"Take my hand," a kid immediately said to me with his hand extended. "What happened?" Mukha syang concerned.
Nadulas kasi ako. Kasi naman yung bago kong shoes madulas. Sabi ni Mommy cute, kasi pink nga naman yung outline, pero madulas pala.
"Thank you ah," sabi ko sa kanya. Nagpatulong akong tumayo sa kanya. Sumakit ang puwit ko dahil sa pagkakadulas. "Aray."
"Masakit?" tanong nya. "Want me to take you to the Nurse's Eliana? Ikaw si Eliana diba?"
"Yes! Or Ellie," I said.
"I'm Anthony," pakilala nya. "Grade three ka na rin diba?"
"Yup!" I said. Matanda na 'ko. Grade three na!
"Ellie!" dinig kong tawag sa'kin. Lumingon ako para hanapin yun.
"Kuya Hans! Kuya Ryan!" kaway ko sa kanila na palapit. Si Kuya Hans ang tumawag sa'kin.
Nakilala nila si Anthony. "Uy Anthony ikaw pala," akbay ni Kuya Hans kay Anthony. "Ellie, pinsan ko pala, si Anthony," pakilala ni Hans kay Anthony sa'kin.
"Huy, hindi natin pinsan yan," sabi ni Kuya Ryan kay Kuya Hans na inakbayan ako. "Pinsan sya ni Arabelle Ellie," paliwanag nya sa'kin. Si Arabelle ay little sister ni Kuya Hans, magkapatid sila sa ina. Magkapatid naman si Kuya Hans at Kuya Ryan sa ama. Magka-edad sila. May little brother din si Kuya Ryan na si Migs.
Tumunog ang bell. It meant we had to get to our classrooms.
"Tara na Ellie. Dun na tayo sa floor natin," yaya ni Anthony. "Mauna na kami," sabi nya sa magkapatid.
"Okay," payag ko. "Bye Kuya Hans! Bye Kuya Ryan!" Ngumiti at kumaway na rin sila para maka-alis.
Sumama na 'ko kay Anthony. Sabay kaming naglakad paakyat sa floor namin.
"Ah alam ko na kung bakit hindi mo pinsan si Kuya Hans. Si Arabelle lang kasi ang talagang anak ni Tito Phil. Kasi Dad ni Hans yung Dad ni Ryan, si Tito Kearn. So Tito mo si Tito Phil?" paniniguro ko.
"Yes," tango ni Anthony. "My Dad and his Dad are cousins. But for me Hans and Ryan are cousins na rin. Kuya Hans and I used to play a lot before. Sometimes kasama sina Ryan and Migs. I'm sure they treat me as a cousin too."
"Bakit ngayon lang kita nakita? Hindi ka sumasama kina Kuya Hans 'pag may outing kami? Friends kasi yung parents namin kaya madalas kaming magbakasyon na magkakasama," tanong at paliwanag ko.
"I was based in Bohol. Before that naman, my Dad got sick so we were always by his side. We traveled to try to get him well," paliwanag nya.
"Oh is your Dad okay now?" tanong ko.
Umiling sya. "He died."
"Sorry!" An dami ko kasing tanong.
"It's fine. Matagal na naman. And I have a new Dad na din."
"Oh. 'Eh 'di great."
"And my Mom is pregnant with twins," he smiled. Mukhang excited sya.
"Wow!" I exclaimed. "Can I visit to play with them? 'Pag lumabas na sila?"
"Sure!" he said and smiled.
BINABASA MO ANG
That Unfaithful Night II (Active-ish)
Lãng mạnEliana's back but what she came back to isn't similar to what she was used to. Friends have new friends and have strengthened bonds with old and new people. But several friends' feelings towards her haven't changed. She will succumb to peer pressur...