Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 02

Chapter 02

"Finally," I said to myself after I laid all the pens down. The physical ache in my brain got stronger everyday tuwing naaalala ko na kulang ang ballpen ko. It took me a full year to decide on what pen I would like to use for the rest of my life. I tried different brands, but ultimately settled with Unipin. I liked how it glides against the paper. I liked how the ink appeared against the paper. I liked it. Kaya naiinis ako nang hindi niya ibinalik iyong ballpen ko. I was forced to stare at my now incomplete set. Ayoko nang pabagu-bago. I didn't like changing my routine. I was comfortable with knowing what I would do in a day. I definitely had a strong feeling of dislike towards surprises.

I slept well that night knowing that tomorrow, makukumpleto na ulit ang mga ballpen ko.

Maaga akong gumising. I usually wake up at 7AM. That gave me enough time to fix my bed and fix myself before I go downstairs to fix myself my breakfast. I alternate on cereals and sandwich dahil ayokong magsawa. I change cereals every other month—depende kung ano ang masarap sa panlasa ko sa buwan na 'yon.

I took 3 deep breaths before I headed straight to the bathroom and forced myself to take a bath kahit na masyado pang maaga para sa akin. Coach Aldrin, he told me to call him that kapag nasa court kami, told me that I needed to be at the gym before 4am. Marunong naman akong magdrive, but I did not like the idea of me driving this early dahil madilim pa sa labas. Darkness scares me because I hated the idea of not knowing what was lurking behind the shadows. Kaya naman nang matapos akong maligo at mag-ayos ay agad akong dumiretso sa kuwarto nila Ate Gina at Kuya Robert.

"Karma, ano'ng meron? Ano'ng oras na ba?"

"Pupunta ako sa school."

"Ha? Napaka-aga pa."

"Alam ko," sagot ko. "Paki-gising na lang si Kuya. Salamat."

Bumalik ako sa sala habang naghihintay. I was 6 years old when my parents hired Ate Gina. I liked her. She did not take what I say to the heart. Iyong ibang naging kasambahay namin, umalis dahil nainis sa akin. But I did not mean to be rude or disrespectful—I just really say things that I mean.

And then Kuya Robert got hired as our driver.

And then they fell in love and got married.

We have a guest house sa likuran ng bahay namin at doon sila naka-tira. My parents insisted na doon sila tumira. Ayaw nila na naiiwan ako mag-isa dahil pareho silang busy sa trabaho. Minsan, kapag nawawala si Blue, ay doon ko siya hinahanap. Paborito niya si Kuya Robert dahil lagi siyang pinapakain. Hindi ko naman siya nakaka-limutang pakainin kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit nagpapanggap siya sa iba na gutom siya.

"Good morning," bati ni Kuya Robert.

"Good morning, Kuya."

"Sa school tayo?"

Tumango ako. "Sa gate 3 po," sagot ko dahil iyon ang gate na malapit sa gym. Masyadong malaki ang SCA. Ayokong maglakad doon ng madilim pa.

Sabay kaming naglakad ni Kuya Robert papunta sa garahe. Mayroon pa siyang hawak na tumbler kung nasaan ang kape niya.

"Bakit ang aga ata ng klase mo? Normal ba 'yan?"

"Manager na ako ng basketball team."

"Kailan pa?" tanong niya habang nagkakabit ako ng seatbelt.

"Kahapon lang."

"Kailan ka pa nahilig sa basketball?"

"Hindi naman ako mahilig sa basketball."

"E bakit bigla kang nagmanager? Para ba iyan sa script mo?" tanong niya. Minsan kasi ay pinapa-basa ko sa kanila ni Ate Gina iyong script. Minsan, kapag bored sila, ay inaarte nila iyong linya.