Koko
Pagtunog pa lang ng bell, tumayo na agad si Koko at nagmamadaling maglakad palabas ng classroom pero bago pa siya umabot sa pinto, Monty blocked his way. Ngitng-ngiti ang ang kaibigan ni Koko and he returned it with a tight smile.
Kung hindi lang kay Ronnie, kanina ko pa 'to sinapak. Sana nakikinig ka Aaron, tena.
"Alam mo nakakahalata na ako, a," Monty smiled with sarcasm.
Biglang nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Koko. He cleared his throat and stood straight before the guy. Holy shit.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He laughs, anxiously. His right hand reached on his rib, scratching the scar underneath his shirt.
The anticipation of learning what's going on inside Monty's head made him nervous. Koko's a mystery, walang alam ang mga school mates niya sa personal na buhay. Wala siyang balak ipaalam and even though, he's trying to make friends with Monty, hindi pa siya nagsh-share ng bagay-bagay rito.
The only person he trusts right now is Aaron.
He always does.
One clue that Koko is nervous is that he usually scratches the scar on his rib. It is kind of a birthmark, mas visible ang shape ng scar when he got to highschool.
Hindi napansin napansin ni Monty
But, Ronnie always got him when he does that.
"Mas friendly ka kapag lasing."
Tila isang tinik ang natanggal sa lalamunan ni Koko. He almost rolled his eyes when he felt a sudden head rush. He glared at the grinning monkey.
"Please, don't do that ever again." Koko warned.
"What?" Monty was clueless, his eyebrows knitted, curiously.
Koko smiled and shook his head, "Nothing."
He patted the guy's head. Koko took advantage of their height difference (Mas matangkad si Koko kumpara kay Monty) and swept Monty's hand leaning on the doorframe.
"Thank you," tinalikuran niya ai Monty and walked past the crowd. Nagkasabay ang mga computer geeks from ICT at ang section ng Humanities.
"Saan na naman punta mo?" Naguguluhan tanong ni Monty.
"Uwi na!" With Koko's retreating figure, he waves goodbye at Monty.
"What? Maaga pa! Hoy!" Monty groaned
"Alas cinco na, hoy!" Koko barked.
Nag-vibrate ang phone ni Monty. It's a text from Lyla:
Mauna ka nang umuwi. May meeting pa kami sa SC office.
Monty frowned, staring at his phone, "Pati ba naman 'to?" He complained.
Palabas na si Koko ng gate nang sundan siya ni Monty.
Straight ahead, K.O. Just keep walking.
"Kain tayo?" Monty put his arm over Koko's shoulders, "May meeting si Lyla ngayon so... may oras pa akong kumain." He grinned.
Hindi pa rin siya sanay sa skinship ni Monty. It's been a week and he's adjusting to the fact na bumubuo na siya ng circle of friends (well, sort of). Pero hindi pa rin siya ganun ka-open kay Monty about his personal life. That includes his personal bubble.
Koko sighed.
Ibang-iba talaga ang dating ng bagong buwan para sa kanya. Whatever happened in that party, made extraordinary changes around him. Some of his classmates had been talking to him but mostly, Monty is the most friendly(annoying actually) from all of them. He even introduced Koko to Lyla, the girl at the front seat and the president of their section.
