XIX
I WINCED because of the pain when I tried to touch the only pimple I have on my face. I'm on my period today, that's why I wasn't really surprised earlier when I woke up and saw a red bump on my cheek when I looked at the mirror.
Nagkakaroon din ako nito paminsan-minsan. Mas bihira nga lang noon dahil nandito lang naman ako madalas sa bahay. Hindi 'to hormonal kaya mawawala rin 'to sa mga susunod na araw. Sadyang madalas na kasi ang paglabas ko ngayon dahil sa eskwela, naaalikabukan at nauusukan ang mukha.
"Hindi ka talaga marunong makinig." Napatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang magsalita si Manang Fe mula sa kusina na nakasilip pala sa'kin habang nagpupunas ng mga hinugasan. "Sinabi nang 'wag mong gagalawin kapag may ganiyan ka. Baka magka-nana pa 'yan."
I groaned and stopped touching the pimple right away. "Manang naman, don't jinx it."
She just shook her head, probably thinking I never learn. "Anong oras na ba? Nasa'n na raw ba si Raena? Hindi ba kayo male-late niyan?"
I checked my phone to see if there's a text message from Raena aside from her last text ten minutes ago, telling me that she's on the way. Wala namang bagong text, so maybe she's still on the way.
"Nasa byahe na raw siya, 'nang." I let Manang know and started to type a message for the tardy Queen bee.
To: Raena 👑
Nasa'n ka na ba? You might want to get your ass here faster. Kuya Lito isn't here to drive us to school. 🙄 Magco-commute pa tayo.
Hindi ko na pinabyahe papunta rito si Kuya Lito, lalo pa't kasagsagan ng bagyo. Sa Parañaque pa siya manggagaling, madulas pa naman 'yong daan. Maaaring traffic din lalo na sa Diego Silang.
I heard Manang Fe loudly sighed, she's not at the entrance of the kitchen anymore. "Suspended na ang klase ninyo noong Biyernes, meron pa kayong Sabado't Linggo. Tapos suspended din kahapon. Nakahihiya sa inyong guro na mahuhuli pa kayo ngayong araw."
Napanguso na lang ako at 'di na sumagot. I glanced at the pimple one last time and rolled my eyes at it, like doing that will let the irritating red bump vanish. I walked towards the round single-seat couch and sat, letting myself gets swallowed in.
Ang tagal naman kasi ni Raena. Tinawagan ako kagabi na sabay na lang daw kami pumasok, pakiramdam niya raw kasi parang first day lang dahil we've gone through four-day long weekend, and she don't want to go to school alone. Baka raw hilahin siya ng sarili niya pauwi kasi bitin pa raw 'yong bakasyon namin.
I sat up straight when my phone on the table made its text message tone.
From: Raena 👑
No need to worry. May sasakyan tayo. 😉 Managed to convince a chauffeur to drive us because it's still drizzling, and probably mahirap sumakay.
Tumayo ako at sumilip sa bintana. Medyo mas malakas 'yong ulan kanina, pero ngayon ambon na nga lang. Hindi na nagsuspend ng klase 'yong St. Paul kahit 'yong ibang public school na nasa lugar namin, suspended pa rin.
Waterproof daw kasi mga private school students, e.
To: Raena 👑
Who? Harold?
Harold also has a car of his own, and like me, he doesn't have his own license yet. Ayaw siya payagan ni Tita. Baka raw kasi tatanga-tanga siya sa kalsada, and he's the only child.
