Predisposition III:
"Nandito ka na naman." Hindi ko mapigilan iparamdam ang disgusto sa tono ng boses ko nang makita si Kenneth. Akala ko kung sinong kumakatok. It's already four in the afernoon so I thought I'll spend my day cousin-free. Turned out a good day can be colored with something unpleasant. "Wala ka bang bahay?"
"I won't let myself miss your birthday." Ngumiti siya at ipinakita ang dalang regalo. I opened the door for him out of courtesy.
Nang makapasok siya ay mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa sofa kung saan nakaupo ang pamilya ko. They all greeted my cousin at pinagtabi pa kaming dalawa sa upuan.
Inabot niya ang dala niya. It's a rectangular small box in a plain pink wrapper. May naka-attach na letter dito but I only read his name and a short happy birthday greeting. Ayoko man pero wala akong nagawa kung hindi tanggapin iyon or I'll appear rude in front of my family.
I can't get used with his presence. Palagi ko na lang siyang nakikita, sa school man o dito sa bahay. Bakit kasi naging kaklase ko pa siya ngayong nasa huling taon na ako ng high school? He's been more annoying and creepy. Ang uncomfortable.
"Si Ken, kamusta na?" tanong ni Papa.
"Ganoon pa rin po, Tito."
"He's been busier, ah."
"Kukuha lang ako ng meryenda mo." Tumayo si Mama at tiningnan kaming magkakapatid. "Kayo, anong gusto ninyo?"
"Meryenda rin po, Ma," sabi ni Nathan na tutok na tutok sa nilalarong games sa phone. Wala siyang headphone kaya rinig na rinig namin ang nilalaro niya.
"Sama na po ako sa inyo, Ma." Ate Shen volunteered. Tumayo siya at sumabay kay Mama papuntang kusina.
Natahimik ang sala ng ilang segundo. Nakatuon lang ang attention ni Papa sa ginagawa sa laptop. Kanina pa siya ro'n nagt-type at scroll. Hindi ko alam kung anong eksaktong trabaho ni Papa, ang alam ko lang minsan nandito siya sa bahay nagw-work pero madalas pa rin naman siyang umalis.
Kung minsan ay nagpupunta siya sa ibang lugar to meet with his clients and all, may time pa na sa ibang bansa siya nagpupunta. He's managing a BPO company. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng trabaho ang meron doon pero Papa often talk to a lot of people.
Nang hindi ko na matiis ay walang paalam na umalis at bumalik ako sa kwarto ko. I don't want to end my birthday seeing his face. Nang maisara ko ang pinto ay basta ko na lang inilagay ang regalo ng pinsan ko sa gilid ng pintuan. I'm not really interested sa kung anong laman no'n.
That's just probably a necklace based on the size of the box. And I don't want to wear something that will makes me feel like I owe him or what.
Kinuha ko yung picture frame na si Echo ang nasa larawan. I got it on her Facebook account. I found her account a few months ago at mukhang nasa isang taon na niyang ginagamit iyon. In a span of a year, she was able to post a lot of pictures. Some are group photos with her classmates, some are her solos, some with her parents.
She looked a little bit mature compare to kids her age. Hindi siya malaking ngumiti unlike no'ng bata pa siya, but she have grown beautiful. She's turning thirteen now. Once she turned sixteen, I swear I'll get to see her in person.
Wala pa akong lakas ng loob na i-chat siya. I don't think that's appropriate. I didn't even send her a friend request. I sounded like a creep checking her account every single day, every time I'm free, every time I miss her, pero I can't help it.
Gusto ko siyang makausap, pero ayoko nitong malayo siya. Kung gusto ko siyang makita, kailangan may gawin ako. Hindi ako marunong bumiyahe, lalo na't malayo siya, pero I can learn. I know the name of her school, enough na 'yon. I can find it.
BINABASA MO ANG
Living With The Psychopath (GL) [Completed] [Self-Published]
Romance[This is a GL story] Date started: March 24, 2017 Date completed: April 29, 2020 Additional chapters: Date Started: May 9, 2020 Date completed: July 15, 2020 CONTENT WARNING: This story contains scenes that readers may find upsetting, disturbing, an...