Strings of Regret

Chapter 18

I closed my eyes as the night breeze kissed my face. I tightened my hold on Reese's torso as he smoothly drove the motorcycle on the familiar rode to our place. I opened my eyes again and stared at the seemingly fast moving starry night above.

Nagpaalam na kami sa mga kaibigan namin na ihahatid ako ni Reese pauwi. Cassi was already gone when I returned in the quadrangle. Maybe their driver picked her up. Nanatili si Sabrina doon at sasabay nalang daw siya sa mama niya pauwi.

Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap namin ni Reese ay wala na kaming kibuan. I was nervous at first because I thought he would start to ignore me again but now that I think of it, I needed space and time to ponder about things.

Inihinto niya ang motor sa labas ng gate namin. I took the helmet off and gave it back to him. Inayos ko ang buhok ko bago hinarap siya.

  "Salamat sa paghatid sa akin. Mag-ingat ka pabalik," nahihiyang aniya ko.

He threw me a small smile and nodded. "No problem. Good night," then he gestured for me to go inside.

I opened the gate and went in. I slowly closed it and watched through the small gap. He gave a small wave and started turning the engine on.

Narinig ko na lang ang pagharurot ng kanyang motor paalis ng nasa harap na ako ng pintuan. I heaved a sigh before twisting the knob. The lights were still on but no one was around. I locked the door before going upstairs, washed up, and change into comfy clothes before diving on my bed.

Kinabukasan ay nagising nalang ako sa boses ni Renan. "Ate gising na! Quarter to 7 na!"

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon ng marinig iyon. I hurriedly went to the bathroom. I showered for about twenty minutes before heading to my closet and changed into a white silk longsleeve with truffles on the wrist side and paired it with a mom jeans and my white strapped sandals.

Sinuklay ko lang ang buhok ko at nagdala ng hair tie. I grabbed my black shoulder bag filled with my essentials before going downstairs. The smell of fried rice and sunny side up eggs filled my nose. Umupo ako sa counter at naglagay ng fried rice at itlog sa plato.

  "Umalis na sila mama?" tanong ko kay Renan. Kami lang kasing dalawa ang nasa kusina. The sala was empty so I thought they already went to work.

Umiling si Renan. "Nasa taas pa si mama. Si papa nakaalis na."

Tumango ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Nang matapos ay tumayo na at uminom ng malamig na tubig. Kumunot ang noo ko ng nakitang pumasok si mama sa kitchen na nakahawak sa kanyang dibdib.  Napahawak siya sa edge ng counter at umupo sa stool. 

  "Ma, okay ka lang ba?" nag-aalalang tanong ko ng makitang nakahawak parin siya sa dibdib niya.

  "H-Hindi lang ako makahinga kanina. Siguro dahil sa stress," nanghihinang sagot niya.

  "Do you want to absent or something? Pwede naman 'yon diba? Para makapaghinga ka," pag-suhestiyon ko.

  "Or gusto mo bang umabsent kami para maalagaan ka?" si Renan at napatango naman ako sa kanyang sinabi.

Mahinang tumawa si mama. "Ano ba kayo? Okay lang ako. Siguro dahil lang 'to sa stress. Malapit na rin kasi ang Culmination namin kaya siguro ganito."

It took us five minutes to move on and go to school. Hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala para kay mama. She convinced us that she's fine and there's no need to fret but I doubt that.

Today is the last day of the foundation week. I don't really know what are we going to do today pero sigurado akong ngayon gaganapin ang Search for Mr. and Ms. SJNS. Ngayong gabi specifically.