Flowing Through Pages

Chapter 33

Chapter 33.

Glad

Sinamahan ako ni Flare sa sakayan ng tricycle, kasama niya rin ang dalawang lalaking nagbubulungan sa likod.

"Manong Isko, pahatid naman hanggang sa Konse Street! Salamat!" bilin ni Flare sa driver ng tricycle bago ako inalalayan pumasok sa loob.

The tricycle driver nodded. "Sige, Flare!"

Mukhang binayaran na rin ni Flare si Manong. I gave her a smile, which she returned. My eyebrows raised when I saw Solon giving me a hesitant wave just before the tricycle drove off.

Why is he suddenly acting friendly? We're not even close.

Ilang minuto lang ay nakarating na ako sa bahay nila Ate Amaris. I thanked the driver and walked towards their home. Nakita ko pang may mga batang naglalaro sa tapat ng bahay nila.

I knocked on the door and waited. Hindi nagtagal ay lumabas na rin si Ate Amaris na nakangiti.

"Kal, bakit ngayon ka lang?" she immediately asked.

"Sorry."

"Ayos lang. Kumain ka na ba?"

"I just had breakfast," I replied.

Her eyes widened. "Breakfast? It's already eleven o'clock!"

Oh, right. That's true. Mapapahaba pa kasi ang usapan kung sasabihin kong hinintay ko pang matapos kumain ang mga bisita ni Flare. She'd ask a ton of questions, and I'd end up spilling everything, which I'm trying to avoid because it would be exhausting.

"I overslept," I just said with a laugh, brushing it off.

It's not like I'm hungry either. I ate a lot earlier because I skipped dinner last night, so I'm still pretty full.

"Kumain na kami ng lunch, pero may pagkain pa diyan kung nagugutom ka," she pursed her lips. "Sorry, 'di ka na namin naantay, may trabaho pa kasi si Clav."

That made me tilt my head slightly. "So, he's not around?"

"Hm," she nodded. "Atsaka, kauuwi lang ni Ignatius kaya talagang kailangan namin kumain agad."

Napaayos ako ng tayo. "He's here?"

The baby from five years ago is here? I've been wanting to see how much he's grown.

Nilibot ko ang paningin at huminto sa mga batang naglalaro sa tapat ng bahay. I heard Ate chuckle at my reaction.

"Ignatius!" she called out.

Lumingon naman lahat ng bata sa kaniya. I eagerly tried to spot which one resembled Ate or Kuya Clavius.

"Come here, baby!" Ate said warmly.

But everything around me seemed to fade when my eyes locked onto a boy running towards us with a bright smile. Suddenly, the noise disappeared, as if my ears were submerged underwater. My heart raced, and my hands went numb.

It's happening again. It feels like everything has frozen in place, except for the boy running toward me.

How did this happen?

Pinanood kong pinunasan ni Ate Amaris ang mukha ng bata pagkarating nito sa harap niya. Nakangiti ito at tumatango sa kung ano man ang sinasabi ni Ate.

Then, she pointed at me, causing the boy to turn and look my way. He smiled faintly and said something, but I just stood there, frozen in place.

This can't be real.