Chapter: 15

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It's been almost a month since I got stuck in this condo. Minsan umuuwi ako sa bahay to visit my mom, but other than that, my routine has been pretty predictable: go back to the condo, then head to school.

Yesterday was card day, and I didn't expect na makapasok ako sa honors. Damn it, I actually scored a 94.67 average. Tangina, akalain mo 'yon? Guess I'm not as dumb as I thought-nadistract lang talaga ako ng mga bagay-bagay. Nakarating din yon kay daddy pero sa tingin ko ay wala na mang siyang paki if nag improve ako, syempre may favoritism yon—si alex. Alex got the highiest average in our school, he got the perfect 100 average.

My life's totally different now na grounded ako. No car, so I can't just drive anywhere I want. Wala na rin yung endless money supply para kahit mag-party ako nang magdamag. No girls either, kasi feeling ko if I don't have the car and the cash, wala akong dating. But then again, maybe my charm alone will still reel them in.

Natuto na rin akong mag-commute mag-isa. Yeah, kahit na minsan, si gago pa rin ang kasabay ko.

Speaking of that guy, ever since our last confrontation, hindi ko na siya pinapansin, at ako na mismo yung umiiwas para wala nang away. Galit pa rin ako sa kanya, and I don't see that disappearing anytime soon.

Nasa café ako kasama ang tropa ko, si Franco at Riley, as usual.

"Bro, musta kayo?" tanong ni Franco, obviously referring to Alex, yung gago na 'yon.

I glared at him. "Bakit mo kami kinakamusta? Eh, wala naman sa akin yung tao na 'yon." I shot back, and I heard him laugh.

"LQ kayo, 'no." he teased. Wtf? LQ his ass, it's not like we're a couple having a lovers' quarrel.

"What the fuck, Franco. Gago ka ba? Never in my dreams. And I'm straight as a pole. I'm not gay." pikon kong sabi.

"Bro, chill." He laughed, and si Riley, nandiyan lang, listening to us. "So are you..." Franco gave me a look that meant something else. I know what he's thinking.

"Hell nah, I'm not homophobic. I'm just a straight guy," I clarified. Ayoko siyang ma-offend, kasi may boyfriend siya, and if I were homophobic, hindi ko siya magiging tropa.

"Oh, relax. Haha, I'm just kidding." Tumawa siya ng malakas, and the other people in the café started looking at us.

"Dude, shut your mouth, marami nang nakatingin, oh." Riley gestured towards the crowd. Walang hiya talaga tong si Franco.

Kakagaling ko lang sa school, and I decided na umuwi na muna ng bahay namin. Miss ko na rin si mommy, so why not visit her? At kukunin ko rin yung electric guitar ko sa kuwarto ko. Yeah, I used to play electric guitar before as a hobby, pero nung nawili ako sa kakalaro ng online games, nawala 'yon. Now na wala akong cellphone, I can't play games anymore, pero may PC at laptop pa naman ako, pero still mas okay maglaro sa phone ko.

"Doray, where's mom?" I asked our maid.

"Ay sir, nasa taas po, tawagin ko lang po." Sagot naman nito. I just nodded and waited for mom for a moment.

Pinagmasdan ko yung loob ng bahay, malaki at modern style. Ilang minuto lang, nakita ko si mom pababa ng hagdan.

"Oh, son, Hugo." Pumunta siya agad sa akin para batiin ako, niyakap ako ng mahigpit at hinalikan sa pisngi. "My baby boy, let's have a seat." Sabi nito.

"Mom, how are you? Sinaktan ka ba ni dad?" tanong ko.

Mom just sighed.

"Hindi na anak, sa tingin ko nagbago na ang daddy mo at hiwalay na sila ni Belinda." Sabi ni mommy, nagulat naman ako dahil hiwalay na pala ang magaling kong tatay sa kabit niya.

Calculating TroubleTahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon