"Ma, Pa, kanina pa kayo tahimik. Is there any problem? You can tell me, I'll listen."
Hindi na kase ako mapakali na parang wala silang ganang kumain pareho. They were already like this even when Caseth bid goodbye to them. Maybe he didn't noticed but I did. Kilala ko ang mga magulang ko kapag may mali o may problema sila, parang hindi sila mapakali at sobrang tahimik.
I swear, something's wrong with them. I could smell something fishy.
"Wag mo na lang kaming pansinin, anak. Kumain ka na, wala lang 'to." Pinilit ni Papa na kumain pero alam ko namang wala talaga siyang gana.
"Seriously? Ano wala lang, Pa? You two look so bothered. May hindi ba kayo sinasabi sa'kin?" nakakunot noo kong tanong sa kanila.
Nagkatinginan silang dalawa pero kalaunan ay si Mama ang sumagot."Mas mabuting ang sarili mo na lang ang isipin mo, Shara. May problema nga kami pero hindi naman gano'n kalaki at maaayos din namin 'to. Hindi mo na kailangang mag-alala pa."<
"Magsisimba tayo, Caseth. Kapag simba ang pag-uusapan, hindi ako aabsent d'yan. But I already had one absent last Sunday when I was in the hospital."He chuckled softly while combing my hair, looking at me in the mirror. I told him to come here earlier in the morning because I forgot to tell him yesterday. Gusto ko siyang isamang magsimba kaya naghahanda na kami. We're both ready even though it's just 7:00 in the morning. It's better than to be late in the second mass."Baby, saan tayo pagkatapos magsimba? I want to spend the rest of our time together. Magpapaalam naman ako kina Mama at Papa, eh."I saw him pouting in the mirror that's why I laughed a little. Ang cute niya, sobra. He even enjoyed calling my parents like that. Wala namang kaso sa'kin 'yon at ng parents ko dahil ilang beses na rin naman nilang narinig sa kanya 'yon.Nilagay ko ang hintuturo sa labi ko na para bang nag-iisip."How about sa park? The place where we had our first date? Namimis
"You're taking her to the shop where we usually go shopping when we're still together? My god, Cahleen! Tapos ikaw pa ang nagbabayad sa mga gusto niya? Yucks!"Kung kanina pa ako naiinis, pwes kanina pa rin ako nagtitimpi. This parasite keeps on interrupting our date. Hindi ko nga alam kung matatawag pa ba namin 'to na date dahil may third wheel na sunod nang sunod sa'min. Caseth couldn't do anything and so as me. Hindi naman siya nakikinig kahit na ano pang sabihin ni Caseth sa kanya. If I know, she's just pretending not to be affected by his hurtful words."Shut the fucking up you motherfucker! This shop wasn't yours and I can bring her wherever I want to. Kung naiinggit ka, pwede ka namang umalis." He pulled my hand gently but this parasite holds his other hand too."B-But, I just want to be with you---""Sorry for interfering but he doesn't wants to be with you. Hindi mo pa napapansin
"Tama na sabi eh! Maureen, you're already drunk! Matutulog na tayo, ano ba!"Pinilit ko siya akayin patayo dahil nakasubsob siya sa mesa na puno ng nagkalat na pagkain. She brought wine and I just let her drink it because I thought that she won't get drunk. Limang shots pa lang nainom niya samantalang tatlo pa ang akin pero kahit na ako ay nahihilo na rin.Damn this freaking wine!"Alam mo? May kasamang ibang babae si Ziro kanina. Sabi niya friend niya lang pero hindi ako naniniwala." She kepts on pointing me as if she's telling me her problems.Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at kinuha ang baso ng wine sa kanya."Tawagan mo kase bukas tapos linawin mo kung ano ba talaga ang totoo. Nakakamatay ang maling akala, Mau. At saka, kayo ba?"She suddenly cried in front of me so I panicked, don't know what to do. May nasabi ba akong mali sa kanya o sadyang tinamaan lang talaga siya sinabi ko.Am I that bad to her?"Pero n
"Shara! Tumigil ka na nga sa kakalakad ng pabalik balik. Nahihilo na talaga ako sa'yo kanina pa."Who could blame me?Ever since Caseth left on the way to the hospital, I didn't get any text message or even a voice mail from him. Sinabi ko sa kanyang balitaan kaagad ako pero hindi niya naman sinasagot ang mga tawag at chats ko. I'm starting for feel nervous right now."Mau, hindi mo ba talaga siya nakita sa school? Even his friends? Did you talk to Ziro?" sunod-sunod kong tanong sa kanya.Kumunot naman ang noo niya."Ziro and I did talked but its about us. Hindi rin nila kasama si Caseth kase nga absent siya nang hindi siya dumating hanggang sa mag-recess na. Mukhang wala rin silang alam sa nangyayari."Nang matapos ang klase nila ay tinawagan ko kaagad si Mau para puntahan ako rito saglit sa bahay. I thought Caseth told his friends kanina about sa nangyari kay Ate Casyn pero hindi pala. Maybe he just called them after classes. I don't k
"Bess, alam kong nag-aalala ka na pero hindi ka naman pwedeng pumunta. If there is a problem, maybe he's not telling you because he can handle it on his own. Alam mo namang ayaw niya na mag-alala ka."Nagpaiwan si Maureen pagkatapos ng bonding naming magkakaibigan. She wants to accompany me since I'm starting to overthink right now. Two whole days. Dalawang araw na siyang hindi nagpaparamdam kaya paanong hindi ako mag-aalala?!How could he resist not to even text me just once?!"Alam mong hindi gano'n 'yon, Mau. I only need one text or call from him but he couldn't even do that. Pinagmumukha niya kase akong tanga eh. Dalawang araw na akong hindi mapakali dahil sa mga nangyayari. I'm his freaking girlfriend. Of course, I have the right to know what's going on! Bakit? Dahil ba wala akong silbi? Pinapamukha niya ba sa'king wala akong kayang gawin?! Huh? Is that it?" I messed up my hair because of madness.Wala naman akong nakikitang mali kung sab
"Shara, baby, please talk to me. Hindi ko na kayang iniiwasan mo'ko. I'm begging you, stop ignoring me."Wala si Mama at Papa dito sa bahay pagkauwi ko galing school at hindi ko rin alam kung saan sila nagpunta. Alam kong hindi sila lumabas para bumili ng groceries dahil sagot na ni Mau 'yon lahat kahapon. Our stocks and refrigerator were all full so I don't have any idea where did they go.And this guy beside me, asking for forgiveness after four days of ignoring me. Ever since I arrived from school, he suddenly came and brought foods for me but it won't kill my anger towards him. Hindi niya ako madadala sa mga sorry at pagbibigay niya ng pagkain.He lied. He freaking ignored me like what I'm doing right now. Magtiis siya dahil nakaya niya naman akong tiisin na hindi pansinin ng apat na araw. I should be the one to take revenge now. I'm not going to talk to him nor even glance at him.I don't care!"Baby, hindi ko talaga sinasady
"Is that the reason why you don't want to talk to me, huh? Who told you that, baby? Wala akong pakialam kung ayaw nila sa'yo basta para sa'kin ikaw lang ang mahal ko."After what he'd heard earlier, he dragged me away from the cafeteria right after I ate lunch. Nilapag niya sa pwesto ko ang tray niya at hindi man lang kinain para lang dalhin ako rito sa gazebo at kausapin. He's mad, not on me but because of what I've said."It's not about who told me, Caseth. I saw it. I went to the hospital the night before to went to see me," matapang kong sagot.Bakas naman ang gulat sa mukha niya nang sabihin ko 'yon."Y-You were there? Sinong kasama mo? B-Bakit hindi ko alam?""How could you know? Sekreto lang naman ang pagpasok namin ni Maureen do'n dahil wala kaming karapatan na umakyat. It was restricted and they won't accept visitors who were not on the list. Kasalanan ko bang nag-aalala lang ako dahil para na akong baliw kakaisip ko anong nangyari sa
"Anong sasabihin mo, Shara? And why you look so pale? Are you alright?"Ngumiti lang ako ng tipid kay Racer nang makarating kami sa gazebo kung saan walang tao. Whenever I'm going to talk with him or Caseth in school, I always prefer this place not just because it's my favorite spot but also away from everyone. I can have a private talk with him whatever I want to say."I won't take this too long, Racer. Hindi na ako babalik dito simula bukas. I'll stop my studies," diretso kong sagot sa kanya.Kumunot naman ang noo niya."H-Huh? Why? I thought your friends will manage your school fees? Ayaw mo na bang mag-aral dahil sa sakit mo? 'Yon ba ang sabi ng parents mo o ng doctor?"Alam niya pala na kaibigan ko ang gumagastos sa'kin dito. If I know, it was the talk of the town here. Mabilis pa sa kidlat na kumalat ang balita dahil sa mga estudyante na mukhang reporters sa media."Yes, it's because I'm sick. Racer... I-I'm dying... My life will o