Chapter 6

“Bye! Happy vacation. See you next year!” I shook my head because of what Shane stated.

“Umalis ka na nga. Babush!” then I waved my hand at her. Nagflying kiss pa ito sa akin dahilan para mapailing ako.

Today’s our last day in school. Christmas vacation na kasi. Kaninang umaga, nagkaroon kami ng christmas party. We did exchange gifts with my classmates. Then we also organized some games and we had boodle fight for our lunch. Kahit papaano ay naging masaya naman kami bago kami naghiwa-hiwalay.

Entering the car, Uncle Danny then drove me at home.

The whole vacation, aside from watching KDrama series, browsing in my social media accounts, watching YouTube videos and reading some novels, wala na yata akong ibang ginawa.

We didn’t had a vacation out of town nor outside the country. Doon lamang kami sa bahay namalagi but it made me happy somehow. Hindi kasi nag-entertain ng clients ang parents ko for their holiday break. Definitely, all we did was to have a bonding kasama na iyong maids at driver namin.

I felt like those not so good memories I had in this year were covered by the experiences I had with my family because of this Christmas and New Year. Pakiramdam ko ay bumalik ulit iyong dating relasyon na mayroon ako sa pamilya ko. And I’m really hoping that it will continue this way.

Second week of January when our classes for second semester resumed and we became busier this time. Our adviser informed us beforehand about our research and kailangan talaga namin iyong paghandaan, but before that, we need to focus first in our midterms and finals dahil nalalapit na rin ang mga iyon.

“Hey,” nahinto kami sa paglalakad ni Shane nang biglang bumungad si Aldridge sa harapan namin.

“Hey, kumusta bakasyon?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Okay lang. I hope same goes with you guys,” he replied.

“Yeah, we are,” nakangiting tugon ni Shane habang ako ay tango lamang ang naging sagot ko.

Nakwento kasi sa akin ni Shane na sa United States nila ipinagdiwang ‘yung Christmas at New Year nila. She’s a Fil-Am and she told me that her grandfather wanted to see them that’s why they flew abroad. Besides, her photos in instagram are the proofs that she really enjoyed her holiday break.

“Up for lunch?” tanong sa amin ni Aldridge habang nakikisabay na ito ngayon sa amin sa paglalakad. Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit mahilig makisabay ang lalaking ito sa amin.

“Uh, Meg, hindi pala muna kita masasamahan ngayon. Shienna texted me,” biglang singit ni Shane bago ko pa masagot ang tanong ni Aldridge kanina.

“Akala ko kumakain na siya?” kunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya.

Shienna is her little sister. Saka iyon kasi ang sabi niya kanina, na kumakain na raw ang kapatid niya. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit biglang nag-iba ang desisyon nito.

“Yeah, but... alam mo naman ‘yon,” she added. Napatango na lamang ako at hindi na nagtanong pa. Knowing Shienna’s condition, siguro nga ay mas okay na kasama siya ng kapatid niya kaysa naman sa mapag-isa lang iyon.

“Kita na lang tayo mamaya sa room,” Shane waved her hand before walking away from us but before she did that, she secretly pinched me on my waist. Hindi ko alam kung para saan iyon. Nang kumaway ulit ito sa amin habang palayo na siya, I just did the same thing.

Aldridge and I looked for a table when we arrived at the cafeteria. Nang may mahanap kami, sinabi nitong siya na lang daw ang o-order. Sinabi ko na lang sa kanya kung anong pagkain ang gusto kong kainin.

“Uy, Meg, wala kang kasama? Nasaan si Shane?” Adrienne and Jasmine, my classmates stopped near my spot. Curiosity was written on their faces when they saw me alone on that table.

“She’s with her sister.”

“So, ikaw lang mag-isa?” matapos magtanong ng mga ito, eksakto namang dumating si Aldridge bitbit iyong mga inorder niya. “Ah, EIM ang nais kasama,” pasipol na dagdag ng mga ito at hindi ko mawari kung bakit may bahid ng pang-aasar sa kanilang tono.

“Why don’t you join us?” I offered to them. Aldridge then sat in front of me.

“Thanks Meg, but we already took our lunch. Happy eating na lang sa inyo!” Binigyan pa nila ako ng malaking ngiti saka sila tumalikod sa amin.

When they left, tahimik lamang kami ni Aldridge habang kumakain. Pagkatapos noon ay nauna itong umalis dahil 12:30 daw ang sunod nilang klase samantalang sa amin ay ala-una pa.

Shane also texted me. Tinatanong niya ako kung nasaan ako. When I told her na nakatambay pa ako rito sa cafeteria, balak sana niyang pumunta rito pero kako ay ako na lang ang pupunta sa kanya kaysa naman sa madodoble pa ang pagod niya.

Attending our subjects for afternoon class, our teachers introduced us our new lessons. Ang iba naman ay ipinagpatuloy namin iyong topic noong nakaraan.

In the middle of our class discussion in Biology, there was an announcement made. It is an urgent meeting for all SHS faculty that’s why they dismissed us early, that was around 3 in the afternoon.

Naunang umuwi si Shane kaysa akin samantalang ako ay nanatili lang muna sa campus. Habang naglalakad ako ay nakita ko ang ilan sa mga kapwa ko mag-aaral na papunta sila roon sa sport’s area kaya naman ay sinundan ko sila. Pagkarating doon, nakita kong may mga naglalaro sa gitna ng soccer field.

Busy looking for some spot so I could watch them, buti na lang ay may nakita akong space doon sa lilim ng puno kung saan maraming estudyanteng nakaupo at doon ako pumwesto.

Wala naman ng sports fest na magaganap this year kasi around ber months ang sports fest namin but I guess, instead of going straight at home, these students decided to play for the mean dahil alas tres pa lang naman ng hapon.

Some even cheered, even me. Hindi naman problema kung maingay kami dahil medyo may kalayuan naman itong sport’s area sa mismong classrooms. Definitely, hindi naman kami makakaistorbo lalo na sa mga junior high school.

While watching, the screams get louder especially when one of the members staying at the left group scored. Noong mapaharap nang bahagya iyong player sa may direksyon namin, hindi ko aakalaing si Aldridge iyon. I didn’t know he could play. I mean, I didn’t know he was this good in playing soccer.

Napaupo ito sa may damuhan saka siya napatungo sa kanyang paanan. Even though he’s far from me, I saw how he held his head and he slightly massaged it. Gawa siguro iyon ng pagod. Unexpectedly, when he faced my direksyon, eksaktong nakita ako nito.

“Marunong ka pa lang maglaro,” I told him. We are now walking outside the gate.

After resting a bit earlier, ipinagpatuloy ng mga ito ang paglalaro. Natapos sila eksaktong dismissal na ng mga junior students. And yeah, Aldridge came on me that’s why sabay kami sa paglalakad ngayon.

“I used to play before,” saad nito. I don’t know why I sensed a bitterness in his voice but I didn’t ask him anymore.

Habang naglalakad kami, bigla itong nawalan ng balanse sa kanyang sarili. Mabuti na lamang at kaagad ko siyang nahawakan. “Are you okay?” nag-aalala kong tanong sa kanya.

Napahawak ito sa kanyang ulo saka niya ako tinanguan. “My head hurts a little. Maybe I’m just tired,” he responded, wearing a small smile on his face.

Nakatayo lamang kami ng ilang minuto roon. Noong medyo umayos na ang lagay niya ay saka kami nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

When we reached the parking space for students, Aldridge unlocked his bike before taking it. May sariling parking space kasi ang mga students dito, be it bicycle, single motor or car basta may student’s license sila.

Nang makuha nito ang kanyang bisikleta, hindi ko alam kung paano kong napapayag si Aldridge na ako muna ang magbike at siya naman iyong aangkas sa may likod. He just gave me his uniform coat to cover my thighs while biking.

I can’t even stop from laughing whenever he scolded me because I kept increasing my cycling speed. Sa huli ay hininaan ko rin dahil baka mabangga pa kami nang wala sa oras.

When we reached our village, the guard immediately opened the gate at ipinagpatuloy ko iyon hanggang sa makarating ako sa harap ng bahay.

“Heto na bike mo. Salamat!”

“Abuso ka na masyado sa bike ko,” I heard Aldridge lodged a complain.

“Oo na. I might bring my bike next time,” natatawa kong sambit sa kanya.

Nang sumampa ito sa kanyang bike, I just waved at him. Sinundan ko pa siya ng tingin hanggang sa lumiko ito at mawala nang tuluyan sa paningin ko.

When he’s gone, I swung my head at the back and entered the gate. Nang makarating ako sa main door, noon ko lang napansing nakasandal patagilid si Ate Trixie doon sa may frame ng main door. Her brows arched when our eyes met then she turned her back at me, walking straight at the living room. I sighed deeply before following her inside.

“Is that guy courting you, Megan? Why don’t you just focus on your studies? Istorbo lang ‘yan sa pag-aaral mo.” Natigil ako sa paglalakad nang sabihin iyon ng Mom ko. Hindi ito nakatingin sa akin. Her eyes were only focus on her laptop but her voice sounded mad.

Bagsak ang dalawang balikat na napabuntong hininga ako. I’m certain that Ate Trixie reported what she saw to my parents.

“Mom, kaibigan ko po si Aldridge. Huwag niyo naman po sana siyang pag-isipan ng masama,” I defended in a low tone.

I don’t want them to think badly about him. Pati sa pagkakaroon ng kaibigan, am I not allowed to make friends now?

“You’re now talking back at me?” Mom’s voice raised and that’s the only time she faced me.

“Sorry po,” mahina kong sagot.

Before I could go upstairs, I saw Ate Trixie smirked at me. Nakakrus pa ang mga kamay nito saka niya ako tinaasan ng kilay. My parents, on the other hand were still busy in front of their own laptops. Not wanting to entertain my sister’s petty nonverbal squabble, hinayaan ko na lang siya at nagpatuloy na lang ako sa taas.

Gano’n naman lagi. One of the reasons why my parents hated me more is because of Ate Trixie. When she has a chance, she does unnecessary scenes just to make my parents get mad at me and yet, they did not know that it was all my sister’s doings.

Sa totoo lang, hindi lang naman sa loob ng klase mahirap kalabanin ang favoritism. Minsan, sa pamilya mo mismo. At mahirap pantayan si Ate Trixie dahil siya iyong paborito.

Isang linggo na naman ang lumipas simula noong bumalik kami sa school. Kapag marami ka talagang ginagawa, hindi mo mamamalayan ang mabilis na paglipas ng oras.

Hapon noon ay naisipan kong ilabas ‘yung bike ko. I haven’t had the chance to use this for quite a long time. Maybe this is the right time for me to use it again.

Paikot-ikot lang ako sa loob ng village until I decided to go outside its vicinity. Pagkalabas ko mismo sa gate ng village, I didn’t expect that I could see Aldridge. Katulad ng madalas nitong ginagawa ay nagbabike ulit siya.

“Aldridge!” tawag ko sa kanya dahilan para mapahinto ito sa may right side walk. Gamit ang bike, pinuntahan ko ito. “Bakit ka napadpad dito?”

“I lived in the next village.”

“What?” I immediately pressed the break of my bike. “You lived in the next village?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kanya. When he nodded at me, mabilis ko itong hinampas. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t ask me.”

“Bwisit ka talaga!” and I managed to hit him again. Malakas na tawa lamang ang ginawa nito.

It’s just that he had brought me home twice yet he didn’t even tell me that he just lived nearby. Tapos ang dahilan niya lagi ay hindi raw ako nagtatanong. Ang sarap talagang kutusin ng lalaking ‘to.

Habang sabay na nagbibisikleta ay nagkekwentuhan kami ng lalaking ito. He shared me about his studies and his family. Ako naman ay puro tungkol lang sa akin ang ikinukwento ko sa kanya. Until we reached that bridge again.

Both of us got off from our bike. Binitbit namin ito nang pataas at isinandal namin sa gilid ng tulay, sa may gutter nito. Then we leaned on the bridge’s railings. Nakapatong pa ang dalawa naming siko roon habang pinagmamasdan iyong tubig sa baba.

“Ang hilig mong magbike kapag hapon ‘no?”

Aldridge nodded. “It’s my exercise and I really love biking.”

Bahagya kaming sinakop ng katahimikan matapos ng usapang iyon. Having a sightseeing across the bridge, the wind touches our skins, giving us a calm feeling.

“How are you, Meg?” I was stunned for a bit when he asked me that. I’m not used to being asked with that question that’s why I felt an unfamiliar emotion for some reason.

“I’m fine I guess,” I answered, shifting my gaze on him. He was comfortably leaning sideways and he’s facing my direction. “Thanks for asking,” I resumed, small smile was pasted on my face.

Ibinalik ulit nito ang tingin niya sa may dagat. Maya-maya pa ay umalis siya sa kanyang pwesto while I stayed still in my spot. Minutes after, I was stoned at my spot when I felt something cold on my neck.

“Just stay still,” with soft voice, I heard him say that at my back. I looked below my neck and I saw this gold pendant. With circle shape, inside of it were like six petals and there were also six white stones in the middle of it.

“Aldridge...” uttering his name softly, I couldn’t find the right words to continue my sentence.

“I saw it being displayed in a jewelry shop. I found it beautiful and I was reminded of you that’s why I bought it,” holding me on both of my shoulders, pinaharap niya ako sa kanya. Ngayon ay nakatingin na siya sa kwintas na suot-suot ko na. “It’s pretty. It suits perfectly on you. Consider that as my late Christmas gift,” saka ako nito binigyan ng malaking ngiti.

My eyes were only fixated on him. Receiving lot of gifts is not new to me, but receiving something especially for a person whom I only knew for quite some time made feel in awe.

I fished my phone out of my short’s pocket. Mula sa screen nito ay tinignan ko iyong repleksyon ko. “Ang ganda,” I touched it softly. “Hindi mo ako sinabihan na may pa-gift ka pala, edi sana, binilhan din kita,” mahina ko siyang hinampas.

“You don’t need to give me gifts just because I gave you one. Seeing you smile because of it is already enough for me,” muli na naman siyang ngumiti sa akin.

“Halika nga! Picture na lang tayo. ‘Yon na lang gift ko sa’yo,” I joked, then I pulled him beside me. Hindi naman siya nagreklamo.

Done fixing ourselves, as I clicked the camera shot, Aldridge and I smiled from ear to ear.