Without Warning (MARTA)

Chapter 8: Familiar Face

Marco:

I couldn't wait to meet Yong but when I came home her mom told me that he wasn't here yet. She also informed me that he has a group meeting. I was a bit disappointed and had no choice but to stay in my room, like the usual thing I'm doing since I started living here. As I put my bag on my study table, I remembered I have some assignments to do but I'm too lazy to begin with it, I decided to take a nap after I changed my clothes.

Rita:

Naunang umuwi si Kuya Marco habang hinihintay ko si Kuya Yong. Si Fenech naman, bago pa man kami mag-uwian eh nandyan na yata sa labas nag-aabang ang sumusundo sa kanya. Mabuti na lang kahit paano may nakakausap pa rin ako kahit na hindi kami masyadong magkaintindihan, si Kuya Edward. Habang nag-uusap kami, nasa kandungan ko ang libro sa Mathematics dahil may assignment kami rito. Hindi ko na nga masyado naintindi nang dumating sila nila Kuya Aizan at Kuya Marco kanina.

"What's your full name?" tanong niya nang kami na lang ang naiwan. Wala siguro siyang ibang maisip na pagkwentuhan kaya iyon na lang ang natanong.

"Rita Ibnuasi Gaviola." sinulat ko pa ito sa scratch paper para sa kanya habang siya'y nakatingin dito na nakapangalumbaba sa tabi ko.

"Okay. By the way, why you have your Math book here?" tinuro niya ang pinapatungan ko ng papel. "Why not put it inside your bag?"

"Ah, may assignment kasi kami. Ginagawa ko na sana habang hinihintay 'yung kuya ko." umaasa akong naiintindihan niya ang sinabi ko.

"Oh assignment!"

"Yes, yes. And ano... uhm... it's hard."

"Hmm..." hinihimas-himas niya ang baba niya, "Want me to help you?"

"You'll help me?" Natuwa ako pero hindi kaya mas lalo lang ako maguluhan sa topic kasi minsan hindi ko rin siya naiintindihan.

"Yes, I'm willing to help you." sabi niya ng nakangiti.

"Sabi mo eh." hindi ko na siya tinanggihan. Bahala na kung mage-gets ko o hindi.

Marco:

I was suddenly awakened with the reason i didn't know. I glanced at the alarm clock and it says it's 8:44 P.M. Oh what?! I arrived at past 5, meaning I slept for almost four hours?! I scuttled as I ran downstairs, why nobody woke me up? I saw lola at the sofa who just turned to me as I descended the stairs.

"Oh, gising ka na apo."

"Bakit hindi niyo man lang po ako ginising, lola?" I whined.

She scoffed. "Sa hirap mo ba naman gisingin, hijo? Saka I was thinking you must be tired kaya hinayaan na kita. Besides, gigising ka naman kung nagugutom ka na." she then called Ate Chari, "Ipaghanda mo na kami ng makakain."

I gasped. "Ugh, you haven't had your dinner yet, lola?"

"No, sabi ko hihintayin kita nang may kasabay rin naman ako pati na rin ikaw." she smiled.

"Oh, thanks lola. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"No, don't be apo. It's all right."

I helped her stand and assisted her to the dining area. "By the way lola, for sure nandito na si Yong. Gusto ko na po siyang makilala." I beamed excitedly.

"Narinig mo ba 'yan Gina? Pwede mo ba siyang papuntahin rito? Kung hindi pa siya naghahapunan, sabayan na rin niya kami."

I looked at my back and saw Manang Gina standing there.