Paper Flight

Kabanata 8

I sighed before turning to face him. He raised his eyebrow before looking up and down.

"What?"

"That wasn't so bad."

He smirked before getting out of the car. Bumuga ako ng hangin bago ako bumaba sa kotse. Pagkababa ko, I was greeted by a modern house that was big enough for a family gathering.

Not too small, not too big but just the right size. Nang pumasok kami sa may pintuan nandoon na ang ibang mga officers at sinalubong kami ng mother niya.

I was just behind him, so his mother didn't notice me at first.

"Pierre, sino nasa likod mo?"

Caroline passed by and saw me. She smiled and gave me a hug.

"Musta ka Caroline?"

"Okay lang naman sa school. Medyo nag-aadjust pero kasama ko naman sila Kyrie. Ikaw?"

"Ganun pa rin naman, medyo nagmature lang."

Tumawa kaming dalawa. Nang tinanong ako ng mother nila kung sino ako.

"Iha, ngayon lang kita nakita dito. Ngayon ka lang ba nakapunta sa amin?"

"Ah opo. Kaklase ko pa dati sila Pierre and Caroline. Sa ibang school na po ako nag-aaral."

Tumango siya sa akin bago ngumiti sa akin.

"Hindi ko alam na may kaklase pa sila na taga ibang school na. Anyway pasok kayo, nandoon na sila sa may sala."

Lumakad kami papunta sa may salas, and was greeted by different peopl that we didn't know.

"Oh, you guys are here. We already know everyone here, you-the girl introduce yourself."

I pointed at myself and proceeded to introduce myself when he nodded at me.

"Hi, my name's is Aislin Asteria Cabelo you guys can call me Aislin. I'm from Grade 11 ABM Lavender of Cynosure College. Nice to meet you all."

I bowed and stood up straight after I introduced myself. I stood beside him, feeling overwhelmed by the number of people.

"Are you okay?"

He asked me not looking in my direction but his hands made way to my knuckles gently massaging it soothing me.

"Yep, thank you."

He nodded and made a circular motion on my knuckles.

The meeting ended with them pairing up the students by their strand and I somehow got paired with him who was not in the same strand as me.

Habang lumalakad na ako palabas ng bahay nila, I asked him again habang nanlilisik mata ko sa kanya.

"Bakit nga pala kita kapartner kung hindi ka naman same strand sa akin?"

He shrugged, and I raised my phone to his face. He furrowed his eyebrows.

"I'll message you if I am available to do the tasks assigned to us."

"Alright then. Stay safe."

I nodded and waved my hand as I waited for a jeep to pass by. It was already 8 in the evening, I guess I'll get a scolding from my parents again.

Sumakay na ako sa may jeep, at ng makarating sa bahay sinalubong ako ng nanay ko ng yakap habang umiiyak.

"Hindi ko naman sinasadya yung sinabi ko, nak? Pasensiya na hindi mo pala tinulungan si kuya dahil may ginagawa ka rin."

"Okay lang po, try ko na lang po mamanage yung time ko ng mas maayos para matulungan ko siya."

Iniling niya yung ulo bago sabihin na,

"Okay lang, nak. Focus ko na lang sa may mga school works mo, okay? Ngayon ko lang napansin na palagi kita pinapaaalalay sa mga kapatid mo kahit na may gawain ka pa."

"Nay, okay lang po. Medyo nakakapagod minsan pero kaya ko pa naman silang tulungan."

Ngumiti siya sa akin bago hinalikan ang aking pisngi.

"Narinig kong Class President ka tapos member ka na rin ng sa mga student council sa buong senior high, hindi ba't marami kayong ginagawa?"

Tumango ako.

"Sabihin mo lang sa amin ng tatay mo kung ano need mo, susuportahan ka namin."

Ngumiti ako bago yinakap ang aking mga magulang. My parents are always understanding even if they sometimes tell me that I needed to be more like my siblings.

"Palit ka na don Ate. Baka ubuhin ka."

Tumango ako sa tatay ko bago pumasok. Bago ako tuluyang magpalit, hinanda ko na yung mga kakailanganin ko.

"Vaughn, tulungan kita ngayon ha? Sorry medyo naging busy last time."

"Hala teh, okay lang."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"Okay lang Vaughn, format lang ituturo ko sayo."

Tumango na lamang siya, nakatulog na siya sa lamesa habang ako nagbabasa pa rin.

"You awake?"

My phone dings, I look at it to see Pierre messaging me on messenger.

"Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, what time are you free tomorrow?"

Niligpit ko muna ang mga gamit na nakakalat sa may lamesa. Kinuha ko yung schedule ko at pinicturan ko.

"Sent an attachment."
"That's my schedule for my classes."
"I'll go to your school at the time of your break."
"Why?"
"We are going to do the task on Friday.

Break time. Why is everybody so noisy today? And buzzing outside our classroom.

"Pres! Someone's looking for you!"

I walked outside only to be greeted by Pierre wearing a short-sleeved polo, black pants, and a necktie which is crooked.

I walked towards him before undoing his tie and fixing it.

"What are you doing here?"

I focused my eyes on the tie and placing a pin from my hair. He looked at me and looked at his fixed tie. A small smile danced on his lips before answering my question.

"Task."

I nodded and took a look at what we need to do today. They assigned us to read a book that we find interesting in each other's school.

"Library is that way."

Tinuro ko yung kaliwa at naglakad na habang chineck yung mga kailangan gawin sa may project sa may Organization and Management.

I feel his presence from my right side, inangat ko ang tingin ko makita lang na hawak hawak niya yung pin sa kanyang tie. Ngumiti ako bago pumasok sa may library.

Ang unang bumungad sa akin ay ang nga book shelves na nakahiwalay ang mga libro na fiction, historical, and educational. Lalong lumapad ngiti ko ng nakita ko na may librong Percy Jackson sa mga shelves.

I pick the first edition before proceeding to take a seat, forgetting the person I was with.

"Shocks! May klase ako then may quiz pa."

Naiiyak kong nasabi. Hindi ko napansin na nakakatitig na pala siya sa akin dahil sa ginawa kong ingay.

"May klase rin ako ngayon. Tuloy na lang natin next time?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya bago tumango.

"Punta na lang ako sa school niyo." Sabi ko sa kanya bago inayos yung librong kinuha ko.

Hinatid niya ako hanggang sa klase ko, bago ako pumasok nagpaalam muna ako sa kanya.

"Thank you! Ingat sa pagbalik."

Tumango siya at sinabing,

"Goodluck sa quiz."

Ngumiti muna siya bago sinenyasan na pumasok na. Kumaway muna ako bago tuluyang pumasok at umupo sa upuan.