Moonage Daydream (Ciudad de Escalante #4)

Phase 34

"I'm sorry, natagalan. Have you already decided where we should go for lunch?" Roscoe asked the moment he jogged near me.

Hindi naman ganoon katagal ang paghihintay ko na matapos ang kanilang practice pero pasado twelve na kasi at hindi pa ako naglu-lunch. He said he'll treat me a meal so here it is. Bukod sa hindi na ako magpapalipas ng gutom, wala rin akong kasamang maglunch kaya pumayag ako.

"I can eat anywhere. Ikaw nalang ang bahala kung saan dahil libre mo."

"Akin na..." I continued and got the belongings he was holding.

He haven't yet took a shower. Kinuha ko sa kanyang kamay ang bitbit na school backpack at varsity jacket para hindi na kailangan pang bitbitin papasok sa shower room mamaya. He smiled as he watched me take care of his things.

"I'll just wait you here. Bilisan mo, okay? Gutom na ako," I whined.

He laughed lowly, nodding a bit. After that, he tapped my head and made a short glimpse around the soccer field.

"Sit there, Azariah. I'll be quick," aniya at tinuro ang benches.

Tumango lang ako at sinabihan na siyang pumasok na sa shower para makaligo at makapagpalit na. When Roscoe vanished from my sight, I roamed my eyes around the surroundings. I decided to sit in the benches while waiting for another minute.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang maramdaman ang pag-vibrate ng kung ano sa varsity jacket na hawak ko. The vibration continues and it was the sign that someone is calling. Kinalkal ko sa bulsa at nakita nga roon ang cellphone ni Roscoe.

"Steff?" I whispered as I read the name of the caller.

Pinilig ko ang aking ulo habang nakatitig sa pangalan. I don't know anyone who named Steff. Is it a girl? Roscoe haven't mentioned anything about his friends and so. Actually, I don't know much about him except for the names of his brothers and his hobbies. Nasa proseso palang naman kasi kami ng pagkilala sa isa't isa hanggang ngayon.

I ignored the call but it keeps calling for the third, fourth and fifth... time. Sa pang-anim, napagpasyahan kong sagutin na iyon at ipaalam na sasabihin ko nalang kay Roscoe na tumawag sa kanila pabalik 'pag narito na.

"How is it going? Have you already gain her trust?"

Instead of hearing a female voice, it was a deep sound from a man. Hindi masyadong pamilyar sa akin pero nagdulot iyon ng kung anong pakiramdam nang marinig ko ang nagsasalita. My chest tightened for no reason. I felt like I heard that voice somewhere but I can't really recall when, were and who.

"Ano na raw? Wala pa rin bang abante? Ang dali lang utu-utuhin ng botcha na iyon, eh!" another voice in the background exclaimed and laughed.

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa cellphone. Hindi ako nagsalita at mabilis na pinatay ang tawag. Patuloy na lumalakas ang tambol sa didbib ko. Who are they? Why do they mean? Kaibigan ba sila ni Roscoe?

Who's the botcha they're referring to?

Hindi ko mapigilang mag-isip ng kung anu-ano dahil alam ko sa pakiramdam kapag tinatawag ng mga nakakainsultong pangalan. I can't help to assume. Kahit marinig ko lang ang piglet, baboy, taba at bee hive, kahit wala namang connect sa akin... feeling ko lagi akong natatamaan.

Ako ba? Ako ba yung botcha?

I scanned my figure.

But... I'm not fat anymore, right?

"Riah!"

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip ng negatibo nang marinig ang malambot at maganda sa pandinig na boses mula sa aking pinsan. I gulped when I saw Severine, running excitedly towards my direction. Kumurap ako kung tama ba ang nakikita kong imahe na nakasunod sa kanya.