Requited

Chapter 6

Tirik na tirik ang araw pero walang oras na pwedeng sayangin. Ito ang isa sa mga paaalala ni Heneral, "sa bawat minutong iginugugol mo sa pagsasanay ay isang metrong abanse mo sa mga kalaban.”

But the young trainees are tired already. Pahinga muna. Siguro naman ay ilang kilometro na rin silang nauna sa kalaban, diba?

"R-rhian, baka nauuhaw ka, inumin mo muna 'to," isang malawak na ngiti ang tumambad kay Rhian nang sumilong ito sa puno.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang bumait na rin ang taong ito sa kanya. Binayaran muna ni Rhian ng ngiti ang lalaki sa harap bago tinanggap ang bote ng tubig at pinasalamatan niya rin ito.

"Nga pala, Rhian, ang galing mo kanina," hindi makatingin ng diretso ang binatang nasa harapan ni Rhian. It’s as if he’s talking to a princess in his lowly existence.

"Hindi naman, Ken," mapagkumbabang tugon ni Rhian.

"Sa tingin mo ba magiging singgaling mo rin ako?"

"Oo naman. At tsaka, hindi naman ako ganoon kagaling." Rhian gave an awkward smile.

Yes, she likes hearing compliments from other people but not until her papa stops saying “konti pa”, she’s yet to agree na magaling nga siya.

The young man, Ken, is just happy. Matagal na rin kasi siyang kinukulit ng mga kaibigan niya na kausapin ang dalagita. Nagpapasalamat din siya at hindi siya sinungitan ni Rhian. Halos lahat kasi silang mga batang sinasanay takot kay Rhian dahil anak siya ng Heneral. Well, Franco Segismundo is an exception.

"Ang bait mo naman pala," hindi na napigilan ni Ken na sabihin ang nasa isip.

"Sino naman nagsabing masungit ako?" Umiba ang mukha ni Rhian. That both shocked and scared the young man. Rhian saw how Ken’s face changed from glad to nervous. Napangiwi lang si Rhian sa kausap, nagbabasakaling tunay na ngiti ang naipapakita niya.

She tried to bring back the mood by saying, “biro lang”. Luckily, Ken bought it.

The sight of Rhian smiling with Ken brought nothing but eyesore to Franco. Nasa kabilang puno lang ito at nagpupunas ng pawis. Mainit na nga panahon, nag-iinit din ang ulo niya.

Biglang lumingon si Rhian sa kinaroonan ni Franco. Instead of paying back her stares, he looked and walked away. This is better right? Makakalimutan nila pareho ang plano nilang gala sa perya na hindi natuloy at kung paano nila hindi kinibo ang isa’t isa kinaumagahan.

It’s been days since Ken approached Rhian and that mighty move from the boy was worthy. Madalas na rin kasi silang nag-uusap. But that friendship annoyed Franco in an unexplainable reason. Hindi na sila nag-uusap ni Rhian pero ayaw niya ring mayroon ibang binatang lumalapit sa dalaga. Baka naman kasi naghahanap na rin si Rhian ng bagong kaibigan?  

Franco is infuriated. Just like this very moment. Magkausap na naman kasi ang dalawang nambibwisit sa isip niya.He bit the sandwich in his hand in frustration. Naiinis siya sa sarili niya dahil naiinis siya sa dahilang hindi niya naman alam at lalong naiinis siya dahil alam niyang dapat kinausap niya si Rhian kinaumagahan noong gabing ‘yon!

“O, Franco, masama na naman ang mukha mo,” isang matandang babae ang kumalabit sa aburidong binatang nakaupo lang sa harap ng lamesa. He just stared at her and remained silent, completely ignoring the old lady’s comment.

Sinundan ng matanda kung saan nakatuon ang atensyon ni Franco. Napabuntong-hininga ang matanda.

“Naiinis ka ba dahil nagkaroon na si Rhian ng malapit na kaibigan? O naiinis ka dahil hindi ikaw ‘yon?” she teases.

“Ano po ba pinagsasabi nyo, manang? Wala naman akong pake kung sino kakaibiganin niya,” those words were not meant to answer manang Gloria’s question, but for Franco himself.

“E, bakit hindi maipinta yang mukha mo? Kay gwapo mo pa namang bata,” she smiled, trying to console the boy.

Franco didn’t bother to fake a smile which amused Manang Gloria.

“A-aray naman po!” Hinimas ni Franco ang kaliwang pisngi. Kinurot kasi siya ng matanda.

“Hindi na po ako bata.” He even rolled his eyes at her.

“Para ka kasing batang inagawan ng kendi,” she chuckled.  “Akin na nga ‘yang likod mo,” she giggled.

Franco turned his back to get his free “punas sa likod” service. For a moment he felt happy. Nawala kasi si Rhian at ang bagong kaibigan nito sa paningin at isip niya at may karagdagang hagod pa sa likod niya.

“O, ayan tapos na. Sa susunod kasi anak, kapag gusto mo ‘wag mong hayaang mapunta sa iba.”

Manang Gloria gave a smile and left him confused. Franco shrugged the old lady’s words and grabbed the pack of loaf bread in sight.

“Franco,” he heard someone talking. Hindi na niya kailangang iangat ang tingin niya para malaman kung sino ang lumapit sa kanya.

“Huy,” she stood there still, trying to call him out. That annoyed him. Her presence annoyed him. Her voice annoyed him.

“Ano ba? Bingi ka ba?!” there’s a hint of irritation in her voice.

Franco mustered the courage to face her while shoving his frustrations. Nagsukatan muna ng tingin ang dalawa.

Rhian is mad. Naalala na naman niya ang usapan nila. Pilit na niya ‘yong kinalimutan and now, he tried to ignore her when she talked to him first!

“Pahingi akong tinapay,” she tried to calm and asked what she needed. Well, thanks to that bread at nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataong kausapin si Franco pagkatapos ng ilang araw. Baka kasi siya nga dapat ang unang lumapit.

“Bakit hindi mo nalang inutos ‘dun sa kaibigan mo?” he really wanted to ask that. She really doesn’t need to go to him and just ask for this bread.

“Hindi ko siya utusan,” mariin ang pagsasabi ni Rhian.

He just stared at her and put the bread on the table forcibly and stood up to get away from Rhian’s presence. Nakakainis kasi.

He walked past her. But Rhian can’t let things go this way. Naiinis na siya kakaisip kung anong nagawa niya dahil siya dapat ang galit hindi si Franco!

“Ano bang problema mo?!” These words from Rhian stopped Franco.

He faced her. She can’t let her win in this. “Wala!”

“Ano bang nagawa ko sa’yo ba’t naiinis ka sakin?”

Nadagdagan lang ang inis ni Franco dahil kahit siya mismo hindi alam ang sagot sa tanong na ‘yon.

The other annoying person came in and tried to save Rhian from the fuming Franco Segismundo. “Rhian, ayos ka lang?”

Nanliit ang mata ni Franco sa narinig. He stared at Rhian who’s now waiting for his answer, completely ignoring Ken’s presence. He rolled his eyes before heaving a deep breath, “magsama kayong dalawa.”

Rhian was left with no choice but to just watch Franco pace his way away from them. She knows it's odd how she felt a lump on her throat followed by a salty liquid from her right eye. She quickly wiped her cheek bago pa makita ng binata sa tabi niya. Franco’s really giving her a hard time. Bakit, Franco? Bakit?

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