No Other Choice

Chapter 6

Last day na ng intramurals, and this day rin mangyayari ang battle of the bands and yung awarding. Magkakaroon din ng party after ng closing ceremony para patuloy ang celebration ng high school department for the success of the intramurals, lalo na sa mga nagtayo ng booth. Hapon na ang pasok ng mga hindi naman kasali sa afternoon activities kaya naman kahit 9 am na ay nandito pa kami ni kuya sa bahay.

I woke up at 8 pero hindi agad ako bumangon. I scrolled through my social media muna bago mapagdesisyunang bumaba para kumain. When I went down, I saw kuya eating breakfast with his friends. Our parents left early for their work.

"Good morning, busangot!" bati ni Nicholas. Hindi ko siya pinansin at humalik sa pisngi ni kuya.

"Good morning, Tammy! Kain ka na. What do you want to drink? Ipapagawa ko kila manang," tanong ni kuya. I shook my head and went to the kitchen instead. I heard Nicholas saying "sungit" when I left for the kitchen. I snickered.

I made my own hot chocolate. I also took strawberries from the fridge. Kuya and his friends are having french toast, at iyon na lang din ang kakainin ko. Kinuha ko yung syrup sa pantry at bumalik na sa dining area para samahan sila kuya.

I sat at the other end of the table to give them privacy. I brought my iPad with me nung bumaba ako pati yung earphones ko kaya naman pinagpatuloy ko yung panonood nung series na gusto ko while eating.

I was about to get another bread when I noticed kuya waving at me. I removed my earphones. "What?"

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag, eh. Alis tayo ng 12, sumabay ka na samin." I nodded my head in response at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. When I got done, I went to my room to prepare. I took a bath and wore my robe when I got out of the shower. I connected my phone sa bluetooth speakers while preparing to dry my hair. I was at the middle of drying it when my phone rang. It was Kitty.

"Good morning, Tamara!" bati niya. "What time kayo pupunta ng school?"

"Wow, someone's in a good mood today!" pang-aasar ko. "12 daw sabi ni kuya, why?"

"Wala naman, I'm just asking. What are you going to wear?"

Nagpatuloy ang pag-uusap namin ni Kitsch while I was preparing. Sakto lang at nag-aayos na rin daw siya. Maya-maya lang ay kumatok na si kuya, aalis na raw kami. Nagpaalam na ako kay Kitsch at sinabing magkita na lang kami sa school.

Since last day naman na ng intramurals, we are allowed to wear civilian. I wore a white fitted round neck shirt and I tucked it under my high waisted pants. I wore sneakers ulit since it's comfy and we might jump later. Battle of the bands, remember? I put on my wristwatch, sprayed some perfume and checked myself in the mirror before going out. I only put powder and tinted gloss on my lips.

"Oh, I.D. mo?" tanong ni kuya nang mapansin ako. I showed him my Chanel backpack, indicating na nandoond sa loob yung I.D. ko. Naglakad na kami ng mga kaibigan niya papunta sa parking. Joaquin rode with me and kuya. Si Nicholas naman ay nasa sasakyan ni Angelo. Buti naman para kahit saglit maging tahimik. I was hearing his laugh sa kwarto ko kanina nung nag-uusap kami ni Kitsch. Ganoon kalakas ang boses niya. I sat sa backseat pero as usual, phone ko ang naka-connect sa bluetooth ng car ni kuya.