TIME AFTER TIME (KathBie)

3. SMALL WORLD

MARA STROKED HER HAIR with her fingers as she hopped in the school bus. Unlike dati, hindi na siya hatid sundo ng private car dahil busy na ang parents niya. His brother is using their other car na din. She hasn’t styled her hair dahil she just blowed it dry at hindi pa siya natapos dun. The bus beeped early, she underestimated her time. She sat in the second row of the bus and tried to find her brush in her bag. She didn’t notice na mamaya, there was a girl standing in front of her. 

“I think you’re on my seat.” A familiar face greeted her. Umuron si Mara to give the girl standing to sit. Nakatayo lang pa din ito. “You should find another one.” Madiin na sabi nito. Dahil umaga pa, Mara wasn’t in the mood to argue. She stood up while the bus kept moving. 

Mara settled sa gitnang part ng bus. She touched her hair again and tried to brush the end of her hair. Hawak nito ang brush niya. 

“Miss.” A male voice said. Kahilera niya ito sa row. They were separated by the aisle. 

“Is this seat taken,too?” Medyong irita na tanong ni Mara.

“Ah, hindi. Pagpasensyahan mo na si Claire.”marahang sabi ng lalake. “Freshman ka ba?” parang hesitant pa itong magtanong.

“Clair, now I remember.” Sabi ni Mara sa sarili niya. “No.” tumingin siya sa nagtanong. “I’m a transferee.” She smiled.

“What year ka na?” ang katabi naman ng lalake ang nagtanong. Babae ito. Naramdaman siguro ang warmth niya when she smiled.

“I’m a junior.” Sabi ni Mara. 

“Kame din!” napaexcite na sabi ng lalake. Tatlo na silang nakangiti.

“I’m Mara.” She extended a hand to the two persons across. 

“Ako si Butch, ito naman si Jinjin.” Butch shook Mara’s hand and Jinjin did the same. 

“Nice to meet you, Butch and Jinjin.” Nakangiti pa din si Mara.

“Anong section mo?” tanong ni Butch.

“St.John.” sagot naman ni Mara. 

“Ang small world naman. Pare pareho pala tayo ng section.” Ngumiti si Jinjin.

“Wow, that’s cool.” Sabi nito sa dalawa. Napatingin siya sa window niya at nakita niya ang familiar view. 

“Manong, di daw sasabay si Christian.” Mara heard the girl in front shout. Tinignan ulit ni Mara ang bahay nila. 

“Si Christian, junior din siya.” Narinig niyang sinabi sa kanya ni Jinjin. 

“Ah..” Mara responded without taking her eyes off the window. The bus moved and three houses away from Christian’s, she saw their old house. Parang ibang-iba na ito. And now she feels nostalgic.

“ANG AGA NATIN, AH!” hirit ni Migs sa cafeteria ng makita si Christian. Nasa usual spot sila. Lunch time na kasi pero ngayon pa lang papasok si Christian. There are only three subjects left for the day. Pero siempre, may training na sila agad.

“Hangover ba yan?” tanong ni Anton while settling his tray sa table. Kakabili lang nito ng pagkain habang si Migs, kakaumpisa lang kumain.

“Hindi naman, tinamad lang talaga.” Christian smiled. He put his bag down sa upuan nila at bumili na ng pagkain. When he came back, patapos na ang mga kaibigan nito kumain ang is just about to get a dessert. Umupo siya and was just about to start eating when he noticed something unusual. Sa isang table, tumatayo ang tatlong tao pero isa lang ang napansin niya. It couldn’t be.

Hindi napansin ni Christian that three of his friends are already looking at the direction he’s looking at. Sinundan din ni Christian ng tingin ang tatlong tao as they make their way out of the cafeteria.