Mere Words

Chapter 11

"Remember to drive slow, Geoffe!"

"Maglakad na lang kaya kami papuntang school, 'My. Sa tingin mo?"

"Stop being sarcastic, Geoffe. Your mom is just worried."

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagbaba sa hagdan nang mapatigil. Mula rito ay nakangiti kong pinagmamasdan ang masayahing pamilya ni Gretchen sa may terrace. Mama was seriously fixing papa's necktie while Papa was giving that Geoffe guy a death glare.

"Mama mo worried," that Geoffe guy teased while he was throwing and catching his keys in the air.

"Oh my God, Geoffe! We are being serious here. Can't you, even just for now?" nakapamaywang na si Mama habang pinagsasabihan yung Geoffe.

"'My!"

"What?"

"Ako lang 'to... si natoy na mahal na maha-- aray, nambabatok! Magfa-file na talaga ako ng child abuse case against sa inyo!"

Hindi ko na napigilan at napatawa ako nang malakas sa natunghayan. 'Di rin nagtagal ay natigil ito nang mapansin kong nasa akin na ang kanilang mga atensyon. Maybe my laughter was loud enough to reach them there. I mentally tapped my forehead for the embarrassment that came after in me.

"Oh, señorita? Himala at ang bilis mong nag-ayos?" Geoffe frowned at me, looking like he was surprised for what he saw. "And are you sure you'll go to school dressed like that?"

Tinaas ko ang magkabilang kilay ko sa pagtataka. I scanned the faded jeans and a shirt printed with spongebob's face I'm wearing right now, paired with white vans old school shoes. "Why? Is there something wrong?"

Nangunot ang noo ko nang mapansing  lahat sila nakatingin sa akin na para bang hindi ako kilala. I rubbed my nape to calm my nerves. Hindi ba ganito manamit si Gretchen?

Right! Her closet were full of designer dresses, mini-skirts, crop tops, spaghetti strap tops, blouses and many more that weren't fit for my taste. Ito na nga lang 'yung nahanap kong pinakadisente na nakatago pa sa pinakasulok.

I looked at Garius by my side, asking for help. But I almost rolled my eyes at him when I saw him shaking his head, as if he was disappointed. A grin was plastered on his lips.

"Well, you change your tastes all the time. So," Geoffe shrugged.

"Halika na, mauunahan tayo sa pila!"
Humalik muna siya kay Mama at patudyong nagmano kay Papa bago siya tumatawang tumakbo sa sasakyan niya.

"Alis na po kami," magalang na pamamaalam ko sa parents ni Gretchen na kamukhang-kamukha ang parents ko in some unknown reason. But then, me being here is the most mysterious thing of them all.

Geoffe was humming along with the music throughout the drive. Kating-kati akong tanungin siya ng mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa kanila. Good thing that I was reminded of the fact that they knew me as Gretchen and this was entirely just a story from a book, when I caught a glance of Garius sitting in the backseat.

I threw a glance again of Garius through the rearview mirror, and I gasped when I saw him looking back at me with a smile.

"Times like this, which you humans always tend to overlook, should be spent wisely as well. Make use of your time, even just through simple but worthwhile interactions with other."

Kunot-noo lang akong nakatanaw sa kaniya. Nagtitigan pa kami ng ilang segundo bago siya nagbuntong-hininga. He looked at me like I was the most stupid person he ever met. Well, that's according to my own interpretation.

"I am suggesting that you should talk to your brother rather than just keeping your mum there. One day, you'll look back on this."

I didn't answer.

"Being alone with solace is good. But making memories with others is better, Gretchen."

I got his point, but I hope I could tell him that I am Laurie in reality, and Laurie doesn't know how to start a conversation without getting awkward and blurt out the most stupid words there could ever be.

"What is there to say?" I asked loudly.

Saka ko lang narealize na mali ang nagawa nang makita ko ang nagtatakang tingin nung Geoffe sa akin. Pabalik-balik pa ang tingin niya sa akin at sa kalsada.

"You're scaring the hell out of me lately, Gretchen."

I laughed awkwardly. May halo pang kaba ang nagawa kong mga tawa.

"You are just thinking too much, kuya." Dramatic pa akong umirap. I intended to sound bored. I mentally tapped my shoulder for that wonderful act! Never knew I could possibly pull out such acting.

I knew what I said were right when I saw him smirk.

"That's the Gretchen I know!"

A few more minutes and we have arrived. We went inside an unfamiliar university.  Nagpo-promote ata ang campus ng pagpreserba sa kalikasan, dahil papasok pa lang ay matatayog na mga puno ang bubungad sa 'yo. They were displayed in the right places. Para ka lang nag-jo-joyride sa isang countryside. The heart of the campus was situated in a more elevated landscape. Naalala ko tuloy ang sariling paaralan na pinapasukan.

Nagparking si Geoffe sa parking lot ng campus, pagkatapos ay naglalakad na siya sa kung saan habang iniikot-ikot sa hintuturo ang kaniya mga susi. He was humming an unfamiliar song. Ako naman ay namamanghang nililibot ng tingin ang dinadaanan. If I would be given a chance to put up a campus, I will never forget this one. I'll design it the same.

"Text kita mamaya. Pero kung gusto mo talaga mauna, then just use Grab. Tapos text mo ko. Wag na wag mong kakalimutan kundi kokotongan kita!"

"H-ha?"

"College ka na, kaya mo na 'yan!"

"Eh teka, k-kuya!"

I groped on his shirt, stopping him from walking away. He's the only one I know here, so I can only relay on him. And I am clueless of Gretchen's life! Ni kurso niya 'di ko alam, kaya anong gagawin ko rito?

"Don't tell me you don't know your way to your college?"

Nagpamaywang si Geoffe. I just shook my head as a response.

"Seriously?" gulat na tanong niya ulit.

"S-seriously."

I looked down and fiddled with my fingers.

"Si Gretchen ka ba talaga?" he whispered to himself na narinig ko naman.

"Fine. Let's go. If I know tinatamad ka na naman! Ako na nga mag-enroll sa 'yo!" lintanya niya habang nauna nang maglakad.

"You owe me one, Gretch."

He stopped and looked back at me.
"But then, it's not always like this. I'm glad you bravely asked for my help for the first time." He smiled.

In that moment, nainggit ako sa mga may kapatid. Kung may kapatid din siguro ako, then my life would be different right?

I nodded and gave him my warm smile.

"Hep hep! My service is not for free, little sister. Ililibre mo 'ko sa Vikings after this."

Geoffe turned his back and started walking again. But this time, to another direction.

I was still all smiled when I followed him. Ganito pala pakiramdam ng may kapatid?

"Glad to see you smiling."

I slowed down from my track and looked at Garius who was walking beside me. Kung 'di pa siya nagsalita ay 'di ko maaalalang may guardian angel nga pala akong kasa-kasama.

Siya ang unang bumitaw sa tinginan namin. While my stared followed him. Nagpamulsa siya habang nakatanaw sa harap.

"That's a good start for your mission."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad dahil sa narinig. He may have sensed it, kaya tumigil din siya at tumingin sa akin pabalik.

He may have read the questions written on my face.

"You have made bargain with God. Kailangan mong gawin ang mga misyong inutos niya, kapalit ng pangalawang buhay na ibiniyaya niya sa 'yo. Thus, I'm here... to support you."