Ghost in the Present

Chapter 2

Akala ko hindi na siya magmemessage pa. Akala ko hindi na siya magpaparamdam pa kung kaya't sinubukan ko ng tanggalin siya sa isip ko. He's supposed to be the winner but I gave the albums to someone else nalang because he suddenly disappeared.

I placed my hand under my chin while looking at my classmates playing volleyball. I want to play with them too, but the last time I attempted to join ay pinagsabihan nila akong hindi marunong. Tama nga naman sila, hindi nga naman ako marunong, but I just want to try because it looks fun.

If only I had friends...maybe they'd let me join them, kahit sandali lang.

Just like that, days passed. Sinubukan kong abalahin nalang ang sarili sa pag-aaral at pagfafangirl. I tried hosting another giveaway but that wasn't enough to divert my attention, pakiramdam ko ay laging may kulang sa mga nakakausap ko. I started to feel like they're just talking to me dahil gusto nilang piliin ko sila bilang winner.

And of course, that's upsetting. Pero kasalanan ko naman, sinanay kong gano'n. I settled for that.

But one night, while I was lying on my bed, my laptop lit up because of a notification.

Akala ko ay namamalikmata lang ako pero hindi...dahil siya ang nagmessage.

Siya: Sorry nasira kasi yong laptop namin, sinubukan naming ipaayos pero matagal pa raw, kaya dito muna ako sa computer shop ngayon. Sorry kung ilang araw din akong hindi nakapagreply.

My eyes widened at hindi ko na napigilan na magpakawala ng ngiti. Akala ko naboring na siya sa personality ko kaya tumigil na siya pero may valid reason naman pala siya.

Ako: It's okay. How are you?

Siya: okay lang, ikaw musta ka?

Ako: Okay naman. How's school?

Siya: Okay naman, wala namang kakaibang nangyari.

We talked again for hours hanggang sa inantok na ako't nagpaalam na sa kanya.

Siya: Good night, sleep well. Chat lang ako bukas.

It was really a good night dahil hanggang paggising ko ay nakangiti pa rin ako.

We talked like that for like a week and I could say that I'm really happy, especially when we talk about the thing we both are interested in... 'yong arts. And I really appreciate his efforts...lalo na't dinig ko na hassle raw kapag pumupunta pang computer shop. Well that's according to Mang Tope, our driver, lagi raw kasing nasa computer shop 'yong anak niya at late na lagi umuuwi.

We were busy talking about the artwork he sent to me nang mapatingin ako sa orasan, my eyes widened no'ng marealize ko na sobrang late na pala.

Gosh. Hindi ba siya hinahanap sa kanila? Baka pagalitan siya!

Ako: Hala, it's already 10 na, diba may pasok ka pa bukas?

I'm really worried kasi baka sa halip na mag-aral siya ay mas naubos na ang oras niya kakachat sa akin.

Siya: Okay lang naman, may tinatapos pa rin naman ako.

I pouted. I really don't know if he's saying the truth pero ayaw ko na umuuwi siya ng late. Delikado kasi 'yon, kahit na alam kong mas matanda siya sa akin but he's still a minor pa rin.

I sighed and my face lit up when an idea struck my mind.

Ako: Do you have a phone, right?

Siya: Oo kaso hindi touchscreen, bakit?

I nodded. Okay na 'yon.

Ako: Well, naisip ko lang. You can do your research early and go home early and pwede naman tayong mag-usap nalang through text or call, diba?