Querencia (Takeo Brothers Series #1)

Finale

Finale: R.J.T.

I was one of those people who believes that it was impossible to fall in love at a young age. Obviously, that's the ridiculous thing that don't exist. I grew up without a mom because of an accident years ago. I then hated the word 'love'. The inventor of that word must get himself into jail. That word was a big nonsense to me.

"Late ka na naman, Takeo!" sigaw ni Gelo nang makasalubong ko siya sa school gate. Papangalawa lang siya sa akin pero ako ang una niyang napuna kaysa sa sarili niya na late rin at tagaktak ang pawis--makapasok lang bago ang flag ceremony namin.

I ignored him and ran inside the covered court where the other kids were lined up. Pumila ako sa section ko at pinunasan ang aking pawis sa noo. Fortunately, our Monday flag ceremony was about to start. Tahimik akong humugot ng hininga at inayos ang bag pack strap ko sa magkabilang balikat.

When I was twelve, I transferred to an elementary school here in the Philippines. I'm currently a grade five student. I have friends. Their name was Gelo and Matthew. They're not the 'best' of all friends but sometimes I could refer them as one.

Hindi ako Pilipino o pinanganak sa bansang ito. No Filipino relatives nor bloodline. I just live here with my little brother and my father. Aside of I want to discover what are the culture of these Philippine people, I want to stay here as well because this is the country where my mother took her last breath. Ang bansa kung saan inagaw sa amin ang nag-iisa kong ina.

"Bakit wala pa si Matthew? Absent?" tanong ni Gelo, nakapila sa aking likod.

Umiling ako at nagkibitbalikat. Hapong-hapo siyang tumuwid nang tayo no'ng may dumaan sa aming gilid. Isang babae na hanggang leeg ko lang ang tangkad.

"Umayos ka sa linya mo, Cabreros. Buti nakaabot ka sa flag ceremony?" mataray na tanong ng babae.

Dumapo ang tingin ko sa mukha niya. She has soft and modish face features. Her eyes were round and upturned. She also has pointed nose, heavy lower lip, paper white delicate skin and medium length hair that was surely silky. Tumikhim ako sa nakahalukiplip niyang braso.

She's Dinnese. My schoolmate. She may not know it but she's pretty popular in our campus. Tons of boys had crush on her. Including me. I was swayed by her charisma and beauty. She's not that normal average girl. She's my standard dream girl that I want to wait for until the exact age of marriage.

Inayos ko ang aking nagusot na kwelyo nang mapalingon siya sa akin. Sinipat niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa bago umalis. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at bahagyang napangiti. Ang liit-liit pero ang lakas magtaray.

"Maldita talaga ni Dinnese. Bagay na bagay siya bilang SPG President," tawa ni Gelo.

I was always rooting for her since who knows when. I've always clapped my hands whenever she's on top of the stage and absorbing every wonderful words that comes out from her mouth. Nakakahalina ang bawat galaw niya't hindi kumukupas ang nakakabighani niyang ngiti. Pangalan pa lang niya ang naririnig ko, natutunaw na ang aking tuhod.

Ingat na ingat kong tinago ang aking lihim na pagtingin sa kanya noon. I did my best to be arrogant and snob to avoid her catching speculations that I like her. Ayaw kong mahiya siya sa akin. Ayaw kong iwasan niya ako dahil sa romansang nararamdaman ko sa kanya.

Noong unang araw ko bilang estudyante sa paaralang ito, Dinnese and I were classmates. Hindi pa ako masyadong marunong sa lengguwahe nila kaya't walang nagtatangkang lumapit sa akin. I was dumbfounded but it's fine. Hindi naman ako nag-aaral para makipagkaibangan. Nag-aaral ako para may matutuhan.