SSS [III] (COMPLETED)

Epilogue

Here she was again. That unruly-haired, camo-wearing tomboy was inside our house again. And she was giggling.

I made a face.

She looks and clothes like a boy, yet she has the girliest giggle I've ever heard... which is why I don't get how she could fool everybody else with her fake identity.

What was she doing here again so early in the morning?

"Good morning, Miah!"

Papa walked towards me while wearing Mama's apron.

"Subo ka na, anak, then I'll drive the two of you to school today." He smiled and patted my head bago siya pumasok sa kwarto nila ni Mama.

Mama was already in the hospital... because my Mama's a nurse. Tumungo na ako sa dining table. I sat across from camo-girl who was already scarfing food off her plate nonstop. Her grandparents are most probably off to work now that's why she's here.

She slowly pushed a warm mug towards me with a very determined face. My forehead creased. Isa nanaman siguro ito sa mga peace-offerings niya sa akin.

"I don't drink milk in the morning." I told her.

"But it's chocolate milk!" sagot niya pa, na para bang hindi dapat 'yon tinatanggihan.

"It's still milk."

"It has marshmallows." dagdag niya pa, as if that should be good enough.

"No."

She wrinkled her nose while staring at me. Hindi ko na siya pinansin buong durasyon na kumakain ako, kahit na kung anu-ano nlang 'yong tinatanong niya sa akin. Buti nalang at bumalik na si Papa. I didn't have to deal with her anymore.

Halos dumugin nanaman siya ng mga kaklase namin when she got in our classroom. Tawa naman siya ng tawa sa mga sinasabi nila sa kanya. Unfortunately, we share the same table kaya hindi muna ako pumapasok ng classroom until our adviser arrives. Halos lahat kasi ng kaklase namin ay nakapalibot pa doon sa kanya, and they were all noisy. They were the noisiest when they're with her, especially.

Kaya ayoko sa kanya.

"Jeremiah?"

Napatingala ako mula sa pagkakaupo ko sa hallway. I had my nose on our workbooks, rereading all of our lessons, nang tawagin ako ni Papa. We both looked confusingly at each other.

"Anong gawa mo dyan?" naglalakad na siya papalapit sa akin. He looked around. "Pinalabas ka ng room?"

"Hindi po..."

Mas lalo yatang nalito si Papa sa sagot ko. He slid next to me, so I had to move my books on the other side. Pareho kami ni Papa na naka-Indian sit.

"Then what are you doing here?" he asked again, while holding a paperbag to my face. "Also, I forgot to give you your fruit snacks."

"Nag-aaral po." I got the paperbag from him. "Thank you po."

Ningitian niya ulit ako. I gave him a small smile back, at mukhang mas lalong lumapad 'yong ngiti ni Papa sa akin. Hindi na niya ako masyado tinanong, but we continued talking hanggang sa dumating ang aming class adviser.

I always had peaceful days in school whenever we have tons of school work. I usually ignore my classmates unless they ask me anything about school. Walang kaso sa akin kapag nagpapaturo sila-which they only do kapag sobrang pre-occupied na ni camo-girl. I like boring things. Gusto ko 'yong katahimikan, because I can concentrate more.

When the lunch bell rang ay lumabas na ang lahat sa classroom. I waited 'til everybody left bago ko kinuha ang baonan ko mula sa aking cubbyhole. But before I could go back to my seat with my lunch box on hand, the door swung open.