Men Behind Boys [Completed]

Chapter Ten

MARK'S POV

"Brod, anong problema?", salubong ko kay Justin na naglalakad at nakakunot ang noo. Katatapos lang ng klase namin nang makatanggap ako ng tawag at sinabing may maliit ang problema tungkol sa outreach program. Hindi naman niya agad sinabi kung ano 'yung maliit na problema at kung maliit ba talaga.

"Yeah... I received a call from Aunt Silva. The La Silva Student Center will not be available this Saturday", Justin said and sat beside me. Napatingin kami'ng lahat sa kanya.

"So, that's the minor problem that you are talking about?", nakangiwi'ng tanong ni Ian saka naupo sa tapat ni Justin.

"Yeah", tinatamad na sagot ni Justin saka napabuntong-hininga.

"Wow, congratulations sa scale mo ng minor problem. I doubt that you can really pass the board exam for Architects, brod. You are using the wrong scale!", natatawa ko'ng sabi saka umiling-iling. It is not a small problem. It's a major major problem!

Justin grinned and mouthed 'stupid' on me. I just laughed.

"Why?", Adrian frowned and looked at Justin, "it's a short notice for cancellation".

"One of their major supporters will visit on Saturday. Yeah, it was a short notice, they just received the call this morning", yamot pa rin na sabi ni Justin habang umiiling-iling.

"Can we reschedule that outreach program until the recipient is already available?", Kevin asked. He is one year senior than me pero sabay-sabay lang kaming pumasok sa Sigma.

"Hell no!", I heard Jasper protested. Like Kevin, he is also one year senior than us at halos kasabay lang namin na pumasok sa Sigma. The two were bestfriends since highschool.

"Tama si Jasper, most of the members already sacrificed their schedule for the outreach program, hindi natin alam kung magiging available pa sila kung ma-resched natin 'yung date", Jacob explained.

"That's a well stated explanation Jacob", Kevin said and grinned.

"Then find a new recipient", Adrian said and looked at Justin.

"In a span of three days?", Justin frowned and gave Adrian a 'are-you-really-serious' look.

"Yes... I remember, why don't you just call Kaye? I learned that her mother is very active in social works and they have a foundation for children", Adrian said.

I saw Justin's jaw dropped. Matagal niya'ng tinitigan si Adrian at parang tinatantiya kung seryoso ba talaga ito.

"What? The recipient of this program is your responsibility, you cannot waste the efforts of your other friends, because you have this very minor problem, can you?", Adrian said, emphasizing the word 'minor' and grinned. He took his phone and dialed a number. After a while, he gave the phone to Justin.

"What?", Justin asked. He frowned habang nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin sa cellphone at kay Adrian.

"Talk to Kaye, she can help you", Adrian said. Justin glared at him and took the phone. Saglit siya'ng naghintay ng sasagot sa kabilang line.

"Yes... it's me... no...it's Justin...", napatingin pa sa amin si Justin bago tumayo at naglakad palayo. Sinundan namin siya ng tingin.

"Who is that Kaye?", Kevin asked while looking at Justin, "may girlfriend na si Justin?", nakangising tanong niya.

"Brod, don't be a gay, alam ko'ng may namumuo na'ng kwento sa utak mo", Jacob said.

Hindi ko maiwasan na mapasulyap kay Justin habang naglalakad palayo sa tambayan. Well, after the incident last Saturday, that's four days ago, wala na ako'ng narinig na kahit na ano'ng balita kay Kaye.