Stars and Monsoon Skies (Sky Series 2)

Cadence

Isa.

Dalawa.

Tatlo.

Apat.

Lima.

Limang taon na simula nang unang beses kaming magkita.

Maraming taon na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin nagbabago ang pagsasamahan naming dalawa. Habang patagal nang patagal, mas lalong nagiging matibay ang pagkakaibigan namin.

At ako naman, mas lalong lumalalim ang pagtingin ko sa kaniya.

"May pasalubong ako sa'yo." Sabi niya habang dahan dahan umuupo sa sahig ng tree house.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa kuryusidad, nakatitig ng maigi sa bitbit niyang paper bag. "Ano 'yon?"

Kakauwi lang ni Archer galing sa bakasyon ng pamilya nila sa Cebu at agad naman niya akong sinundo sa school. As usual, sa tree house na naman kami dumeretso dahil ito na ang nagsilbing tambayan namin ng mga kasamahan niya sa banda. Lia is also with me but she is with Ivor. Naglalaro sila ng chess sa kabilang bahagi ng tree house habang nanonood sila Collin sa laban nila. Both of them are great chess players. In fact, Lia is part of our school's chess team at lagi niyang natatalo si Ivor pero tingin ko ay pinagbibigyan lang siya nito.

"Ta-da!" Masayang nilabas ni Archer ang apat na balot ng dried mangos sa paper bag para ipakita sa'kin. "Of course I bought you your favorite." He grinned easily, making me smile.

Akala niya talaga ay paborito ko ang dried mangos. Hindi niya alam kaya ko lang sinabing paborito ko 'yon dahil noong nakaraang taon, nakita ko siyang kumakain noon sa kusina sila at mukhang sarap na sarap siya. When I asked him if I could have a taste since I haven't tasted them before, he gave me a piece with a hopeful look on his face. He didn't say it but I knew he was hoping for me to like it.

I don't.

Pero hindi ko sinabi sa kaniya 'yun. Instead, I told him that I really, really love it.

That made him smile brightly like he was the happiest man alive. I made a great choice.

"Thank you!" I replied excitedly, getting the bags of dried mangos from him.

Hay. Ano bang pinaggagagawa ko at pinipilit kong gustuhin ang bagay na hindi ko naman talaga gusto. Seeing him being proud of himself for making me happy made it all worth it. Masarap din naman 'yung fruit, hindi ko nga lang masaydong trip. Pero dahil bigay niya 'to, kakainin ko pa rin para maibalita ko sa kaniya na naubos ko agad ang pasalubong niya.

"Pwede ka ba sa Sabado? Ako na bahala magpaalam kay tita para payagan ka. Only if you're free." He asked, leaning on his back. Nakasandal siya sa trunk ng puno sa gitna ng tree house at nakatitig lang sa 'kin.

"Oo naman!" Mabilis na sagot ko. Marami akong assignments at project sa school pero kaya ko naman gawin 'yun ng isnag araw. I'll free my time for him.

"Great! May event kami sa school, and we're planning to join the band battle." He informed me. "I want you to watch. That would be our first competition."

My brows furrowed. The talk about the band battle had been brought up a couple of times for the past months but Archer didn't want to join then. "Akala ko ba ayaw mong sumali doon?" Tanong ko, nagtataka.

"Well... something changed." He replied vaguely, hiding his smile. "Ang besides, Ivor has been constantly bugging me about it so the band decided to join last minute."

"Okay..."

"So, I'll pick you up?"

"Sige. Pero ikaw bahala kay Mama, ah? Alam mo naman na ikaw lang pinagkakatiwalaan non."