Chapter 4: Dante

When I got home, my cute, chubby, and bubbly cousin greeted me with her cherubic smile. She jumped towards me seemed like she wanted me to carry her.

"Ikaw talaga Thea-Kulit-Taba," asar ko sa kanya.

I hoist her up on my arms and kissed her perky cheeks. She's Theodora, my eight-year-old cousin from my mother's side and the only daughter of my auntie, Rizza. Tita Rizza had a hard time getting pregnant which became the reason that they stopped trying to have another baby after having Theodora. Naging kontento na lang sila tita na isa lang ang kanilang anak. Kumbaga, siya ang unica hija at pinakamamahal ng pamilya.

And, I love her, like how a brother should love her sister. I never had a sister before, until I met her.

She wiped her cheeks with utter disgust. "Na-miss ko ang cute-cute kong pinsan."

"Kuya naman eh! kashdiri. Ewwww," she replied with a sign of revulsion. 

She wiggled on my arms, wanting to let loose on my tight grip. I chuckled, pinched her cheeks, and let her down. "Arrrrayyyshh. Machakit Kutya!" She screeched and ran away towards her dad.

"Papa oh!" Tinuro ni Thea ang kanyang pisngi sa kanyang tatay, "Si Kutya po. Namumula na tuloy pishngi ko." Turo niya sa mataba niyang pisngi na namumula.

I went to greet Tito Ronaldo, the husband of my auntie, who is currently watching TV. "Oi, Dante, nandito ka na pala. Mukhang nadadalas na ang pag-uwi mo ng gabi," he reminded me. 

He's older than his wife, Auntie Rizza. Tito Ronaldo works in a full-time office job in the government as a supervisor. Ngunit kahit malayo man ang agwat nila, makikita pa rin ang pagmamahal nila sa isa't-isa at kahit nag-iisa lang ang kanilang anak.

Correcting his daughter, Thea, he said,"Kuya hindi kutya," 

When I came here from States, he treated me like I am part of this family, just like what Auntie Rizza did. And because of that, I quickly adjusted living here in the Philippines.

"Late na po kasi natapos ang practice namin," sagot ko sa kanya, sabay kulit kay Thea na nakaupo at nakasandal kay Uncle Ronaldo.

"Ah ganun ba...Kailan ang laban niyo?" tanong niya habang nakadikit ang kanyang mata sa kanyang pinapanood.

"Pagkatapos po ng linggong ito. Akyat na po ako."

Tumungo siya sa akin, habang hawak ang pinsan ko na nakaupo sa kanyang binti.

"Sige, sige."

I patted my cousin's hair and pinched her cheeks again. She then squeaked as quickly got off from her father's grasps. Thea ran towards her mom, my auntie, and hugged her backside, crying.

"Ay tsss. Wag mo na kasing kulitin, Dante," sigaw ng tita ko na nasa kusina. "Hayaan mo na ang Kuya Dante mo anak, namiss ka lang niyan. Oh, umupo ka na at kakain na tayo", bilin ni tita kay Thea. Ngumiti ako sa kanila at naglakad papunta ng hagdan.

Pagkatapos nito, hindi na ako sumagot at dumertso paakyat sa aking kwarto at nagbihis.

*************************

After we ate our dinner, I head towards my room and slumped my back on the duvet of my bed. I turned around and grabbed my phone, looking at the compiled overseas miscalls from its screen. I bolstered up, leaning my back on the headboard, and stared at the unanswered calls from my mom. Then, I pressed the button on my screen to call her via overseas. 

Malakas na tunog ng musika ang narinig ko sa kabilang linya, "Hello Nak, Hindi ka sumasagot kanina. Kamusta ka na?" tanong niya siya akin.

"Nasa baba po ako kanina. Kumakain po," I stingily replied. 

"Ah ganun ba? Oh, How are you na, 'nak? How's your school?" she asked again, while I heard an indistinct voice on the background, shouting her name.

It must be her new boyfriend.

I shrugged. "It's fine. Okay naman. Ganun pa rin," I replied sparingly.

"Ah anak, tumawag ako kasi dito si tita bella, ang anak niya varsity scholar sa university. Ngayon naisip ko na since varsity ka naman diyan sa school, baka makakuha ka ng scholarship sa university dito. Magpapatulong tayo sa tita bella mo kung ano-ano ang mga processo para makapasok ka..." Napatigil si mama nang makarinig siya ng malakas na boses sa likod nito.

"Teka lang 'nak ah.” Napatigil siya sandal. “Could you wait for a minute? I'm talking to my son!" sumigaw si mama. Narindi ako kaya bahagya kong nilayo ang telepono sa aking tenga.

I deliberately sighed, "Ma, it's okay. Go do whatever you need to do. I can call you tomorrow. Besides, I have to go to sleep--" she cut me off and then continued speaking. I put away the phone on my ears and let her rambles, ignoring her musings for a while.

Mukhang hindi nakuha ni mama ang sinabi ko at nagpatuloy pa rin siya sa pagtatanong, "Ayun nga anak? So what do you think?"

I sighed again, "Its alright I guess."

"But the thing is kailangan dapat mataas ang mga grades mo," dagdag niya. Narining ko na parang may kinukuha siyang bagay. "Kamusta na nga pala grades mo, nak?"

I gulped, "I-It's alright?"

"'Nak, kailangan mong pag-igihan para maayos ang pagpunta mo dito, ha," she informed me.

I nodded, "Yup, I got it."

I heard a thud sound from the other line. "O, nak may gagawin pa ako ah, tawagan na lang kita ulit. Bye, I love you. Ingat ka riyan palagi at huwag kang pasaway sa tita mo," sinabi niya.

"Yes, ma," sagot ko.

Kaagad kong binaba ko na ang telepono nang pinutol ni mama ang linya. Humiga ako sa kama, at natulog.

***************************

Its our last subject for today. After this, I'll be heading to the gym to practice for our upcoming competition against Ridgeson Highschool. Napasalumbaba ako sa aking lamesa, antok at bored na bored habang nag-le-lecture ng math si Mr. Gomez.

I turned around and noticed my other classmates who are also itching their way to go home. Meanwhile, in front of me, I saw Carlos, Kevin, and Rafael watching porn under their seats, hiding inside their bags. 

Mga gago talaga. I chuckled. 

Hindi ko sila pinansan at binaling ko na lang ang tingin ko sa labas na nakatitig sa labas habang pinagmamasdan ang pagbuhos ng ulan.

After what happened yesterday, the rain continued the next day. Naalala ko na kay Elena ang payong ko. So, how will I go home? I asked myself.

While my math teacher continued his lecture, I looked at the window as the rain continued to pour down rapidly.

I’m still a bit sleepy from last night. Not that I didn't have enough sleep, I just didn't have proper sleep, I guess. For such reason, I didn't have a proper sleep since that day. I was about to lean on my table when my teacher called me to do the exercise on board. I looked at it, tried to figure it out, and headed towards the board.

Pagkatapos kong sagutan ang problem sa black board, narinig ko ang pangungutya ni Mr. Gomez. "Buti naman kahit hindi ka nakinig, nakakasagot ka pa rin Mr. Gillesania. Kung nakakasagot ka gaya nang ganyan sa exams mo."

I shrugged and asked him a question to change the subject, "Sir, may I go out?"

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Yes, you may go."

I went out of the room to head towards the bathroom. As soon as I got out, I was surprised to see Elena in front of me. Napalingon ako sa buong corridor at nagbaka-sakali na ibang tao ang pakay ni Elena, subalit, walang ibang tao sa hallway, kun'di kaming dalawa lang.

I raised my eyebrows. 

"Ano 'yon?" Hindi siya umimik.

When I saw my umbrella in her hands, I understood why she was here with me.  

"Wag mo munang ibalik."

Tumango siya habang mahigpit niyang hawak ang aking payong. 

"Thank you, pero ibabalik ko na ito sa iyo."

She gave back the umbrella, but I declined. "Sa iyo muna, hangga't mawala ang ulan."

Elena shook her head. "May payong na akong dala."

I pushed the umbrella back to her. "Sa'yo na lang baka kailanganin mo pa." Ipinasok ko ang aking kamay sa loob ng aking bulsa. 

"Hindi na. Ibabalik ko na sa iyo ito. Baka wala kang payong," she thriftily replied. 

However, before I gave her back the umbrella, she quickly turned around heading towards her classroom. I ran towards her and as soon as I was near to where she was, I grabbed her hand. I felt her surprised. She then turned around and shot me with disdain and a confused look.  

I averted my gaze as I held the umbrella in my hand. "Sa'yo na lang, may payong pa ako," I told her even with the fact that it's the only umbrella I've got. 

I noticed the bewilderment in her eyes as she stared at my palm gripping tightly on her hand. 

"Sorry," I apologized. I released my grasp from her hand and gave her my umbrella. "Sa'yo na ito.'Wag mo na ibalik," I added. 

After then, without glancing at her, I walked away as went back to my classroom.