Missed Pages ✔︎

Chapter 3

LOOKING FORWARD

“Sunday fun day ba ʼto?” tanong ni Jonas.

“Maybe.” with Seven answering his question, his humor was broken.

Nanatili akong tahimik habang kasabay ko silang kumain ng hapunan dito sa loob ng Resto de Estrell. I planned this meeting for the whole group with Adrian. Sa ngayon, tahimik lang din siya sa tabi ko habang kumakain. The three clowns—Primo, Andy and Seven—were just arguing about random things.

“Do we really need to join the competition next month?” tanong ni Adrian na pumukaw sa atensyon naming lahat.

Agad na napatanong si Cyrus, “Why not, Adrian? Lagi naman tayong sumasali ʼdi ba?”

“Yeah.” Adrian huffed. “But lately, we are as busy as a bee.” he then adviced, “We should probably take a short rest.”

Heʼs got a point. We should listen to him for he was just concern for all of us. Napapansin ko rin talaga na bibihira na lamang kami magkita-kita dahil sa sobrang abala ng bawat isa sa amin. It is the season where we should focus more on school life. Hindi naman siguro ibig sabihin niyon ay hindi na kami sasali sa mga susunod na kompetisyon.

“Marami pa namang next events dito sa SDA.” I added to what Adrian said.

They all agreed to us. That was a good thing. Hindi na kami mapapagod mag-isip ng steps and all that regards to the competition.

“For now, kumain na lang tayo.” sabi ni Primo. Has he always been a glutton or what? Nakakapagtaka nga dahil sa aming lahat ay siya itong laging kain ng kain pero ang ganda pa rin ng hulma ng kaniyang katawan. Parang hindi nadadagdagan ng timbang.

After having dinner with my friends, umuwi na agad ako. This dinner time with them was kinda draining to my energy. I spoke a lot because they asked a lot. More on how was my relationship status and how Iʼm doing with Liana as my friend.

I, as an honest person, didnʼt lie a bit about how I spend time with such a pretty lady like Liana herself.

— MISSED PAGES —

“Marcus, come downstairs, Adrian is here.” I heard my mom outside my room knocking trice.

What about Adrian being here early in the morning.

Kinapa ko ang phone ko sa ilalim ng aking unan na ubod ng lambot. Nakapikit pa rin ang aking mata dahil inaantok pa ako. I woke up earlier than usual because Adrian—that jerk—came without informing me first. I shouldʼve wake up earlier.

When I opened my right eye slightly I saw the fucking time. Itʼs just 6:30am?!

Kinusot ko pa ang mata ko para lang masigurong tama ang nakita kong oras.

Fuck it. 6:30am talaga ang oras.

Sa inis ko, hindi ako bumaba para magpakita kay Adrian. Akala siguro niya ay pupuntahan ko siya agad ngayon. No way.

I felt frustrated so I attempted to return back to bed.

A minute later, Iʼve decided that it was a bad shot because I canʼt fall asleep. So I stood up and hurried to my bookshelves to pick the recent book that Iʼve been reading.

I sat at the front of the window and started reading it. That calmed my nerves.

“Gumising ka na!” a loud knock came from outside my door.

I am certain, it is Adrian.

“Gising ako, tanga.” ganti ko.

“Then open the door.” aniya, unti-unti nang nagiging kalmado.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. Wala naman na akong magagawa. Tumayo ako at ipinatong ang libro sa lamesa. Dinalian ko ang pagbukas ng pinto baka wasakin iyon ni Adrian kapag hindi ko siya pinagbuksan.

“What are you doing here earliest in the morning?” I glared at him.

“Sabay tayong pumasok mamaya.” joy beamed in his eyes like an excited puppy whoʼs about to get his treat.

I rolled my eyes, “Shut up and make me some coffee first.” utos ko.

“Ah oo nga. Nakalimutan ko.” napakamot lamang siya sa batok. “Teka lang, babalik ako.”

“ʼWag ka nang bumalik.” I murmured. Gratefully, his ears arenʼt as sensitive as mine.

At sino ba naman kasing matinong tao ang pupuntahan ka ng pagkaaga-aga para lang yayain kang sabay pumasok sa eskwela?

Minsan, hindi ko rin talaga maintindihan itong si Adrian.

Nang bumalik siya ay dala niya na ang kape. Mabuti na lamang at alam niya ang timpla ng kape na lagi kong iniinom tuwing umaga. Madalas kasi siyang pumupunta rito ng umaga.

Pinaupo ko siya sa harap ng study table ko na kaharap ng kama ko.

“Adrian, okay ka lang?” tanong ko.

Kumunot naman ang kaniyang noo at napatanong, “Oo naman. Bakit?”

“Wala ka bang sakit sa utak?”

“Youʼre so mean.”

“Anyways why are you here?” I felt irritated, remembering the words he told me a while ago. “Maliban sa yayain akong sumabay sa ʼyo sa pagpasok, ano pa ang kailangan mo sa akin?”

Biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon niya. Bumagsak ang kaniyang balikat na sinabayan naman ng kaniyang malalim na paghinga bigla. “Liana has been quiet recently.”

I looked to him with a questioning look. He then averted his eyes from me. What was his problem...?

“I just thought...” he kept on fiddling with his fingers. “May napag-usapan ba kayong hindi niya nagustuhan or something else?”

That freezed me to the core.

— MISSED PAGES —

“Nga pala may competition ulit next month ah. Anong plano niyo ng Aces?” iniba niya ang usapan.

“Pag-uusapan pa namin ng Aces kung sasali kami.” sagot ko. Nagbago ang pinta ng mukha niya na ipinagtaka ko naman. “Oh, bakit ganiyan ʼyung mukha mo?”

“Hindi kayo sasali?” she started pouting. That is the cutest thing Iʼve ever seen in my whole life.

I was quite confused with her reaction. “Pag-iisipan pa namin.” I repeated.

“Lagi naman kayong sure na sasali ah? Anong nangyari ngayon?” magkasunod na naman na tanong ang ibinigay niya sa akin. She really likes asking.

“Eh kasi siyempre, weʼre starting to get busy dahil malapit na ang finals.”

“Hmm... I hope sumali ulit kayo like what you always do.”

— MISSED PAGES —

Did my answer upset her?

I stared at Adrian for a while, was I having difficulties in answering a simple question now?

“Just to make things clear, I am not blaming you that sheʼs kinda feeling down these days.” I clarified. “I am just asking since sinabi mo nung nakaraang araw na dapat ko siyang i-comfort.”

“She must have been looking forward to our registration for next month.”

“Do you mean that she is expecting Aces to join the competition?” he asked. Then I silently nodded.

He curled his hand into a fist. With his chin resting in his fist, his forehead furrowed. He was diving deep into his thoughts.

He suddenly asks after a minute of silence, “What do you think we should do?”