Crossroads [SC SERIES #1]

Kabanata 15: Kumot

[Nhelandrie's POV]

Kumot? Naguguluhan akong tumayo at tinignan ng mabuti ang kulay pulang paisley na kumot. Kaya pala masarap ang tulog ko. Hindi kaya si Vice ang naglagay nito?

I was fully awake when I decided to go back inside and when I opened the door, I saw her in the living room; reading some compiled papers and i'm really surprised to see her already wearing her school uniform.

"Morning," bati niya nang hindi man lang tumitingin sa gawi ko.

"M-morning. Umm, i-ikaw ang naglagay nito?"

Sa wakas, tumingin din siya at napataas ang kanyang kilay nung tinaas ko ang kumot. Mabilis siyang nag-iwas ng tingin at sumagot, "hindi, baka may taong dumaan at naawa sayo."

"Is it allowed? I mean, you can't call that a cheating right?"

"Oum. Okay lang naman basta hindi ikaw ang kumuha ng kumot." Titig na titig ito sa papel na hawak habang sumasagot.

"Can I see the person's face who gave me the blanket? Baka kasi makita ko siya at masauli ko sa kanya ang kumot and I would also thank him... or her."

Tumigil si Vice sa pagbabasa at nilagay ang papel sa kanyang bag. Nakatalikod siyang sumagot, "The CCTV had a malfunction. The owner might want you to keep it."

Napangisi ako sa kanyang mga sagot. Di naman ako uto-uto, obvious naman na siya yung nagbigay ng kumot. Paisley din ang design ng kumot ko sa kwarto.

"Sayang. I'm actually thinking of giving her a gift. Too bad." Aakyat na sana ako sa hagdan nung marinig ko ang tugon niya, "what gift?"

"Tatanungin ko siya kung anong regalo ang gusto niya, but since I don't know her face or whereabouts, isasama ko na lang siya sa mga dasal ko."

Hindi siya umimik. Hindi maalis-alis sa mukha ko ang malapad na ngisi. She doesn't want me to know that it was her. How cute. Hindi niya ako natiis.

"You're still here?" Gulat na tanong ko nung maabutan ko siyang nagbabasa ng newspaper sa salas.

"Wala naman akong sinabi na hindi ka sasabay sa 'kin papuntang KPA."

"Maaga ka kasing nag-ayos. I was expecting na mauuna ka."

"Madami lang akong project plan na babasahin para sa prom ng school next month." Walang kagana-gana nitong sagot.

May prom pala ang school? Hindi na ako nagtanong pa at tumango na lang bago pumunta nang kusina kung saan nakahanda na ang agahan ko.

Steamed Broccoli at Deep Fried Chicken. She's amazing. Lahat ay kaya niyang gawin. This is what independence is at wala ako nun. Kahit anong trabaho ang ginagawa niya, hindi siya nagrereklamo. Alam ko rin na nagpupuyat siya sa dami nang kanyang inaasikaso sa bahay at sa school pero looking-healthy pa rin. I started to think about what she said kahapon.

'Perfect life? Di mo matatawag na perfect life 'to. My life is not a synonym of heaven. You think I wanted all this? You think i'm happy, Mr. Aguilar?'

Parang piniga ang puso ko because of the realization that hit me. I know we're both in the same age pero yung mga responsibilidad na meron siya ay hindi biro.

She's always busy as the Vice President, doing her school works and doing household chores that she don't have enough time for herself.

From the dining, I watched her sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nung may ibang tao akong nakikita habang nakatingin kay Vice. My heart started pounding when they really look similar. Heart-shaped face and wide set olive eyes that left me breathless every single time.

That face that filled both my dreams and nightmares. She slowly turned her head at me and my mind started to flash some mixed pictures.

Field Trip...
Bus...
Cliff...
Tent...
Her tears...
Her smile...

"Mr. Aguilar, please hurry up. The bus will arrive any minute." Napa-iling ako nung marinig ang nagmamadaling boses ni Vice.

"Y-yeah, sorry."

.

"Good morning, good morning!" Malapad ang ngiting bungad sa amin ni President pagbukas ko ng limousine.

"Morning," childish na bati naman ni Secretary na busy sa pagdila sa lollipop niya. Yung treasurer naman ay tahimik lang sa isang sulok at nakasaksak ang earphones sa mga tenga niya.

"Good morning," at syempre ang kumumpleto sa Student Council, ang walang kaemo-emosyong bati rin sa kanila ni Vice.

"Good morning," tugon ko. Nakikisali lang ako o di kaya ako na lang ang nagsalita bilang proxy ni Treasurer.

"Magt-two weeks ka nang alalay ni Vice President. I'm really surprised to see you alive," galak na sabi ni President.

"Congratulations!" Secretary clapped her hands after throwing the stick of her lollipop outside the window.

"B-binabawi ko na lang sa kain at tulog." I awkwardly smiled.

Nagpapasalamat ako nung nag-iba ang topic nila. They started discussing about their plans for the upcoming prom and Christmas events.

"... Vice President will present it to the Dean and also to the other stockholders of the school. We need a big funding for the staffs and organizers that we'll hire for the ball. Our objective in this project is to make the students enjoy. I will also assign a dress code for the prom, even during enjoyment, we should still remind them that there are always regulations to follow." The President explained.

Swabe ito kung magsalita at kalmado, kung ikukumpara ito kay Vice... masasabi kong mas fit si Klare Villegas sa posisyon bilang President. Kapag magsalita si Vice may owtoridad kahit sino ang kausap... but listening to President sound so weird.

I'm not a psychic or whatever, but I feel like he's pretending. Behind those smiles everytime he talks.

"I agree. Kung walang dress code at guards ay baka may buntisan pang mangyayari kahit itaya ko pa ang dalawang daliri ko. We need guards to deliver them straight home after the prom," inosenteng suggest ni Secretary na parang wala itong malay sa kanyang pinagsasabi.

"Exactly! Treasurer, Vice President, what can you guys say?"

Tumingin ako kay Vice at naguluhan nung half-open ang bibig nito. Yung mga mata niya ay titig na titig kay President as if his words are worth more than billions of dollars.

VOTE PLEASE!