"Ikaw? May plano kang umalis dito?"
I was taken aback with his words, once again.
Should I tell him the truth?
Sa totoo lang, medyo nararamdaman ko na ang malapit kong pag-alis. Tito Dons has been quite busy, pero ang sinasabi niya ay mga personal matters niya lang iyon sa capital. He's been saying na it's just his old friends who lives there, gusto raw siya makita. Ngunit sa tingin ko, inaasikaso niya na ang tungkol sa paglipat ko.
I was still thinking of tito Dons' words nang marinig ko ang mga yapak mula sa corridor. Mukhang paparating na si Jinx.
I gave a sigh before answering. Pinaglaru-laruan ko pa ang mga daliri ko.
"Wala pa naman." Sagot ko.
In the end, I could not tell him the truth.
Ano ba ang pumipigil sa akin na sabihin sa kaniya? Dahil ba ayaw ko nang gawin pang mas kumplikado ang aming usapan?
He asked if I had plans to leave this island. I don't know why I'm hesitating.
"Ikaw?" I asked Jinx when he came into the room.
"Ako? Anong meron sa 'kin" He asked.
Kinuha niya ang bag niyang nasa tabi ko lang at sinuot na ito.
"May balak kang umalis sa isla?" Tanong ko pa.
Tila napatigil naman siya bago tumango-tango.
"Actually, I'm not taking college here." He answered before giving a smile.
It's like he planned this all along, and the people around him knew that he 'd leave soon. Of course, hindi niya naman kami close relatives para malaman agad ang tungkol dito. Neo probably knew this.
I kind of envy him. I envy him for easily telling the truth.
Maybe, I just don't want the people around me to treat me differently just because I, too, am moving soon. Ayaw ko lang din na palagi nilang isipin na aalis ako. I just want to make the best memories as much as I can without thinking of the upcoming major changes in my life, kasi may oras para doon na ilalaan ko.
"Ang lapit na." Rue replied. He too, stood up wearing his backpack.
"Four months left." Dagdag niya pa.
And just like that, Rue left for his competition.
Rue won't be around for a week.
Today is Saturday. For Rue, start na ng program nila. For us, this isn't any common Saturday either. Nag-start na mag-open ang mga college admissions mula sa iba't-ibang universities, especially the ones from the capital.
Jinx and Neo are quite busy applying for online admissions, iyon ang pinagkakaabalahan nila ngayon. Pareho silang tutok sa mga laptop nila.
Although I want to apply along with them, hanggang ngayo'y hindi pa rin ako nagkakalakas ng loob sabihin sa kanila. Nag-apply na rin ako sa ibang college admissions, pinagpuyatan ko kagabi.
Hindi na nag-abala si Gyin na mag-apply sa mga college admissions sa labas ng isla, she's already set her goal to pursue a career here.
Si Ayi at Clee, they're a year younger than us, kaya next school year pa nila poproblemahin ang college admissions.
"Isang linggo kang nakasimangot niyan." Ayi said out of the blue.
Muntik na lumagpas ang pinipinta ko!
"Hala, kapag nagkamali ka, hindi ka na kasama sa babayaran nina tita Ginna." Gatong naman ni Clee na pinaglalaruan ang mga pintura sa lapag, kung ano-anong kulay lang ang pinapahid niya sa dyaryo. Panggulo lang talaga ang isang 'to! Maiiyak ka na lang sa asar kapag magkasama sila ni Ayi.
BINABASA MO ANG
Meet me Again in December.
Ficção AdolescenteEdiviar Series #1 Ulla Nolany Sanabria wanted to prove to her uncle that she can do better, especially in academics. That's why in her last year of high school, she goes all out. That's how she works on her self validation, with a dream of finally l...
