Morning Blushes

chapter eleven

I usually stroll around the subdivision every Sunday morning when I have the mood to. And that doesn't come very often. Taking a break from studying on this particular day of the week is not really my thing. After this one, I'll start reviewing or studying in advance. I am trying what my mother is talking about but it just kept on burning me out and stressing me out so much.

Pabalik na ako nang matanaw ko sa malayo ang pamilyar na skateboard. I waited for him to come where I'm standing. 

"Hey, miss." He grinned. He runs his finger through his hair tapos guguluhin lang din naman. 

I took a quick check on him, specifically his hair. It's just amusingly annoying. It's complicated. Aayusin para guluhin. 

He's too close to me. I just noticed right now that his height is towering. This is the first time I felt so tiny in my entire life. My height is just right for my age, and it's not a big deal for me before. Ngayon lang sa harap mismo nitong freerunner na 'to.

"Why are you out?" I asked as I step backward. "This early?"

"Practice," he simply answered. "I found a really soft place to land."

"That's a song."

"What?" he asked in disarray.

I shook my head. "Where did you find it?"

"Near the playground. It's a really good place for parkour since I'm getting a little sick of our backyard."

I just nodded, not knowing what to say next. 

"Miss," he called. I waited for him to speak further. But he didn't.

"What?" So I asked.

"I was just having stations of thoughts. But have you tried skipping school? Even for a day?"

I shook my head. But I don't think that's what he called me for. 

 "Pahiram nga ng skateboard mo."

Tinulak niya yung skateboard niya papunta sa'kin. I stepped my other foot on. I tried to ride his skateboard slowly. It's actually kind of fun. He chased me with a few steps, guiding me by my side. While I'm enjoying my ride, he's just walking effortlessly by my side. When we reached the other side of the street, tinulak ko na pabalik sa kanya yung skateboard.

"Are you even sleeping? You're up early and I have no idea kung anong oras ka natutulog." I shrugged. "Just noticed."

"I'm still sleeping," he said. "I'm just staying up late every Friday."

"You said you're with your Mom in your house, right? Where's your father?" 

He's playing with his skateboard. I waited for his answer but I think... I don't know. Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it. I'm about to give up when he answered.

 "With my brother." Napatigil siya and I already know something's wrong but his chuckle masked it all up. "I came from there. We're about to move here but... something came up."

"So, nauna kayo rito?"

"Let's just say I got here for rehab. Baka raw tumino ako 'pag dito muna ako e."

"They still think freerunning is a bad thing for you? Well, it is generally not the safest thing but..." I wasn't able to finish my sentence. I just looked at him instead.

"I also do think sometimes," he said. "That maybe it's a bad thing."

"In a way, it is. It's putting you to risk. Always, sir. But as long as you're not harming other people, then I guess it's not entirely that bad."