That night in plaza was pretty fun. I spent the rest of that night with Hugo. Wala kaming ginawa kundi panoorin ang mga taong sumisigaw sigaw.
He really didn't want us to go to the Frisbee. He's boring.
We looked for Alonna and her dear friend but we couldn't find them. Hindi ko na din nahanap ang iba kong kaibigan kaya pinagbikit balikat ko nalang iyon.
Upon having a long awkward conversation with Hugo. I learned that Añonuevo is actually his cousin. Hindi na ako magtataka. Both of them have the same I-don't-care-about-the-world-look. Oh, well. Birds with the same feather flocks together.
Matalim akong tinignan ni Mommy nang dumaan ako sa harapan niya. I stopped to curiously look at her, too. I am wearing my uniform today and I ironed my hair neatly. What does she want?
"Have you seen Hugo Carvajal these days, Nichoella?"
I paused.
Dahan dahan akong umiling. "No... why?"
Liar. I just met him last weekend.
"He must think he's too handsome to ignore you like that..." nakatingala niyang sabi at mukhang nag-iisip.
I suddenly remembered what he said last time. I don't know why but I felt serene and at peace that he was seeing me again. I never bawled about it, a thing that I would do... but didn't.
Should I tell her Mom about that? Oh, no. Of course not.
"He must not like your music!" she exclaimed. Parang tumama siya sa lotto nang ibunyag niya iyon.
That is stupid!
"Of course, not."
"Sus maryosep. Baka isipin niyang jologs ang anak ko!"
Ngumanga ako. What?
"Mommy!"
Umiling iling siya at sinapo ang noo. "Tumataas dugo ko sayo, Nichoella. Go to school and dress appropriately!"
"I am dressing appropriately!"
"Oh, come on. Look at your shirt, why is it oversized? I don't know if it's a hand-me-down shirt or a basahan!"
I groaned. "I don't want to deal with you today, Mom!"
Padabog akong lumabas.
She lost her mind over this matter. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakakatiis sa mga insulto niyang ganoon. My brother must've been through hell with her! Paano niya natitiis iyon?
"So..." humalukipkip si Alonna sa harapan ko. "Carvajal, huh?"
Humalukipkip din ako. "De Loughrey, huh?"
Tumawa siya at mahinang hinampas ang braso ko.
We're on their house for a practice. Wala rito ang Papa niya ngayon, madalas naman ay wala talaga. We're using their empty room as our studio. Lahat ng equipments namin ay nandito.
Nawawala ang stress ko tuwing nagprapractice kami. I like how these girls are professional when playing.
"Are you two going out already?" she said while opening a can of diet coke.
The three are obviously late. Palagi naman.
"No."
Ngumuso ako at mahinahong tinatambol ang base drum. My drums looks old. Iniyakan ko ito kay Dad para bilhan niya ako. I was 17 when I had this. Matagal na din.
