Broken Vessel (AMOG Series #1)

Kabanata 27

Kabanata 27

Won

I told Amare that I was in the coffee shop and to tell him to wait because I would go home. Nagyaya na rin naman si Obed Umalis. We never talked to each other a lot. Ang lagi niya lang tanong ay tungkol kay Amare. Pagkatapos namin kumain hinatid niya lang ako sa sakayan at tsaka siya umalis. May pupuntahan pa raw siya. Kahit nanghihinayang ako, hindi ko nalang pinilit pa.

Nang makarating ako sa bahay namin. Nadatnan ko si Amare na nakatayo sa may gate. Napangiti ako at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. I saw his eyes shift toward me when he noticed I was walking near him. Nagulat siya at dahan-dahan na humakbang para salubungin ako. I smiled at him and opened my arms to hug him.

His eyes looked worried as he accepted my hug. Bumaon ang mukha ko sa kaniyang dibdib. I tiptoed a bit just to fit in his shoulder blade, but he didn't let me. It feels like he is locking me up for some comfort.

It's so good to have a friend like Amare.

“Bakit hindi ka pumasok?” His first words.

I smiled halfway. Kumalas ako sa pagyakap. Nagulat naman siya doon, pero hinawakan niya ang papulsuhan ko tila ayaw niya akong lumayo kaniya. I see there's no distance between us. Magkadikit ang aming mga katawan. I don't feel awkward. Somehow, my face feels red and hot, though. 

“May kinausap lang ako, Amare…” mababang boses kong sinabi.

“Well, you didn't tell me. Bakit gaano ba ka importante ang kausap mo? Just for you to skip school?” I can sense that he is controlling what he feels right now.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Pero hindi muli nakatakas ang hindi mapangiti sa kaniya.

“Why are you so concerned, Mr. Acosta?” I teased him.

Palihim siyang umirap at tumingin sa malayo. Hindi naman siya galit pero ramdam ko na naiinis siya pero kino-kontrol niya ito.

“Yayain sana kita na sabay tayo umuwi. Pero sabi ni Ysa hindi ka pumasok mula nang umalis after sa first class ninyo,” he huskily said, then turned his eyes to me.

I titled my head, smiling playfully.

“Why?” I innocently asked him.

Kukurap-kurap pa ako. Namangha ang kaniyang mukha habang tinitignan ako. I saw his mouth widen a bit, and he looked very amazed. Kumikislap ang kanyang mga mata. 

Nagdidilim na pero kumikinang pa rin ang mga mata ni Amare.

“I want to spend time with you,” he said.

I gasped. He becomes alert. 

“‘Di ba... like friends spend time with their girl friends?” Napansin yata ang reaction ko. 

His face looks hesitant and afraid.

So cute of you, Amare. I couldn't stop smiling. I nodded my head to him.

“Okay then. Sorry to keep you waiting here. Babawi ako sa'yo. May sari-sari store sa gilid ng subdivision namin…”

“I am willing too, Adri.”

Wala pa nga akong sinasabi, pero may sagot na kaagad siya. Hinila ko na kaagad siya palabas ng subdivision namin. Nang makarating kami pina-upo ko siya gilid ng tindahan ni Aling Myrna. Nilagay ko na rin ang bag ko sa gilid. I winked at him before I turned my back on him. Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang gulat niya, kaya buo ang ngiti ko ng humarap ako kay Aling Myrna.

Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo habang dumungaw ang kanyang ulo sa maliit na butas nitong tindahan niya. Tumikhim siya at inilipat sa akin ang tingin. Nanliit ang mga mata. I crunched my nose while I was still smiling.