A Love To Remember

Chapter 3: Bump

Chiara

"Have you seen Ms. Lea's recent post on twitter?" Kallie asked me while the two of us are eating lunch here at our school's cafeteria.

I wiggled my eyebrows. "Bakit, may bago ba?"

She nodded as she handed me her iPad, kaagad ko naman itong tinanggap at tinignan ang tinutukoy niya.

"The Voice teens, Chia. Are you interested to join?"

I heaved a deep breath. I'm interested but for sure, Dad won't allow me.

"I can't." mahinang sambit ko.

"Why not?" she frowned. "Sayang, Chia. Ang ganda pa naman ng boses mo."

Singing isn't really my thing but a lot of people told me that I have a good voice.

"You know Dad naman, 'di ba? He won't let me." I shrugged my shoulders. "And besides, anak ako ng isang artista. Iisipin ng iba, unfair iyon kapag nagkataon."

"Tito is such a KJ." this time, she pouted. "I really want you to enter showbiz so that I can finally create a fandom for you."

I smiled. Kallie really knows how to make me smile and I'm thankful for that.

I fixed my lunch as I rolled my eyes when I suddenly realized that all of my classes this afternoon are boring.

"I'm gonna ditch the entire afternoon classes." I whispered to Kallie.

She glared at me, "Chiara, ano ka ba? Gusto mong mapagalitan ni Tito? Don't you even." suway nito sa'kin.

"Just this once lang naman. Kung hindi ka sasama, just keep your mouth shut, okay?" bilin ko, umiling naman siya ng sunod-sunod.

"You're my bestfriend and I will not tolerate you, masama iyang binabalak mo. Subukan mo lang umalis at isusumbong kita kay Ms. Irene!"

"Go on, Kallie. It's all up to you. Decide on which path you should take." I told her, using my 'paawa look' while batting my eyelashes.

Kallie drifted her gaze, now she's having doubts kung tutulungan niya ba ako o hindi. My acting skills are pro.

Nagtitigan lang kami for almost a minute or so hanggang sa bumuntong hininga siya, making me grin in victory. Oh, that's probably a YES!

"Fine, do whatever you want but I won't make up any lame excuses for you. Suit yourself!" naiinis niyang sambit at tumayo na.

"Cool, thanks Kall! You're the best!" I thanked her as I put my lunch box inside my bag. Mabuti na lang at dala-dala ko ito, I don't need to go back to our classroom anymore.

Tumayo na ako at nagpaalam kay Kallie, she looked worried sick about me but she didn't say a word.

Pumunta ako sa likurang bahagi ng paaralan. One time, naglinis kami rito ng mga kaklase ko at may nakita akong secret tunnel na daanan palabas ng school.

Lumingon-lingon muna ako to check kung may nakatingin sa'kin at mabuti na lang, wala. I entered the tunnel and after what seemed like forever, nakalabas na rin ako ng school.

I was greeted by the cold breeze of air outside the institution. Napangiti na lang ako habang pumapara ng taxi,

Mamita gave me a credit card last week as a prize, napanalunan ko kasi ang painting contest na sinalihan ko. Hindi ko pa ito nagastos so this will be the right time to spend it wisely.

— ✽ —

Tatlong plastic bags sa kanan at lima naman sa kaliwa, taas noo ako habang naglalakad dito sa mall. Some people are starring at me and giving me weird glances, I'm still wearing my uniform so maybe, that's why.

"Shit!" to my horror, 'di ko napansin at may nakabangga na pala ako and, wow! Natapunan pa ako ng dala-dala niyang kape kaya ang lagkit tuloy.

"Hindi ka ba mar--" I stopped mid sentence nang makilala ko kung sino ang nakabangga sa'kin.

"Tita Lea?" I exclaimed, tinanggal niya ang shades niya at mukhang nagulat naman siya nang makita niya ako.

"Chiara? What are you doing here?" she asked. I can't tell her the truth and she might tell Dad so, lying is the best option,

"Half day lang po kasi ang klase namin kaya I decided to go here to unwind." palusot ko, not minding the coffee she spilled all over my uniform.

"Gano'n ba?" nadako ang paningin niya sa uniform ko at doon niya lang ata na-realize na natapunan niya ako ng kape niya.

"You're wet! Sorry at 'di ako tumitingin sa dinadaanan ko." she apologized, umiling na lang ako at saka ngumiti.

"It's fine, Tita. Kasalanan ko rin naman at 'di ko kayo napansin."

Sa tottoo niyan, kung ibang tao 'to, siguro kanina ko pa siya nasigawan but, no.. She's Tita Lea and somehow, she's special to me even though we barely know each other.

"No it's not," she paused. "May gagawin ka pa ba or pupuntahan?"

Supposedly, I will finish my shopping session at may pera pa akong natira but because of what happened, it's better if I just go home..

"I'll go home na lang po, Tita." sagot ko.

"No, you'll come with me. I owe you so, doon ka na lang sa condo ko magpalit ng damit, I'll cook pasta for you in return." she winked at me and without waiting for my reply, she held my arms and pulled me.

Shems. Ang lambot-lambot ng kamay ni Tita! Anong lotion kaya ang ginagamit niya, Aveeno? Matanong nga minsan.

Hindi ko namalayan at nakarating na pala kami sa parking area, infairnness sa kanya at nagawa niya akong hilain papunta rito.

"That's my car." sambit niya at tinuro ang kulay puti na sasakyan, iyan din ang sasakyan na ginamit niya noon kaya familiar na ito sa paningin ko.

Pumasok siya sa driver's seat habang nanatili akong nakatayo sa labas, napansin niya ata na 'di ako sumunod kaya lumabas siya at hinila ulit ako papasok sa passenger seat.

Ba't ba ang hilig niyang manghila?

"Tita, 'wag na po. Uuwi na lang ako, nakakahiya naman sa inyo." sabi ko, gusto kong sumama kaso, may hiya pa rin naman ako kahit papaano.

"I insist. I'll send your Dad a message at nang malaman niya na kasama kita." wika nito na ikinanlaki ng mga mata ko.

Hindi dapat malaman ni Daddy na magkasama kami ngayon, lagot ako kapag nagkataon.

"Nako, Tita! No need na po. Ako na lang po ang magsasabi sa kanya." I lied again.

Tuluyan na akong pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan niya and the first thing that caught my attention was the charm bracelet that's hanging in the rear mirror.

It's a silver one. May mga letters na nakasabit dito so I assumed it's personalized.. pero teka, Sabel? Sino si Sabel at bakit iyan ang nakalagay sa bracelet?

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