Half a Heart ☑️

Chapter 18

(4 months later)

"Okay . . . ? Give me a decent reason why you're suddenly asking for the key of our rest house doon sa kabilang bayan?" naguguluhang tanong ni Sir Drey habang nakaupo siya sa office chair niya.

Sinamahan ko si Ello papunta rito. Sir Drey had no idea that we were getting close together—or boyfriends at that. Pero sinasabihan ko naman siya na palaging nag-iimprove ang kalagayan namin ni Ello sa isa't-isa.

"I want peace of mind. Masyado nang maingay doon sa paligid ng dorm and I think that I really have to visit that place again. It's been a while since I went there," sagot naman ni Ello. Mukhang nakumbinse naman niya si Sir Drey dahil sa reaksyon nito.

Sir Drey leaned down and opened a drawer beneath his table. Ilang sandali pa ng kanyang paghahalungkat doon ay itinaas niya sa ere ang isang susi.

"Here," he said. "It's the key to the main gate there. Wala akong ibang reklamo, basta mag-ingat lang kayong dalawa roon, okay?"

"Wala namang ibang makakapunta dun, eh. And yes, we're gonna take care of ourselves. We're old enough to do so."

I noticed that Ello had been applying what I'd been asking him to do—na kung maaari ay intindihin niya ang sitwasyon ng kanyang ama at kahit papaano ay magpakita naman siya ng respeto sa kanya. Apat na buwan na kami at sa tinagal-tagal naming magkasama sa dorm ay masasabi kong kilala ko na siya kahit papaano.

Pero hindi ko naman siya dinidiktahan tungkol sa dapat niyang mararamdaman sa kanyang ama. I know how hard it is for him, and I just want him to take it little by little.

Yun bang walang pinagmamadalian.

Sir Drey stood from his chair and walked towards us. He smiled at me while he tapped Ello's shoulder.

"Sigurado ka bang doon muna kayo? You know how dull it gets there."

Dahan-dahan namang inialis ni Ello ang kamay ng papa niya sa kanyang balikat. He's trying to put a decent face. I can see that he's really trying to be in good terms with his dad.

"Of course, I am. Kaya nga gusto ko muna doon kase gusto ko munang lumayo layo sa ingay ng dorm since papalapit na rin ang semestral assessment," he said and I eventually saw the surprised look on Sir Drey's face.

"Wait," he looked at his Ello again. "Tama ba ang narinig ko na pupunta ka dun upang makapag-focus sa SA?"

"Yeah . . . ? Why?" asked Ello.

"Wala naman. It's just . . . surprising," ang tugon niya at bumulong pa sa akin. "It's a huge progress. Ano bang pinakain mo sa kanya at agad na naging ganito siya at naging close kayong dalawa?"

Hindi naman ako sumagot at nagkibit-balikat na lamang. Kase kung sabihin ko kung ano ang kinakain nito, baka magtaka siya.

I'm just kidding, of course. Or am I?

"Para namang wala ako rito, eh no? Ano bang pinagbubulungan ninyo dyan?"

Sir Drey made a sudden smile. "Nothing serious. Anyway, okay! Go on! I mean, the whole kubo there is yours! Review for good, okay?"

"Whatever. Let's just go," sabi ni Ello at hinila ako palabas.

Bago pa man kami makalapit sa pinto ay tinawag kami ni Sir Drey. Ello grumbled a little, maybe he's slightly annoyed, kaya kinurot ko ang kanyang likuran.

"You two, wait. I just have a general and important instruction para sa inyong dalawa," he started.

And the next thing I heard was enough to soften my knees.