One of the Boys 1 & 2 (Published by Pop Fiction)

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

Past

"Do you know where she's going?"

Nag tanong na si Apa sa lahat ng kaibigan ni Ags pati sa pamilya nilang dalawa. Alam niyang pupunta si Ags kila Doms to donate books, kay Gill para mag volunteer, sa mga pinsan niya para ipaalaga muna yung mga aso na binigay ng mga ate ni Apa, at kila Joyce at Bri para magpasukat, pero walang nakakaalam kung anong oras kaya inagahan niya yung punta niya.

Una siyang nag punta kila Doms. "Wala?" he asked her.

She shook her head. "Masyado kang maaga. Bakit kasi hindi mo pa siya balikan?" Kinuha ni Doms yung mga pagkain na dinala niya para sa kanila pati na rin para sa mga bata.

"Dahan-dahan lang, sister. I don't want to lose her again. Slowly, but surely tayo." Tumawa siya. "Alam na rin niya yung tungkol kay Liz, eh."

"Oo na, oo na. Hinahanap ka nga pala ni Kyrel."

Tumango lang si Apa at pumasok na sa loob ng shelter. Nakita niya sila Father at iba pang mga nuns. Tinanong nila siya kung kamusta na siya pati na rin sila ni Ags. "Ako ang magkakasal sa inyo ah."

"Oo naman, Father."

Umakyat siya sa taas at pinuntahan sa kwarto ang mga bata. "Sino ang pinakagwapo sa lahat ng gwapo?" tanong niya pagkabukas na pagkabukas ng pinto. Sinalubong siya ng lahat at yinakap. Binuhat niya lahat ng maliliit.

Napansin niyang nakaupo lang si Kyrel sa kama nito at nakatingin sa bintana. He walked toward Kyrel and poked his arm. "Hindi mo ba miss Kuya Apa mo?"

Umiling si Kyrel at tumingin ulit sa bintana. Nagtatampo siya dahil ilang linggo ring hindi nakadalaw si Apa sa kanila. Kyrel had the most gentle eyes, but they were sad. Sobrang cute at gwapong bata. Kamukhang kamukha siya ni Marcus noong bata.

Apa was too determined kaya tinanong niya yung mga bata kung sino ang gustong maglaro at kumain ng ice cream. Napatingin si Kyrel, pero umiwas din ng tingin.

He ended up carring him. Nagwawala na si Kyrel, pero hindi niya 'to ni-let go. He was so persistent. The children were so happy to see their kuya Apa again.

Noong una, ayaw maglaro ni Kyrel hanggang sa napilit na siya ni Apa. Everyone was praising him for his soccer skills.

"Mana ka talaga sa amin ng daddy mo. Apir!"

Kyrel gave him a high five. Apa explained to him what his job was and promised him he would be back as soon as he could.

Pagkatapos niyang pumunta sa church, sa mga pinsan naman siya ni Ags pumunta. Saktong sakto, nasa bahay silang lahat. Nilibre sila ni Apa ng pizza at naglaro sila ng video game.

"Nga pala, si Ags?" he asked.

Ngumisi silang lahat dahil sa tanong ni Apa.

"Kayo na ba?" tanong ni Luke.

He grinned. "Hindi pa."

"Kailan magiging kayo ulit?" tanong naman ni Louie. Malapit na niyang maging kasing tangkad mga kapatid niya.

"Hindi ko pa rin alam, eh."

Nawawalan na siya ng pag-asa kaya after he went to Ags' cousins' house, kay Gill naman siya pumunta. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"Masama bang ma-miss kapatid ko?"

She snorted. "Really, huh?"

"Really." He kissed her cheek. "Hindi ba obvious?"

"I don't believe you," she said, laughing. "Tinanong mo ako kung pupunta dito si Ags and I said yes so I believe, kaya ka nandito kasi pupunta siya dito. I'm right, I'm right. Wag ka na mag deny. You're obsessed with her!"

Tumawa lang si Apa. "Pero na-miss talaga kita."

"Lokohin mo sarili mo."

Naghintay siya hanggang sa dumating si Ags. Ayaw na niyang umalis dahil baka hindi na niya sila maabutan. Since hindi pumunta yung students na nagpa-sched mag volunteer, silang tatlo lang ang gumawa ng activities. They decided to have a puppet show like they used to.

"Congrats, partner," she said after their successful puppet show. Naglilinis na silang dalawa. Her laughter soothed him. "Next time, mag handa ka na. Magdadala ako ng maraming jokes." Buti na lang, laging prepared si Apa pag dating sa mga kalokohan.

He smirked. "Gasgas naman baon mo. Walang originality." He stopped cleaning and looked at her. "Wait... Next time?" So, may next time pa? His inner self wanted to jump out of joy.

I shrugged. "Why not?"

Grinning, he shook his head. "Alright, next time." Yes! Yes! Yes!

"Sigurado ba kayong hindi kayo?" sabay silang tumingin kay Gill na kanina pa nakaupo at pinapanood sila mag lokohan. Gill thought, hindi talaga nila kayang maging magkaibigan lang.

They were destined to be more than friends.

Speaking of destiny, sabay silang pumunta kila Bri at Joyce na pinaglaruan at niloko silang dalawa. Masayang masaya si Apa dahil kahit hindi niya nalaman kung anong oras yung mga lakad ni Ags, nagkita pa rin sila.

Sabi nga nila, 'Do your best and God will do the rest.'

That night, Sean called Apa. "Former captain ka ng soccer team noong college, 'di ba?"

"Paano mo nalaman? Stalker kita, no?"

"Proud na proud sa'yo nanay ko eh." He made a bitter laugh. "Nasa field niyo ako ngayon. Dali na, ayoko ng pinaghihintay."

Nag palit si Apa ng soccer clothes niya at pinuntahan si Sean na nagwa-warm-up. "This is about Ags, isn't it?" he asked, stretching.

"You do catch up really fast."

He smirked. "I'm a genius. And please don't tell me, dito ka na rin magtatrabaho."

Sean did the same. "Starting tomorrow."

Apa forced himself to laugh. "Game na." He tossed the ball up in the air. They didn't have a deal. They just played until someone gave up. Hanggang madaling araw silang naglalaro dahil walang sumusuko sa kanila.

"Give up on her and I'll give up on this game." Apa kicked the ball and made a goal again. He was too good for Sean. Para saan pa't nakasama siya sa pambansang palaro kung matatalo rin siya?

Isa pa, gago lang si Sean, pero hindi siya athlete.

Sean surrendered. "I'll give up on this game, but I won't give up on her." Kumuha si Sean ng tubig at inalok si Apa. Hindi kinuha ni Apa kaya nagkibit balikat na lang si Sean at umalis na. "Good game. I'll be expecting more games, dear cousin."

That made Apa really furious. He groaned and didn't stop playing by himself until he couldn't play anymore. He was too tired, but he was more frustrated.

"Yuki? Bakit hingal na hingal ka?" Lizzie asked over the phone.

"Played soccer."

"Really? Are you okay?" she was so worried. Alam kasi ni Lizzie na stress-reliever ni Apa ang soccer. "Are you stressed?"

"Oo... sobra... Tell me what to do, Liz. Should I just get out of here and run away like I did before?"

"Dahil... dahil ba kay Agatha? Again?"

"Naaah, she makes me happy." He sighed. "I'll call you tomorrow, Liz. I'm really tired."

"O-Okay... And Yuki?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm so tired, as well. Can't I just die?"