Waiting For Kendra

Chapter 11

Umuwi na si Jason at Alec dahil may pasok pa kami bukas. Nagplano ako na umabsent nalang dahil walang magbabantay kay Mama. But Tito Carlo came. He volunteered na siya ang magbabantay kay Mama. Hindi sana ako papaya dahil baka busy siya sa work niya. Kaso, he insisted. Kaya pumayag na ako.

Sa sofa ako humiga, while si Tito naman ay sa isang chair lang nagpahinga. I opened my messenger account and saw some messages from my friends. I replied them all. Mukhang nag aalala sila. I was about to turn off my phone nang may nag message pa.

Unknown Number

Hi, Ken. It's Alec. How are you there? Need an acquaintance?"

I replied, "I am fine. Thanks, but 'wag na. Good night." Then I turned off my phone.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong ginising ni Tito Carlo para umuwi na at makapagready sa school. May point naman din si Tito na pumasok ako ngayon. May quiz kami sa isang major subject. Ginising ko si Mama, at nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos dahil gumising siya!

"Ma!" I hugged her and she hugged me back too.

"Anak. Sorry for making you worried." She said.

I hushed her. "Ma, bakit naman kase pinapabayaan mo sarili mo? You need to rest and eat well. Nakakainis ka."

She giggled. "Hays. Na miss kita sobra. Hindi ako sanay na wala ka sa tabi ko. So, para malibang naman ako, I worked, worked, worked, and worked."

"Tch. So, I do really need to be at your side, huh?" I smirked.

"Hmm. Dapat lang." Tito Carlo said when he came in from outside. "Siguro ay dapat hindi ka na nag a out of town nang di kasama Mama mo." He laughed softly.

"Thank you, pala Carlo ha? I owe you a lot." Mama said.

"Wala yon. Bukas pala ay pwede ka nang lumabas. But you need to rest at home for 2 days."

Tumango ako and looked at my watch. It's already 6 am. I need to be at school at 8 am.

"Ma, Tito, I need to go na." I kissed Mama on the cheeks at nagmano sa kanilang dalawa."

"Ingat ka anak. I love you." Mama said as I closed the door. I mouthed "I love you too."

Bumaba na ako ng hospital at sa isang maling pagkakataon nakabangga ako ng... isang doctor!

"Hala. Sorry, doc!" I apologized to him.

"Okay lang." He said.

Tiningnan ko siya sa mata. He looked so familiar. He is tall. Makapal ang kilay. Pointed ang nose. Naka glasses pero looks good on it. Maybe he is... uhm... 25 years old?

"Do I have a dirt on my face, Miss?" sabi niya na nagpabalik sa akin sa aking sarili.

"Yes... I mean no doc. No. You just... You seem familiar to me."

"Jason Viel? You know him?"

Snap! He is the cousin of Jason!

"Yes po. A friend."

Tumango siya. "Sige. I have to check my patients. I'll go ahead."

"Thank you po. Sorry ulit!"

He smiled. Before I turned back, nagsalita pa siya. "By the ways, you have a muta on your eye, Miss Guevarra."

What?! Dali dali akong tumalikod at pinunasan ang aking mata. Nakakahiya! And how did he know my name?! Humarap ako ulit at nawala na siya. Nakakahiya talaga!

Nakalabas na ako ng hospital at naghanap na ng masasakyan. Nag jeep ako papuntang apartment. It is almost 7 am and I need to get ready pa!

Dali dali akong tumakbo patungo sa unit at naligo na. Wala na akong time kumain dahil male-late na ako. Napatagal kase ang pag uusap namin ni Mama at nung doctor. Lumabas na ako sa unit at ni lock ito. 7:30 am na! Huhu. May quiz pa naman ako!

Nang makababa na ako sa building. Nag antay ako ng jeep ng pwedeng masakyan. Kaso puno halos!
"Argh! Kainis!" Kinuyom ko ang aking palad dahil naiirita na ako.

"Don't stressed yourself. Sakay na." Jason said as he entered from the left. He let the right door of his car opened. I don't have any choice kundi sumakay na.

"Thank you. Pwedeng pakibilisan? I have a quiz at 8 am kase."

Tumango siya at binuhay na ang makina.

7:45 na at naipit kami sa traffic! Kainis talagaaaaa!

"Don't panic, Kendra Ann. We'll get there on time."

Paano niya pa kayang maging positive? Eh for sure pagkarating ko doon, nagstart na ang quiz at bagsak na ako!

"Okay." Sagot ko nalang. I need to be calm kahit papaano.

Nakarating na kami sa University ng 7:55 am! Wala na! Nandoon na ang professor namin!

Nang nakapark na kami ay bumaba na agada ko sa sasakyan. Pinagtitinginan ako ng mga kapwa estudyante dahil kung bakit ako nagmamadali. Or... kung bakit sa sasakyan ni Jason ako sumakay. And I don't care! Iniisip ko kung makakahabol pa ba ako sa quiz, kung nasa 3rd floor pa ang classroom ko.

Nawala sa isip ko si Jason. Maybe he went into his class? I don't know. Pabalikbalik na nagvavibrate ang phone ko. Malamang ay si Mixy or Patricia na 'yon. Tumatawag at nagtataka bakit wala pa ako sa room.

Nakarating na ako sa classroom. Sa likod ako dadaan para hindi ako mahuli. And I was right! Nahuli na nga ako. Nasa item number 4 na sila. Hinahabol ko pa ang paghinga ko. At dahan dahang pumasok sa loob. Kaso...

"Miss Guevarra, you are late!" sigaw ng prof namin na medyo bata pa.

"Sorry, Miss. I was late dahil na hospital ang Mama ko---"

Hindi na niya ako pinatapos magsalita. "Pero late ka pa rin! Get out! Istorbo ka!" She raised her voice.

"Miss..." Mixy said na hinay hinay na tumayo.

"Sit down, Miss San Carlos!" sigaw niya kay Mixy at napaupo nalang siya.

"Get out." Sabi niya pa pero in a calm way pero masesense mo pa rin na galit siya.

"Pero, Miss..."

"I said---"

"You said what?" tinig ng isang pamilyar na tao mula sa likod ko. "She already gave a valid excuse on why she was late tapos you still don't want her to enter the class?"

Hinarap ko siya and I tried to calm him down. I can see his face turn red. "With all due respect, Miss. I just heard you shouting at my friend..." at tumingin siya sa akin. "...who was late because her mom was at the hospital. Excusing herself to you and even apologized because she was late. And all you did is to shout and want her to leave this room?"

I looked at him. "Tama na, please."

"How many minutes were you late, Kendra?" he asked.

"6 minutes." I replied.

"6 minutes, Miss. With a valid reason. With an apology. Will you let her in?"

Tumikhim ang prof naming at tumango. "Okay. Sit down. I will repeat the questions para kay Miss Guevarra. Strictly no erasures."

I sat down at my chair. Kumuha ako ng papel at ballpen at sinagutan ang mga tanong na nirerecite ni Miss. As I answered the question, I looked outside. Wala na siya. Maybe I should thank him later.

"Thank you, Jason." I mouthed.