The Ex-Marine

7

Friends

"Chemistry, huh?"

Rexes raised the book for him to see, "kaunting review lang. I just can't go to a week without scanning."

"It's fine, future engineer. Wala ka namang gagawin dito."

Uno got back from manila kanina lang umaga. Rexes went there at 11:00 in the morning, akala niya kasi ay baka wala pa naman si Uno. Besides, he was gone for 3 days. Palaisipan pa rin sa kanya kung ano ang agenda ni Uno doon pero she has no right to pry.

Nagpa tuloy ito sa ginagawa at ganoon din si Rexes, nakahilata siya doon sa duyan ni Uno at nag babasa ng libro.

"Rexes!" Boses iyon ng kanyang kapatid. She closed the book, nakita niya rin na tumigil si Uno sa kanyang ginagawa.

"Estelle, nandito ang kapatid mo."

God, kailan ako masasanay na Estelle ang tawag niya...

His brother was walking towards them, then she saw those pair of chinky eyes trailing with Trevelyan.

"Kyle,"

"Hey, how are you?" Ngumiti ito sa kanya, the dimple on his right cheek appeared.

"I'm good. Ikaw? What are you doing here?" Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang binata. He's in a white polo shirt and black shorts na pinarisan ng top siders. Kyle's really good looking. Matangkad pa at may taste pomorma. Siguro noong college ay masyadong lapitin ito ng mga babae. Kahit siguro ngayon ay ganoon pa din.

"My father was here for a meeting with your dad. So I thought sasama ako--- to see you, of course."

Sasagot na sana siya ng biglang tumikhm si Trevelyan.

"Maiwan ko na kayo. I need to get back in the harvest. Uno," tawag nito.

Uno looked at him.

"Ikaw ang bahala kay Rexes." Trevelyan said, he nodded at Kyle bago ito umalis. The nod doesn't even look friendly to her.

Rexes rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, my brother's really annoying sometimes."

Ngumiti ito. "It's okay. I understand him, ganito ba naman ka gandang babae, kailangan talagang bantayan."

Rexes laughed at that. Real smooth, Kyle. Real smooth. "I didn't know, magaling ka palang mambola. But thank you, I'd be taking that as a compliment."

"It is, Rexes."

Rexes noticed Kyle like putting his hands inside his pockets. Parating nakapamulsa.

"Uhm. Uno? Okay lang ba kung ipasyal ko muna saglit si Kyle?"

He stopped working para tumango sa kanya. Well, he's too busy with the furnitures to even care.

Naglakad-lakad silang dalawa patungo sa gilid ng ilog at umupo, hindi nakaligtas kay Rexes ang mga tingin na tinatapon ni Kyle sa kanya.

"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?"

"Inutusan ako ni kuya na magbantay ng furnitures na pinapagawa. Lame, I know. Pero yan ang rason bakit ako nandito."

"He doesn't trust the trabahador, is that it?" Nakatukod ang mga braso nito sa mga bato kaya nadepina ang biceps nito. Of course, he goes to gym.