Take Me Home (City Series #4)

Chapter Five

L

"Wala pa rin si daddy?" tanong ko kay Kuya Gio pagkapasok ko ng sasakyan.

Umiling siya. "He called last night, though. You're not replying to his texts daw."

I didn't bother answering Kuya Gio. Ayokong mag-reply kay Daddy. If he really wants to talk to us, edi umuwi siya.

Lumingon si Kuya Gabe sa akin bago niya sinimulan na mag-drive. I tried blinking away my tears, remembering the fact that I have to go back to school. To that horrible place.

Pagka-hatid namin kay Kuya Gio, hindi na akong nag-abalang lumipat sa harap. I didn't have the energy to move.

"Shobe, hindi ka lilipat dito?" tanong ni Kuya Gio.

Umiling ako at tumingin sa cellphone ko para hindi niya makitang namamaga ang mga mata ko. He nodded and closed the door.

Once I realized that the car wasn't moving, I looked over at Kuya Gabe who was looking at me through the rearview mirror.

"We don't have to go to school if you don't want to," aniya.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero bumalik nanaman ang luha sa mga mata ko. Ayoko talagang pumasok. Pero exams na next week.. and I don't want to go to desperate measures to pass my quizzes. Yesterday was traumatizing enough. I'm not a cheater! I never have been. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang pumasok sa utak ko at nagawa ko 'yon.

"Exams na next week," I told him. "And you're a senior."

"Are you sure?"

I didn't answer, pero alam niya namang kailangan naming dalawa na pumasok.

We both got to school early. Maaga rin naman kami kahapon, but I hid in the bathroom crying for as long as I could. I tried to avoid my reality. And look what that cost me.

Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at magsisimula na sanang maglakad patungo sa building namin, pero hinila ni Kuya Gabe yung bag sa likod ko.

"What?" I scowled at him.

"Call me if you have no one to eat lunch with."

I blinked a few times and nodded before grabbing back my bag. I walked straight towards our classroom and sat down at my usual seat. Hindi na ako nakipag-halubilo sa iba, I just started reading my notes.

Once Isabelle sat down, hindi rin lang kami nag-pansinan. The whole morning was like that for me. I can't complain, though. At least it's uneventful.

Kumuha ulit ako ng sarili kong lunch at umupo sa mesa na inupuan ko kahapon. I didn't bother calling my brother. The seniors have lunch by the field, as usual. I don't want to eat with the seniors, and I don't want my brother to eat with me in the cafeteria, either. Baka sabihin, ako nanaman yung kawawang sinagip ng kuya niya nung Friday.

But honestly.. ang hirap pa rin pala talaga. It's hard eating alone, and seeing everyone else having fun talking and gossiping about you. It's like I'm a sitting duck, just waiting for someone to throw some food at me.

"Hello. Oh, I got the same thing," anang isang lalaki bago siya umupo sa harapan ko. "Ang sarap ng bicol express, 'no?"

Lumunok ako at tinignan lamang si Z. It was as if the whole cafeteria went quiet. He started eating nonchalantly, as if other people weren't looking at us. Parang wala siyang pakialam.

"What are you doing?" tanong ko.

"Eating."

I bit the insides of my cheek. Ayokong aminin, but I really do appreciate him doing this. It feels nice to know that not everyone is against me.