WE WEREN'T SAYING

Kabanata 6

Love

Matunog siyang tumikhim nang sandaling namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. The humid air inside the classroom also made me feel so lethargic and nervous for a moment.

"Why were you late? Hindi ba maaga kang pumapasok palagi?" He suddenly asked.

I looked at him, offended. "Wow, coming from you, who is literally the one who has the highest number of late slips?"

Mahina siyang natawa at pinunasan ang gilid ng mata niya.

"You're right pero ikaw ang tinatanong ko. Unusual to see you go to school late... did your father find out what we did yesterday?"

Umiling ako at sumampa na sa teacher's table. Nangangalay na ako sa pagtayo.

"Nope, I told you, don't worry about that. Takot ka ba sakanya?" Pabiro kong tanong.

His brow lifted as if he didn't like my question.

"Of course not. Why would I?" His eyebrows were knitted as he was saying those words.

"Wala lang... baka lang naman."

I crossed my arms and leaned my back on the board, and watched him look around the empty and dusty room.

"It was Tita's birthday yesterday, have you went to her?" Saglit na nagkatinginan kami bago siya nag-iwas ng tingin pero agad ding binalik na parang gustong-gusto niyang marinig ang sagot ko.

On the other hand, I was left in utter shock when he mentioned it. I am not one hundred percent sure if he is pertaining to my mother, but if he does, then... I am beyond grateful to him because I don't think someone remembered it aside from me.

"If you are talking about my Mama, yes, I did. Why?"

Nabitin sa ere ang sasabihin niya nang umiling siya kinalaunan.

"I was planning to go there today. Fil and Rom visited Tita yesterday together with Shanti, as far as I heard. I want to pay respect to her as well. Will that be okay?"

Pinilig ko ang ulo ko nang marinig ang tanong niya.

"Bakit kailangan mo pang humingi ng permiso? It is a public cemetery. You can go whenever you want." Nakangiti kong sabi at pinadyak ang magkabilang paa ko sa ere.

"Do you want to go with me? Kung gusto mo lang pero kung hindi ayos lang."

He scratched the back of his head. Sumampa rin siya sa lamesa na kinauupuan ko at hinilig ang likuran sa board at tumingin saakin. He glanced at me and smiled abruptly.

"Mas lalo mong nagiging kamukha si Tita habang tumatagal. She was really kind to me back then. She always cooked meals whenever we gather to play. Siya lang kasi ang marunong sa lahat ng magulang na naroon," He chuckled as he cotinued narrating what he can remember that I did not even pay attention to before. "You will always go back to your place earlier than us, though. Shanti will wail whenever you'll leave first kahit na alam niyang magkikita pa rin naman kayo kinalaunan."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. Malabo na sa alaala ko ang mga sinabi niya pero ngayong kinukwento niya ngayon, parang bumabalik saakin lahat ng mga nangyari noon. Not the best and clearest version of memory but all the important details of those days come back suddenly.

From resting the back of my head on the blackboard, I moved my head to face him. Ganoon rin ang posisyon niya kaya nahinto kami sa pagsasalita at nagkatitigan lang.

It was so silent. Tahimik na nga sa loob ng classroom, mas lalo pang tumahimik nang magkatinginan kami. It wasn't an eerie silence but it was a silence that is comforting and overwhelming at the same. The silence that most people are afraid of but still a way to find peace.