After Summer

#AS22

"Huh? Pareho tayo ng way?"

A smiling Theo greeted her when she turned her head.

She stood there while holding the strap of her shoulder bag. Hinintay niyang makasabay niya ito sa paglalakad, he went beside her, sa side kung saan dumadaan ang mga sasakyan.

"Hmm, I told you malapit lang kami sa inyo diba? Sabay na tayo umuwi mamaya?"
She nodded at him, looking up dahil masyadong matangkad si Theo.

Her nose was wrapped with the familiar scent of earthy sage, light and refreshing.

"Akala ko nagdadala ka ng sasakyan papuntang shop."

"No, it's a walking distance."

She stared and noticed how a smile never left Theo's lips while talking. Palagi, kahit sinong kausap nito ay ginagawaran niya ng ngiti. Minsan nga ay siya na ang nakukulitan kila Katrina kapag kinakausap nila ito sa shop but he would always patiently listen to them, he would smile and tries to answer their questions.

He look so approachable and humble, which is very different from the Theo she knew from Laverne's stories.

He's very kind and approachable but you can't really say na kilala mo na siya.

She never thought she would have this kind of interaction with him. Kung siguro ay nasa Manila siya ay hindi niya makakausap at makakasalamuha ng ganuto si Theo.

"Hanggang kailan ka pala dito?" She asked, kicking a small stone while walking.

She's been wanting to ask that for a while now, wala lang curious lang siya.

"First week of August, since 'yon 'yung start na ng enrollment."

oh 2 weeks na lang.

"You?"

"Maaga ka ng dalawang linggo sa'kin, lapit na pala matapos bakasyon natin." Sorley said while looking at the sky, as if masasagot nito ang katanungan na mayroon siya.

"Yes, that's why I'm trying to make the most of my time here. I'm failing though, wala pa akong napupuntahan bukod sa pinuntahan natin last time."

"Bukas baka mag-aya ulit sila, sama ka ha."

"Sure." She gave him a smile in return, pagtingin niya sa kabilang side nakita niya ang matingkad na berdeng kulay ng gate at ang bakod nitong nabalutan ng pink na bougainvillea.

Speaking of my cousins. Sorley smiled at her own thought.

"Mabilis ka ba tumakbo?"

"Huh-
bago pa makasagot si Theo, mabilis na nakalapit na sa gate sa tapat nila si Sorley, tatlong beses nitong pinindot ang doorbell and before he could process what happened, hila-hila na ni Sorley ang kamay niya at mabilis silang tumatakbo.

Ngiting-ngiti eto habang tumatakbo, and when they stopped running mukhang mauubusan na siya ng hininga sa kakatawa.

Sinundan niya ng tingin kung anong tinatawanan ni Sorley, only to find Miggy standing 10 steps from the green gate, sinusubukan silang batuhin ng tsinelas.

"Okay ka lang?"

"Yeah."

"Dapat lang, kasi malapit na bahay nila Quincey."