SCIENTISTS

Charles Darwin

~All life is a continuous struggle in which only the fittest can survive. -Charles Darwin~

AARON

"Aaron, bakit parang nasa kabilang mundo yang utak mong ibon?"

"Kung wala ka namang masasabing matino, manahimik ka na lang." Madiin kong sabi kay Leo.

"Huh! Pasalamat ka na lang at pinagtiyatiyagaan kitang samahan. Walang utang na loob." Pasinghal niyang sabi.

"May sinabi ba akong samahan mo ko? At bakit ba sa dami ng tao sa mundong 'to, ikaw pa kasama ko ngayon?"

"No choice ka, okay? Si Einsteiny wala ngayon dahil nalaban pa siya sa isang Science Quiz Bee sa Batangas. Si Benjamin naman absent ngayon dahil sa hindi malamang dahilan. Si Yana naman, ay hindi nga pala kayo close kaya bakit ka niya sasamahan?" Mahabang litanya ni Leo.

"Kailan balik ni Hillary? Si Benjamin naman bakit absent? At anong sabi mo, hindi kami close ni Llana? Wow! May pa Yana ka pang nalalamang ugok ka. Bakit kayo close?"

"Bukas pa balik ni Einsteiny. Si Benjamin ewan ko nga diba. At oo! Close kami ni Yana kaya maiingit ka!" sabi niya sabay walk-out. That guy was getting into my nerves.

I hate this feeling. Parang may kung anong nangyayari ng hindi ko alam.

Of course, I already know that Hillary, Benjamin and Llana were childhood friends. But the thing is, bakit sabay-sabay silang wala ngayon? Nagkataon lang ba or may kung ano ngayon?

Hillary was competing to a Science Bee. I'm aware of it. Pero sa pagkakaalam ko tapos na 'yun kahapon pa. Si Llana at Benjamin naman ay missing in action. I think, hindi coincidence ang pagkawala nilang tatlo ngayong araw.

-*-

"Hey, Aaron baby. How's school?"
Nakauwi na ako at 'yan agad ang bungad ng uliran kong Ina.

"It's fine, Mom. And by the way, please don't call me baby anymore."

"Why baby? Is it wrong to call you as my baby?" Sabi niya ng nakakunot ang noo.

"Yes, Mom! Binata na ko to be a baby." Pasinghal kong sabi.

"But you're still my baby!"

"Pero hindi na ko nagbrebreast feed sa inyo!" Sagot ko naman.

"Edi magbreast feed ka ulit!" Nagulat ako sa sinabi niyang 'yun pero syempre papatalo ba ako.

"Huwag niyo kong igaya kay Dad!" This time, siya naman ang nagulat.

"Hey, bakit ako nadamay diyan?" Natawa na lang ako ng saktong nakauwi na si Dad at saktong narinig niya yun.

"Look, Dmitri. This boy was accusing us for doing something that haven't done yet." My Mom complained to Dad.

By the way, does my father's name ring a bell? Another scientist by the way. Dmitri Mendeleev, if everyone's aware of periodic table of elements. Anyway...

"We haven't done yet? So may balak kayo?" I asked, teasing my Mom.

"Wait, I'm lost. What are you talking about?" My Dad asked out of curiosity.