Hunted

[3]

CHAPTER 3

 “You know Gee, I---hate to—admit--it. Pero gosh bakit parang---sumarap kang---magluto---ngayon?” Sabi ni Jem habang patuloy padin sa pag-ngyuya. Napagluto na sila ni Gee dati nung birthday ni Lime pero hindi kasiya siya masyado yung outcome nung niluto ni Gee kaya since that day never na nilang hinayaang magluto si Gee para sakanila. Not to insult her or something kundi para protektahan ang mga sarili nila mula sa pananakit ng tiyan.

“Why, Jem. gutom lang siguro yan. And don’t talk when your mouth is full, young lady.” Pananaway ni Gail kay Jem. Tinikman nya yung niluto ni Gee. Ah yes. Masarap nga. A miracle perhaps? Napangiti sya. Naalala nya tuloy bigla kung gaano kasalimuot yung last na luto sakanila ni Gee. Pero infearness. Masarap itong ngayon. Nag iimprove ang bruha.

Jem made a face and repeated what Gail said dully. “Don’t talk when your mouth is full young lady. As if you’re an old woman Gail.” She saw Gail glared at her.  She added quickly, “Kidding. Love you.” Mahirap nang magtampo sakanya si Gail. Ayaw pa naman nya nang may nagtatampo sakanya. Especially Gail. She’s special for her.

Gail shrugged and fixed her gaze on Kirsten who’s quietly eating her meal. “Ano Kirsten? Kamusta luto ni gee? Pasado ba?”

Tumingin sakanya si Kirsten at nag isip kunwari…and smiled. “Kidding. Yep. Pasado. Laki ng inimprove ni Gee.”

Patricia laughed. “I’m so proud of you Gee!”

Lime looked at her. “Seriously? Medyo OA.”

“Shaddap.”

“Hmmm..” Jel mummed habang nginunguya yung pagkain nya. “Aba. Ang laki ng pagkakaiba nito sa dati Gee! Achievement!”

Gail smiled. “Naks. Flattered si Gee. Yie.”

Gee laughed. “Natatawa ako sainyo. Anyway thanks.”

Kiniliti ni Jel si Gee sa bewang. “Pero sa loob loob nya..kinikilig siya sa pinagsasabi namin! Aminin! Aminin! Aminin!”

“Aminin! Aminin! Aminin!” Sabay sabay naming sabi.

Gee chuckled then shrugged. “Kumain nalang kayo. Mag gagabi na.”

Gail warily looked around her. She felt as if someone was waching them. Instincts. She usually trusts her instincts. It never failed her so far. She shrugged off that hunch and fixed her focus on her friends again. She saw her friends laughing. Laughing with so much joy. It made her heart sank. Her friends had been a great part of her life. She wouldn’t know what she would do if they are taken away from her.

Taken away from her.

Away. Gone. Alone.

Alone.

No one with her. No one to support her. Only her…

Alone.

What? Anong pinag i-isip nya? Pagod lang to sa pagakyat ng bundok na to. Pssh.

Kinalabit ni Jem si Gail. “Oh? Tahimik mo dyan? Daydreaming? Though mag gagabi na…Night dreaming?”

She smiled. “Wala. Libot libot tayo mamaya?”

Jem pouted. “Ehh..Nakakatakot kaya.” She slowly nodded. “Pero kasama naman kita e. Gora lang.”