IX. Alone?

I noticed how my parents more often my parents have quarrel now. I don’t want to actually meddle because it’s not my place to do so.

"You can't do this to us!"

Napahinto ako sa tapat ng kwarto nina Mommy. I guess it’s one of those days again. Sometimes it’s getting tiring. They won’t fight when Zeck is here and kinda wish he’s here right now. Mom’s voice is too loud I’m afraid the neighbors will hear.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any option. I didn't mean it..." Dad's voice broke.

                Curious of what they are fighting about this time, I stand closer to the door and try to eavesdrop.

"Di mo man lang inisip yung anak mo! Bakit ngayon mo lang sinasabi?! Matagal na pala yan!"

Biglang bumukas yung pinto kaya gulat silang tumingin sa akin. Nakaupo si Daddy sa may edge ng kama nila habang nakatayo naman si Mommy sa may tabi ng book shelf.

"Anong nangyayare Mmy? Ddy?"

I look at Mom then, at Dad but no one dared to answer my question.

Mom's crying. Dad looks so frustrated. This is the first time they’ve been in a serious fight.

"Nothing dear. Umalis ka muna, mamasyal ka muna. May pag uusapan lang kami ng Daddy mo."

I didn't argue with them. I think they need time alone. Wala akong balak umalis ng bahay pero sumunod nalang ako sa sinabi ni Mommy.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako habang naglalakad ako papunta sa bahay nina Alvie.

Dire-diretso akong pumasok sa gate nila. Naabutan ko sila ni Phoenix na nag gugupit ng kung anu-ano sa may garden.

“What’s up!”

Pareho pa silang nagulat sa akin.

"Anong ginagawa nyo?"

"Magcoconfess na kasi sya bukas.” Sabay tawa pa ng malakas ni Alvie.

Something inside me didn’t feel happy about it—if so, it also annoyed me but I brushed it off. Maybe he’s finally confessing to the girl whoever she is. I walk to them and try to look at what they are doing. Papers are scattered everywhere but I have to admit that whoever that girl is really lucky—though I wonder if she’ll suffer from his mood swings, too. I laugh inwardly at the thought.

"Need help?" I ask them.

"Ano sa tingin mo yung magandang presentation, Bes?"

Tumigil ako sa pag gupit ng puso.

"If I were that girl, I would really appreciate if the boy would surprise me. Yung tipong magugulat nalang ako na kakantahan niya ako habang may hawak na gitara or piano or drum. Basta ganun! Tapos kakantahan nila ako ng kanta ng EXO. Tapos magcoconfess siya sa akin."

Bigla akong binato ng crumpled paper ni Alvie. I glanced at Glenn who is watching me intently. Is he that serious about this confession? Now I’m curious who that poor girl is.

"Ang drama niyo talagang mga babae."

Sinamaan ko lang ng tingin si Glenn. After naming tapusin yung oh-so-called-presentation niya, nagyaya silang pumunta ng mall. Ginamit namin yung kotse ng Mommy ni Alvie. Marunong daw kasing magdrive si Phoenix.

"Wow, no one’s gonna sit here?” he asked pointing at the passenger seat but both of us shake our heads no, “Do I look like a driver?”

He’s in a bad mood again but we just laugh at his misery. We went to a fast-food restaurant and ask Glenn to order for us.

                Glenn started talking about the last concert they’ve attended. I never attended other groups’ concerts but Alvie always makes sure she’ll accompany me whenever I attend one. I glanced at Alvie because her phone keeps on vibrating it’s hard to ignore. Then suddenly she stood and left us. A saw a guy talking to her outside and I needed to narrow my eyes to look at him properly. It almost shocked me when I realized it was Chalk.

"Oy." napakunot yung noo ni Phoenix.

"Bakit?"

"Bakit ang panget mo?"

He glared at me. I almost find it cute but I remember I’m annoyed at him.

"De joke lang. Si Chalk at Board—este Alvie na ba?"

He gave me a bored look then he shrugged.

"Tanungin mo sila."

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I silently hope he chokes on his nuggets. There are times when Glenn talks a lot just like a moment ago and most times his rude mode is on just like now.

"Oy, ano yan huh! Bakit nandito ka?"  biro ko kay Chalk nang makalapit sila sa table naming.

My stupid excuse of a bestfriend blushed while Chalk scratched the back of his head. I don’t know if I made a face in front of them. I’ve been hanging out with them for almost a month now but never did Alvie tell me anything about Chalk.

We decided to visit a boutique afterward but Chalk and Alvie suddenly disappeared and I was left alone with Glenn who’s busy looking for hoodies.

"Asan yung dalawa?"

"Malay ko."

Since it seems like I can’t talk to Glenn properly today, I just enjoyed window shopping. I decided to save money for the upcoming concert in December. Glenn is ignoring me and he’s just chatting with someone on his phone, probably talking with his girl. Now I’m wondering who the poor girl is.

Suddenly, the image of Mom and Dad fighting flashed into my mind. I hope they’re okay now. I don’t want to have dinner with them if they’re like that. Whenever they don’t talk, it’s like I’m suffocating.

"You okay?"

I didn’t notice that Glenn is already in front of me. He’s looking at me like he’s worried but I brushed it off. There’s something about this guy that makes me curious.

Instead of answering his question, I just nodded. When he realized that I don’t plan on speaking my mind, he pulled me to the arcade. He excused himself to buy tokens while I went to play basketball but stuffed minions caught my eyes.

"Suho, anong ginagawa mo diyan?!" I exclaimed in awe when a cute minion caught my eye. I was busy looking at the stuffed toy I didn’t notice Glenn is already beside. I badly want to play on those Vendo machines but I don’t have luck when it comes to it.

"Gusto mo?" he asked while smiling. I nod in frustration.

I really want that.

"Fvck!"

"Shit!"

"Ugh! Tss. Bibilhan nalang kita. Ang hirap naman~"

If it’s a different scenario, I would laugh at his frustration because he spent all of his tokens but he didn’t get anything, not even the smallest one. I smiled at him sincerely though I really want one.

"Wag na. Okay lang. Tara na, hanapin na natin sina Alvie."

I glanced at the stuffed toy before pulling him away from the arcade to look for Alvie and Chalk. 

---

Lutang yung isip ko hanggang sa matapos yung klase namin. Kahit anino ni Alvie ay hindi ko nakita buong umaga. Minsan hindi siya pumapasok pero nagsasabi siya kaya nagtataka ako dahil hindi man lang siya nagparamdam. Nagpunta ako sa tambayan namin ni Alvie. Wala si Alvie. Hindi pumasok. Asan naman yung mga yun?

"Sol!" Tawag ni Jedd.

Napalingon ako sa tatlo na naglalakad papunta sa akin, Wala din si Phoenix. Anong nangyare sa mga ‘yun?

"Whooh! Loner sya oh! May namimiss yan. Hahaha!" Pang aasar ng Chalk. Seryoso naman yung mukha ni Kollin.

Diko sila pinansin. Anong ginagawa ng mga baliw na 'to dito?

"Sol, pansinin mo naman ako oh..." nagpacute pa sya sa harap ko.

"Jedd, tigilan mo ako. Masasapak kita." Biro ko.

"Tara lunch tayo. Alam naman naming wala kang kasama." Aya ni Chalk.

Napabuntong-hininga ako bago sumama kina Chalk sa food court.

"Kuha ka na. Kami magbabayad." sabi ni Kollin.

Kumuha ako ng 2 saging, isang order ng beef steak, 2 rice, mashed potato, spicy fried chicken at dalawang coke in can.Napahinto ako sa pagdampot ng tissue nang mapatingin ako sa tatlo. They are staring at me as if I murdered someone.

"Kasya na ba sa ating lahat yan?" gulat na tanong ni Chalk.

"Says who? These are all mine. Since you’ll pay, might as well take advantage of your generosity.” I winked at him.

I made myself busy eating while they're busier talking about boys' stuff.

"Bukas na yung school fest. Sasali kaming basketball after ng 'Time to Shine', cheer mo naman kami." Jedd said.

Bakit ba napakadaldal netong lalakeng 'to. Sila dapat ni Alvie ang magkasama eh.

"Sure. You want me to prepare a banner as big as a billboard?"

"Why you so sarcastic, Solleigh?" he even pout. Seriously?

"Fidelity University yata yung makakalaban natin no?" Kollin said out of the blue.

Ngayon ko lang narinig ang Fidelity University. Is it a private University?

"Yes. I heard they are going here this afternoon for registration." Chalk said.

Hinatid nila ako sa building namin after namin maglunch. Pupunta daw kasi sila sa gym.

Nagcheck lang ng attendance yung Prof namin then class dismissed.

"Ms.Santos? Can you bring it to the faculty?"

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Badtrip talaga 'tong matandang 'to. Ako na naman yung nakitang utusan. Labag man sa loob ko, binuhat ko lahat ng rolled cartolina at dalawang box na ewan kung anong laman papunta sa faculty. Ang layo pa naman.

At kung ‘di ka nga naman minamalas, may bumunggo pa sa akin kaya bumagsak lahat ng dala ko.

"I'm sorry~ I didn't mean to bump into you…" sabi nya tsaka ako tinulungang pulutin lahat ng nahulog.

Tahimik kong kinuha mula sa kanya yung mga materials.

"Sorry ulit. By the way, I'm Kyle. You are?"

Tiningnan ko lang siya. Mas matangkad ng konti sa kanya si Glenn.

Napakunot yung noo ko. Why am I even comparing them? I brushed the creepy thoughts off.

"Miss?"

I snapped back to reality.

"Sol."

I don't wanna talk to anyone right now. Bakit? Wala lang. I just dont feel like being friendly today.

"Nice name. Uh, can I ask a question?"

"You're already asking, sir."

Nagkamot sya ng batok tsaka ngumiti.

"Where is the faculty? I'm looking for Mr. Bueno."

"Sumabay ka nalang sa akin. Pupunta din ako dun."

Sabay kaming pumasok sa faculty. Magkatabi lang naman yung table ni Mr. Bueno at ng prof namin kanina kaya iniwan ko na siya doon pagkatapos kong ilagay yung mga gamit sa mesa.

Pupunta nalang ako sa rooftop. Mas tahimik doon. I glanced at my wristwatch, it's 4:00 pm yet no sign of Glenn and Alvie.

I've been trying to call them for I don't know how many times but they didn't even bother answering any.

"Sol!"

I looked at the staff and other students who are busy preparing for the event. Wala na din siguro kaming practice dahil wala din naman yung dalaw—

"Argh! You PABO!" kamuntik ko ng masapak yung humila sa akin.

"Pabo? Turkey? Ako?"

"Tss. What again?!" I exclaimed in annoyance.  

Mukha namang nagulat sya. Huminga ako ng malalim tsaka tumingin sa kanya. Inayos ko yung strap ng bag ko. This is the problem with me. I take it out to other people when something’s not good happened to me.

"Okay, I'm sorry for being harsh. I just wanna ask you for a break, you know, pasasalamat lang."

"No need. Kakatapos ko lang ding maglunch. Thanks."

Nagsimula na akong maglakad paalis nang bigla na naman syang magsalita.

"Nood ka ng basketball game bukas!"

I gave him thumbs up para matahimik na siya. Para siyang si Ronan sa kakulitan. Talking about that asshole, ‘Di na din niya ako kinulit after naming mag usap sa food court.