Sinclair Jade Navarette
"Kaya pa?" tanong ni Klea na tinanguan ko lang.
I clicked the post button after typing my caption for my online campaign. I passed the screening and evaluation last time so now I have to work on my campaign. Online campaigning na lang ngayon dahil wala na raw kaming oras. This Friday nga lang, election na, e. I don't know what's with the rush. E grade 11 representative lang naman ang hinahanap nila. Even the MDA, ni-rush din. Buti na lang we were able to manage. Talagang una pa lang, work under pressure agad.
Tumayo ako para kuhain ang laptop ko. May tatapusin pa kasi akong school works. I only have few assignments left and I think I can finish them tonight.
"Dahan-dahan, Clair. Kakatapos mo lang sa isa, magpahinga ka naman muna," ani Klea habang pinapanuod ako.
"Hindi pa naman ako pagod." Palusot ko.
Well, that's an obvious lie and I know that she won't buy that excuse. Wala naman siyang magagawa. She knows that I only do this to distract myself from my own thoughts. Baka kung anong maisip kong gawin kung wala akong ginagawa ngayon.
She just sighed and didn't go against me anymore. "Lutuan kita dinner, ah. Kumain ka."
"Yes. Love you, Klei," I said and smiled at her.
She really acts like my mom. Palibhasa alam niyang nasa malayo ang parents ko. Klea is the only person I have here. My whole family lives in Cebu and I live here in Manila. Lumipat kasi ako rito to study.
"Coffee, Clair?" she asked while she's in the kitchen.
I checked the wall clock. 7PM na, e. "Milk po. Baka hindi ako makatulog kapag coffee, e."
"Wow! You say no to coffee pala?" she sarcastically said then laughed.
"Ngayon lang." I laughed too.
Hindi naman kasi talaga ako tumatanggi sa kape kahit gabi na. I mean, I need coffee to stay up while studying. Madali kasi akong antukin kapag nagbabasa kaya kailangan ko talaga ng kape para mabuhay naman ang kaluluwa ko kahit papaano.
"Do you want to sleep early?" she asked and I nodded. "That's good. Besides, you did a lot of things today. For sure, you're feeling tired already, dine-deny mo lang."
Hindi na lang ako sumagot. She did not go wrong with that.
Nakakapagod naman talaga. Pero hindi iyon ang dahilan kung bakit gusto kong matulog nang maaga ngayon. I don't want to stay up late anymore because the voices in my head gets louder at night. Ewan ko ba, ang miserable ng buhay ko kapag passed 10.
"Klei, can you stay until 8? I'll finish my school works lang tapos papauwiin na kita," I said in my baby voice. Comfy kasi ako magpa-bebe kay Klea dahil besties naman kami. Hindi rin naman siya nagrereklamo.
She laughed. "Dinadaan mo ako sa pa-cute na 'yan, ah."
"Please." I pouted.
"Yeah, whatever. Just text my mom na late ako makakauwi. Tutal ikaw ang may gusto n'yan," she said and pointed her phone.
I opened it and texted her mom. Pumayag din naman si Tita. H'wag lang daw masyadong late.
That made me smile. Because at least may kasama ako. I don't want to feel alone. Although mas nakaka-focus ako kapag mag-isa. Just not now because I am not in the right state of mind.
Klea and I decided to eat together while I'm finishing my school works. That hour felt like a minute. Ang bilis kasi ng oras. Ang bilis din tuloy umuwi ni Klei.
