The Lucky One

Chapter V

“No!! Why, of every worst thing that’s happening in the world, people assume I am dating Chace Hummingbird?” I ranted inside my room.

          “Nee-san, chill out will you?” Tyreese said. “Bakit ‘di mo kasi kausapin si Chace baka meron syang solution sa problem mo—ay hindi problem n’yo pala?”

          I cover my face with my hands. “Ugh! Like pakikingan ako ng lokong ‘yun. You know him naman diba he doesn’t have time for issues?” I replied. “He didn’t even clear the rumor between him and Candice.”

          “Oo nga, pero wala namang mawawala ‘pag ita-try mong kausapin s’ya diba, Ate Troian?” sabi ni Tyreese.

          Andrew leaned his back on the open door of my room. He looked at me lazily. Naku, ‘pag ganyan ang tingin ni kuya Andrew for sure he’s not in good mood at all.

          “Ano ba ‘tong lumabas na picture n’yong dalawa ni Chace? Ba’t meron pang caption na ‘di ganun ka ganda?” he asked. “May relationship ba kayo? Kaya ka ba n’ya tinulungan dun sa ungas sa Safris Café?”

          “Ewan ko. At wala naman kaming relationship no, I swear. Yung mga kumuha lang ng picture yung nagkalat nun sa Internet.” I replied defensively.

          Andrew sighed and so does Tyreese. “Then, kausapin mo s’ya bukas, if not ako kakausap sa kanya.” Sabi ni kuya Andrew.

          Uh-oh! Hindi na maganda ‘tong nangyayari, kelangan ko nang kumilos. Kaso lang… “But Kuya Andrew… tomorrow’s Saturday. Walang pasok, pa’no ko kakausapin si Chace? Hindi ko rin alam address ng house nila dito sa Iloilo.”

          Kuya Andrew and Tyreese looked at me. “Ah. Oo nga pala wala tayong pasok bukas,” He nodded to himself. “But don’t worry, alam ko kung sino ang may alam kung saan s’ya nakatira.”

          “Ha? May kilala ka na alam kung sa’n s’ya matatagpuan, Andrew-nii?” I asked in surprise.

          “Oo nga, akala ko wala ka pong pake sa Firefly Detention?” Tyreese said, also surprise. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala na may kilala pala ‘tong si Kuya Andrew na medyo close sa Firefly Detention?

          “Ako pa ba, guys? Sabi nga nila ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’, ang sabi ko naman ‘keep your friends closer and know your enemies better for your tactics’.” Sagot ni Kuya Andrew na naka-ngiti.

          Tyreese and I stare at our brother with awe. Maasahan talaga si Kuya Andrew ‘pag may emergency situations.

                                                *****

Kinabukasan nagising kami ng maaga para makipag-kita sa taong sinasabi ni Kuya Andrew sa hangout spot nila na hindi namin alam kung saan. We borrow our grandparents’ car because Kuya Andrew said we can get there faster by a private car rather than a taxicab. Besides Tyreese and I don’t know that place at all kung saan man yung place na sinasabi Kuya Andrew.

          Bumaba kami sa babaan ng mga pasahero malapit sa Plazuela de Iloilo. Dito pala sa Plazuela de Iloilo yung hangout spot na sinasabi ni Kuya Andrew. Pumasok kami ng Plazuela de Iloilo, maraming tao kahit saan ka tumingin may tao. Madaming tao na mamimili while yung iba wala lang tambay pogi lang kahit madaming tao kasi weekend. Hay, pinapasikip lang nila ang Plazuela, try kaya nilang pumunta ng ibang lugar?

          Ilang kiosks ang nadaanan namin bago huminto si Kuya Andrew sa isang sikat na doughnut shop na merong isang branch dito sa Plazuela de Iloilo, ang Joenuts. Ang Joenuts ay may at least fifty-seven branches all over the Philippines, limang branch dito sa Iloilo at sixty branches naman all over the world. Grabe ang daming nakapila na mga tao, parang box-office hit ang pila dito sa Joenuts araw-araw. Pumasok kami ng shop tapos may tinanong si Kuya Andrew na empleyado. Yung babae nag-nod at sumenyas na nasa likod kung sino man yung hinahanap ni Kuya Andrew.