The Brainy Rebel

TBR 19

Maxine Valdez

"I'm sorry sa nagawa ni Glenn."

"It's okay, Maxine."

How can he say it's okay if it really is not?

Hinila ko siya papunta sa elementary building. "Not, it's not okay. Tara, I'll make it up to you."

Nakuha naman yata ni Nate agad na kaya ko siya dinala rito ay para makapaglaro kami nina Herbie. Hindi kasi natuloy noon, diba?

"Herbie!" Sigaw ni Nate nung makita namin siyang naglalaro mag-isa sa swing.

She looked at our direction. "Kuya Nate!" Sigaw niya habangtumatakbo papunta samin. She immediately kissed mine and Nate's cheeks. "Ano pong ginagawa niyo dito?"

Lumuhod ako para medyo pantay kami. "Anong activity niyo ngayon, sweetie?"

"Sabi po ng teacher namin, free time. We could play all day, I guess."

"Do you want to have a date with us?"

Halatang natuwa siya sa idea. Tumango siya bilang sagot.

Si Nathaniel naman ang nagsalita. "Okay, so where's your teacher? Magpapaalam tayo."

Herbie held my right hand and Nathaniel's left hand. Bale, siya yung nasa gitna naming dalawa.

"Nasa room po namin. And we're going there now."

Pagdating namin doon sa classroom nila, nilapitan agad namin yung teacher niya at tinanong kung pwedeng ilabas ng university si Herbie. Pwede naman daw pero may mga tinanong pa siya para masiguradong hindi kami kidnappers. It's alright though.

~

Pumunta kami sa City Park since maganda naman ang panahon ngayon. Naghanap kami ng mauupuan.

Uupo pa lang ako ay agad na akong nahila ni Herbie palayo kay Nate. Susunod pa dapat siya pero napigilan ko na siya. May gusto yatang sabihin sakin 'tong batang 'to.

"Ate Maxine, I have a secret to tell you."

Natawa ako ng kaunti sa sinabi niya. "Okay, baby."

"There was a boy who gave me flowers at recess."

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko sa pagtili. I didn't know a single thing about love and affection when I was this young!

"Oh, bakit parang sad ka?"

"Kuya Nate told me not to accept flowers, letters, and chocolates from boys but I did." She looked down and she's really sad.

"Well at least you made the boy happy. Tinanggap mo yung effort niya."

"But Kuya Nate will get mad."

"We will tell him, don't worry. Hindi ka naman niya kakainin."