He's A Girl ( Published Under Ukiyoto Publishing)

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

I've been waiting outside Stupid's door all day. We need to talk, but she isn't here; she abruptly left yesterday without informing me. She was at the playground with Isaiah, according to Brando, but she wasn't there when I went.

"Pogi!" Napatingin ako sa aleng kanina pa ako sinisitsitan.

"Bakit hindi ka pa umuwi? Nakow! Si George ay linggo lang kung umuuwi dito." She speaks even when I am not asking.

"Gano'n po ba?" Mabuti na lamang ay binigyan niya ako ng monoblack na mauupuan.

"Alam mo...mas pogi ka kay Isaiah." She even fixed curlers in her hair. She stepped on the cigarette as she took it out of her mouth.

"Isaiah?" I asked, and she nodded. Does it mean that he is aware of Stupid's whereabouts?

I clutched the angry bird keychain tightly and thought it was Isaiah's face. I'm sweating from the intense heat of the sun, but I'll wait and listen to whatever her explanation is.

"Ano mo ba si George—"

"Girlfriend ko." She gasped at what I said. She shook her head and held her mouth as if she had a sudden thought.

"Ay lintek na bata! Nakadali pala ng pogi!" Nagulat ako matapos niyang pumalakpak. "On the way...ibig sabihin ikaw ang ta—ayyayyay!" Naguguluhan na ako sa sinasabi niya dahil siya lang ang nakakaintindi.

"By the way po 'yon," I corrected her. She ignored me because she fell into deep thought.

Tumunog ang nanangalawang nilang gate. Pumasok ang isang batang lalaking naka-cap at backpack.

"Aling Mayet, si Ate?" agad niyang tanong.

"Aba! Malay ko! Nandito ka na naman, mamaya interbyuhin na naman ako ng mama niyo," masungit na sabi ng ale na tinawag niyang Aling Mayet. Iniwan niya kami matapos may mangamoy nasusunog na kanin.

She didn't want to let me in earlier but when I showed my I.D, driver's license, and Five Thousand Pesos, she let me in later on.

"Hoy, sino ka?" maangas na tanong ng bata.

"Bakit ko sasabihin?" I smirked.

He sat down beside me and rummaged through his bag. I was suddenly swallowed by hunger because his bag was full of all kinds of food. I haven't eaten anything yet.

Kinuha niya ang chukie at sandwich. Sisilip siya sa 'kin sabay ngingiti na parang nagpapainggit.

"Gusto mo?" I didn't respond. I thought he wouldn't give me one, but he did, and he handed me a zest-o and a burger.

"Thank you," malamig kong sabi.

"Bakit nandito ka sa bahay ng ate ko? Gusto mo siya ano?" he asked, but he didn't look at me.

Sumandal ako at hinilot ang sintido dahil sumakit ito. Puyat ako at pagod, sinundo ko pa si Thor sa sementeryo kaninang madaling araw.

"Ate mo?" Tumango siya sa tanong ko.

"Galit 'yon sa 'kin, e. Pero love pa din niya ako—mabait 'yon." Mula sa bag niya ay dinukot niya ang picture kung saan nakayakap ang batang ito kay George—she's really beautiful...why I didn't notice?

Muling sumulpot si Aling Mayet. "Hoy, Clyde! Nasa labas ang mama mo!" Nang umiling ang bata ay sapilitin niya itong binuhat. Kumaway ang bata sa 'kin bago siya mawala sa paningin ko.

It's already nighttime, and I'm still waiting, but no Stupid has showed up. If I can't talk to her, I'll talk to Isaiah instead. Nagpaalam ako sa ale na sinagot niya ng, "Farewell to you maprend!"

I went to Isaiah's condo. I was about to go down when I noticed them coming out together. As I stared at them, I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Stupid remained silent while Isaiah is speaking beside her but I couldn't hear it.

Isaiah hailed a taxi and opened the door for Stupid, but before she entered, Isaiah kissed her on the forehead and fixed her hair. In frustration, I clenched my fist and slammed the steering wheel.

"I'm ready to hear your explanation; I waited all day for you, but you're just flirting with Isaiah?! Damn you, Stupid!" Paulit-ulit kong hinampas ang manibela. When I regained consciousness, I followed the taxi she was riding in. Why didn't Isaiah send her home?

O! I forgot! Isaiah introduced her girlfriend named Georginna na si Stupid pala—does it mean...Stupid is a two timer? Wow!

I'm really such a fool!

Tumigil ang taxi sa harap ng lugar na pinanggalingan ko. Hinintay ko siya bumaba bago ako lumabas.

She was about to enter but I spoke, "Georginna Torres." She was stunned and slowly turned to face me.

Her eyes widened as she looked at me. "L-Loki?" I stepped closer but she stepped back.

"Your game is over." Namulsa ako at ngumisi upang itago ang sakit na nararamdaman ko, I shouldn't be hurt—hindi niya deserve ang saktan ako.

"L-Loki...sandali—pakinggan mo muna ako." I got closer and closer until I was able to cornered her at their rusty old gate.

I smirked, I move my face close to her... she closed her eyes anticipating that I might kiss her, but I did different thing. "Liar," I whispered the reason why she pushed me.

***

Mabigat ang pakiramdam kong nagmulat. Teka...nasa'n ako? Ang kama ay iba, hindi ako sa pamilyar kwartong ito kaya napabalingkwas ako ngunit impit akong napaungol sa pagsakit ng ulo ko.

"You're awake..." Bumukas ang pinto at niluwa non si Isaiah na may dalang maliit na mesang may lamang pagkain.

Napatikhim ako. "Anong ginagawa ko rito?" tanong ko.

"You were sick. You had a fever last night, hindi kita inuwi sa bahay mo dahil naisip kong walang mag-aalaga sa 'yo." Binaba niya ang hawak at lumapit sa 'kin upang hipuin ang noo ko. "Magaling ka na," saad niya.

"Salamat," nanghihinang sabi ko. "Hindi mo naman ako pinainom ng gamot 'di ba?" Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang tumango siya.

Kinuha niya muli ang maliit na mesa. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at sinubuan ako ng sopas, naiilang ako sa ginagawa niya...kung patuloy siyang magiging ganito ay mas lalala lang ang guilty na nararamdaman ko.

"Kaya ko." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya upang pigilan ito. Bumuntong hininga siya ngunit binigay pa rin niya sa 'kin ang kutsara.

"Kailan mo balak sabihin kay Loki?"

Natigilan ako sa pagsubo. "Bukas na lang siguro." Pinaglaruan ko ang sopas na nasa harap ko.

"Gaano mo siya kamahal?" Napaisip ako sa tanong niya. Ang hirap mag-isip nang isasagot, basta kapag nasa tabi ko siya masaya ako kahit puro siya kalokohan.

"Hindi ko alam, hindi ko masukat." Iniwasan kong tumingin sa mga mata niya; ayaw kong makita ang sakit do'n.

"You need to talk as soon as possible...I want you to be happy," sa sinabi niya ay mas lalong lumamlam ang mga mata ko.

"Isaiah..." Nagtubig ang mga mata ko. Siguro kung hindi kami nagkakilala hindi siya masasaktan ng ganito.

"Hey, don't be sad! Don't worry about me—sa gwapo ko ba namang 'to? Marami kayang naghahabol sa 'kin!" Pinilit kong matawa sa sinabi niya. "Tomorrow, you'll meet someone," dugtong niya.

"Sino?" Hindi siya sumagot at nagkibit-balikat lang.