One of the Boys 1 & 2 (Published by Pop Fiction)

Chapter Forty Two

Chapter Forty Two

After what happened, ang lungkot at tahimik sa bahay. Isang beses nga, nahuli ko pang umiiyak si kuya Luke. Sa province na siya magsstay dahil siya na ang magttake over ng business nila. Buti nga, understanding si ate Bennie.

Wala kasing mag-aasikaso kila Louie kaya dito na si auntie Lynne. Wala na silang tatay at kailangan nila ngayon ng nanay.

Hindi na nga pala kami nagkita ni Apa. I was busy with my acads and I guess, he was busier with his life. Buhay pa rin yung whatsapp group namin, pero siya, hindi na nagparamdam.

Tinanong ko si Briones kung kamusta si Apa since sila lagi ang magkasama, pero hindi raw siya nagkikwento. Tinanong ko si Ygona since nakakasama niya rin sa training si Apa, pero hindi rin niya alam. After daw kasi ng training nila, aalis na rin siya agad.

"Ags, sorry, wala talaga akong balita eh," Bianca told me. Nagbaka sakali lang ako na may nakwento si Tigs sa kanya, pero nawala sa isip kong hindi nagkikwento si Apa ng problema niya bukod sa akin at kay sister Doms.

I was so curious... too curious. Gusto kong malaman kung anong ginagawa niya at kung kamusta na siya. There were times when I was too occupied and would end up in Apa's house or Uncle's grave. There were times when I would stare at something and end up crying.

But this time, I ended up at the church. It was not Sunday, but I went to the church and prayed. After praying, pinuntahan ko naman si sister Doms. She welcomed me with open arms.

I asked her about Apa, but she just apologized and said she was not in the place to talk about his problems. At least, she assured me that he was doing fine. He wasn't okay emotionally, but he was trying his best to act normal.

That made me worry even more. Buti na lang, nandiyan si sister Doms para may masabihan siya ng problema. Although I was a bit jealous, I couldn't do anything, because in the first place, I was the one who hurt him.

"Do you want to hear Lexter's story? I couldn't tell you what he told me, but I could tell you why he couldn't get mad at Marcus or how he ended up being an Apacible." She told me to make me feel better. Alam ko na rin naman daw lahat kaya siguro naman, pwede na siyang mag kwento sa akin.

Tumango lang ako at nag simula na siyang mag kwento. "Lexter, Marcus, and I were childhood friends."

"Wait-"

"Yes, Ags. Adopted din ako," She said. "We all used to be friends. Marcus was a grumpy kid who badly needed attention. Although he was like that, he was a good guy. In fact, he was the one who brought Apa here."

My eyes widened. "Talaga?" Hindi ako makapaniwala. He was so mad at Apa, but he was the one who brought Apa here at the church?

"When Lex first came here, ang tahi-tahimik niya. Sunod lang siya ng sunod sa utos ng mga tao. Since he was a street child before coming here, he did anything he could to earn money. Nasanay siyang kumita ng pera through people ordering him to do all kinds of things. Alam mo ba, may ilang beses pang nagalit si Marcus sa mga bata dahil lagi nilang inuutusan si Lexter? He looked after Apa and no kid could hurt his dear friend."

"Ano nangyari? Bakit?" Nakakapanghinayang. "Why did everything change?"

"Jealousy, Agatha." I felt like I was talking to an angel again. "Habang tumatagal, nagiging comfortable na si Lexter dito. He was still lonely and quiet, but everytime he would open his mouth, his words were deep. Kaya nga tuwang tuwa sa kanya sila Father. Ang talino kasi."

I agreed with sister Doms. Ang daming kwento ni Apa na siya lang ang gumawa, pero malalim. Ang dami niyang sinasabing nakakabago ng perception ng isang tao. Sobra pa siya makaimpluwensya, but in a good way.