His Revenge

Chapter 16: Requests

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Sigaw bigla sa'kin ni kuya saktong alas-dose ng madaling-araw. September 1.

Nalaglag pa ako sa higaan sa tindi ng pagkagulat ko.

"What the heck, kuya?! Natutulog ako!" sigaw ko naman pabalik.

"I just want to greet you," sagot niya.

"Then maybe it can wait until tomorrow? For hell's sake, its just the first of September," I said as I crawled back to the bed.

And yes, September na nga. Halos tatlong buwan na ang nakalilipas mula nung unang beses akong pumasok sa Emerald. Nalalapit na ang exams namin dahil sa sunod na buwan ay term end na.

So we're starting to get really busy. Padagdag na nang padagdag ang mga gawain sa school. At dahil sa November ang simula ng inter-school tournament para sa volleyball ay mas lalo rin kaming binababad ni coach sa practice. Nakakayanan ko pa naman ang mga obligasyon namin. Sabi nga ni Kuya Grey eh freshmen pa lang kami at wala pa kaming masyadong stress na daranasin.

Tungkol naman kay Kishou eh wala namang nagbabago halos. He still invites me for dinner in his house or minsan eh gumagala kami. Pero kadalasan kasama namin si kuya. Kishou's still determined to get really closer to me. While Kuya Grey's still determined to monitor us 24/7.

Kinaumagahan, as usual, ay magkasama na naman kami ni kuya papunta sa school.

"Hey, CR."

"What?"

"Kishou invited us to spend the Sem Break with him. They have a rest house near a beach, out of town. It would be really fun if we'll go with him," sabi niya.

"I'll come to think of it…" I said.

"Why? Do you have other plans this Sem Break?" tanong ni kuya.

"Uhm… I might get a bit busy this October," sagot ko.

"And when you say 'busy', you mean you're going to eat, sleep, watch TV, watch animé, read manga, and the likes, am I right?" tanong niya.

I nodded. "Yeah, true."

"Then go with me. Kailangan mong mag-enjoy. Pwede tayong mag-surfing or island hopping doon sabi ni Kishou. Mas okay na 'yun kesa sa humilata ka maghapon sa higaan mo," sagot ni kuya.

"But there's a new season for my favorite animé this Sem Break. I don't want to miss it," sabi ko naman.

"Come with me. Kailangan mong maarawan. Makakapaghintay naman 'yan!" reklamo ni kuya.

I rolled my eyes.

"And I don't have-"

"Hey."

Si Kishou.

"Sakto. Tell him about the benefits that he'll reap if he decides to go with us," sabi ni kuya kay Kishou.

"Why? Sasama na ba kayo sa'kin this Sem Break?" tanong niya.

"Ako oo. Itong si CR, nagdadalawang-isip pa," sabi ni kuya.

"Well, there's enough room for all of us there. May mga kamag-anak ako doon na nag-aasikaso ng rest house namin. And we're near, very near the Hundred Islands kung pupunta tayo doon. Everything is free. Accomodation, sightseeing, kahit anong trip mo. And above all, libre ang… pagkain," sabi niya.

I clenched the strap of my bag tightly.

Ramdam kong pinahuli talaga ni Kishou ang salitang 'yun for the sake of dramatic effect. Dinig ko naman ang impit na hagikgik ni kuya sa tabi ko.