Written On A Canvas

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

"Aly, my arm!" Pilit kong hina-hablot ang braso ko sa pagkaka-angkla ni Alyanna rito. Nakasandal pa ang ulo niya sa akin kaya tinutulak ko siya palayo. Akala niya ata napaka-gaan lang ng ulo niya e halos ako na ang sumusuporta sa katawan niya.

Apparently, kinikilig ang babaeng ito sa lsm na isinend ni Marcus sa kaniya ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas. Until now, she still couldn't get herself together. Pang-apat na beses niya na itong binabasa ngayon.

Nasa labas kami ng canteen dahil recess time naman iyon. Nagdadagsaan ang mga istudyante. Labas-masok sila sa canteen, dala-dala ang mga pagkaing ibinili. Hinihintay lang namin sina Jaime at Angelica na may binalikan pa sa loob bago kami bumalik sa room namin.

Dalawang linggo na rin ang lumipas magmula 'nong bagong taon. On New Year, my family and I spent it at our house. It was a happy celebration, to be honest. My parents were all smiles, my sisters were very vibrant, and I was very happy seeing them like that. I get to be with my family as we welcome another year. But someone wasn't able to welcome it with his.

Actually, I still couldn't get the heaviness I've been feeling, ever since Christmas, out of my chest. It's like when he told that to me... I felt like I was carrying it up until today.

That guy's life was just... heavy.

"Like, ang swerte swerte ko sa kaniya!" tili ni Alyanna. Tagumpay akong nakalayo dito at inayos ang parte ng damit na nakunot niya ng kaunti. I sighed irritatingly and just didn't answer her. Paulit-ulit niya namang sinasabi sa amin iyan, eh.

Kesyo binibigyan siya palagi ng bulaklak na kinuha lang naman sa school garden, na sinesendan siya palagi ng long sweet message, tapos nireregaluhan siya kada monthsary nila. But for me, they couldn't actually be totally happy if they kept it from the ones close to them. For Aly's case? Her family. Let alone Zibon.

"Guys!" Napalingon kami sa entrada ng canteen nang marinig namin ang pag-tawag ni Angelica. May dala itong dalawang plastik na naglalaman ng mga pagkain. Ang ilan riyan ay pahabol ni Alyanna dahil ubos na ang sa kaniya.

"May hotcake ba?" naeexcite na abang ni Alyanna. Ibinigay naman sa kaniya ang plastik at napapalakpak ito ng makita ang laman.

Tahimik lang na umiinom sa chocolate drink si Jaime habang nakasunod. Tumayo siya sa tabi namin at hindi nagsasalita. Patingin-tingin rin ito sa paligid na parang may hinahanap pero sa pasimpleng paraan lamang.

"What?" he asked when he caught me looking at him, suspicious.

"You're awfully silent today," sabi ko sa kaniya sa napansin.

He sneered and fixed his eyeglasses. "I'm always silent."

"Yeah, right," hindi naniniwalang untag ko.

Jaime is a silent guy, yes, but only to those he's not familiar with, comfortable with, and know. But we were his friends. And yeah, I acknowledge him now. I feel like Jaime and I have a good connection with each other. That's why I noticed this little thing about him because he's not usually like this now that the four of us have gotten closer.