Hudunnit Series

Chapter 8

chapter eight

HEY, YOU'RE STILL HERE." BATI NI CADE SA ANAK. NASA GYM, KASAMA ANG ILANG kaklase. Mukhang nagtatalo-talo--something about a script. Iyon ang narinig niyang sinabi ni Angela bago niya tawagin.

"That's obvious , Dad." Sagot nito, mainit ang ulo. May iba pang grupo doon pero tahimik lang, mukhang nasapawan ng ingay nina Angela at asar na.

"So. I'll just wait for you in the car." Tumingin si Cade sa relos, 5:40 na ng hapon, "Sa labas na lang tayo mag-dinner."

"Whatever." That meant Cade should leave.

"Ano ba ginagawa n'yo dito, bakit nandito pa kayo?" Tanong niya.

Dinaan ni Angela sa buntonghininga at sarcasm ang inis na nalipat na kay Cade, "Because some teacher who is pabibo wants us to present a skit from Dante's Inferno with a modern twist and they don't want to change the words of the dialogues. How can it be modern if we're gonna use the old English?"

Pabibo. Teacher. English.

Cade could not help but grin.

Mukhang tinupad na ni Miss G ang sinabi. Gagawan nito ng paraan na manatili pa sa school after class si Angela para makasabay niya pag-uwi. No more worries for a while. But maybe Geraldine would think of something again after this .

Nagsalita ang isang kagrupo ni Angela, "I thought we agreed we'll just use modern costumes."

"Yes, I know." Sagot ni Angela. "But it's gonna be off once we start talking."

"But who will write the script?"

"Oh, I will." Balewalang sagot ni Angela.

"Uh, excuse me, ladies." Paalam na ni Cade. Lumabas siya sa side exit at pagdating sa kotse, tinawagan niya si Geraldine.

"Oh, hi. What's up?" Sagot nito. Parang naglalakad, narirnig pa ni Cade ang tunog ng takong.

"Uhmm, just want to thank you. Nandito pa 'ko sa parking lot, hinihintay ko si Angie at mukhang nagtatalo-talo pa sila nung grupo n'ya dahil sa project na pinapagawa mo. Thanks."

"Sorry ha, inabot ng Friday bago ko na-implement. It has to be authentic kasi, so dapat within the scaffold."

"Thanks." Ulit ni Cade.

"No problem."

"Uh, and she volunteered to write the script." Sabi pa ni Cade. "I think...she likes it. You should have seen her arguing, it's as if..it's the most important thing."

"I'll send you something..uh, I have to go. Nandito na 'ko sa office ni Ma'am Reynoso." Tukoy nito sa principal.

"Nandito ka pa rin sa school?"

"Oo. Sige, mamaya na lang. Bye."

Just like that, she dismissed him. Cade eyed his phone with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. At ipinatong niya iyon sa lalagyan ng barya. Confusing si Geraldine, to be honest. One moment she was friendly and warm, the next she was distant, aloof. Halimbawa, hindi man lang siya naisipan i-text o tawagan para sabihin na nakaisip na ito ng paraan para makasabay niya sa pag-uwi si Angela.

Still, he was grateful. Sana lang, Geraldine was a little sweeter or at least a little more enthusiastic about him. It seemed to him, something was holding her back.