He Was My Umbrella

13

I fell asleep minutes after the group hug. Siguro napagod lang ako kakaiyak. I heard birds chirping faintly and then I slowly opened my eyes as the sun's shine hit my sight. I slowly looked around with my eyes only. Nobody was around anymore. But my eyes widened as I heard a snore so close to me. Dahan-dahan akong tumingala and nanlaki lalo ang mga mata ko nang makita ko si Kuya Ren na mapayapang natutulog habang nahilik. Nang tumungo ako, naka pulupot pa rin ang mga braso siya sa akin at nakapulupot rin ang akin sa katawan niya. Napapikit ako ng mariin dahil sa kahihiyan. We cuddled all night! Put-

Dahan-dahan kong tinanggal ang braso niya, hoping he wouldn't wake up. I gasped nang dumilat siya at ginalaw ang kamay niya at nilayo ito sa akin. Nang tingnan ko siya, nakadilat nang malaking malaki ang mga mata niya.

"H-huh?" Naguguluhang ekspresyon niya. "Ba't ganyan mukha mo?"

"Uh, gumising akong nakayakap ka sa akin? Bakit?" Tanong ko pabalik.

"Shit, baka nakatulog na rin ako nung nag yakapan tayo dito tapos hindi ko na natanggal, sorry. Good morning, by the way." Umupo siya at hinilamos ang mukha niya gamit ang kamay niya dahil sa kahihiyan.

"It's okay. By the way, thank you. Good morning, as well." I gave him a faint smile before going to the bathroom. I closed the door and leaned on it and squealed. "Did that really happen?" I whispered to myself.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth while smiling. This was a good morning, indeed. I went out of the bathroom and saw Kuya Ren fixing his hair through my vanity mirror.

"Naks, pogi yarn?"

"Syempre, paano mo magiging crush kung hindi?" He smirked at me. "Tara, breakfast na," he went out of the door and I followed him. We went downstairs and saw that they were already eating.

"Good morning, kumusta ang yakapan?" Bumulong lang si Icah baka kasi may makarinig.

"Ba't hindi niyo tinanggal?" Naiiritang tanong ko.

"Sus, kunwari ka pa ah, kunwari hindi mo gusto," nang-asar si Frances.

At eto na naman po tayo sa katahimikan ni Maverick Renzo. Ba't ba ganun? Talagang hindi nagsasalita pag may ibang tao, ano ba?!

Pagkatapos namin kumain ng breakfast, uuwi na sila. Kami ang maghahatid kaya may time pa akong kausapin sila. Bumaba na sina Icah at Frances sa kabilang kanto dahil doon lang naman sila nakatira.

"Bye, Icah! See you on Sunday!" Kumaway ako bago sila makapasok sa bahay nila.

Nang makarating kami sa bahay nila Kuya Ren, sumama ako sa pagpasok sa bahay para batiin si Tita Sally.

"Tita Sally!" Tumakbo ako sa kanya para yakapin siya.

"Adi! Sana nagsabi ka, sana ipinagluto kita!" Sabi niya habang yakap ako.

"Ay, hindi na! Hindi po ako magtatagal, hinatid ko lang po sila," nakita kong nasa pintuan pa din si Kuya Ren at hinihintay ata ako. "Sige na po, Tita. Aalis na po ako. Bye po!"

Lumabas ako sa pintuan at sinamahan ako ni Kuya Ren hanggang sa kotse.

"Hey, thank you for yesterday, I had fun. Also, take care. Bye, Adi," he patted my head and rubbed my back.

"Bye, Kuya! I had fun, too." I smiled at him and went back to the car.

A month went by and our friendship remained strong. We see each other every week at church, we go on friend dates with Ate Rach sometimes. Last week, I went to their house and spent the day there because Tita Sally invited me to.

Yes, we had a few misunderstandings but we try to solve as soon as possible. Our fight doesn't last for one day. I try my best to understand the other side and I also he tries too. Mabuti na lang na 'di lang ako ang nag e-effort sa friendship na ito.

A week before my birthday, I was at Cheska's house for a sleepover.

"So, ayun na nga. Hindi nga natuloy 'yung plan mo, right? Na you said that you will distance yourself na?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Believe me, you don't know how much I wanted to. Pero ayun, e. There's nothing wrong with my 'crush' on him. Siya na mismo nagsabi. Besides, it's fading.... by 0.000001% each week," nahihiyang sagot ko sa kanya.

"Wow, so amazing, Adelaide. You know sometimes I just wanna sapak you na," she rolled her eyes at me. "You're just lucky that he treats a young friend right."

"Look, alam kong may iba siyang kaibigan at hindi naman kami as in totally best friends. Nagkataon lang na ilang beses kami nagkikita noong June, last week pa nga 'yung last encounter namin, e," sabi ko ng malumanay.

"Well, I just really hope that he is consistent. Because, I'm telling you, I'll be the one to sapak him if he, in some way, hurts you," matapang na sabi niya.

"Hay nako, Francheska. He would never."

Would he?

I shook my head and closed my eyes and opened them when I heard Cheska strum her guitar.

"Lagi kong naalala," pagkanta niya.

"Ang kanyang tindig at porma," pagtuloy ko naman.

"At kapag siya ay nakita," tumingin siya sa akin.

I smiled before I continued, "Kinikilig akong talaga," tumawa ako ng bahagya. "'Di naman siya sobrang gwapo,"

"Ngunit siya ang type na type mo," binago niya ang lyrics.

"Bakit ba ganito ang nadarama ng puso ko?"

"Aba'y malay ko, ask mo si Earth," sarkastikong sagot niya sa akin.

"Mr?"

"Kupido." Kinikilig akong sumagot. "Ako nama'y tulungan mo. Ba't hindi panain, ang kanyang damdamin, at nang ako ay mapansin!"

Tumawa ako at nakatulog na rin maya-maya. Cheska really knew how to understand me. Kahit ba pasimpleng pagkanta, nababasa niya ang isip ko.

August 19

"Happy birthday, teenager!" I greeted myself through the mirror. I washed my face, brushed my teeth. I woke up early for my birthday, 'cause why not?  It's another chapter in my life and I guess the last chapter was long that's why I'm thrilled for this next one.

Bumaba ako at kakain na sana ng breakfast nang magulat sa nakita. Mayroon lang doon tinapay at palaman. At wala rin si Daddy.

Did he really leave on the day of my 13th birthday?

I turned my face into a frown. I didn't have the appetite to eat anymore. I went upstairs and just opened my phone. Tons of notifications already popped up. Greetings here, greetings there. I all thanked them one by one.

Napansin ko na hindi pa ako binabati ng mga close friends ko.

May shared post pero walang bati?

Nanggagago ba 'tong mga 'to?! Seriously ba?! First of all, wala si Daddy sa bahay kasi chineck ko kanina, may business trip siya na hindi niya pala kinancel! And then now, walang greetings ang friends ko?! Imposible. Baka hindi pa lang nila naiisipan.

I started to overthink again. I didn't eat lunch since wala talaga akong gana. I locked myself up in my room and nag marathon na lang. I just ate chips the whole day, waiting for those 6 birthday greetings but none of them came. I checked my clock and it was already 7 pm. I was about to go to the bathroom when suddenly my phone rang. I hurriedly went back to the bed and muntik pa mahulog ang phone ko dahil nagmamadali ako.

"Hello?"

[Hey.] His voice sent shivers all over my body. [Happy birthday, Adi.]

I think my soul just left my body.

Tears started to form in my eyes, I don't know why.

[Meet me,] Kuya Renzo said in a low voice.

"Where?" I asked.

[Think about the place where you first met me.]

*****