Into The Reality (PUBLISHED UNDER LINES OF LOVE)

Chapter 3: The Best Gift

Into The Reality - Chapter 3

Suddenly, Martin became part of everything. He was like the missing piece we never knew we needed. He was just there... his presence was enough to be contented.

"Kaya mo bang buhayin ang apo ko?"

"Bakit po, patay na po ba siya?" natawa si lola. Pero ako ay nandidilim na ang paningin kay Martin.

"Do you live with your parents?" Sumipsip ng tsaa si lola habang tinatanong si Martin. Umuwi ako at hinatid niya ako kahit 'di ko naman sinabing ihatid niya'ko. Because of him being nosy and troubling himself of driving me home, he's being interrogated by my mom and lola. Pinapasok nila si Martin sa loob ng bahay at pina-kain dahil may niluto si mama na menudo para sa hapunan namin. Kapalit no'n ay ang pag-tatanong nila.

"'La, that's his private matter. Pauwiin niyo na po siya, gabi na—"

"Okay lang, Alice." Nginitian ako ni Martin. "I live with my parents po." Binalin ni Martin ang tingin niya kay lola.

"What do they do for a living, hijo?"

"My mother's a businesswoman. My dad... my dad is a CEO of a gaming company po." Nahulog ko ang kubyertos ko dahil sa pagka-bigla pero pinulot ko rin 'yun agad para 'di mapagalitan. CEO?!

"Which gaming company?" Kahit si Mama ay namangha.

"PanSoft po," he said being carefree na parang wala lang 'yun, despite the fact that PanSoft is one of the known gaming companies in Asia! So that's why I always see him playing games and sketching.

"Bakit sa public-school ka nag-aaral? Anak ka naman pala ng CEO," tanong ko nang makalabas kami sa gate ng bahay namin. I mean, he had a lot of choices! Andaming private schools diyan na pinapangarap ng maraming mapasukan. While he settled for a Science High School, knowing his family could afford those schools out there!

I was gonna see him out, generally, because my lola ordered me to.

"Wala. Para magkaroon ng experience sa ibang lugar?" he shook his head. "Wala naman sa school 'yan. I can study wherever I want."

"How I wish everyone had that privilege to choose." Bumuga ako ng hangin. He was supposed to respond pero kumaway na lang ako sa kan'ya at pinag-tulakan siya para umalis na. I'm not in the mood for a pep talk.

He's always been carefree. He couldn't care less about school, grades, and contests. It was as if he had his own world. Parang ang buhay niya umiikot sa sketches, mobile games, sports, at panggugulo sa'kin. I can't blame him though, if I was him, I'd be carefree too knowing that I have a secured future.

"Hijo! Kumain ka muna rito!" We heard mom from the inside of our house. Hinatid ako ni Martin sa bahay, just like how he's always done ever since he met my parents. Hinayaan ko na lang rin siya dahil sa totoo lang, ayaw kong umuuwi na mag-isa. Alam kong delikado. The world of today is full of mysteries, and sometimes I can't help but be sad because of violence and catastrophe waiting out there

"Ayos na po ako, Tita!" Nag-mano na lang siya kay mama. "Kailangan ko na rin po kasing umuwi. Hinahanap na po ako sa bahay."

Palaging bangayan kapag kami ang magkasama. Even if we became friends, we'd still argue every single time. But it became less irritating. It was like a daily routine that I end up missing when it's not there.

"Tignan mo 'yung libro oh, ang kapal," saad ni Martin.

"Alam mo mas makapal? Ikaw. Bakit ka ba nandito?" My eyebrows crossed; it was that habitual gesture every single time Martin pops out of nowhere.

"Hihiram ng libro," ngumisi siya. I'm here on a duty at our school's library. I was a school officer volunteer, kaya kadalasan kami ang requested na gumawa nito after our class.

"Mang-hihiram ng libro, my ass. Hindi ka naman mahilig mag-basa." Malditang bulong ko sa kan'ya dahil nasa library kami. "Nandito ka lang para guluhin ako. Umalis ka nga."

"Grabe naman sa manggugulo," he chuckled. "I'm just here to wait for you. Para hahatid na kita pauwi."