Fallen Melodies

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

My parents and grandparents stayed in the mansion for weeks.Daddy and Grandpa are busy with something at the office, so I can only see them at the dining table. Sometimes, they leave for a medical center or clinic here in Santa Praia to visit with Mom. Meanwhile, Grandma stayed here and was bored out of her mind.

Ako naman... pinapanatiling invisible ang sarili kay Abuela dahil madalas ay kami ang naiiwan dito, lalo na kapag Sabado. Salamat nalang talaga dahil kung weekdays ay nasa school naman ako at umuuwi kapag nariyan na rin sina Mommy.

"Change your menu, Emelda! The dishes you're cooking are terrible! What do you even call this?!"

Isa lang iyan sa mga reklamo ni Abuela sa nagdaang mga araw na pinapalabas ko lang sa kabilang tainga ko. Minsan ay ako na lang ang naaawa kay Nanang Emy dahil siya ang napagbubuntungan ni Abuela sa mga hinanakit niya.

Pero sa huli, isinawalang bahala ko nalang iyon sabay hiling na sana ay umuwi na sila, lalo na si Abuela! Kahit si Mommy nalang ang nandito...

"Huy!" I almost jumped out of my seat when Reed suddenly shook my shoulders.

"You scared me!" I said with annoyance, and I was about to grab him to pinch him, but he quickly moved away while laughing.

"Lunch na tayo."

With an annoyed expression, I grabbed my things and followed him outside. As soon as we stepped out of the classroom, we immediately saw Steban walking down the hallway towards us. We watched him and waited as he got closer.

Siniko ako ni Reed. "Gwapo 'no?"

Umirap ako at hindi sumagot. Tinignan ko ulit si Steban na palapit na nang palapit ngayon. Napalunok ako at bahagyang nanginig ang labi sa pigil na ngiti. Siyempre, gwapo...

He wore his uniform neatly and walked toward us confidently, hands in his pockets. I felt like jumping when our eyes met, and a ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. I smiled and sighed at the sight.

"Sus... ayaw lang aminin. Hindi ko naman sasabihin," epal na naman ni Reed sa tabi ko na yumuko pa para ilagay ang mukha sa balikat ko!

"Gwapo?" dagdag niya.

Lumayo ako at tinulak siya. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at madramang hinawakan ang braso na tinulak ko.

Suminghap siya. "Pero kapag si Steban, okay lang?"

"Anong pinag-uusapan niyo?" biglang sulpot ni Steban sa tabi ko.

Hindi ko siya nilingon at mariing tinignan si Reed. Reed grinned at me and then shifted his gaze to Steban. He had a mischievous smile on his lips, so I didn't stop giving him a stern look.

"Inaasar ko lang, Steb. Masyadong pikunin..."

"Khloe," he called me.

I quickly turned and saw his waiting eyes.

They're so beautiful that I almost lost it. I blinked and let out a soft laugh.

"Inaaway lang ako."

Steban gave Reed a look that seemed to take my side and was about to get angry because Reed was teasing me. Sa huli ay umiling-iling na lamang siya at tinignan ang relo bago nilipat sa akin ang tingin.

"Nasa canteen na sila. Hinihintay nalang tayo roon."

Tumango kami ni Reed. Nagsimula na kaming maglakad at pinapagitnaan nila ako pero si Reed ay patuloy sa pang-aasar sa akin. Pasikreto niya akong kinakalabit at alam ko na agad kung bakit. 

Nakakainis talaga ang kalbong 'to! Ilang beses sabihin na wala lang kami ni Steban, eh! Paano kapag malaman ng tao na inaasar ako sa kaniya at mailang? Baka lumayo pa 'yan sa akin at hindi ko gusto iyon!