Kabanata 1

"At first, I thought it was cliché to think that you'll like reading books because of your glasses..." he decided to grab my glasses from my face and gently remove it.

"Give it back po," I asked politely but he decided to put it on himself. My face immediately crumpled. May grado ang salamin ko.

Nanglalaki ang mga mata niya at agad itong tinanggal.

"What the heck, mas naging malabo pang maging tayo nito."

He pinched the bridge of his nose as he gives back the glasses.

"May grado po kasi, sorry po."

"Anyway, wanna see the library?"

I was hesitating but I wanted to see it too. Books are the easiest way to bait me to do something.

He grinned as he lead the way to a storage-like room. Walang tao rito dahil maalikabok at tanging si Iscalade lamang 'yata ang nakakaalam nito.

"How did you know this place po? Dito ka po ba nakatira?"

I removed the tiny webs blocking our path.

"Andria and I used to be super close," he answered and cleared his throat.

"You must be still friends because she invited you..." I commented, not trying to make things awkward.

"Well, not exactly..." he grimaced before pulling a box under a small table.

"This is it? Mini library?"

I was disappointed but not surprise. I couldn't peg Andria as the reading type so I wasn't expecting anything.

"Library is equal to books, right?" he looks confused.

I sighed. "Just give it to me po."

I thought I'll just check it out but a few minutes later, I was already too preoccupied with the books he found.

Hindi ko na ito tinigilan hanggang si Iscalade na mismo ang tumapik sa akin.

"Saglit lang, last chapter na po..."

"Philo..." he called my name softly.

"Last chapter na talaga, promise po..."

"Philo, ano kasi..."

"Last chapter po," I turned to him and hinted that I was losing my patience. I'm just trying to know the ending! Sandali na lang talaga ito.

He raised both of his hands and mouthed "okay". He waited for me to finish the book and he was just there silently looking at me.

Nang matapos na ako sa binabasa ko ay lumingon ako sa kanya. That was a good ending. I'll probably give it three stars on goodreads.

"Ano po ba 'yon?" I asked.

He cheekily grinned as he rubbed his nape and pointed towards my phone.

452 messages from Mommy.

My lips pressed into a thin line.

Oh no.

"I'm doomed," I lamented, eyes casting downwards. "Papagalitan po ako nito."

"Sorry, pero ilang oras ka lang naman nagbasa e. Ang bilis mo ngang magbasa." Iscalade says, trying to lift up my mood.

"Hindi ko po kasi nasagot 'yung mga messages niya, I turned my notifications off because I was afraid it will disturb the party..." I was trying not to panic. Kasalanan ko naman kung mapapagalitan ako. If only I listened to Iscalade...

Philomena:

Pasundo na po.

Mommy:

Bakit ngayon ka lang sumagot?

Did you know how worried we were?

Kaya hindi kita pinapayagan umalis ng bahay, Philomena. You're still immature and childish.

All you have to do was answer the messages. Sobrang hirap ba no'n?

Umuwi ka na. Di ka na ulit makakaulit ng labas.

Philomena:

Sorry po, Mommy.

Hindi na po mauulit.

Uuwi na po ako.

My eyes were misty as I replied back to my Mother. Hindi ko matanggap na galit siya sa akin ngayon. I feel like disappointing her means I failed as her daughter. Ako na nga lang ang anak niya, sama pa ng loob ang binibigay ko sa kanya. It makes me feel awful and cruel.

"Are you okay? Ganyan ba ka-strict parents mo?" nagaalalang tanong ni Iscalade, he even gently removed my glasses for me. Agad ko naman pinunasan ang papatak na luha sa aking mata.

"Okay lang po, kasalanan ko naman. Nalulungkot lang po ako dahil nagalit 'yung Mommy ko dahil sa akin."

"Hindi naman siguro siya galit. Nagaalala lang din siguro siya kaya gano'n reaksyon niya." He patted me on my head. "Bakit naman magagalit sa 'yo? Sobrang cute mo kaya."

"T-thank you po pero di ko po makita 'yung k-koneksyon," nahihiyang tugon ko. I was not immune to compliments.

"Cute talaga." He chuckled. "Bakit ka ba nandito? No offense, but this is the first time I saw you so I'm assuming this is your first house party?"

I nodded slowly, confirming his initial thought.

"Pinapunta po kasi ako ng parents ko..."

"Huh? Tapos minamadali kang umuwi?" his lips parted while putting his arms across his chest.

Tumango naman ako.

"Woah, sangkap ng adobo." He commented, nibbling his lower lip.

"Ano po?"

"May toyo." Halakhak niya. "Bakit ka naman nila pinapunta kung ganoon lang din pala?"

I hesitated and pout when he secretly dissed my parents, I don't know if I should answer him truthfully. Ayoko naman maging masama ang tingin sa magulang ko.

"They want me to be friends with Andria..." I answered shortly.

"Ah, gano'n ba?" he nodded his head. "So, kung naging mag-kaibigan kayo ni Andria sa tingin mo mababawasan ang galit ng Mommy mo sa'yo?"

I shook my head. I don't know.

Hinintay ko na lamang ang sundo ko sa harap ng bahay nila Andria, the crickets were already making stridulating noises as some of the cars pass by.

Tahimik na rin ang paligid dahil tapos naman na ang party at halos nagliligpitan na. I could have help but I'm too nervous for my Mom's reaction. Hindi niya ito palalagpasin.

Ang kalat pa naman. The front lawn was a mess, red cups and bottles of drinks were scattered on the ground. Tumingin ako sa katabi ko, Iscalade accompanied me but he was texting on his phone.

A black sedan stopped on our side. Agad naman akong kinabahan nang ibaba ang side window nito at bumungad sa akin si Mommy na masama ang timpla ng mukha.

"Philomena Gracia," she called me sharply. "Pumasok ka na."

I nodded obediently. Bumaling ako kay Iscalade upang magpaalam pero nagulat ako nang may paparating na babae sa'min.

It was Andria. She was waving at us with a playful grin on her face.

"Philo! Grabe, thank you for attending!" she hugged me tightly. Nagulat naman ako sa biglaang aksyon niya.

Agad siyang kumalas at lumapit sa bintana ng kotse namin. My Mom widened her eyes when Andria went towards her direction.

"Tita! Thank you po dahil pinayagan niyo si Philo, ah? My birthday was super good because of her. I'll surely tell my Mom to invite you in our gatherings so I can have more time with Philo." Andria kept on spouting lies after lies. She was convincing my Mom that I made her birthday party a blast.

But all I did was read a book on her hidden library. I felt guilty because she was covering up for me.

How did I make things fun for her? Wala nga akong ginawa.

"Is that so? Huwag ka magalala, Hija. Palagi ko naman pinapayagan si Philo." My Mom smiled at Andria and even casted me a glance. This time, she no longer look angry.

"Bye, Philo! Thank you ulit!" she kissed me on my cheek again. Agad naman akong tumango sa kanya.

I walked towards the car and opened the door. Lumingon ako kay Iscalade at kitang nakangiti lang siya sa akin. He was waving his hands as a sign of goodbye.

"T-thank you po," I timidly mouthed at him.

"Ingat ka po," he softly replied while flashing me a small smile.

I was already inside the car when I saw Andria and Iscalade talking to each other. Nagtatawanan silang dalawa at para ngang close talaga sila. Unti-unti na silang nawala sa paningin ko dahil palayo na nang palayo ang distansya namin.

"I'm glad you made friends with Andria. Pero sa susunod na hindi mo sagutin ang mga mensahe ko, Philomena Gracia. I will surely ground you." My Mommy warned when we're near our home.

"Yes po. Hindi na po mauulit. Sorry po ulit, Mommy." I apologized with utmost sincerity.

That was the first night I met Iscalade and I didn't notice how he kept on appearing on my daily life after that encounter.

I fished out my phone and saw a notification on my account on Facebook.

Iscalade Altreano sent you a friend request.

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