Totally Hooked

Chapter 12: As Told by Denise

*Ten Years Ago*

"Den look. Bigay sakin ni lola Mindy." Mitch said to me with excitement in her eyes as she fished out a gold chain necklace under her collar then showed me the circular pendant embellished by little diamonds around the center engraved with the letter M.

"Wow, ganda talaga ng taste ni Lola Mindy when it comes to jewelries." Paghanga ko sa kwintas na pinakita ni Mitch. Lola Mindy is her grandma sa side ng mommy niya. Halos si lola Mindy na ang nagpalaki kay Mitch because of her parents work, together with Manang Beth and Manong Andy. Kaya naman close na close talaga si Mitch sa kanila.

After two weeks nang ibigay ni Lola Mindy kay Mitch ang necklace, she passed away. Mitch was devastated in every way. She became over sensitive and irritated with the smallest things, the cheerful and out going friend that everybody adored became a quiet and gloomy person that almost everybody avoided. Sometime she even takes her frustrations out on us, pero okay lang naman samin nila Shin at Miggy because we can understand her. 

Alam naming tatlo kung gano kaimportante kay Mitch si Lola Mindy kaya hindi namin siya masisisi sa mga kinikilos niya. She became overprotective of her necklace, halos di niya ito tanggalin. It was normal for someone grieving to act this way. Two months after Lola Mindy passed, Mitch started to go back to her old self . We just started to be happy again when another tragedy happened to us.

One Friday, we had P.E as our second subject. Kaya naman nagpalit kami ng P.E uniform, kaming dalawa na lang ni Mitch ang natira sa classroom so pinagmamadali ko na siya.

"Mitch, bilis naman. Patay na naman tayo kay Ms. Labanan pag nalate tayo." pangungulit ko sakanya.

"Wait lang, di ko matanggal yung kwintas ko." These are the rare times na tinatanggal niya ang kwintas niya kasi baka masira daw. She might have returned to her old self but that necklace became her most valuable possession.

Nilapitan ko siya at tinulungan tanggalin ang kwintas niya. Pagkabigay ko sa kanya ng kwintas, she put it in the deep inside her bag in one of those secret pockets.

"Tara!" Aya niya at inakbayan pa ako habang naglalakad kaming dalawa.

Lunch time na nang matapos ang second class namin kaya madaling madali ang lahat na makababa na sa canteen. We both decided to change back into our regular uniform bago pumunta ng canteen at kumain para na din pahupain ang dami ng tao.

Pagdating namin sa classroom agad naman naming kinuha ang mga damit namin at lumabas din agad pero this time paglabas pa lang namin ng pintuan ay may humarang na sa dadaanan namin. Miggy was standing in the middle of the hallway apparently waiting for us. Agad naman itong ngumiti pagkakita samin.

"Den, I need to talk to you."  Sabi niya sakin.

I saw Mitch glanced back and forth and  a smile played on her lips.

"Fine! I know when I'm not wanted." she pouted then winked at me and walked away towards the C.R. Miggy was about to say something when I stopped him.

"Pwede magpalit muna ko?" tanong ko sa kanya. He just laughed back at me then nodded. I smiled to him then followed Mitch to get changed. Pagkalabas ko ng stall nakita ko agad si Mitch na naghihintay sa may sink.

"So.. Anong sabi niya?"  tanong sakin ni Mitch with an annoying look on her face. Tingin niya pa lang sakin alam ko nang nangiinis tong isang to. 

"Di pa kami nag-uusap." sagot ko sakanya then stuck my tongue out at her.

"Eh Anong ginagawa mo dito?"  sabi niya nang nanlalaki ang mata at mukhang nagpapanic.