A Tale In Session (City Series #1)

Chapter 24

"We haven't seen you in months, Claude," sabi ni Mommy. "Kailan ka ba uuwi dito? Hindi ka man lang nag-Christmas or New Year with us."

"Sa summer na lang, Mommy,"

"Have you spoken to Ezra yet?" tanong ni Mommy sa akin through the video call.

Hindi ko sinagot yung tanong ni Mommy. Instead, I pointed the camera towards Alice who was opening the bucket of chicken from Jollibee.

"Hi, Tita! Happy new year po!" Alice greeted my mom.

"Oh hi, Alice," Ngiti ni Mommy. "Happy new year, hija."

"Kumusta po kayo d'yan, Tita?" tanong ni Alice.

I always see her excitement whenever she gets to speak to any one of my relatives in Baguio.

"Okay lang naman. Kayo ba d'yan? How's school?" tanong ni Mommy.

"Okay rin po, Tita!"

"Mom, we'll go na. Kain lang kami," paalam ko kay Mommy.

"Okay, okay. See you sa summer, okay? We miss you, nakong."

Naglagay si Alice ng balat ng chicken joy niya sa plato ko habang malaki ang kaniyang ngisi. Nagpigil ako ng ngiti at sinubuan siya ng balat ng chicken. I would always give her the skin of my chicken joy whenever we'd eat at Jollibee because I know it's her favorite, and she always tries to give me some of hers. 

"Alam ko namang gusto mo niyan," I told her.

"Pero mas gusto kita." She raised her eyebrow. "Kilig ka 'no?"

"Crazy." I laughed. "Dalian mo, hatid na kita sa training mo."

"You don't have to." She rolled her eyes.

"I want to."

Ngumuso siya sa akin habang nagpipigil ng ngiti.

"Epal mo naman!" She laughed. "Bakit ka nagpapakilig?!"

"Wala 'to." Tawa ko pabalik. "Malala na."

Mabilis naming kinain yung lunch namin at hinatid ko na rin kaagad si Alice sa training nila. Sunday ngayon, kaya wala akong klase kaya bumalik na rin agad ako sa condo. I decided to check my e-mails since our Tito has been e-mailing me regarding an internship in our company.

This was our normal weekend routine. Hatid, sundo ko si Alice sa training niya dahil palapit na nang palapit ang season ng volleyball sa UAAP. Every other week, I'd play basketball with the guys rin.

Honestly, Alice and the others really became my family here.

"Grabeng Noestro!" sigaw ng isang teammate ni Alice. "Sana all!"

"Swerte talaga ni Alice, hayop!" another one added.

"Claude, crush din kita, baka naman!" Halakhak ng isa pang teammate nila.

Alice ran towards me and immediately kissed my cheek. "You're early naman."

"Hindi kami nag-basketball today, e." I took her gym bag. "You hungry?"

"Hinalikan pa nga! Nang-inggit pa!" Sigaw ng isang babae. Lumingon si Alice sa kanya at kumaway.

"Where are we eating ba, babe?" tanong niya sa akin.

"We're eating with the guys," sabi ko sa kanya. "'Di mo nareceive yung text ni Carmilla?"

Kinuha niya kaagad yung phone niya sa bulsa ng gym bag niya at chineck ang mga texts.

"Hala, you texted pala," she said. "Sorry!"

"That's okay." I laughed and held her hand.

"Pero yung sagot ko sa text mo is Japanese food. Always Japanese food." She grinned. "Nandoon na ba sila?"