Nang sumapit ang ikalawang araw mula nang magpasukan ay hatid-sundo ni Travis si Emma mula sa bahay nila hanggang sa ULP. Ika niya, para raw makatipid si Emma. Half of it is true, but the other reason is Travis want to keep her accompany, especially that Emmaclair has a habit of tiring herself until the end of the day, which is not a good thing.
"Thank you," Emma said to Travis as he opened the door for her and walked to the other side.
Travis opened the door and sat next to Emma. He inserted the key in the keyhole, and minutes later it began roaring and drove the car.
Travis stopped by at a coffee shop. Both of them left his car and ordered their usual drinks, matcha and vanilla with one shot of espresso. It became their routine before going to university until the midterms swiftly came by.
They became busy, but Travis still finds time to come over at Emma's house whenever Emma's brother, Emmanuel asks him to teach him a topic about Pre-Calculus, which he hardly understands not unless it is taught to him accordingly.
"Kailangan kasi alam mo muna 'yong solutions SOH CAH TOA bago mo ma-solve yang situational problems na 'yan." Travis said as Emmanuel once asked him again.
Napakamot ng ulo si Emmanuel at tiningnan ulit ang notes niya para alamin ang solutions ng SOH CAH TOA. Hindi nila alam, habang nag-aaral sila ay pinapanood din sila ni Emmaclair na nag-aaral sa kusina.
Emma has a clear view of them in the living room from the kitchen. Natutuwa siya kapag nakikita niyang natututo ang kapatid niya sa pagtuturo ni Travis, na baka hindi rin niya kayanin kung hindi nag-offer si Travis dahil siya mismo ay mahina rin sa Pre-Calculus.
Emma stood up and went to the counter to get the foods and serve it on the table. Wala silang yaya or nanny, they cook for themselves and they wash their clothes themselves. Iniiwanan lang sila ng parents nila ng pera o card kapag may pupuntahang meeting o seminar. At bilang nakatatandang kapatid, siya lagi ang nagluluto ng ulam. Maliban nga lang kung gabi, Emma's too tired to cook, minsan ay nag-oorder na lang sila o kaya ay si Emmanuel na mismo ang nagluluto ng ulam nila.
"Boys, you can continue it later. Kain muna kayo!" Pagtawag nito sa dalawa at tumayo na galing sa pagkakaupo at dali-daling naupo sa mga upuang nasa gilid ng mesa, halatang pagod na pagod kakaaral.
Emma hid her laugh and sat next to his brother, na katapat naman ni Travis. Nauna na sa pagsasandok si Emmanuel, at nang matapos siya ay naghintayan pa ang dalawa kung sino ba ang susunod, habang ang isa ay walang pakialam at tinitikman na ang nilutong ulam.
"Ikaw na," pagpapauna ni Travis kay Emma.
Emma nodded and scoop the rice out of the bowl. Sumunod na rin si Travis at sumandok na rin ng ulam. The three of them ate their food quietly, maliban kay Emmanuel. He keeps on whining about Pre-Calculus na tinatawanan lang ng ate niya, habang si Travis ay sinasabihan siya na mag-aaral ulit sila mamaya.
Nang matapos sila kumain ay bumalik na ulit ang dalawang lalaki sa sala at niligpit naman ni Emma ang mga pinagkainan at naghugas nito. She came back to her review materials after washing na dishes and studied again.
Kakaaral niya, hindi niya namalayan na tapos na rin ang dalawa. The two already fixed their notebooks and Travis is ready to leave.
"Akyat na ako, ate." Paalam ni Emmanuel sa dalawa at iniwan sila sa baba.
They both stared at each other while admiring the silence. None of them initiated to speak. Eventually, Travis broke the staring competition.
"Una na 'ko," nauutal pang sabi nito at nauna nang naglakad palabas ng pinto.
Emma followed her until Travis got to his car. Pumasok siya roon at mayamaya'y ibinaba ang bintana sa front seat. When Emmaclair saw his face, she gave him a wave and a smile. Kumaway rin pabalik si Travis at sumaludo bago itaas muli ang bintana at nagmaneho na paalis ng bahay nila Emmaclair.
It was their routine despite of having the midterms, at sa sobrang busy kakaaral, minsan ay hindi na nakakakain si Emma ng tanghalian, dahilan upang siya ay makaranas ng pagkahilo. Travis does not know that she's skipping meals. Minsan nga ay matcha na lang ang laman ng sikmura niya sa buong araw ng pag-aaral.
Kaya nang makita ni Travis si Emma sa parking lot na para bang namumutla, he immediately went to her and held her arms.
"Ayos ka lang? Para kang may sakit." Tanong nito kay Emma na may halong pag-aalala.
Emma just nodded and gave a short smile before going inside the car. Ikinabit nito ang seatbelt at isinandal ang ulo sa headrest ng kotse.
Emma seems have no energy to talk, that's why Travis didn't initiate her. He just drove the car to her home and stared at her for a few seconds before she finally opened her eyes. Naroon muli ang payak na ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi, dahan-dahang kinalas ang seatbelt at binuksan ang pinto.
Emmaclair stopped and looked at him.
"Sorry," biglaan nitong pasabi.
"Hala, bakit ka nagso-sorry?" Nabibigla namang tanong ni Travis at napakalas din ng seatbelt.
"Sorry if I was not a good company these days, I'm just busy." Emma reasoned and pressed her lips.
Nakita naman ni Emma ang paglambot ng ekspresyon ni Travis kaya may namuo rin na luha sa kaniyang mga mata.
"Hala, bakit ka umiiyak? Hala!" Nagpapanic nang tanong ni Travis at bumama ng kotse para umikot at puntahan si Emma.
Emma let out a short giggle and wiped her tears. Naguguluhang tiningnan ni Travis si Emma. Bumagsak ang mga balikat ni Emma at muling ngumiti, ibinuka nito ang kaniyang mga braso at niyakap si Travis na siya namang ikinabigla nito.
"5 seconds," Emma said as he hugged Travis.
Makalipas ang limang segundo ay kumalas na rin siya.
"Thank you, I've recharged myself again. And thank you for being always by my side." Emma smiled sweetly and gently tapped Travis's right cheek and walked to their house, leaving Travis in a state of mixed emotions.
