September

PROLOGUE

Summer 2009

"Walter..." Malumanay na pagtawag sakin ni mama pero hindi ko ito pinansin at isiniksik ang katawan sa ilalim ng kumot.

"Walter, anak... Pansinin mo naman si mama oh..." Pakiusap nito sa akin habang marahan na hinihila ang kumot na ikinabuntong hininga ko naman.

"Ayoko sa labas... It's too hot!" I squealed that made her laugh.

"But... Kailangan mo magkaroon ng kaibigan..." Sabi ni mama sa akin pero di ako natinag at nanatili lamang sa ilalim ng kumot ko.

"I have a lot of books..."

"But you still need friends, baby... Hindi naman habang buhay ay palagi ka nalang nasa kwarto mo at nagbabasa ng mga libro" Sabi ni mama habang sinusubukan paring alisin ang kumot.

"Masyado na kong matanda for playing!!" Sigaw ko na siguradong ikinahilot ni mama ng sintido.

"Haist... Baby, hindi pa matanda ang limang taong gulang" Sabi ni mama na ikinasimangot ko. What do you mean? Five years old is already old kaya.

Tuluyan nang natanggal ni mama ang kumot na nakatalukbong sakin ng luwangan ko ang pagkakakapit dito. Hinaplos naman ni mamaang pisngi ko bago nagsalita.

"Sige na. Bihis na. Pupunta daw kayo ng playground ni Ate Sophie..." Sabi ni mama bago hinagkan ang noo ko. Aalis na sana si mama ng hawakan ko ang kamay nito na ikinatigil nito sa pagtayo.

"Pwede bang dito nalang ako?" pagmamakaawa ko pero isang iling lang ang natanggap ko kay mama na ikinapait ng panlasa ko.

"Di mo na ko lab?" Tanong ko na parang maiiyak, nagbabakasakaling magbago pa ang isip ni mama kapag Nakita nya akong umiiyak.

"Anong tanong yan? Syempre, mahal parin ikaw ni mommy pero kailangan mo rin magkaroon ng friends. Madali lang mahanap ng libro pero hindi ang tunay na kaibigan. Always keep that in your mind, okay" Tumango naman ako bilang pagtugon at pilit na ngumiti.

"Sige na. Magbihis ka na. Ate Sophie is waiting for you downstairs" Sabi ni mama at hinagkan ulit ako sa noo.

Tamad na tumayo ako at kumuha ng damit sa closet. Pagkatapos magbihis ay agad kong kinuha yung toy truck ko at lumabas na ng kwarto para puntahan si Ate Sophie na naabutan kong nanonood ng cartoons sa sala. Her forehead wrinkled as she saw me frowning while walking towards her.

"What's with the face?" She asked as she reached my polo's collar to fix it. She suddenly pinched my nose that made me shrieked in annoyance and sharply looked at her. The nerve to pinch my nose!

"Stop frowning. You look like Shrek" she said that made me hit her in her thigh. "What? It's true kaya!" and fixed my not so messy hair. Well, I haven't comb yet.

"What's the problem ba? Mukha kang natalo ng milyones sa lotto"

"It's momma. She wants me to have at least a friend to be with other than my books. I'm okay being alone. At least I wouldn't mind complaining another headache for causing too much troubles" I complained before heaving a sigh.

"What's wrong with it? It's part of having a friend naman talaga. Having friend is like having a partner in crime. Your friend's trouble is also your trouble" Sabi ni ate sabay tayo at gulo ng buhok ko.

Nagpaalam na si Ate Sophie kay mama na aalis na kami papuntang playground. I hugged my toy truck ang walk beside her as we exited the house.

"That's my point! I don't want any trouble" I saw her eyes rolled at me before crouching down to reach my height. She ruffled my hair ang smiled sweetly.

"You know what? You may not know the value of friendship now but as soon as you find one for you, you'll know what it means to everyone and that's what's mom was pointing out earlier" She stood up and continued to walk while holding my hand.