Returning the Favor

4 - Meeting the Cousins

I was still gaping at the woman standing by my side when I heard him calling after us.

"Ate Tintin! Tin!" He shouted while running towards us. "Ate Kristine!"

Hinihingal pa siya ng makarating malapit sa amin. He heaved a big breath as he composed himself.

I noticed that he has two bag packs with him. The smaller one is probably where he puts his school learning materials and the larger, which I think is a gym bag, is for his athletic gears.

He doesn't look messy coming from their training. He also doesn't smell bad. Though, with sweat glistening his mesomorphic built, he still looked as radiant as the sun in the morning.

"Sorry na, Ate Tin. Alam mo naman na training namin today," he smiled boyishly showing off the small dimple on his right cheek.

I didn't know he has dimples. But oh well, it's not common for me to look at him this close.

And... Ate Tin? What does he mean--

"Ang tagal tagal pa nga ng Provincial Meet akala mo makapagtraining kayo bukas na ang event! Kanina pa ako naghihintay sa'yo! Nakakabore naman ng laro niyo!"

"Grabe siya oh! Ikaw lang naman ata ang nabobore manuod ng volleyball Ate eh."

"Nakakabore naman talaga. Ano sa tingin mo, Drey?" Ate Kristine directed the question to me.

I am still reeling of how carefree they are talking to each other. Nagbabangayan na parang sobrang close. Magkaanu-ano ba silang dalawa?

"Andrea, okay ka lang?" Ate Kristine has to ask me twice.

I turned to look at her and schooled my stupefied expression. "H-huh? Opo."

"Oh hi, Miss Santiago!" The object of my admiration greeted me.

I showed him a shy smile. "H-hi!"

This is awkward.

I heard a loud clearing of throat in my side signalling that I should stop in being pa-cute. Am I being pa-cute? I doubt so. Because I believe that I am already cute.

Again, awkward.

Jeremy laughed at the obvious intrusion of the third person among us. He grinned cheekily and slung his gym bag higher on his right shoulder.

"Oh, so you two know each other?" When neither of us replied, Ate Kristine supplied the answers. "Great! Ako pala ang foreigner dito sa atin! May pasilent convo pa kayo, makaalis na nga! Hmph!"

Binangga kaming dalawa ni Ate Kristine at siya ay naglakad ng una palabas ng school. I know she's faking hurt but I have to clarify something to her.

"Don't worry about her. Ganyan lang talaga yan," Jeremy told me, halting my steps going after Ate Kristine.

"U-uh, okay," sagot kong naiilang. He started walking so I took some steps too.

"I didn't know you're friends with my cousin," he accussed while we are walking together. "My cousin is peculiar, if you don't notice it yet."

So they are cousins. Kaya pala.

"She is a breath of fresh air," I told him honestly. Ate Kristine's kind is rare and I am glad she befriended me.

He chuckled and turned to me. "You're the first to sing her praise."

I was about to reply when Ate Kristine bellowed us to walk faster. Jeremy looked at me as if issuing a challenge of reaching Ate Kristine first.