Beyond the Heart's Grasp

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

Pasado alasais nang matapos kami ni Alohang mag-aral. I can see her applying what she told me the night we talked. She's true to her words.

Hinatid ko siya sa sakayan. Tumanggi pa nga siyang magpahatid dahil baka raw ay naaabala na niya ako pero hindi ako pumayag. It would be hard, and I might be blamed if something happened to her. That would be a real headache.

I took a shower when I got back to the apartment. I did my usual routine before getting into bed. It's been a tiring day and I can finally rest.

I glanced at my phone as notifications buzzed in.

@alohavelasco:
hey! I'm home now

@alohavelasco:
thank you vv for today :)

@alohavelasco:
goodnight, handsome! ;)

I just shooked my head. Hindi ako makatulog kaya tinawagan ko si Mom. Wala pang ilang minuto ay sinagot agad nito ang tawag ko.

"Hey, Son!" she greeted. "How are you?"

"I'm good, Mom, just tired. What about you? Have you taken your medicine?"

"Yup." she answered. "How's the package, anyway?"

"It arrived well, Mom."

She nodded.

Mom's condition needs consistent dialysis and taking her medications. So every time we talk on the phone, that's the first thing I ask or remind her of. Matapos ng pag-uusap namin ay natulog na rin ako agad.

Buong araw ng linggo ay nasa resto ako para abalahin ang sarili sa pagtatrabaho. When Monday came, we just had discussions in our major subjects and group activities in our minor subjects.

I was planning to go to the caf when I passed by the Junior High School building. There were no students in the hallway, so I took the chance to walk there.

Huminto ako sa isang room kung saan nakita ko si Aloha na nakikipagtawanan sa mga kaklase niya. Wala silang teacher kaya may mga sariling mundo ang mga estudyante.

This is what I often see of her, laughing and talking loudly. I heard her cursing. At that moment, she suddenly looked out the window, and our eyes met. Nagulat siya nang makita ako at biglang napatuwid mula sa pagkakaupo.

I gave her a small smile and turned to walk toward the caf. Hindi pa man ako nakakalayo ay may naramdaman na akong tao sa likuran.

"Hey!" she called out, so I turned around. "Ginagawa mo rito?" she asked. "Hindi ka manlang nagsabing dadalawin mo 'ko." aniya at tumawa. "Miss me?"

Ngumiwi ako. "Napadaan lang."

Nilingon niya ang building nila. "Bakit sino ba ang dinadaanan mo rito?"

"Wala naman."

"That's new. Hindi ka naman nagagawi rito, ah?" ngumisi siya.

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya. Ano nga ba kasi ang ginagawa ko rito?!

"Babalik na ako sa room." sabi ko, wala ng salitang makuha.

"Sabay ulit tayo mamaya para hindi mo na ako ma-miss," tumatawang sabi niya kung kaya't bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ko.

"Go back to your room."