A DIFFERENT SIDE OF ME

CHAPTER 4

"Lang, pakisabi kay Mama tsaka kay Ate Gena na umuna na ako ng uwi dahil nagugutom na ako. Hehe"

I sent my voice message to Lyca, trying to keep my tone light despite the heaviness I felt inside.

I continued walking, my steps quick and deliberate, as if trying to outrun my thoughts.

I didn't want to see Regan. I couldn't bear it.

But as I walked, the familiar doubts began to creep in.

Why did I go home first? What would Ritchel and the others think? Would they assume that I'm not in the mood again? Sigh.

It was always the same. Whenever Regan was around, I felt a wave of emotions crashing over me, a mix of anger, hurt, and something else I couldn't quite name.

I thought I had moved on, convinced myself I was okay. But every time I saw him, the wound reopened, raw and painful.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the memories came flooding back.

"Joshua! Yung module mo, nasaan?" I called out, exasperation evident in my voice.

This kid, where could he have put it? I searched our room thoroughly, but there was no sign of his module.

I scanned the room again, waiting for Joshua to show up.

It's been a month since I started staying here at Ate Gena's house, my older sister, because she needed help with her two kids' modules.

I missed our home and thought maybe I'd go back for a visit later today.

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang pumasok si Gabby sa kwarto.

Ngumiti siya sa akin at tinanong ko agad,

"Asan si Joshua?"

Nawala ang ngiti niya at kumunot ang noo.

"Ewan ko ba dun, hindi ko alam," sagot niya habang naghahanda nang humiga sa kama.

"Hoooy, yung module niya. Kailangan ko yun sagutan dahil e susunod ko na yung akin," sabi ko, medyo naiinis.

Lagot talaga sa akin si Joshua mamaya.

"Aba, malay ko sa batang yun. Alis ka muna, tulog muna ako. Tapos na yung module ko eh," walang pakialam na sagot ni Gabby.

Mga bata talaga ngayon, pasaway!

I just raised an eyebrow at him and left the room.

I went downstairs and checked the living room, hoping Joshua was there, but the house was eerily quiet. I could almost hear my heartbeat.

Maybe I'll answer his module later when he gets back.

He's probably out with his friends.

I decided to start on my own schoolwork first. I went to my favorite spot in the house where I always did my homework.

Binuksan ko ang envelope at nagulat ako na konti lang pala ang module.

Himala ata 'to! Ngumiti ako habang sinisimulan ang pagsagot.

Suddenly, my phone beeped. It was a message from our group chat. Ma'am told us that we might have face-to-face classes next year since the COVID-19 pandemic was reportedly over.

I couldn't believe it. After all these months of online classes and modules, we were finally going back to school.

The thought of seeing my classmates and teachers in person again filled me with excitement.

I quickly replied to the chat, sharing my excitement with my friends.

Just as I was about to get back to my modules, I heard the front door creaked open, revealing Kuya Regan standing outside with his cellphone in hand.