Where I Want To Be (2b published)

CHAPTER 14 - Menor de Edad

I woke up the next day to voices arguing.

"I told you, it's no big deal!" si Adan.

"Ano'ng 'no big deal'?! Kuya, bata yan! Minor de edad!" nag-aaway sila ni Abel? "Kahit ano'ng idahilan mo, wala kang panalo sa ganyang kaso!"

"Look, nothing happened, okay? He just slept over! You don't need to make such a big deal out of it!"

I heard footsteps. Nagmadali akong tumalon sa kama at nag kunwaring tulog. Nagbilang ako hanggang sampu at saka dahan-dahang dumilat. Nasa tapat ko si Adan, nakatingin sa akin.

"Good morning!" he said with a smile.

"Good morning." I replied and faked a yawn. "Nakatulog pala ako... Ano'ng oras na?" he stared at me, as if he knew I was faking.

"It's 7 am." sagot n'ya. "Want some breakfast?"

Paglabas namin, wala na si Abel. We ate breakfast in silence for a while.

"Oo nga pala," I said, "Binigyan mo ko ng gift last night, ano'ng gusto mo?"

"Wala, hindi naman ito exchange gifts eh." napatawa s'ya. "also, you already gave me my wish."

"Ha? Ano yun?" tanong ko.

"Didn't I ask you to stay?" he said with a laugh.

"Ah, yun ba yung binulong mo nang mag bisperas?" natawa rin ako. "'Di ko naintindihan, sumabay kasi yung fireworks."

"And after that, bumagsak ka naman pagkakain ng rum cake." he laughed again.

"Ha? 'Di ko maalala yun..."

"Jason, you should never go drinking!" he said.

He sent me back home after that, apologized to my aunt, and gave her a box of fruit cake.

Sa bahay, nag check ako ng cell and sighed as I realized na walang message galing kay Sir Dario.

Bea came back on the 27th. nagpasama ako para mamili ng regalo para kay Adan, before going to the cafe to pick her lavender tea.

"Niregaluhan ka n'ya ng apron?" she inquired. "At kailan naman kayo nag-kita?"

I've already prepared an excuse.

"Dinaan n'ya yung order kong cake, at sinabay na yung gift sa akin."

"So, ano'ng balak mong ibigay sa kanya?"

"Hindi ko nga alam eh, limited pa naman budget ko."

"Hmm... since naka suit s'ya sa work, how about a necktie or socks?" sabi ni Bea habang tumitingin sa mga medyas.

Napatingin ako sa blue checkered socks at naalala bigla si Sir Dario. "Tignan mo, Bea o, bagay sa pants ni Sir." pareho kaming natawa.

"How about this scarf?" turo ni Bea sa isang rack ng mga scarf. "You can tie him with it."

"Ang init-init sa pinas eh," I laughed, then saw a checkered scarf. "May blue kaya nito?"

"Teka, para kanino ba ang bibilin mong gift?" tanong ni Bea.

"Well, I might as well get one for Sir Dario, too."

"What about my gift?"

"I already gave you one." I reminded her.

Nakahanap din ako ng blue checked scarf. After paying for it, narealize ko na wala pa rin akong maisip na ibibigay kay Adan.

"Bigyan mo nalang ng mug." pang-asar na sabi ni Bea.