Riding The Waves (Fortalejo Clan #1)

Chapter 9

Monday came and I was actually expecting to see Aspen again but he didn’t attend to school. I wonder what’s the matter?

Noong nakaraan ay absent din siya ng isang beses pero hindi ko na inusisa pa kung bakit. I was worried of him, all right. Lalo pa’t kapag papasok siya ay may makikita akong panibagong pasa sa ibang parte ng katawan niya. I’m really curious about him.

“Ms. Fortalejo, are you with us?” Napabalik ako sa wisyo nang marinig ang boses ng aking guro. I feel like spacing out most of the times today.

Napakurap-kurap ako at mahinang napamura bago umayos ng upo. “I-I’m sorry, Ma’am,” I said, almost in an audible whisper.

Malakas siyang napabuntong-hininga at napailing-iling. I felt a pang of pain in my chest when I saw the disappointment trying to cave in on her eyes.

“Last warning, Ms. Fortalejo. Kanina pa kita napapansin na parang wala ka sa sarili mo,” aniya bago bumalik sa pagsusulat sa pisara at pagdi-discuss.

I don’t know what to do. My chest is aching knowing that Aspen’s absence is affecting me. Hindi ko dapat nararamdaman ito ‘di ba? I’m supposed to be listening to the lecturer and take down some notes so I could study later at night before sleeping. That’s what I’m supposed to do.

Pero bakit ngayon hindi ako mapakali sa kinauupuan ko sa kaalamang hindi na naman pumasok si Aspen? Natural lang naman siguro ‘to dahil magkaibigan kami ‘di ba? That I cared about him.

I remained bothered the whole time even after class. I was walking like a zombie in the hallway when someone’s arm enveloped on my shoulder.

Sa isiping si Aspen ‘yon at baka late lang siya pumasok ay walang preno akong nagsalita.

“Aspen, you’re—” My shoulders fell when I realized that it wasn’t him. It’s my twin brother, Aether.

Umarko pataas ang kilay ni Aether habang nakadungaw sa’kin. He’s taller than me so I think it’s just right.

“Whoa, ayaw mo na sa’kin, Bal? Gusto mo na kay Aspen?” Pang-aasar niya pero wala ako sa mood na makipag-asaran pabalik kaya napayuko na lamang ako at malakas na napabuntong-hininga.

“Mira?” He called, worried. “May problema ka ba? Nasigawan ka na naman ba ni Aspen? Aba, sumusobra na ang—” Sunod-sunod niyang sinabi ngunit mabilis ko na 'yong pinutol.

“No, Aether. Actually, he's absent today.” I heaved a deep sigh. “Let’s just go home, Aether. I’m tired.”

Mabilis akong naglakad papalayo sa kan’ya at nagtungo sa parking lot ng school kung saan nag-park ang driver namin. Bumati pa ito sa’kin matapos akong pagbuksan ng pintuan pero wala akong ganang magsalita kaya tumango na lamang ako at naupo sa backseat, katabi ng bintana.

I wonder in which part of Isla Portugal does Aspen lives? Nabanggit niya lang na sa Isla Portugal daw siya nakatira at dumadayo lang sa Isla De Verde para mangalakal at mangisda naman minsan kapag hindi masikip sa schedule niya.

I heard the car’s door closed and Aether’s presence beside me. Paniguradong ayaw na naman niyang umupo sa passenger seat ngayong wala ako ganang magsalita at mukhang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa ang itsura.

“You should sit in front, Aether.” Mahinahon kong sinabi habang ang paningin ay hindi nalilihis sa labas ng bintana.

“Nah, I won’t. I’ll sit beside you,” He said, stubbornly. “Now, talk. What happened and why do you look like a shit right now?”

A low chuckle escaped my lips. A shit? Maybe, I am. I really looked like a shit right now because I’ve been thinking about Aspen since the very first morning that he didn’t attended our class in each subject.