WINSTON AND RINGO (Montana Series 3 | BXB)

15: Origanum

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It's been two days since the last time I saw Ringo. Our last encounter made me lose my courage to message him either. Natatakot akong puntahan o tawagan siya dahil pakiramdam ko ay iiwasan lang niya. He was driving me crazy.

"Don't you have plans today?" Lolo asked while we were resting. Katatapos naming maglaro ng tennis sa court ng resort.

"Wala naman, Lo," matipid kong sagot.

"That's good, then. We can have more time to catch up."

I smiled at him. "I told you Lo, babawi ako sa'yo 'di ba?"

Ang totoo ay nagkaroon lamang ako ng oras sa kanya dahil hindi ko na nakakasama si Ringo. I really wanted to end my sem-break trip with him, but spending time with Lolo wasn't a bad idea at all.

"By the way, how about Ringo? Are you not going to see him? Babalik na tayo sa Montana sa Sabado pero pansin kong hindi mo na siya madalas makasama."

The smile faded slightly from my face. "He's busy, besides, we're schoolmates. Magkikita rin naman kami sa Montana pagkatapos ng bakasyon, so it's fine."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Because if I were you, I would definitely spend the rest of my vacation with the person I like."

I did a dry laugh. "Lo, you talk like a teenager."

"Why? Am I not allowed to talk like a young person because of my age?" He sarcastically voiced.

"Hindi naman sa gano'n, Lo," nakangiti kong sabi. "Anyway, let's go back to the suite. It's already lunch time and you need to take your medicine."

Napabuntong-hininga siya. "Gamot na naman."

"Stop complaining, Lo. Kailangan mong magpalakas para humaba pa ang buhay mo. Ayaw mo bang maabutan ang mga apo mo sa'kin?"

Mabilis niya akong nilingon. "May balak kang magkaanak?"

I flinched from his question. Suddenly, Ringo flashed in my head. Marahil ay iniisip ni Lolo na balak kong mag-asawa ng babae. It's too early for me to think about marriage and it's impossible for a man to conceive a child, but in this generation, there's so much options to build a family.

"Lo, Matagal pa 'yon, kaya huwag kang masyadong ma-excite," pagbibiro ko.

He grabbed my shoulder. "Apo, whatever your plans in the future, I'll truly support you as long as it's good for you."

We exchanged smiles and we headed back to the suite after. Just like the previous days, I was silently eating my meal. I could still remember Ringo's face while he's hugging Franco just to stop him from provoking me. Napapahigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsara at tinidor sa tuwing naiisip kong magkasama silang dalawa.

After lunch time, I watched the television to kill some time. Ngunit ilang beses ko ng nilipat ang channel ay wala pa rin akong mahanap na magandang palabas. I turned off the TV and threw the remote on the couch.

I decided to get a magazine, but after minutes of scanning it, I flipped it back under the coffee table. I went to our room and pulled the drawer. Kinuha ko ang pakete ng aking sigarilyo, ngunit bago ko pa man ito masindihan ay nawalan na ako ng gana. I crumpled and threw it on the trash can.

I glanced around the room, looking for something that could help me end my boredom. Napukaw ang atensyon ko ng papel na nakaipit sa aking bag. I pulled it and it was the paper crane that Ringo gave me. I slid my palm inside my bag and brought out all the paper cranes he gave me. Inamoy ko ang mga iyon. It smelled sweet like Ringo.