The Other Half

CHAPTER 13

ALLIE

"Hindi matapus-tapos ang mga tanong nila nung umuwi ako." sabi ni Rodel. It's been a week since the sleepover. This time, I brought him sa mall na mas malayo sa usual naming pinupuntahan. "Tuwang tuwa rin si Marco sa robot. Maraming salamat, Allie."

"You're always welcome." I smiled. "I'm glad he liked it. That toy was my favorite nung bata pa ako."

"Gusto kang makilala ng pamilya ko, Allie. Lalo na nila Kevin at Charlie." he said, which I think he regretted right away.

"So papupuntahin mo na rin ako sa inyo?"

He looked away. "Hmmm. Darating din ang araw na 'yan, Allie."

"OK." I said. Ayoko nang maging pushy sa idea. Basta, pupunta ako sa kanila whether he likes it or not.

"Ang laki nitong mall na 'to, Allie." he said after a while.

I looked around. Hindi na kasi big deal sa akin ang idea na malaki ang mall because I've been here a lot of times already. Naalala ko na this is his first time nga pala.

"I guess that's why it's called Mall of Asia."

"Wow." Napanganga si Rodel. "Salamat dahil isinama mo ako dito. Maraming bagay ang una ko pa lang naranasan simula nang makilala kita, Allie."

I smiled. "And I'm sure, marami pang darating in the days to come."

We ate (I chose the simplest restaurant I could find for Rodel's sake), played in the arcade (I lost some rounds on purpose), and bought a few things (personal stuff like perfume and deos for Rodel, and some more toys for Marco), then we decided to call it a day. Hindi kasi pwedeng sobrang late dahil maiiwanan ng bangka si Rodel (although he could always spend the night at my house pero ayaw ko namang iabuse yung permission na ibinibigay sa kanya ng parents niya).

"Rodel, one moment, I'll just go to the restroom." sabi ko at pinahawak ko muna sa kanya ang mga bitbit ko. "Ihing ihi na kasi ako."

Tumawa nang malakas si Rodel. "Sige lang. Masamang pinipigil 'yan."

"Ikaw, hindi ka ba naiihi?"

"Umihi na ako kanina pagkatapos nating kumain, habang nagbabayad ka. Sige na, Allie, magCR ka na. Hihintayin kita dito sa labas."

Paglabas ko sa restroom, wala si Rodel.

Kinabahan ako. Where is he? Hindi ko napigil na magworry. This is his first time here. Baka kung anong nangyari sa kanya.

I went back to the restroom. Baka kasi sinundan niya ako doon. Wala naman siya. Lalo akong nagworry. He said hihintayin niya ako sa labas ng restroom.

I walked habang sobrang kinakabahan. Hindi ugali ni Rodel na humiwalay sa akin. Where is he? I won't forgive myself if anything happens to him.

And there, several stalls from the restroom, outside the bookstore, nandoon si Rodel. He's looking at the books na nakadisplay inside.

Nakahinga ako nang maayos. "Thank God. Akala ko napa'no ka na, Rodel. Bakit hindi mo ako hinintay? Pwede namang sabay tayong pumunta dito."

He looked at me and saw the worry in my eyes. "Sorry, Allie. Hindi ko sinasadya. Balak ko rin sanang bumalik agad, kaso napatingin ako dito sa mga libro."

"Gusto mong pumasok tayo? May nagustuhan ka ba?"

He shook his head but I saw in his eyes how much he liked the books. Pipilitin ko na sana siyang pumasok at bilhin ang kahit anong gusto niya nang bigla siyang lumapit sa akin.