The Delinquent and The Silent

Chapter 21

Century's POV

I stand outside looking at my dad's house. It's been... too long since I left. The house look different and lonely. Paints are chipped off, the windows are dirty, basically... the whole house is scary.

I walked towards the door, counted three then knocked. I know Ada's living here alone and I somehow feel this burden on me.

I knocked again. Masyadong maaga for school kaya alam kong nasa loob pa din si Ada. It's just six-forty in the morning. Ada always wake up early, from what I remember. I'm about to knock again when the door opens, revealing a dressed Ada ready for school.

She stared for too long and I have no idea what's running inside her brains. "Pasok ka"

I nod then entered. It's gloomy inside but it's clean. Way too clean... some of the stuff are missing and there are lots of boxes in one corner. 

I sat down. 'Musta ka?'

Ada took a deep breath. She shook her head.

'I'm sorry'

She smiled tightly. "Alam nating pareho kung sinong mali. We all get served by what we deserve, ya know"

'I'm still sorry dahil mag-isa ka ngayon'

She waved her hand. "There's no difference, Cent. Meron man sila o wala, I still feel na ako lang."

I slowly nod my head. She's not close with her parents, I know that.

"I'm sorry though Century kasi hindi kita natutulungan when they're hurting you. I tried once, you probably don't know, pero I ended up hurt too. Coward... yeah I'm a coward dahil hindi man lang ako makapag-sumbong sa mga pulis o kung sino man diyan. I was threatened--- anyway, wala na akong magagawa at nangyari na kaya I'm so sorry"

"Pero I was so happy nung mag-witness ako laban sa kanila" she grinned. "It was the only way I know, napakaliit na bagay, para matulungan kita na hindi ako nasasaktan nina papa."

I didn't know that. 'Thank you. Malaking bagay 'yon para sa'kin'

I pointed at the boxes 'nag-eempake ka ba? Aalis ka?'

She sighed. "Century, I'm sorry to tell you this pero kasi nakasanla sa bangko itong bahay. Hindi ko din alam pero papa somehow managed to do it. Last week, may pumunta dito at 'yon nga, binigyan nila ako ng isang buwan para umalis dahil may bumili na raw dito"

No hell way. 'You're kidding me'

She shook her head. "I'm sorry... we both know this is your house. It's really for you pero alam din nating dalawa na napaka gago ng tatay ko"

I palmed my face. 

Luke's POV

"Century"

She looked at me. Her brows up.

"Ayos ka lang? Mukha kang engot diyan. Kanina ka pa nakatulala"

We're in Mr. Lao's class at may ginagawa kaming group work. Compared sa iba na three in one group, kaming dalawa lang ni Cent. May absent din na dalawa including that Nicoli Harde. 

She wrote 'inaantok lng ako'

She left early at hindi man lang niya ako hinintay. Sabagay, pagising pa lang ako nung umalis siya. Kung hindi pa dahil sa alarm clock na niregalo niya sa'kin, hindi ako magigising.

We're the first one to finish our work just because Cent's a genius. Ayaw pa nga akong i-partner ni Lao sa kanya nung una pero dumiskarte ako. We left the classroom to grab breakfast. I laughed at my monkey friends before leaving. They're in a one group at mukhang hindi nila matapos ang activity dahil sabog sina Gabby at Danny. They both give me the finger while Don's grinning.

I'm studying Century while she's eating her food. I finished mine so I'm just staring at her. Her hair's really long already reaching her waist, she gained weight--- healthy weight unlike before, she's all good. 

'nung huling kumain tayong dalawa, ganyan ka din makatingin sa'kin'

My brows met. "Huh?"

'Nakalimutan mo ba? Sa cafe sa hospital niyo?'

I grinned. Yeah, the last time we dine together was back there. Nung naka-confine pa lang siya sa ospital and ako ang nag-aalaga sa kanya.

"And?"

'Ganyan ka pa din makatingin'

"Like what?"

'manyak'

My grin dropped. Gago to ah. "Na'mo"

She grinned. 'ano ba kasing tinitingin-tingin mo diyan?'

"I think somethings bothering you. You're not you today"

It's her turn to drop her grin. She rolled her eyes though.

I sighed. "I'm right, right?" I clicked my tongue. "Hey, that ryhmed!"

'bungol'

I chuckled. "Nah... seriously, Cent. What's wrong?"

She looked outside. 'I miss home'

"Parang hindi naman 'to yun"

Century whacked my head. Nasa tapat kami ng dati niyang tinitirhan. We're inside my car at para kaming stalker na nakatingin sa bahay nila. After breakfast, we headed here. And nalaman ko din na dito pala siya nagpunta kanina kaya maaga siyang umalis.

Ang creepy ng bahay. Last time I came here, kahit maraming nag-iinuman sa labas ng bahay nila, the house still looks good unlike now.

"So, this Ada sold it?"

She shook her head and explained everything.

"You patched up things with her? That's good."

She grinned. She's a beauty when she does that. "Don't worry about this house, I'll talk to dad. Maybe we can do something about it."

She turned sad again. I made her face me. "Cent, I know this was your home but it's no longer yours. You've got us, our home, your home. This house... is just a house." Century shot me daggers. "Think about it Cent, it was hell for you here" I touched her back where I can still feel some of her big scars. "Maybe it was heaven when your dad's still with you but things changed, love"

She calmed down again. She wrote 'I still want it. It's meant to be mine' after a long pause.

I looked at her. "Okay. We'll do something about it"

She then surprised me by giving me a hug. I hugged her back then kissed the tip of her nose. She sneezed after that to which I just laughed. We stopped laughing when a car stopped in front of mine. Nicoli stepped out looking at the house. 

"It needs renovation but it's nice, mom"

That means one thing right?