On The Thin Ice

Chapter 15

"Tita, where's Ragel?" I asked to Ragel's Mom.

I really don't know why I came here.
After I visited Viona pumunta na'ko dito kasi gusto ko lang.

Natawa naman si tita sa tanong ko ngunit seryoso lang akong nakatingin sa kanina. Siya lang kasi 'yong taong nakita ko sa living room nila.

"She's at the backyard, having fun with Vesper" nakangiting sagot nito.

"Who's Vesper?" I asked while my forehead furrowed.

"Ragel's suitor" nakangiting sagot pa rin nito na lalong ikinakunot ng noo ko.

"She has a suitor" I plainly stated

"Kahapon lang bumalik ang batang 'yon" sabi nito at naiiling pa.

I don't know why I feel like this but it kinda hurts.

"Halika, ihahatid kita doon" sabi ni tita na ikinailing ko sa kanya

"No tita, I'll go there by myself, magpahinga ka nalang" sabi ko sa kanya na sinunod niya naman.

I started to walk towards their backyard as I heard them laughing. They're really having fun ha? I saw them happily talking to each other, I stared at that tall guy na ngayon ko lang nakita and I think that's Vesper, who's Tita talking about.

He has looks, looks like dog. Mukha palang halatang bastos at arugante na e tapos nag babait-baitan pa.

Stop it, Kale. Don't judge him. 

"Ate Kale!" sigaw ni Ysa ng makita ako

Nabaling naman ang atensyon nila sa'kin, even Miss Ragel na naka kunot-noo lang.

I walked closer to them as I nodded to Tito and Vent, tamad akong magsalita ngayon. 

"What are you doing here, Kale? Visiting mom?" Vent asked while smiling

"Yeah" tipid na sagot ko at napatingin sa hawak nilang baril.

"Don't mind this Kale" sabi nito ng makitang nakatingin ako sa baril na hawak niya

"Btw Kale, this is Vesper, Ragels' suitor. And Vesper this Kale, Ragel's student"

Pakilala niya sa lalaking nakangiti sa'kin. Inabot nito sa'kin ang kamay for handshake ngunit tiningnan ko lang ito.

"Ah Kuya Vesper, Ate Kale don't do the handshake" biglang sabi ni Ysa

"Ow sorry 'bout that" sabi nito at binawi ang kamay sabay ngiti at napakamot sa ulo. 

I nodded on him at lumapit sa kina-ruroonan nina Miss Ragel at Ysa.
I crossed my arms and hardly looked at Miss Ragel, who's currently busy watching her suitor. Naramdaman siguro nito na may nakatingin sa kanya kaya bumaling ang tingin nito sa'kin tsaka ako tinaasan ng kilay

"What?" mataray na tanong nito.

I struggled my shoulders on her na ikina-irap niya sa'kin bago muling tumingin dun sa tatlong lalaki.

Nakarinig ako ng ilang beses na putok ng baril kaya nabaling ako kina Vent.

They do the gun shooting, medyo malayo 'yong target nila.

"Vesper, its your turn" sabi ni Tito at hinubad 'yong suot niyang headphones and goggles.

"I bet hindi niya matatamaan 'yong target" sabat ni Ysa na nasa gilid ko.

"Yeah, parang bakla nga humawak ng baril 'yan" sabat ko kaya naman hinampas ako ni Miss Ragel sa balikat na ikinadaing ko.

Tawang tawa lang naman si Ysa sa sinabi ko samantalang 'yong isa ay masama lang ang tingin sa'kin.