Silence

"Hoy, tangina! Bilisan mo riyan at baka mahabol na tayo ng SSG! Makakaharap na naman natin 'yung balahurang manyak na iyon!"Napabilis ang takbo ko sa sinabi ni Osher. Puta, oo nga pala. Malapit ko na kalimutan na ang balahurang manyak pala ang OIC ngayon! Pinagtutulak ko ang mga estudyante na inosenteng naglalakad sa harapan namin. Ba't ba kasi tanghaling tapat ang napili ng SSG na habulin kami? Pwede naman hapon? Mas mabilis kaya kami hulihin sa hapon! Lasing na kami no'n!"Tangina mo rin Harlett, para kang bakla tumakbo! Pag ikaw nahuli, patay ka sa mama mo, bobo!" sigaw ko nang malampasan ko si Harlett. He laughed evilly and sped his run up. Pinagtitinginan kami ng estudyante na para bang kinokondena na kami sa isipan nila. Bahala sila, nakalibing naman ang pake ko sa ibang tao.And just like the other times, we successfully escaped. Madali lang naman talunin ang bakod ng eskwelahan, eh. I don't know why we spent too much for this school, and not h

As expected, the first step I took inside the classroom, Harlett went to me and hugged me tightly."I'm sorry, Pryce. I'm sorry... It's just that, nadala lang ako sa emosyon. Ayoko na makita ka ulit ng may pasa. I've done enough horrible things to you—""Harlett, wala kang ginagawang masama. I understand what you're trying to say or do, but please... do understand why. Why I wanted to do it still, and why I'll going to do it, anyway," I said as I hugged him back. Hindi naman awkward dahil maaga pa lang, wala pang ganoong tao sa campus. And we're friends. There's nothing wrong with friends hugging each other."At isa pa, hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari sa 'kin. Kusa rin naman akong pumunta roon. If I wasn't there, baka ikaw pa 'yong masaksak, o iyong kuya na rumesponde. Ayoko naman makita kang nakahimlay sa hospital bed ngayon. It's better that way. Lampa ka pa naman, 'di ka makakalabas ng hospital ng ganoon kabilis."Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni H

Ang pagtataka ko simula nang malaman ko ang “unplanned” gala nila ay nagpatuloy nang ibaba kami ni Harlett pareho ni Suarez at Eileer sa isang lugar. What the hell do he think is he doing?!"Harlett!" malakas kong sigaw.I swear, I heard him laugh! So loud! Silang dalawa ni Osher!I felt betrayed!"Ilalakad ka namin ni—""No, I can walk by myself," putol ko at tinalikuran na sila.I went inside our street and walked faster than the usual. Isa lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit dito kami ibinaba ni Harlett; taga rito lang sila. Pero bakit hindi ko nabalitaan na may bagong salta rito?"Pryce!"Naabutan ako ni Suarez ng lakad. He tied with me while Eileer was behind us. Pasimple akong lumingon sa likuran, at nakitang nakatitig pala siya sa 'kin. Iniwas ko agad ang tingin ko."Kapitbahay lang pala tayo. Akalain mo ‘yun?" he said dumbly at nilagay ang kamay sa bulsa ng kan'yang uniform.

If his real name was Ezequiel Alcazar, then why did he introduced himself as Eileer Montesclaros to us?Tahimik kaming dalawa ni Keos habang binabaybay ang maingay na daan ng Davao. This city was peaceful, and really, goddamn clean. Wala ata akong nakitang basura sa daan nila. Kung meron man, maliliit lang na dahon."Ezequiel... I mean, Eileer... how long has he been to your school?" basag ni Keos sa katahimikan. Maybe he's uncomfortable with silence. Halata kasing dada ring siyang tao. Kagaya na lang ni Suarez."A month or so... I didn't track.""Pa'no pala kayo nagkilala? Classmates?""Yeah. And club mate. He's a member of glee club.""Oh, wow. I didn't know EJ still wanted music after what happen.""Why, what happen?" I asked. Bigla na lang nito nakuha ang interes kong kanina lang ay umalis."Hindi mo alam? Doesn't he open up to you? Mukha kasi kayong close. He's really worried when he called me and asked

When I thought that a distorted-faced Prynce I'd be greeted with, I was surprised when it was the opposite of it."Uh, kuya, alis na po ako. Hinatid ko lang po talaga si Pryce para po siguradong safe," natatawang ani ni Eileer at may pahabol pang joke na sinabi. Tumawa naman si kuya at sinakyan ang joke ni Eileer.What the fuck... is happening?I came back to my senses when I felt a pair of hands shaking me from side to side."Sa susunod na namang sleepover, ha? Ang saya no'n. Sa bukid naman tayo next," I was seriously confused of what he said. I was about to asked what the hell is he saying, but he made in eyes big on purpose. Sinadya niya ring nilapit ang sariling bibig sa tenga ko."I'm gonna text you once I'll set foot on my house. May sasabihin ako..." he then plastered a big smile, like saying I should ride on what stunt he just pulled.Napakunot ang noo ko at tumango na lang. Pilit akong ngumiti. Putangina, ano bang nangyayari?