Dying Embers

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven: Anong Akala Mo

"Hey, Rain!" Clarence called out to me after the game. Chance's team won by only six points, with Clarence's team trailing by just three points, and there was no denying it.

Chance is truly a sports prodigy. Almost every game he plays, he hits a home run. On defense, he's quick and seems to have a natural rapport with the ball, catching it even if he stumbles or falls on the grass.

"Clarence! I didn't expect to see you here. You should've texted me," I said as he approached. Jilliana had already left to review Science in the library because she had forgotten it the night before.

"Ah, Coach confiscated our phones, so I had no way to contact you and let you know I'd be here today," he explained. "And, oh right, may pinamimigay pala si mama sa'yo." He handed me a thin box, about the size of a book.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "I have a bad feeling about this one." Sabi ko habang pinakatitigan ang box na bigay sa akin ni mommy. Tumingin ako ulit kay Clarence, hindi ko tinanggal ang pagkakakunot sa aking noo. "And you, 'di ba sabi ko naman sa'yo, don't call my mom 'mama'. So annoying! May mommy ka naman e." Masungit kong saad sa kaniya.

He laughed and ruffled my hair. "Always the jealous Rain. But I'm not going to follow that. Kuya mo ako, so I should have the final say." He grinned.

I wrinkled my nose. "Not even close. We're just a day apart, Clarence!" I stuck out my tongue, making him laugh more.

He clicked his tongue. "I miss you too, Rain. Anyway, we're leaving now. Study hard, and by the way, I heard someone's interested in you?"

Natigilan ako saglit at pilit na ngumiti sa kaniya. "Please, don't tell mom about this."

He scoffed. "As if she'll be angry. She'd practically push you into a relationship."

"Kaya nga 'wag mo munang sabihin sa kaniya, kapag nalaman niya, sigurado akong minu-minuto na akong tatawagan non."

He chuckled. "That's so mama." Then he looked at me with a warning tone. "And hey, let me meet this guy before you say yes, okay? I'll interrogate him thoroughly and make sure he proves himself before he gets near you."

Napangiwi ako at mahinang sinuntok ang balikat nito. "Don't you dare. Sige na umalis ka na." Itinulak ko na siya para makaalis na. Humalakhak lang ito at may sinabi pang iba bago tuluyang nagpaalam at umalis na dahil tinawag na ito ng kanilang coach.

Tinalikuran ko na ang gawi ni Clarence na naglalakad palayo sa akin, pero nang makaharap ako ay bahagya akong napaigtad nang may mapangahas na naglagay ng kaniyang baseball cap sa aking ulo. What the— Tumingala ako para tingnan kung sino ang may gawa nito at nakita ko kaagad ang gwapong pagmumukha ni Chance sa harap ko. Bahagya siyang nakasimangot, nakanguso ang kaniyang mamula-mula niyang bibig. Pakiramdam ko tuloy galit siya.

Lumingon siya sa direksyon kung saan doon naglakad paalis si Clarence bago ito tumingin ulit sa akin. Maya-maya pa ay bigla niyang pinitik ang noo ko.

I blinked. "Aray ko!" I complained and immediately massage my forehead where he flicked it.

Napangiwi siya habang nakakunot pa rin ang kaniyang noo. "Sino ba 'yon at hinahayaan mo siyang kausapin ka sa gitna ng tirik na tirik na araw, ha? Ni wala ka pang dalang payong, jacket o kahit na ano!" He tsked. Before I could react, he pulled down the cap's visor, shading my eyes and obscuring his face.

I wasn't sure how to react to his words. Should I laugh or get annoyed by his behavior? So, is that why he's annoyed and seems angry? I smiled, shaking my head, and adjusted his baseball cap on my head.