The Seat We Sit On (HFS #1)

seat #32

Maddie fondly pushes me toward Rico. A series of greetings, in the mixture tone of the boys' awkwardness and the girls' shameless giggles, quite overwhelms Rico. I smile at him, encouraging to greet back. As far as I know, I'm the friendless one. Siya nga, may Clinton na kasa-kasama. Hindi nagtagal, naka-adjust din naman siya.

"Ah, ihahatid mo siya?" the mother of the group, Yara, asked.

"Oo. Magkakaklase kayo?"

Santi butts in, "oo bro. Parehas kami lahat ng strand."

"Sa'n kayo sasakay?"

Iminuwestra ni Rico ang bisekleta sa gilid. Iba iyon sa laging hinihiram niya kay Clinton. The sleek black accents and smooth shine of the metal indicates that it is newly bought. Kaniya ba iyon?

Yumuko si Aaron sa gilid ko. "'Kala ko sa kotse," bulong-bulong niya na narinig ko naman. Nginisian ko siya.

"Ingatan mo si Sha. Mahal na mahal namin 'yan!" Esme shamelessly shouts. Nakaturo pa ang hintuturo kay Rico, animo'y pinagbabantaan. I chuckle.

Rico nods at them in between little laughs. Kumaway na ako sa kanila para magpaalam. Agad akong binalot ng yakap ni Maddie. I roll my eyes. Para namang hindi kami magkikita nito sa Lunes!

I wave my hand to bid goodbye one more time before riding the back seat. Rico pedals. I embrace him from the back. His usual scent conquers my sense of smell as I close my eyes from the slaps of the wind and leaves falling from the acacia trees on both sides of the road. From then on, we are on our own bubble of solitude.

"They're already your friends?" he confirms. Tumango ako.

"Someone's social skills are improving, huh?"

I can hear the subtle teasing on his tone.

"'Di kaya!" I shrug. "They just adopted me." Hinigpitan ko ang yakap mula sa likod. "Kaysa naman sa 'yo, nag-downgrade!"

"Just got overwhelmed."

"Aysus!"

Sa amin siya kumain ng dinner dahil mapilit si Ate Marley. Nagtagal pa siya nang kaunti bago umuwi. He kisses my forehead and a peck on my lips before he bids goodbye.

"Good night," he whispers on my left ear.

"Mag-ingat ka."

He rode his bicycle. Ang sabi niya, susunduin siya ng driver nila sa may tapat ng Collins High. I doubt it but he assured me.

Sinasara ko ang gate namin nang tumunog ang phone ko. I fish it from my pocket and I saw Celeste Martin Alvarez's phone number popping on the screen. I accept the call. A short-lived static ring on the other side. My right ear flinches.

"Hello po, tita."

"Hi, hija. I just want to know if you're with Rico. O baka may ginawang group project? It's almost eight and he's not yet at home," she worriedly asks.

Napalunok ako. He said that their driver will fetch him in front of Collins High School. Akala ko nagpapaalam si Rico tuwing ginagabi siya sa amin.

"Uh, galing po siya sa amin. Kakauwi lang po. Pasensiya na at hindi kami nakapagsabi, tita." My voice filled with reluctance.

"I see. Saan siya sumakay pauwi? A PUV? May nadaan bang papunta sa Alta Homes at this hour?" The worry on her voice did not cease. Unti-unti na akong ginagapangan ng hiya. I feel like it is my fault.

"Ang sabi po, susunduin siya ng driver niyo sa Collins High kaya roon po siya pumunta." I bit my lips.

"Huh? B-but Kuya Leo ran some errands. Sorry sa abala, hija, but can you call Rico back? Diyan na lang namin siya sunduin mamaya."