The Guy I Called My First Love

Chapter 06

Habang kumakain kaming apat ng breakfast ay ramdam pa rin naman yung bigat ng atmosphere. Tahimik lamang na kumakain si kuya. Si Grace naman nags-scroll sa cellphone niya habang kumakain at minsan nagkakatinginan kami ni Papa at tumitingin naman siya kay kuya. Hindi naman siya nagsasalita kaya hindi ko rin alam ang sasabihin.

Alas sais pa naman ngayon at ewan ko kay kuya kung bakit siya maaga, eh break na nga sila ng boyfriend niyang amo naman niya. Siguro laban pa rin ang trabaho niya pero wala na sila ng boyfriend niya. I hope he can get back on track one of these days.

Naputol ang katahimikan nang magsalita si Grace. "Shit anong oras na male-late nako sa bus!"

Nagtataka akong nakatitig sa kaniya dahil magkasabay naman ang klase namin at isa pa taxi ang kadalasan kong sinasakyan para hindi siksikan kung sa dyep. Marami pang stop yung dyep at talagang male-late kami sa klase namin.

Kahit nagmamadali ay sinugurado niya pa ring maubos ang bacon and hotdogs na niluto ni Papa para sa aming pang-umagahan. Hindi niya muna pinagdiinan ng pansin ang cellphone.

"Hindi ka papasok, Grace?" Naitanong ko dulot ng pagtango niya ng ilang beses.

I find it weird for her because it seems like she's avoiding my gaze. Once the plate has been finished, she brought it to the kitchen and I followed her right away. Papa ang kuya did not seem to care or they already found out what she meant.

"Magkapareho tayo ng schedule ngayon. Can I ask where are you going?" I was careful with my words in case I might say something that will irritate her. But knowing Grace she would not put up a fight or get a little bit angry at me.

The Grace that I knew, takes good care of her people even though you are not connected by blood with her.

"Uuwi ako sa amin..." Nailagay niya sa sink ang pinggan at tumalikod nang hablutin ko ang mga kamay niya ng marahan.

"I think it is better for you to go to school. I will protect you like yesterday. Wala namang nangyari, 'di ba?" The way she cried in the living room yesterday is still vivid in my memories. I saw how she trembled in fear and yet here I am saying things like going to school, where a chance to meet that stalker?

I must be crazy but I think this is also the best for me to keep a watch on my best friend. I might not know what she will do inside our room. And that is my biggest nightmare.

"It is not because of that, Rhys." She forced a thin smile on her lips. Her eyes shouts sadness and I don't know how to console her. Should I hug her like the last time to make her feel better again?

"Mom wanted to send me back to our province again. I told her yesterday what happened and we had an argument..." Lumingon siya sa direksyon nila Papa kaya sinundan ko ang tingin niya. Kumakain pa rin ang dalawa pero nagku-kwentuhan na ngayon.

"Tito also suggested that I should go and tell Mom—I mean to convince her that I am okay and that I just adapted living here. I will show to her that I am already an adult."

Dahan-dahan akong napangiti. Time really fly by so fast. Naalala ko pa noong moments na umiiyak kaming lima dahil sa sunod-sunod na mga projects at reportings na para bang katapusan na ng mundo. But after that we would bond together, gossiping about our teachers and classmates.

But here we are, nag-level up na yung mga problema namin at sa susunod naman nito I'm sure work na yung pro-problemahin namin.

Tumango-tango ako habang may mga ngiti sa labi. I can't help but to tap both of her shoulders. "Fine. Ako na ang bahala mag-excuse sa iyo. By the way, should I send you to the Bus Terminal?"

Agad siyang umiling-iling at ngumiti. "I'm fine. May klase pa kaya ang pangit naman male-late ka at e-e-excuse mo pa ako." Nagtawanan kami sa sinabi niya.