More Than Words

Chapter Seven

∽ Daniel ∽

"Aray! Masakit Bata!"

"Tiisin mo, ginusto mo toh diba?"

"Baka kasi dumugo, sobrang sakit na kaya!"

"Eh ganun talaga, pag first time yung akin nga din eh dati dumugo."

"What? Kailagan may dugo bago matuto?"

"Ganun talaga, gusto mo matuto mag gitara di ba? Tiisin mo yung sakit. No pain, no gain." she said as gave a huge smile.

Nandito kami sa salas ngayon, she's teaching me how to play guitar. Honestly, I didn't expect that learning guitar could hurt this much. Wala pang isang oras I can see my fingers almost bloody red and I can see the string marks on it.

"Oh, sige from the top, G mo" she said as she looks at my hand then I strummed, "Tapos C9" she said but I can't take the pain anymore.

"Can we stop for awhile?" I said, pero biglang nanliit ang mga mata nya habang nakatingin sa akin, "Please Bata? Sakit sakit na ng mga fingers ko oh! Tska naalala ko naman yung mga chords na tinuro mo sa akin eh." I said. Begging.

She rolled her eyes, "Fine."sabay tayo nya "Sakto din dahil aalis ako ngayon." sabay alis nya sa salas.

Napatayo din ako sa sinabi nya, "Saan ka naman pupunta? May date ka?" tanong ko.

She suddenly stopped walking and turned to me, "Pag aalis may date agad? Di pwede maghahanap lang ng dorm?"

"Dorm? Why?" I asked.

"Kasi po two months na lang pasukan na, kailangan makahanap na ako ng dorm bago magpasukan para hindi ako mahirapan, para may mauwian ako after school. Tska for sure by that time nakabalik na si Ate Karen dito." She said as she cheerfully smiled.

I immediately walked towards her, "But why? You can stay here. I mean, malaki naman tong condo ko, at least dito libre stay mo pati pagkain at safe pa."

She was quite all the sudden then she looked at me, "Alam mo Tanda, nakakatemp yang offer mo, pero medyo may kalayuan ang condo mo sa school ko tska magastos sa pamasahe."

"Then I'll tell Manong Jeric to drive you to school, or I can drive for you." I said.

"Nako wag na! Para 'yun lang eh. Ayokong abalahin pa kayo ni Manong Jeric, okay lang ako. Kaya ko toh!" she said as she form a fist with a wink.

I suddenly hold her fist with my both hands, gently squeezing it. "Pero ako, di ko kaya."

She held her head up, looking at me. "Huh?" she said, confused.

Immediately let go of her hand, "I-I mean, di ko kayang ikaw lang mag-isa sa isang lugar tapos wala ka pang kakilala sa matitirahan mong dorm, masyadong delikado para sa'yo." I said, stuttering, she didn't say anything.

"Eh kasi nga ano diba, 16 ka pa lang tapos ikaw lang doon sa dorm. Syempre, medyo matagal na din tayo magkasama. I feel responsible for you." I explained, I can feel my hands are so cold right now, I don't know why I feel nervous.

She smiled at me, "Naks! May ganun pang nalalaman. Maliit lang akong tignan pero kaya ko sarili ko, pero thank you na din sa pag-aalala, Tanda. Tska wala pa akong nahahanap na dorm, maghahanap pa lang, kaya wag ka muna masepanx dyan, okay?" she said as patted my left shoulder and walks away from me and went to her room.

∽ Maris ∽

Naligo at nag ayos na ako para lumabas ng condo ni Tanda, kailangan may mahanap ako sa araw na toh para hindi sayang pamasahe at habang day off ni Daniel ngayon. Kinuha ko ang bag ko at lumabas na ng kwarto. Nagulat ako nang makita ko na nakabihis si Tanda, nakashorts, black tshirt, nakasunglasses at nakasuot pa ng sumbrero.