"See you later, Daddy!" I enthusiastically said then I kissed Daddy's cheek. When I saw him lifting his hand, agad ko nang iniabot ang kamay ko. "I'll be home right after school. I promise!"
Dad shook his head. "It's your first day in college, 'nak. Enjoy mo na muna. Your curfew is ten anyway. Wala ka din namang gagawin dito sa bahay. I'm sure you'll make tons of new friends. Bond with them after school."
Napalawak ang ngisi ko. I am not using reverse-psychology to my father, pero parang gan'on na nga ang nangyayari.
When I looked up at my mother who's busy cleaning our breakfast table I saw her shaking her head. She gave me a meaningful look. I grinned more on Mom then I kissed Dad's cheek again. "If I know, maglalambingan lang naman kayo ni Mommy kaya ayaw mo akong pauwiin nang maaga," I giggled then I went to my mother to hug and kiss her.
"We'll be on Esaias' school for the orientation later this afternoon. Knowing your brother, magyayaya 'yong kumain sa labas kaya wala ka ring aabutan dito sa bahay mamaya 'pag umuwi ka nang maaga," Mom explained.
I pouted. "Favorite n'yo talaga 'yon," maarteng sabi ko.
"Mas normal kasi s'yang anak," Dad chuckled.
I gasped. "Grabe s'ya o!"
My parents laughed.
"Ciao!" I snarled then I sashayed my way to our gate.
Just in time, I saw Gav's car nearing me.
"Hope, your phone," Mom run after me.
"Oh! Thank you, Mom," I smiled then I put my phone on my bag.
Mom ran her fingers on my hair. The side of her eyes crinkled as she smiled while watching my face. "I can't believe that you've grown so well. Parang kailan lang, takot na takot pa ako when I found out that I have you within me."
"Ang drama mo talaga, 'My," natatawang sabi ko. I even rolled my eyes.
Mommy, being the usual understanding and gentle person she is, smiled at me then caressed my cheek. "You really got the angst of your father."
When Gavreel halted in front of our gate, binuksan ko na ang main gate namin at humalik na kay Mommy. "We'll be going, Mom. See you later," I smiled. "Kahit po nakakain na ako, kakain pa po ulit ako kaya uwian n'yo ko kung saan man kayo kakain later," bilin ko pa.
Mommy smiled then nodded.
Nang makasakay ako sa kotse ni Gav ay nagbaba pa s'ya ng bintana. "Good morning, Tita, papasok na po kami," paalam ng pinsan ko kay Mommy.
"Be careful on driving, Gav," paalala ni Mommy at kumaway sa amin.
Gavreel sped off.
"Baka gusto mong mas bilisan pa?" I sarcastically asked my cousin.
Alam ko naman kung bakit parang byaheng langit na naman kung mag-drive itong siraulo kong pinsan. Nagmamadali na naman dahil may susunduin pa. Kinalas ko ang seatbelt ko na inilagay ko lang naman kanina dahil ayokong masita ni Mommy.
Nang huminto si Gav para sa red lights ay lumusot na ako sa pagitan ng mga upuan namin para lumipat sa likod.
"Hope, 'yong takong mo naman. Masisira ang leather ng frontseat ko," reklamo ni Gav at agad na kinuskos ang parte ng upuan ng kotse n'ya na natapakan ko.
"Arte mo po," sabi ko lang at inayos na ang blouse at palda ko.
Dahil sa driving skills ng pinsan ko na pang-Paul Walker, nakarating kami agad sa harap ng exclusive village malapit sa RUA, kung saan kami nag-aaral.
Mabilis na sumakay si Natania sa frontseat. Gav leaned in to kiss her and buckled her up on her seat.
"Good morning, baby," Gav sweetly greeted his beloved.
Wala akong magawa kundi ang mapairap. Like duh! I'm here kaya. Dapat silang mahiya sa single!
Ipinasak ko na lang ang earphones ko sa magkabilang tainga. Ayokong pakinggan ang pag-uusap nila. For sure puro 'I miss you' lang naman 'yang dalawang 'yan. Bahala din si Natania sa buhay n'ya kung kukumustahin n'ya ba ako o ano. Hindi ko naman s'ya maririnig. Aabalahin ko na lang ang sarili ko sa paglalaro ng Summoners War. May bagong dragon pa naman ako.
I was so engrossed on my phone. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa school na pala kami. Pinitik ni Gavreel ang noo ko kaya sinamaan ko s'ya ng tingin. Hindi man masakit ang pitik n'ya, wala pa rin s'yang galang.
"We're here," simpleng sabi ni Gav, completely immune with my glares.
Bumaba na ako ng sasakyan. I don't have jowa to open the door for me naman. At isa pa, ayokong ma-witness ang goodbye kiss ng dalawang nasa sasakyan. Eew.
I kind of understand them naman. 'Pag labas nila ng kotse, they have to act how cousins should act. What they're doing wasn't illegal, but not all can understand. They're fourth degree cousins, but still they have the same family name - Vergara.
I was still busy with my phone when I got hit by a ball. Sa braso ko tumama kaya nabitiwan ko ang cellphone ko.
My eyes widened and my mouth formed a perfect O as I looked down my poor phone.
"Miss, can you pass the ball, please?"
I looked at the man jogging towards me in disbelief.
"Can you be more of an asshole than this?" I sarcastically asked him.
Hindi na nga nag-sorry, nag-utos pa! Ang tigas ng apog n'ya!
He stopped a meter from me then smirked. "Pwede pa naman, kaso nagmamadali ako," the brute replied then picked up his damn ball. He walked away after that.
Natigilan ako sa sobrang pagka-gago ng lalaking 'yon. Wala akong magawa kundi ang panoorin ang paglalakad n'ya palayo. He stopped in a black SUV then opened the backseat then threw the ball inside. He closed the door then I saw him pressing the key fob to lock the car.
He turned on my way then he started walking. When I thought that he finally remembered his manners, ngumisi at kumindat lang sa akin ang gago at lumagpas na sa kinatatayuan ko.
Pu. Tang. I. Na.
I can feel my blood boiling.
I opened Gav's car then snatched the baseball bat he's hiding under the passenger seat. Hindi ko sila pinansin sa paghahalikan nila. Pabalabag na isinara ko ang pinto at nag-martsa papunta sa kotse ng gagong 'yon.
Without thinking, I smashed the windows. The car alarm went on. Hindi ko na inisip na madami nang nanonood sa akin.
My parents are rich, they can pay for this!
"Hope!" Gav pulled me away from the car. "What the heck?"
Kumawala ako kay Gav at ibinigay sa kanya ang baseball bat n'ya. I harshly run my fingers through my hair then fixed my blouse.
I looked around at the students who were starting to flock around the car. Some showed disbelief, some smirked, some were even taking videos. I smirked at them.
"Nobody mess with Hope Vergara," maangas na sabi ko sabay walk out.
Oh my God!
It's not my way of making impression. It's not my personality at all.
I am Hope, a social butterfly. A friend to everybody.
What just happened?
_________________
11 April 2019
