WINSTON AND RINGO (Montana Series 3 | BXB)

09: Indigofera

˖ ๋࣪⸙˖

Summer vacation at San Miguel was over for me. I had to go back to Montana City. May isang linggo pa bago magsimula ang second semester, ngunit kailangan ko ng umuwi dahil may family reunion kami.

"Are you sure you don't want to extend your stay here?" Ringo asked while helping me fix my things to my luggage.

"Gusto ko sana, kaso kailangan kong pumunta sa reunion. My grandfather came back from US so I had to be there."

"Mukhang close kayo ng lolo mo," sambit niya.

"Sobra," sagot ko naman. "My lolo and I shares a closer relationship than my own father. Ibang-iba ang ugali ni Lolo kay Dad. He is warm and cheerful, far from my dad who seemed dark and empty."

"May dahilan siguro ang dad mo kaya siya gano'n," saad niya.

"Whatever it is, wala na akong pakialam. He never opened his heart to us, so I don't want to waste my time and energy to reach out to him."

Mabilis niya akong hinawakan sa aking balikat. "Naiintindihan kita Winston. But you have to remember that people change. Soon, makikita rin ng Dad mo ang worth niyo ni Austin."

"Thank you so much Ringo," I said while smiling. "Anyway, what are your plans once I left?"

He flattened his lips before speaking. "I'll stay here for awhile. Next week na lang ako uuwi. Hindi rin naman ako pauuwiin ni Kuya ngayon kahit gusto ko ng umuwi."

"Bakit naman hindi ka niya papayagan?" nagtataka kong tanong.

Agad niyang iniwas ang kanyang tingin. "May mga ipagagawa pa kasi siya sa'kin."

"Like what?" I asked, knitting my eyebrows.

He forced a smile. Tila nagbago ang timpla ng kanyang mukha dahil sa aking tanong. "I'll tell you next time," he said.

Tumango na lamang ako at itinuon ang pansin sa pagiimpake. As we continued fixing my things, I noticed something from Ringo's wrist. Namumula ito na tila ba may gasgas.

"Anong nangyari dyan?" tanong ko, dahilan para tapunan niya ako ng tingin.

"Saan?" tanong naman niya.

"Sa kamay mo," sagot ko. "Parang may sugat."

In a dash, Ringo pulled down his sleeve to cover his wrist. "It's nothing. Sumabit lang ako kanina sa halaman kaya ako nasugatan."

I wanted to believe his statement, but his gesture seemed hiding something. Nakaiwas rin ang kanyang mga mata sa'kin, dahilan para lalo akong magalala.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes," he said while nodding and went back arranging my things to my lugagge. "Tapusin na natin 'tong pagiimpake mo dahil baka maiwan ka pa ng bus."

I could feel he was avoiding to talk about something, so even though I was very concerned, I just forced myself to believe in his reason. Ilang araw ko siyang nakasama, ngunit alam kong hindi sapat ang mga araw na iyon upang makilala ko siya ng lubos. I knew I needed more time to better know him.

Nang matapos mag-impake ay nag-check out na ako sa hotel at sinamahan ako ni Ringo papunta sa bus terminal. We hired a taxi because I already returned the car I rented.

"Sigurado kang hindi ako nakakaabala sa'yo?" tanong ko sa kanya nang makarating kami sa terminal.

"Don't worry, nagpaalam naman ako kay Papa at Kuya," sagot niya at naupo kami sa steel bench ng waiting area.

"Mukhang malakas ako kay Kuya at Papa mo ah," nakangiti kong sabi.

Lumingon siya sa'kin. "Pinakitaan mo kasi ng maganda kaya mabuti sila sa'yo. Huwag lang masyado dahil baka abusuhin ka."