Tadhana

Chapter 9

It is now their lunch time at napagdesisyunan nila Regina na kumain sa bahay nila Narda.

"Wow! It's the first time that we're riding your bike at noon."

Narda chuckled. "True! Ngayon lang kase tayo may pupuntahan kaya ayan."

"It's my first time eating lunch on someone's house. Yung mga kaibigan ko before, they don't invite me to their house every lunch."

"Eh, saan kayo kumakain?"

"Sa canteen lang. I know medyo boring kapag doon lang kumakain, but since we're together and we're talking to each other, you would not get bored." Regina explained.

"Asan na sila ngayon?"

Regina smiled a little. "They are all together. Kinuha nilang lahat yung STEM kahit hindi gusto ng karamihan, para lang magkakasama sila ginawa nila yun."

"So grade 11 pa sila magkakasama? Eh ikaw? Bakit humiwalay ka?"

"Simula grade 7, I always feel out of place. Ako lang yung naaout of place. Lahat sila close, kapag nagshare yung isa nakikinig ang lahat. But when it's my turn, no one listens. I tried to understand, not until we're grade 10. May group chat na pala sila without me. Yes, me only. Dun silang lahat nagusap kung anong strand ang kukunin nila."

"So, pumili sila ng isang strand na kahit ayaw nila, yun nalang kinuha nila para lang magkakasama silang lahat?"

Regina nodded. "Yes, exactly. Some of them talked to me like they are not planning something that will totally make me feel like I don't really belong."

"Nung kinuha na nila yung strand, what happened?"

"They are together at one section. Pinili nila yung strand na yun nang wala akong kaalam alam. Akala ko we'll choose the strand that we want kase yun yung pinaguusapan nila sa group chat na kasama ako. But I was wrong." Regina said and heave out a sigh.

Narda gave her a comforting smile and Regina saw it through the side mirror.

"Paano mo tinapos yung connections mo sa kanila?"  Narda asked.

"I left the group chat and no one really messaged me why I left, ofcourse no one added me back too. I blocked them all, because I think they deserve it. Hindi ko naisip agad na pwede kong gawin yun nang ganun kadali, masyado lang talaga akong natagalan para gawin yun dahil late ko na narealize that I don't deserve them."

"Tama yang ginawa mo. Kung ako nasa ganong sitwasyon, gagawin ko rin naman talaga yung katulad sayo eh. I'm glad that you realized that you don't deserve them."

Regina smiled at Narda and hugged her even more. "Thank you."

Nang makarating na sila sa bahay nila Narda ay sinalubong sila ng lola nya.

"Hi la!" Masayang bati ni Narda, nagmano sya at niyakap ang lola nya.

"Hi apo. Hi din sayo apo." Nakangiting sabi ng lola ni Narda kay Regina.

Nginitian naman sya ni Regina ng malawak at nagmano ito sa Lola ni Narda. "Hi po lola, ako po si Regina. Nakukwento ka po ni Narda sa akin."

"Nako apo, ikaw rin. Palagi kang kinukwento ni Narda sa akin." Nakangiting sabi nito.

"Lola!"

"Oh bakit? Totoo naman ah? Sabi mo nga ang ganda ganda talaga ni Regina, la." Sabi ng Lola ni Narda habang ginagaya ang tono ng pagsasalita nito.

"Lola!" Pagsaway ni Narda.

Tumawa naman si Regina. "Sinabi nya po talaga yun?"

"Oo apo, nako. Eh totoo naman palang maganda ka, kaya pala bukambibig na iyon ni Narda."