“Ano ang kailangan mo? Bakit ka may dalang candy?”
It was a fine Monday early in the morning and I was sitting on the couch while eyeing Klein. I yawned. Ang aga niyang dumalaw. Kagigising ko pa lang at siyempre, suot ko pa ang pantulog ko. Ang aga niya kasing dumating, eh. Pinagising pa ako ni Mama sa kasambahay namin para lang ma-acknowledge ang presensiya ng elementong ito. Early bird 'yan?
Klein smiled and pushed his eyeglasses upwards. “Ah, the kid gave it to me. Sa iyo na.”
Kumunot ang noo ko. “Pumunta ka lang ba rito para ibigay sa akin 'yang candy?”
Klein was fast to shake his head. “No. I visited you to know your answer regarding the. . .” he trailed off and looked at me meaningfully.
I sighed. “Alright, Klein.”
His brows knitted in evident confusion. “What do you mean by that, Ayell?”
“No.”
“No?”
“I am declining it.”
“The what?” His eyes widened and his stares dropped on the plastic of candies. “Y-You're seriously declining the kid's gift she gave to you—”
“I am saying no to your offer, you idiot!” I hissed and almost hit him in his chest. Pero nanggigigil talaga ako sa pagiging slow niya minsan kaya naman ay nahampas ko siya sa braso. Bahagya pa akong kinabahan dahil baka ma-dislocate ang buto niya or worst, matanggal.
Kung hahampasin ko naman siya sa dibdib niya ay nangangamba rin akong baka ubuhin siya ng sampung taon. Pero I doubt na magkakaroon ng ubo ang nilalang na ito sa isang hampas lang. Mukhang sampung suntok muna bago pa man mangyari 'yon. I sighed and continued, “Besides, the gift was obviously not for me.”
I rolled my eyes when he looked taken aback. Nakahawak siya sa braso niyang hinampas ko. Mukhang hindi naman yata siya nasaktan.
“What offer were you talking about?” Confusion was evident in his voice.
“Aba ang tanga mo naman.” I gave him a sarcastic smile. He blinked twice. Umusok ang ilong ko sa inis. Slow pa rin siya! “Bahala ka na nga riyan!”
Tumayo ako pero mabilis ang ginawang pagkilos niya. Nahawakan niya ako sa pulsuhan bago pa man ako makaalis. He has that knowing smile. And he's obviously just teasing me! Ang lawak ng ngiti niya na parang nanalo sa lotto!
“I was just kidding you.” He chuckled when my brows furrowed. “Hindi ka na talaga mabiro, ano?”
Binawi ko ang kamay kong hawak niya. Pinagkrus ko ang aking braso at muling naupo. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “Mukha bang may oras akong makipagbiruan sa 'yo?”
Naku, huwag na huwag niya akong iinisin. Inisin mo na ang lahat, huwag lang ang bagong gising. Kulang pa nga ako sa tulog tapos ganito pa siya? Hah, aba!
Klein raised both of his hands like he's surrendering. I rolled my eyes again kasi nakangisi pa rin siya sa akin. Kung hindi ko lang talaga siya kilala, aakalain kong ibang Klein ang kaharap ko ngayon. Baliw na bersyon ng inosenteng lampa noon.
“But you really do?” he asked afterwards and I just nodded. “Why?”
I sighed. “I want to do it alone. I want to get through this all alone. I don't need your help nor my family's. I just want to put this all an end all by myself.”
He offered me a tempting thing. He learned that I am looking for a temporary job as I am slowly stepping on the stone to my main goal. I don't want to depend on my clan's money. I want it to do it alone. I don't want my family's wealthiness be my stepping stone.
BINABASA MO ANG
Guarding Thy Innocence ✓
AçãoGuard everything, but not thy innocence. - Damned #1 Ayell's *** Note: This piece was written back in my jeje era, so expect errors ( grammatical & typographical ) and other ka-jeje-han scenes and lines ( that sometimes, you would find disturbing. )
