West Valley Academy: Kenneth Williams

Chapter 8

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Chapter 8

-Kayezza-

“Kaye, please don’t cry.” Kanina pa niya sinasabi yan. Hindi naman talaga ako umiiyak. Naluluha lang ako sa tuwing naaalala ko ang sinabi niya.

“Hindi naman ako umiiyak, a!” Ngumiti siya ay ngisi pala. “Not crying but there is always tears coming out of your eyes?”

Hinampas ko ang balikat niya. “Ah!” He shouted. “Ang bigat ng kamay mo! I don’t know why I fell in love with you with heavy hands of yours.”

“Turn off ka na?” Tanong ko sa kanya. Napalingon naman siya sa akin and shook his head. “No, of course not, that is the only way for you to cover the truth. Hey! Don’t look at me like that!” Pinanliitan ko kasi siya ng mata.

“Kung observant ka ibig sabihin may alam ka rin sa tunay kong nararamdaman?” Kinakabahan kong tanong.

“That’s the thing I couldn’t observe. Kung hindi lang talaga sinabi mo sa akin na may gusto ka sa akin hindi pa ako makakaroon ng lakas ng loob para sabihin.” Nanlaki ang mata ko. “Totoo ba yung sinabi mo sa akin noon?” Tanong niya at napatango na lang ako.

“Yes!” He shout and jump like a boy who given a candy. Hindi pa naging ka-loose si Ken, this is the first.

“Kenneth, nagiging cute ka na!” Sigaw ko. Natawa naman siya. “Okay lang basta ikaw ang nagsabi niyan and Kaye, can you call me Kenneth from now on? Napag-alaman ko kasing Ken din ang pangalan ng lolo mo.”

Napagdesisyunan namin na puntahan namin si Mommy sa opisina niya at sa may reception area pa lang ay hinarangan kaagad kami ng secretary niya.

“Can I help you?” Sabi nito.

“Can we speak to the President?” Kalmadong sabi ni Kenneth.

“Do you have any appointments with Mrs. Smith?”

“Do we have to?” Tanong ko. Kailan pa nanghingi si Mommy ng appointments sa mga students ng WVA?

“Miss, I am the godson of the President and the person with me is the daughter of the President.” Sabi ni Kenneth na mukhang nairita sa tanong ng secretary ni Mommy.

“Kenneth, mukhang high blood ka.” Napalingon kami sa nagsalita. Masayang ngiti ni Mommy sa amin.

“Mommy kailan ka pa nanghingi ng appointments sa mga students ng WVA at lalo na sa aming dalawa?”

“Naku! Sorry mga anak. May naggagala kasi ngayon dito at mukhang naka-uniform siya.

“Ninang, you mean to say there is a culprit in the school.” Tanong ni Kenneth at si Mommy ay tumango.

“Pero, don’t mind it. Kami ng bahala at ano ang pakay ng aking anak at inaanak dito sa opisina ko?”

“Ninang gusto ko po sanang magtanong kung kailan pwedeng mamanhikan?”

Nahampas ko bigla si Kenneth. “Kenneth!”

“What? As if naman na aayaw tayo sa arrange marriage since we both know how we feel towards each other.”

“Mommy, nababaliw na si Kenneth!” I pout because I definitely know that I am blushing. Instead, na kampihan ako ng Mommy ko ay lalong kinunsinti ang kanyang inaanak. “Sige sabihin ko yan kay Kelvin para diyan.”

“Thank you, Ninang.” Ngiting sabi ni Kenneth. Hinampas ko na naman siya. “Aray! Nakakailan ka na, Kayezza!” Napatulala ako dahil unang beses niya akong tinawag sa tunay kong pangalan.

“Naku, mga kabataan nga naman. O siya, halika na kayo at mukhang hindi na naman kayo pumasok. Nga pala Kenneth, bakit ka tumakbo sa buong school?” Yun din ang pinagtatakahan ko.

“That’s Tito Kelvin’s challenge. He wants to know if I am capable of doing anything for his daughter.”

“Halos, mamatay ka na sa dehydration kanina, a!”

“I am not.”

“Oo kaya.”

-Kenneth-

Seeing her concerned face was worth to remember. I never see her like this before or I never observe her closely. I just lost an argument but it doesn’t mean that I am not okay with that. I mean, it is better to lose the argument than losing her.

“Mamamanhikan lang, a, kapag eighteen na kayo saka kayo ikakasal.” Bulong ni Ninang while we are going inside of her office

“Ninang, ji-noke ko lang si Kaye kanina. She’s so serious ever since she found out about my feelings.” Right then Ninang laughs.

“Mommy, nabaliw ka na?” Nagtatakang tanong naman ni Kayezza. I hold her hands. “Your mom is just happy. Right, Ninang?”

“O, yes,” Ngumiti na lang si Ninang. I look at the right side of Ninang’s office. This is the first time I went inside of this place because every time we came here we always been in the reception area. I look closely at one picture, it looks old picture but when I look closely at the picture it looks like me and Kayezza.

“We are just like you and Kayezza.” Nagulat ako sa biglang salita ni Ninang. “Maybe that is why we not meant for each other but we will forever be part of each other’s lives.”

“Kamukha pala kita, Mommy tapos kamukha ni Kenneth si Papa.” Masayang komento ni Kayezza.

“Yes, mataba lang ako sa iyo ng kaunti at medyo payat si Jaylord kay Kenneth noon but still kamukha niyo kami.” Masayang sabi sa amin ni Ninang at nagsimula ng magkwento si Ninang ng kanilang love story. Dad is right, they might be not for each other because if they became together that means there will be no us, their children.

As we are waiting for the bell to ring, we are roaming the school campus and people keeps on looking at us. I think there is still something that Kayezza is not telling me.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked her out of nowhere.

“Wala naman. May iniisip lang naman ako.”

“Ano yun?” She sighed and she faced me. “Kinukuha kasi ako ng ibang bansa para maging model pero ayokong iwanan sila Mommy, nasa ibang bansa na nga si Ate tapos aalis pa ako.”

“Kaye, why not model for your Mom again.” I suggest.

“Pinatigil nga ako ni Daddy dahil nga bumababa yung mga grades ko noong grades school tayo.”

“Then prove to him that you are not that irresponsible, that you will strive hard for your dreams and for your education. And I will be here for you, to help you.”

“Talaga?” She asked and I nod, then she jumps while clapping her hands. “Yey! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She’s acting like a child again.

“Kayezza!” I call her name and she stopped jumping.

“Second time mo na akong tinatawag by my name.” I smiled. “Kaye?”

“Uhm?”

I lock her hands in mine and look her in the eyes. “Can I court you?” I asked bravely. Now or never.

“No.”

“No, I cannot court you?” I asked her, maybe I hear her wrongly.

“No, Kenneth. You cannot court me.” She said and right there my world collapses into tiny pieces.