Woven on Time (Student Series #3)

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"Hello po! This is Tala speaking. I have a cell phone now. Please, save my number!"

I spread the news through phone calls with my new gadget. Dad bought it for me before they flew to New Zealand for business, leaving me alone again in our house. Magtatagal daw sila roon kaya habang wala sila, ito raw muna ang pagkaabalahan ko bukod sa pag-crochet ngayong summer vacation.

May mga number ako nina Twyla, Kuya Wilder, Kuya Rain, at Kuya Dwight dahil naka-save iyon sa isa sa mga phone ni Mommy. Dad taught me the basic manipulation of this phone last night. And after having my breakfast this morning, I called my cousins and friends one by one.

Nauna kong tinawagan si Twyla at Kuya Dwight. Sumunod si Kuya Rain na minura ako kahit hindi pa ako nakakapagsalita. Huwag daw akong tatawag ulit kung ayaw kong mapa-pulis. I told Manang about it and cried a river on her shoulder before gathering my courage to call Kuya Wilder.

"No way. What's the secret code?"

My brow puckered in confusion. "I believe I don't know what the secret code is because it's a secret and if I had known, then it would only be a code, not a secret code."

He chuckled on the other line. "Love you."

"Love you too, Kuya Wai! Save my number, please?"

"Alright, Miss Minion. Gonna save that nickname of yours in my contacts." There was shuffling on his line. "Gusto mong pumunta sa bahay mamaya? Sama mo si Twyla."

I pouted. "Pupunta po ako kina Kuya Dwight, e. Susunduin niya po ako mamaya. Pero si Twy po, baka gusto."

After my conversation with him, I took my time in the bathroom until osmosis occurred on my finger pads. I prepared my white shirt and brown jumper skirt beforehand on my bed. Sa ibaba ng kama naman ay ang pares ng puti kong sneakers.

I wore the yellow bandana Twyla gave me. Ito ang kauna-unahang ginawa niya para sa akin pagkatapos niyang matutong gumawa nito. It was so precious I always get afraid I'd lose it everytime I'm wearing it. Dahil kina Kuya Dwight lang naman ako pupunta, kampante akong gamitin ito ngayon.

At least if my head would be suddenly bandana-less, sa sasakyan o sa bahay lang nila ang pagpipilian kung saan ito posibleng malaglag.

"Done!" I beamed at myself in the mirror.

Gumawa ako ng bag kung saan magkakasya ang mga gamit ko. I used plastic mesh to make it more durable. After checking my things twice, I dashed toward the ajar door. Nasa hagdanan na ako habang humuhuni na parang ibon nang dumapo ang tingin ko sa may living room at natagpuan si Kuya El.

He was just standing there near our sectional sofa with his hand pocketed in his ripped pants. He swept his hair using his fingers from his forehead to back but ended up tousling it. Tumingala siya sa akin pero naagaw ni Manang ang atensyon niya nang dumating ito at may dalang inumin.

"Upo ka muna, hijo. Tatawagin ko lang si Tala at sasabihin kong narito ka."

"Salamat, Manang. Nasa hagdan na po ang alaga ninyo," ani Kuya El at humalakhak saglit bago uminom sa ibinigay sa kaniya.

Bumaba na ako nang tuluyan at lumapit sa kanila. I waved at Kuya El and grinned.

"Hello po, Kuya El! Welcome to our house! Bakit ka po nandito?"

"Ay naku!" Kinurot ni Manang ang pisngi ko nang mahina. "Ikaw talagang bata ka, oo! Hindi mo sinabi na ngayon darating ang magbabantay sa 'yo."

Hinimas ko ang pisngi habang nakatingin kay Manang. "Po? Ano pong magbabantay?"