Sundered by Time (Manila Series #1)

Chapter 36

"Ipasok mo!"

I can hear a girl, wearing a plain green skirt and their white printed school shirt while shouting from the first court. Malakas siyang tumatawa, it's contagious to be honest. She's on the women's side and there's a pole intended for the net while the opposing side was looking at her.

"Kuya, ang bagal naman nito maglakad."

Glancing at Shail who's at my back, I glared at her. "Ikaw nga itong sumusunod lang sa akin. Hindi ko alam ang pasikot-sikot dito."

It's true. Even though Achilles' parents own this, I am not that familiar with the campus. Both me and my cousin are studying in Ateneo High School, that's why I'm in my blue and khaki uniform. His reason is to avoid the bias issues, my reason is that I don't want to be in the same school where my sister is. I could remember how bothered our parents were if one of us would attend a school that is more costly than the other, but we almost have the same tuition.

Tsaka baka pati lunch, mawalan ako kakahingi niya. Nababawasan na nga allowance ko kakakupit niya sa wallet.

"Diretso kasi, tapos doon na sa building." Tinuro niya 'yung gymnansium nila na tapat pa ng soccer field na nasa gilid namin. Kailangan pa kasi namin lagpasan ang tatlong outdoor basketball court nila at may naglalaro. She stomped her feet and pulled me when obviously, she couldn't. "Ibibitin kita patiwarik e."

"The debate starts at 9, it's still 7."

"Gusto ko na nga makipagkita kela Za! Pupunta kami ng canteen." tinignan ko siya na naka-tingala sa akin nang konti. I looked around and know that I am the only one wearing a different uniform. "Ano? Sa auditorium ka, sasama, or dito?"

"Sasama na lang." Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad pero tumingin bigla ang kapatid ko sa babaeng kanina pa nag-iingay.

"Tapos na ako hanggang third set, kami nanalo. Bye!" She saw me and my sister after picking up her leather backpack. "Oh Naths, sino-"

Nanlaki ang mata ng babae at tumingin sa likuran ko na para bang gulat na gulat. "Sino nagsabing puwede kayong maglaro ng volleyball ngayon?"

She ran away from us, all of her playmates ran to a different direction. The school admin looked at us and greeted me a good morning which I just smiled at. Kinausap niya ang kapatid ko at sinabing sabihan ang kaibigan, pagkatapos ay umalis na rin siya hawak ang isang stick.

My sister walked and so, I followed. Baka mamaya maligaw pa ako rito. I know that I brought my phone with me, but still, being with someone who knows the vicinity will make me more familiar with the environment.

Groups of boys have been on our way. I know that this is a co-ed, but the number of men is still dominant. Sinabi na iyon ng kaklase ko, pero ngayon ko lang nakita na ilan lang talaga ang babae rito. We entered a large room which looks like a cafeteria on the first floor of the building where I should be in later on. Naglakad siya papunta sa isang mesa at umupo, I awkwardly sat beside her and her friends looked at me.

"Kuya ko."

I saw three of those who I am familiar with, but I also saw three of whom I just met. "Nice to meet you."

Zara smiled at me. "Ah! Ito si Bronson, si Lauren-"

"Excuse me." the boy beside Lauren uttered while looking from a distance.

She looked at the man who's now walking away from us. "Hayaan mo na."

"Nasaan girlfriend mo?" Zara asked to Bronson.

Umiwas siya bigla ng tingin at inatras ang katawan. "Kadiri naman 'to."

Girlfriend? Aren't they just in their second year? I tried to stop myself from showing them a scowl face out of judging them and their generation.