Freezing His Pain (Japan Series #3)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Hoy! Ang kukupad! Kung dalian n'yo kaya?!"

Sa malayong harapan ay nakapreno sa paglalakad ang tatlo, nakadungaw sa amin. Without bestowing a glance at the man beside me, I dashed toward my brother and anchored my arm with his. Nakapunta kami sa sisigan nang hindi kinukumpirma ang tanong na ibinato sa akin ni Dan.

I was grateful for the fact that Dan was energetic and chatty when we began eating. Akala ko'y mananahimik na naman siya. With that, I was comfortable the whole time. Ako pa nga ang nagrereview sa kanilang apat for their quiz in Art Appreciation.

"Ako alam ko 'yan!" said Dan and proceeded dropping the answer to my question.

Napangiti ako nang masagutan niya iyon nang tama. Meanwhile, the other three began cursing him, mocking him about his statement earlier, saying he didn't even give his reviewer a peep.

"Scammer, amputa! 'Di ka n'yan nagreview?!" si Gabriel na simula kanina ay walang nasasagot. Kung mayro'n ma'y mali-mali.

"Hindi nga–"

"Ulol!" they yelled in chorus.

Dan chuckled and eventually stopped convincing them that he really did not study. Hiningi niya sa akin ang reviewer at saka niya sinimulan ang pagdiscuss noong topic sa tatlo. My brother and Meija transferred to the seats beside him while Gabriel stood behind, all ears to the principal discussant of their review session.

Witnessing them, I couldn't help but envy what they have, particularly their friendship. I also do have friends but I never got to partake in this kind of bond. It's not that my peers don't do group reviews like this, it's just that I'm an underachiever, thus inviting someone like me would just result to burdensome and error-prone discussion.

But whose fault is it? Mine, of course. Kung hindi lang sana mahina ang ulo ko, panigurado ay nasasama ako sa mga ganoong bagay.

"Santo Danilo Oneiroi Vidales, ipanalangin mo kami. Manong bigyan ng katalinuhan, masagot nang tama ang lahat at huwag kabahan. Nawa kami'y makapasa. Amen," sabay-sabay na mantra ng tatlo na siyang binigyan basbas ng 'santo' sa pamamagitan ng paghaplos sa kanilang mga bumbunan.

They altogether utter that specific orison every after Dan finishes elucidating an artwork. Sigeng-sige naman itong isa sa pagbabasbas ng kaniyang mga alagad. Tumatawa pa.

"Tanginang 'yan, 'di raw nagreview pero kung mag-explain 'kala mong si Leonardo da Vinci."

There are still 23 minutes left before the lunch break ends and we are already on our way to our respective classrooms. Kuya, Meija, and Gabriel are still reviewing, making sure no minute is wasted before their quiz. Dan, on the other hand, is calm and chill, walking with me behind the troupe.

"Punta ka saglit sa room namin. Dinala ko 'yung hardcopy ng business plan ko. Sa last page, makikita mo iyong listahan ng mga binatong tanong ng Entrep instructor namin and notes and suggestions para ma-improve 'yung business."

His left hand was clutching the strap of his black gig bag, another one placed inside his pocket. Ang ulo naman niya ay bahagyang nakakiling pababa, maabot lang ng tingin ang mababa kong taas. He then raised a brow and smirked lopsidedly.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi sumang-ayon. Siyempre, gusto ko siya.

I mean! Gusto ko iyon! 'Yong list of questions! Duh!

"Tara, pasok ka."

Nasa tungki pa lang ako ng entrada ay sandamakmak na ulo na ang nakabaling. Sinundan ko si Dan hanggang sa makarating kami sa upuan niya. He put down his guitar and sat cozily.