady still recall that? That was a almost two years ago. Sa taong iyon ay hindi pa nakakabalik sa pag-aaral si Sandro. Malimit ko lang siyang makita nong panahong iyon and I missed him that's why I decided to see him. It was my lunch break when I called Tang Kael para ihatid ako sa bahay ni Sandro, although I wasn't certain if he's in their house, nagbabakasakali lang.

I brought with me my book in Algebra. Ipapalabas ko na magpapaturo ako sa kanya ng math lesson na hindi ko maintindihan. That's lame, I know, but I couldn't think of any more subtle reason to see him and have a moment with him. And I really didn't understand my lesson in Algebra so Sandro would be a perfect tutor.

Hindi ko inaasahan na ang kanyang Lola Riyena ang madadatnan ko sa bahay nila. I was in my school uniform and backpack, hugging my book in Algebra as I surveyed Sandro's home. It was a bahay-kubo. Simple, yet it was clean and homey. The frontyard was decorated with oranamentals.

Nadako ang tingin ko sa pintuan nang lumabas doon ang may katandaang babae. I pursed my lips. It was Sandro's grandmother!

"Is... S-Sandro here?" Mabibilang lang ang mga pangyayaring nahihiya ako at isa na ang pangyayaring iyon. I didn't know what's with my sudden shyness. Ni hindi ko nagawang bumati muna sa matanda bago sabihin ang pakay because I was instantly embarrassed when she caught me surveying their home.

"Wala dito ang aking apo, Senyorita, nasa kanyang trabaho pa." She replied formally.

That was the first time I met Sandro's grandmother and I wonder if she knew me because Sandro told her about me o sadyang kilala lang siguro lahat ng mga taga Nueva Caceres ang mga Altamontejo.

"Nagbilin iyon na doon na lamang siya manananghalian sa karenderya malapit sa motor shop kung saan siya nagta-trabaho at hindi muna uuwi dito." The old lady continued, "May sadya ka ba sa kanya, hija?"

Hindi ko nagawang itago ang aking pagkadismaya sa narinig. Out of the many days, ngayon pa talaga hindi piniling umuwi ni Sandro? Fate won't really let me see him, would it? Nagta-trabaho si Sandro bilang isang mekaniko sa isang car repair shop sa bayan, but never have I tried to visit him there. Although I like him, but I don't want to look like a freaking dog that would follow him wherever he went to. I like him. A lot. Pero may panahong mas pinapagana ko ang pride kaysa nararamdaman ko.