Thorns of a Cruel Summer

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Wiped

"Our poem was already posted. Nakita mo na?"

Umiling ako at patuloy na binuksan ang ice cream. "I don't like poems, Kalim."

We're here at the convenience store near our school. Half day lang ang pasok namin dahil may meeting ang teachers. Kalim kept telling me that he wanted to go to our resort. Sa tagal daw naming magkaibigan, ni hindi ko raw siya inaya sa resort. I could invite my friends, but the gate to our house and the gate to the resort are different. Hindi ko na gustong magpaliwanag sa guard. Papa never told me to invite some friends. Or maybe he doesn't know that I have.

"Magpapaalam tayo kay Tita. I just wanna swim, Serendra. Ang init, oh," aniya, nakatingin sa ulap.

"Patapos na ang summer, Kalim. Besides, we're eating ice cream here. Do you wanna go to the mall?"

"Dagat, Serendra," aniya sa ginugusto niya. "Why don't you introduce me to your father? I am sure he'll like a friend like me. Good figure." He winked.

I mocked him. I really wanna take them to the resort, but I think it'll be hard. Baka kapag nalaman ni papa na may mga kaibigan ako sa school, palipatin niya ako. And I know that Ylaro doesn't like my father.

"Ah..." Tumango-tango siya. "Let's visit Aki; if you don't want to, ihahatid na kita pauwi."

"Why would I refuse?"

He shrugged. "Aren't you avoiding each other?"

Umiling ako. "He's been sick for days, Kalim. Leave him alone. Maayos kami."

After what happened in Conception, we never talked again because he excused himself for a week for being sick. I also never saw him online on Instagram, so I assumed he was really sick. However, Kalim told me that Ylaro sends him messages sometimes. Maybe he's revoking his decision. Ayaw na akong maging kaibigan.

"He's in his condo, though."

I stopped eating ice cream. I stared at him and looked away. "Umuwi siya sa Coron?"

He nodded in doubt.

He's sick, and he's alone in his condo? Bakit siya umuwi? Did he think that his Tita Karen would scold him? He's excused for a week because he is sick; he is not cutting classes! Malamang ay hindi alam ng tita niya iyon.

I saw how he stretched his lips. "Sasama ka?"

Agad akong umiling. "I-I'll go home after eating this ice cream."

"I'll go home too. I remember that my father called me earlier. Kung gusto mong pumunta, I'll escort you."

I bit my lip. Ni hindi ko alam kung saan ang condo niya! Hindi ko gustong magpahatid kay Kalim dahil malalaman niyang gusto ko ngang pumunta!

"You seem so busy these past few days. Puro ka excuses, Kalim. J-Just come with me! That'll be better, don't you think?"

"Admit that you want to see Ylaro after a week."

"Hindi naman."

"Ihahatid kita, Serendra. Babawi ako..." aniya, ngumiti.

Ngumuso ako. "Ilang beses mo nang sinabi 'yan, Kalim." I sighed. "Dahil pinipilit mo ako, then fine, ihatid mo ako."

He laughed in a teasing manner. "Whoa, okay."

Kalim never mocked again while we were on a trip to Coron. Nagpaalam din ako kay Mama through text dahil nasa mansion siya. Papa is on a trip; he's so busy these days, so I don't think he knows that I am leaving the mansion frequently these days.