Kabanata 14

PETER

Nagmamadali akong iuwi si Ri. Baka mapagalitan pa siya sa pamilya nya. Alas siyete na ng gabi ng nakauwi na siya sa kanila. She thanked me for bringing her and now she wants to do it again. I was shocked at what she said about us going back to that place. Maybe it reminded her of her home? But I wanted to be a good friend to her.

She comforted me when we were in the bay area. She was the only girl who praised me for being just a simple hard-working boy. I know na common yan sa mga ibang tao pero nung nanggaling sa kay Ri, gumaan ang loob ko ng kaunti.

I smiled at I parked the bike sa may harap ng bahay-kubo. Nakita ko si Manang na nanabako.

"Hijo, may pagkain nang nakahanda doon. Nandito na rin si Juan bago palang dumating galing sa trabaho." Sabi ni Manang. Nagmano pa ako sa kanya tapos ay pumasok na sa loob.

"Bro! Ayos ba yung date niyo ni Ri?" Sabi ni Juan na nakangiti ng nakakaloko.

Tumawa ako, "Di yun date. Gusto kasi niyang magpapahangin sa tabing dagat."

"Weh? Hindi ka naman ganyan noon sa kay Kelsie at sa ibang babae ah."

"Tinulungan ko lang yung kaibigan natin. Just doing her a favor."

Juan teased me for a bit until he felt hungry. Nag-aya pa siya sa akin na kumain pero nagpaalam akong magbihis sa kwarto ko.

Nagmamadali akong magbihis sa silid para makakain na. Pumunta na ako sa baba ng nakita ko si Manang na nakaupo sa hapag.

"Hijo, hindi ako makapaniwala na may girlfriend ka na pala." Maligayang sabi ni Manang sa akin.

Tumigil ako sa paglakakad patungo sa hapag at tinitigan ng masama si Juan. "Anong sinabi mo kay Manang?"

"Nagtanong siya ay sumagot ako. Nakipagkita ka sa kaibigan mong babae."

"Ay, kaibigan pala yun? Akala ko kai-bigan." Sabi pa niya sabay tawa.

Uminit yung pisngi ko sa sinabi ni Manang. "Wala akong girlfriend Manang. Isa yung sa barkada namin ni Juan."

"Oo, na crush na crush mo." Masigkang tawa ni Juan sa akin. Tinitigan ako ni Manang, nag-aasar rin.

"Hindi ko gusto si Ri."

"Weh? Kita sa mukha mong mamula-mula eh." Tumawa ulit si Juan.

"Maganda naman si Ri." Pagkasabi ko nun ay patuloy lang ako sa pagkain.

Tumigil sila sa kakatawa, realizing that what they're doing is somewhat wrong at nakita nila yung inis ko.

Tumayo si Manang at nilapitan ako. "Hijo, lahat ng lalaki magkakaroon ng gusto sa iisang babae. Pwede rin marami-rami, pero yung sinasabi mong hindi ko siya tipo? Kalokohan. Nakita nga kitang namumula at ngumingiti ng maliit kada asar namin sa iyo."

I will say that Ri is beautiful. After the months of spending time with her, I grew fond of her presence. If she's not there, I would worry about her like a brother and a little sister. I only see it as a platonic relationship.

May sasabihin sana ako kay Manang but she stopped me. "Bata ka pa, pero may mga nararamdaman ka rin. May oras na tumitibok yung puso mo na hindi mo maintindihan. Pero alam na alam mo sa kaloob-looban mo na masaya ka kasama yung taong iyon."

Nagpaalam na si Manang na matutulog siya ng maaga kaya kami nalang ni Juan ang naiwan dito sa hapag.

"Bro, napagsabihan ka sa matatanda na huwag kang maging manhid."

"What?!" I said in a tone of annoyance and anger.

"Bro.. basta kaya mo na yan maintindihan yung mga pinagsasabi mo kay manang."

Juan said and then continued to eat. I sat across from him and started to eat. I then checked my phone for some messages. As always, my co-workers at the hotel would tell me about my work and evaluate everything that I did. Then I saw a text from Ri. Without hesitation, I checked what she wrote.

From: Maria

Thanks again Pete. I'm happy that I got to spend some time alone with a friend.

I smiled, I then texted a short message to her.

To: Maria

You're welcome. I hope you had fun.

As I sent the text, I then looked at Juan and he was just smirking like a hyena.

"Hindi pala gusto eh."

Tumawa si Juan.

"Alam mo, okay naman sa akin na mag secret ka. Pero alam mo naman, mag-tol tayo rito eh. Brothers by choice tayo. Huwag kang mahiya sa akin."

I just continued eating just to ignore his presence and his nosy self. I then noticed my phone vibrate and I saw Ri's text.

From Ri:

Yeah, good thing I got home early. I forgot that my mom was teaching me and my sister the Tagalog and Cebuano dialects. Gtg, mom wants me to concentrate.

I just replied with a smiley face and words with "you can do it" just for her to be encouraged to learn our dialect.

Pagkatapos kong kumain ay naghugas ako tsaka na nag-aaral para sa test namin for Business and Management topic.

As I was studying, I then pictured the view of the bay inside my head. It's like a euphoric feeling that is building up inside of me. Seeing the waves crash on the large rocks surrounding the bay and the smell of the fresh, salty sea breeze brushing against your face and body. I closed my eyes remembering the times I spent with my family when we go to the beach. The smiles, the waves of laughter, it's all coming back again. The feeling was fleeting and the touch of those memories lived on inside my head.

I then opened my eyes. It felt so surreal. What pains me the most is remembering those things that made me wish to visit the past. But then, I remember Ri, her smile and pretty face. It made me calm to see her and hear her every day. Talking with her was limited since she was more close to Kelsie.

After school hours, we would hang out at the kiosk and just laugh at Juan making fun of Kelsie. Ri would be silent for dead minutes, but Kelsie would make her talk by just training her to speak tagalog or bisaya. She was confused but after time she got the hang of learning and talking straight.

When I have the extra time to go to the library, Ri would then approach me and study with me.

"Alam mo, this is the best time that I have. Well, I also have fun with Kelsie but right here, it's quieter." She explained, trying not to sound bad.

I nodded in response. Then she would ask about my day and she also shares with me about all her worries in this school. We laughed and the library assistants would order us to keep our voices down.

Just as I thought that this platonic relationship would never grow, it outgrew and made me infatuated.

Pumunta ako sa silid ni Juan. I saw him with his books open at the table while he was busy typing some things on his phone. I knocked on his door and entered.

"Bro? Di kana galit? Bati na tayo?"

"Nag-away ba tayo?" I asked.

"Eh kasi noon nung nasa kusina, nagalit ka sa akin dahil sa pagtutukso ko sa inyo ni Ri."

I scuffled my hair in frustration, "Hindi ako galit, just annoyed."

"Pareho lang yun gago."

I fell silent for a second and then said, "May sasabihin sana ako kaso gago pala ako."

As I was about to leave his room, he then grabbed hold of my wrist. "Ano yun?"

I shook my head in dismay, "Ayoko na."

I heard him scoff. "Asus, para ka namang bata kung magtampo. Legit ba yan?"

"Parang may nagugustuhan ako." Sabi ko sa kanya. "Pero hindi ako sure eh, parang may mali."

"Anong hindi sure? Sure na yan! Kita ngayon sa mukha mo eh ang pula."

Fuck, now I feel more embarrassed in front of Juan right now.

"Huwag na, mag-aaral pa tayo. Tutor kita?"

"Walang bayad, okay na."

I nodded, "Sure, basta't hindi mo ako aasarin kay Ri."

When I left his room to get my books, I heard him whisper, "Ano ba yan, di straight to the point yung buang."

"Ano?"

"Ah, wala. Sige na at turuan mo ako."

I handed him the notes and discussed everything from start to finish, just to distract my mind from where it landed off.