Pretend to be His Girlfriend

Chapter 14: Pencils and Memories

CHAPTER 14

Alexie's Point of View

''Dale!''

Matinis na sigaw ni Bea ang naririnig ko habang tuluyan akong hinahatak ni Dale paalis. Nang nasa parking lot na kaming dalawa ay hinatak ko pabalik sa akin ang palad ko, medyo hinimas ko ito dahil kanina pa hawak ni Dale ang kamay ko.

''Ihahatid na kita,'' he said. Bumuntong hininga ako.

''Ano ba ang balak mo? I thought we're done working with this kind of set up?'' I asked calmly.

''I'm sorry for bringing you into this. I just cannot believe saying to you before that you won't run after me anymore when I stopped this, pero bumaliktad iyon.'' He said it without hesitation, I guess the way he said those words. I don't know how or what to react. Hindi ko alam naguguluhan ako kung anong pinapahiwatig n'ya.

''Maybe, you're running after me again dahil kailangan mo ulit ang tulong ko.'' Biglaan n'ya akong nilingon tila nag-aalala.

''I don't think so, maybe it's deeper than that.''

Bumuntong hininga ako at napapikit, ''Hindi mo naman sasabihing 'I don't think so and maybe' kung sigurado ka sa pinupunto mo...''

''Fine, you can have my help again. Tomorrow, I'll give you some papers to sign up. May sundo ako, you don't have to give me a ride.'' I said with low and tired voice before turning my back on him. Isinakbit ko ng maigi ang backpack ko.

''Kuya Anthony, nandito ako sa lower parking lot.'' I said over the phone. Saktong sakto ang oras ng sinabi ko kung kailan ako magpapasundo pauwi.

Wala pang tatlong minute ay nasa harapan ko na ang kotseng susundo sa akin, pero nilingon ko muna ang bandang likod dahil napansin kong si Dale ang nasa driver's seat, hindi gaanong tinted ang windows ng kotse nito.

He was looking at me intently and uses the lights of his car as a sign that it's really him. Bahagya lamang akong ngumiti at tumango bago pumasok sa kotse dahil pinagbuksan na ako ng pinto ni Anthony sa backseat.

Nilingon ko saglit ang kotse ni Dale bago tuluyang umalis ang kotseng sinasakyan ko.

''Kumusta ang araw mo sa mall.'' Kuya Anthony asked and looked at me in the front mirror.

''Quite good,'' It actually wasn't good, maraming kaganapan ang nangyari kanina. It cannot even sink and process in my mind.

''Sigurado ka? Mukhang masyado kang napagod ngayong araw, maybe ice cream will lift your mood up.'' Aniya at malaki ang ngisi, lumaki din ang ngiti ko.

''Kuya, I'm not a kid anymore, ice cream won't help like it used to before.'' Ngumiti na lamang ako, gusto ko na lamang mag pahinga. Maybe rest will help a lot.

Habang nagmamaneho ay may binuksan si Kuya Anthony sa compartment malapit sa kanyang manibela. I was kind of shock cause he's still doing those, ginagawa n'yang maglagay ng ice cream mula ng maging personal bodyguard s'ya ng pamilya namin.

''Wala namang masama kung susubukan, here I brought you these on my way.'' Aniya at iniabot sa akin ang nakabalot na plastic cup. It's indeed vanilla flavor which is my most favorite flavor.

''Well, according to science ice cream contains fat and protein, both of which our bodies need to help level our moods. The amino acids you take in when eating ice cream, such as tryptophan, are known to increase serotonin production.'' I said while eating. Malaki ang ngiti ni Anthony habang paminsan minsang tumitingin sa akin dahil nagmamaneho.

''You really are brainy, manang mana ka sa parents mo.'' He said, I smiled.

''Kaklase mo ba si Dale Del Valle?'' Tanong iyon ni Anthony matapos ang ilang minute.

''Yes, did you know him?'' I asked, a little bit confused.

''Tingin ko kanina pa nasa likod natin ang kotseng minamaneho n'ya. They just moved in four blocks apart from your house.''

''Ohh...'' Uh-oh.

Hindi ko alam kung magandang balita ba iyon o hindi. Pero sino naman ako para humadlang sa mga plano ng pamilya n'ya, maybe it is just kind of awkward for me.Dahan dahan kong nilingon ang bandang likod, only to find out he's looking at our car. Hindi n'ya ako makikita dahil masyadong tinted ang kotseng sinasakyan ko. Anthony can never go wrong, Dale and I were on the same neigborhood.

''Yes, he is my classmate.'' Mahinang tugon ko.

**

I was pulling all-nighter last night due to our midterm examination the next day and at the same time doing what I has to do. May iaabot akong agreement papers kay naming dalawa na para sa kanya lamang, he has to sign it for the sake of my peace of mind, saving all the sanity he has.

''Goodluck with your examination!'' My family cheered for me while having our breakfast, and as of now Dad's just communicating with us through video chat.

''You've got this, you always have. The test will be over in just a few hours, and we'll have dinner soon.'' Dad said cheerfully over the phone, he's kind of in some meetings.

''Thanks, Dad.''

''Should I book reservation again?'' Masayang tanong naman ni Ate Allyssa.

We're always having dinner out every after the results of the examination. I always maintain having high scores, cause that was the only reason why we're complete as a family, my dad always find his way just to celebrate with us, pero hindi iyon nangyayari sa ibang occasions.

**

Kada sasapit ang last minute namin bago mag-exam ay may tradition ang aming campus, either buying a pencils from classmates or schoolmates, and or receiving pencils from friends, teachers, classmates or significant other. They believe the energy it gives would do the trick passing the scores, and having a memories you'll surely looked back and cherish soon.

Marami ang nagtatawanan at masayang nag-aabutan ng pencils, some of them were joking about it.

In my case, I just received pencils twice from my only three friends and to some of my teachers, I wasn't giving always either, mas pinaniniwalaan ko lamang ang pagre-review kaysa iasa ang pagkakaroon ng passing scores rather high scores sa paniniwala lang, you can do both do; believing and hardworking as well.

''Lexie!'' I heard my friends coming my way, I gave them two pencils from my pencil case.

''Thank you! Didn't brought some for you, nonsense din palagi namang mataas ang scores mo,'' ani Irish, nakangiti ito at nanliliit ang mga mata.

''Sometimes it wasn't just for scores, siguro pagiging thoughtful mo for your friend, kaya here's my pencil for you, friend!'' Masayang wika ni Emergie ka'ya parehas kaming natawa ni Irish sa pagkakabigkas n'ya.

Habang nag-uusap ay dumating naman si Raikko at masayang inabot sa amin ang pencils para sa aming tatlo. ''Thanks, Rai.''

''Usually, you only have pencils for one of us, may natitira pang isa, para kanino ang natitira?'' Tanong ni Raikko. Bigla akong natigilan at tiningnan ang pencil.

''How did you know?" Tinuro n'ya ang isang pencil na hawak ko. ''Surely one of the pencil is from your friends.'' Aniya tinuro ang pencil galing kay Emergie.

''That's from me,'' singit ni Emergie.

''And this is the one I gave you.'' Tinuro n'ya ang pencil na galing sa kanya.

''This one is from you a wooden type, it's a special one, walang kaparehas, you'll surely give it to someone you know.'' Aniya, he really is a keen one, I must give him that. Pero nagdadalawang isip ako kung sasabihin ko ba sa kanila kung kanino ko ito ibibigay.

''Raikko's right, who's your new friend?" Irish asked, eagerly waiting for my answer.

I hesitated to answer, but they're all waiting for it.

''It's actually... for Dale.'' I said his name with low tone of voice.