Woven on Time (Student Series #3)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Being friends with Kuya Wilder was heaven-sent. I don't know what kind of chant he performed yesterday to my parents, particularly Mommy, for them to let me attend our practice today. Kung ako lang siguro ang nagpaalam, titiklop agad ako kay Mommy pa lang.

"You're so aga po!" bungad ko kay Kuya Wai nang alas onse pa lang ay namataan ko na siyang naglalakad sa gitna ng aming living room. 

Binilisan ko ang lakad pababa ng hagdan upang salubungin siya habang pinagmamasdan ang kaniyang ayos. He was wearing a black graphic shirt, a pair of worn out jeans, and a pair of high cut shoes—his typical casual attire. 

"You're so aga po," he mimicked my words and voice while his head was exaggeratingly moving sideways.

Lumabi ako at tumigil sa paglalakad nang nasa paahan na ng hagdanan. My voice wasn't as squeaky as he did. Why would he do that? He parted his lips with a taunting smile. He stalked in my direction and put on a stop when he was already in front of me.

Yumuko siya nang kaunti at kinalabit ang ilong ko. "Bilis namang sumimangot ng minion."

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya at nagtanong, "Kumain na po ba kayo? Dito po ba kayo kakain kaya maaga po kayo?"

Napahawak siya sa tiyan at hinimas iyon bago lumapit nang tuluyan sa akin. Isinampay niya ang kaliwang braso sa balikat ko at isinama sa kaniyang paglakad.

"Galing mo diyan, bebe girl. Masarap ang ulam namin pero mas masarap kumain kapag kasama ka," he said before he winked at me.

"Masarap din po ang ulam namin!" maligayang sabi ko habang nakatingala sa kaniya. "But I'm not sure po what our ulam is for today. But I had my breakfast earlier po, ah? Iba lang po talaga ang niluluto ni Manang Ising kapag tanghalian po."

His lower lip curved inside his mouth and he cruised his tongue over it. Tumingin siya sa kabilang dako at kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig siyang bumubulong. To whom he was talking?

"May sinasabi po ba kayo?" 

Lumingon siya sa akin saglit at naningkit ang mata bago tumingin sa harap. "Wala, bubwit."

Mommy told me that every second matters. She taught me to be punctual every time there is an event or occasion we have to attend. I was never late for school; thus, I always got the most punctual award. Iyon na siguro ang bukod tanging maipagmamalaki ko bilang isang estudyante.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ni Kuya Wilder, nagpahinga muna kami ng mahigit kalahating oras bago umalis ng bahay para pumunta na ng school. Yesterday, nagsabi si Mommy na ipahahatid na lang kami kay Kuya Gibo pero ngayon... hindi ko alam kung paano ako nahila ni Kuya Wai rito sa labas ng subdivision namin nang walang pumipigil sa amin.

Wait, no... He didn't drag me through here on the sidewalk, standing and waiting for a public utility vehicle under the glaring sun. Nakakawit ang aking braso kay Kuya Wai habang hawak-hawak niya ang payong kung kulay dilaw at may mata ng isang minion.

"First time mo mag-commute, 'di ba?" Nilingon niya ako.

"Uhm... opo. Paano po ba 'yan, Kuya Wai? Ihahatid din po tayo ng sasakyan natin sa school po?"

He chuckled. "Oo."

"Ilan po tayong ihahatid niya?"

"Depende kung ilan ang kasabay nating pasahero."

Oh... Tumango-tango ako. "Magkano po ang suweldo po natin sa driver? Mahal po kaya? I don't have much money in my wallet po, e. I only have like... five thousand? Okay na po kaya 'yon or kulang pa po?"