Teared Masks (Madrigal Series #3) On-Going

TM #6

Reminiscence

I first met Brixeus Jairon Madrigal during my Grade 7 days, specifically, intramurals day.

Hindi pa kami masyadong magkakilala nang mga kaibigan ko noon dahil first two months of classes palang sa Junior High, sa ibang school ako nanggaling kaya wala pa akong masyadong kakilala dito sa University.

"Anong oras daw yung championship game nang Grade 9 at 10 bukas Lau?" Pang-uusisa sa akin ni Rari.

Namilog ang mga mata ko nang mapagtantong ako ang tinatanong niya. She looks cute with her ponytailed hair and purple head band.

"After p-parade daw..." I trailed off.

I was shy to talk to her at first because of her enthusiasm, but because of thesame reason, we suddenly became close.

"Hello! Sabay daw tayong mag lunch nina Aesha, Eru at Liana. Mga kaibigan ko, kilala mo naman sila diba?" Rari's face welcomed mine when I sat on my usual sit at the back of the room.

Liana's our top student, Aesha and Eru are known for being the Montreal cousins. Come to think of it, if ever those three will join us on our lunch, mas dadami pa ang magiging kaibigan ko dito sa school at hindi na ako magiging loner.

I was suddenly excited at the thought. Tumango ako sa panyaya ni Rari.

"I guess having them isn't bad." I know them because we're on thesame class. Mababait naman kahit medyo maingay lalo na si Rari at Erudite.

"Ayun! Sige, ipapakilala ko kayo nang mas clear sa isa't-isa mamaya!" Masigla niyang saad at bumalik sa upuan niya.

Pagkatapos naming mag discuss tungkol sa mga gagawin para sa intrams bukas ay agad din naman kaming pinag-lunch nang teachers. Niligpit ko ang mga ginamit na binder notebook at ballpen bago tumayo at lumapit kay Rari na kinakausap na nina Liana.

"U-uh, hello..." Nahihiyang bati ko at hindi lumapit nang tuluyan nang makita ang nakataas na kilay na mukha ni Erudite.

"Hello! Hali ka Laurean, sabay tayong lima sa cafeteria, may dala akong panghimagas! I-she-share ko sa inyo!" Aesha smiled at me widely. 

Nag-aalinlangan akong ngumiti at lumapit nang bahagya.

Rari smiled and pulled me towards them. "Halika dito, huwag kang mahiya, mas maganda ka pa sa kanilang tatlo." Sumabog sila sa tawanan.

I glanced at Erudite's reaction and I sighed out of relief when I saw her smiling at her friend's joke.

"So what made you transfer here in San Ag Lau? Sa Maynila kapa galing diba? Paano ka napunta bigla sa Western Visayas?" Erudite curiously asked while we're quietly eating.

I wiped my mouth using a tissue provided by our cafeteria and smiled at my newly found companions.

"My Dad's family was originally from here, napunta lang kami sa Maynila dahil kay Mom, sadly namatay na siya for a confidential reason. That's why we decided to go back here, and my Dad found a new girl here that's why."

Hindi ko sinabi sa kanila ang totoong dahilan nang pagkamatay ni Mom. Hindi pa ako handang mag-open up sa iba tungkol sa mga nangyari noong nakaraan.

"Alegre ka diba? Kaanu-ano mo si Mayor Landon?" Pang-uusisa pa ni Rari.

I smiled. "He's my father." Their mouth hanged in shock with what I've said.

"Anak ka ni Mayor? Oh my God! So kapatid mo si Lirae? 'Yung Grade 9 na top student?!" Napasigaw si Aesha.

Hindi na ako nagulat sa narinig, my step-sister is very famous, she's pretty but she's rude and kinda plastic.

Unti-unti akong tumango. "She's my step sis to be exact, hindi ko naman nanay yung nanay niya." I almost rolled my eyes our of irritation when I remembered her and her mom.