Grant's Revenge

Chapter 4

"Hey."

Nagulat ako ng umupo sa tabi ko si Samantha. Inilapag nito yung bag nito.

"What do you want?" Inangat nito yung ID nito. Isinenyas na ililibre nya yata ako ng lunch.

Sa school kasi yung ID yung ginagamit namin na pambayad for every school transaction. Parents just have to load it up. Saka one way where they can track their kids' expenses. So hassle talaga pag may nakaiwan ng ID nila o hindi naloadan ng parents nila.

It's been three days that I'm just sitting here on one of the tables sa canteen during lunch without eating anything. I've got no packed lunch eversince my Mom was sent away. My Dad's always out. I've got money but I can't even use it in school to pay for food. Dad has to load up my ID. But I won't ask him to. I stopped talking to him since the day Mom left us. Saka yung pera ko ipambibili ko na lang ng pasalubong kay Mommy after ng class. I'm visiting her naman everyday. Saka I'm not even hungry.

"Fox, I'm asking you." Sabi pa ulit nito.

Yeah. Oo nga pala. We had an agreement. Samantha and I.

I remembered the day I got the courage to talk to her kasi nagsasalubong yung kilay nya sa book na binabasa nya. I've read that book too many times that It made me walked up her way and make a small talk about it.

Fortunately, it ended well. Since then, she became casual to me. Pag nagkikita kami o nagkakasalubong ay ngumingiti na ito o kung hindi naman ay tatango sakin.

Bago pa ako makasagot ng gusto kong kainin ay may umupo na sa tabi ko.

It's Kayleigh Montello. She opened up her lunchbox na punong-puno ng pagkain. Tapos inilagay sa center ng table na para bang inaalok kami ni Samantha.

She's still sipping her strawberry yogurt habang busy sa binabasa nito. It's about our literature class.

"Okay. I'll just buy our drinks." Sabi ni Samantha. "We'll share your food, Kayleigh?"

Umangat yung mga mata ni Kayleigh at tumingin sa aming dalawa ni Sam. For the first time, I saw her smile. Ang ganda ng kulay ng mga mata nito. Amber eyes.

"Just call me Leigh."

First time ko din sya narinig na nagsalita. Sa classroom kasi ay napakasnob nito. Or maybe because no one is talking to her? Kasi she's a Royal blood? Tapos lahat nahihiya iapproach ito?

"Okay. I'll have pineapple juice. Ikaw, Grant?" Tanong sakin ni Samantha.

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako. Kaya tumayo na si Sam para bumili ng drinks. Siguro inisip nito na same na lang yung bibilhin nito para sakin.

"What happened to your weird juice?" Tanong ni Leigh na itinuro yung tumbler ko na tubig na lang yung laman ngayon.

Napansin din pala niya yung weird juice na laging baon ko. Her observation skill is commendable.

"My Mom's in the hospital. Nagpapagaling pa kasi sya." kaswal na sabi ko.

"Hope she gets well soon." Ngumiti ulit si Leigh. Pagkatapos ay binuksan yung packs ng banana cake at inabot sakin. "This isn't carrot. But I really hope this makes you feel better."

Something stirred into me. Is this what empathy feels? I know. Leigh's not being sympathetic sakin. Halata naman. She's just doing it because it's her nature. She's really nice.

"Thank you, Leigh." This time I really mean saying thank you and not just out of courtesy.

"Pag gutom ka, just always ask me for food. I've got a lot of it. Akala yata ng parents ko malakas ako kumain. Or madami akong friends in school."