Gage's POV

Naghahanap ako ng music store para makabili ng Ukulele, pang reregalo ko kasi sa kapatid ko.

Parang si Cacey yun ah. Andito ako sa labas ng isang music store at parang nasa loob si Cacey at may kasama siyang lalaki, parehas silang nakatalikod Boyfriend kaya niya yun? Best friend? Friend? Close friend? Casual friend? Brother? Cousin? Uncle? Nephew? Grandfather? Grandson? I don't know, naka plain White shirt yung lalaki at tinitignan niya yung drum set.

"Good morning, sir, how can I help you?"

"Gage," sabi ni Cacey ng nakita niya ko.

"Hey," bati ko sa kanya, pero agad kong hinarap yung sales lady. "Do you have Ukulele?"

"Yes, sir. Kukunin ko lang po."

"You want to learn? I can teach you."

"No. It's not for me, it's for my sister. Tomorrow is her birthday."

"October 24." Yes my sister's birthday. "How old is she?" She asked.

"Turning 4 tomorrow."

"Sir, excuse me po ito na po."

Hindi ko alam kung kukunin ko ba to. Okay naman yung itsura color White siya, kaso hindi ko alam kung maganda ba yung sound.

"Gusto niyo po i test?" Tanong sa akin ng saleslady habang binibigay sa akin yung Ukulele.

I think already heard this once. Tumingala siya sa akin at nag smile Tuloy pa din siya sa pag strum at pag kanta kahit na naka tingin siya sa akin.

Kasama ba sa kanta yun or message niya sa akin? Of course it's from the song. That was before, already in the past. We used to be far away from each other every day, before.

Tumingin na ulit siya sa Ukulele.

"The sound is okay," sabi ni Cacey.

"Okay na po sir?" Tumango ako at kinuha na nung sales lady yung Ukulele.

"Wait lang ah puntahan ko lang si Bryce." Sumunod ako sa sales lady na papunta sa cashier siya naman kay Bryce na pina pack yung drum set.

"Thank you, sir." Pumunta ko kay Cacey nung naka bayad na ako. Si Bryce nagpapa alam na sa kanya.

"Okay ka na?" Tanong niya.

"Yes. Thank you nga pala kanina sa pag t test ng sound."

"Not a big deal."

"Dito ka ba bumibili ng musical instruments mo?"

"Yes. As you can see complete na yung store na to." Lumabas na kami ng store at nag lakad.

"Saan ka na pagka tapos neto?" Tanong ko.

"Sa parking, uuwi na ko."

"Sabay na tayo, pauwi na rin naman na ako," sabi ko.

"Let's go." Sumakay kami ng escalator pataas.

"Gage," tawag niya sa akin ng narating namin yung 4th floor.

"Hmm?"

"Ano name ng little sister mo?"

"Avery." Avery is only my sister from my mom, but I'm an only child with my dad. My step mom can't bear a child.

"Ang layo ng gap niyo ah. 13 years?"

"Exactly." Last year ko lang nalaman na may kapatid pala ako.

"I hope you don't mind but who's the guy wearing White shirt?" Why I am asking this question? Am I curious because I know he hate boys before and what I saw they are close or maybe something?

***

Cacey's POV

"Bryce. I told you awhile ago." Maybe he didn't hear it.

"Sorry I forgot."

"It's okay. I also have a hard time remembering names."

"Is he your boyfriend?" Diretso mag tanong ang lalaki na to ah.

"No. He is my friend, like my little brother."

He gave me a puzzled look. "He is younger than us?"

I nodded. "Yes, he is taller than me, but when you see his face it's like a 14 year old kid but he's 15." I sense something because he asked me this question, therefore, maybe. Samuela Cacey, stop assuming!

"Paano kayo nagka kilala?" See? Maybe I'm right. Maybe he wants Bryce or he want... Forget it.

"Sa hospital ko siya nakilala."

"Ano nangyari sayo?"

"My enemy is admitted there."

He gave me a puzzled look. "What? You're visiting an enemy? Just to make sure that he or she is dead?"

"I'm just joking," I said it with a sarcasm tone.

Mahirap kalaban ang sarili, may part sayo na gusto ng sumuko, matapos lang ang paghihirap, may part din sayo na ayaw mo dahil paano naman yung nagmamahal sayo.

"I'm visiting a friend, and I saw him, he's visiting a friend too." Probably his enemy too.

"I'm sorry for those questions."

"Kasi curious ka. Mind if I ask?" I smiled at him.

"Sure. I asked you some questions, it's time for you to ask me now."

"I just want you to be honest with me." His eyes got widened.

"I swear." Nag promise sign pa siya.

Hindi naman ganon ka importante yung tatanungin ko, gusto ko lang siya maka usap ng medyo matagal.

"Is that true? Big brother protect their little sister?" See? Ayaw ko naman siya tanungin kung sino gusto niya, baka sabihin niya may gusto ako sa kanya. Kung babae siya matatanong ko pa.

"In my case Avery and I are 13 years apart. Kaya kahit papaano na p protektahan ko na talaga siya."

"Paano kung dumating si Avery ng 6 years old ka pa lang?"

"I don't know. When I was in that age, I'm not really asking for a sibling."

"You want to be the center of attention?"

"It's not like that. Ako ang panganay sa aming mag pi pinsan. My cousins when they are newborn babies I find them boring, you know they sleep all the time."

"Ha-ha! So paano nga kung dumating na si Avery ng time na yun. Are you gonna protect her?"

"Maybe yes maybe no. Cacey, I cannot answer directly to your question, I didn't experience it before."

"But what if?" Why I want to talk to him?

"Kung dumating siya sa time na yun. I will only touch her cheek using my index finger, then I'll go outside to ride or to play with Sean and Jake."

"Yes, there is no direct answer in my question. But who's Jake?" Personalan na ba ang mga tanungan namin?

"Our childhood friend." I can see sadness in his eyes.

"Bakit hindi siya sa school natin nag-aaral?"

"He's at peace." He's at peace?

"Sorry." Dati hindi namin alam kung paano mag sorry sa isa't isa.

***

Gage's POV

"Anong mga instrument ang hindi mo tinutugtog?" Hindi naman porket musically inclined ka lahat ng instrument mo tutugtugin mo. Kung may talent ka sa music at kung wala kang interest hindi ka rin matuto."

"Drums, Trumpet, French Horn like that. I just know how to play Harp, Cello, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Flute."

"Saan floor naka park yung kotse mo?" tanong ko ng naka tapak na kami sa parking ng mall.

"Here, 4th floor."

"Hatid na kita."

"Huh?"

"Hatid na kita sa kotse mo."

"Sorry. Akala ko kasi.. Ano hindi ko kasi narinig kanina." Tumango ako sa sinabi niya at nag puzzled look ng naglalakad siya.

Tumigil siya sa pag lalakad "Akala ko ba hahatid mo ko?" Tumakbo ako papunta sa kanya.

"Saan banda ba naka park yung kotse mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Right side."

"Tomorrow na nga pala yung field trip natin noh?" Pag o open niya ng topic ng malapit na kami sa kotse niya.

"Oo nga eh. First time ko makaka punta sa El Nido," sabi ko.

"Same here. Pero ako sa buong Palawan talaga hindi pa nakaka punta. Ikaw ba?"

"Puerto Princesa pa lang napuntahan ko." I was in 2nd yr high school when I went there.

"Si mommy kasi puro International ang gusto puntahan, nalibot na daw niya kasi yung Pilipinas. Paano naman ako diba?" Napa smile ako sa sinabi niya, parang may pag tatampo na ewan.

"Ikaw, saan naka park kotse mo?" Binuksan niya yung kotse niya at sumakay, pero hindi pa niya sinasarado yung pinto.

"Sa 5th floor."

"Akala ko andito lang din, dapat pala hindi muna ako hinatid."

"Ingat," sabi ko at sinarado yung sasakyan niya. Naka alis na sa pagkaka park yung sasakyan niya.

Binababa niya yung window ng driver seat. "Sabihin mo kay Avery tugtugin niya sa Ukulele yung Hey Julie ng Fountains of Wayne, isa yun sa basic."

"I will."

"See you tomorrow," she smiled at nag focus na sa pag drive, hindi niya sinarado yung bintana niya.

Hinintay ko muna siya kumaliwa papuntang exit. Nag wave pa kami sa isa't isa, ng hindi ko na nakikita yung kotse niya, umakyat na ko sa 5th floor.