When the Rain Pours (Fortalejo Series #1)

Chapter 43

Almost

My parents and I celebrated the holidays abroad with the rest of our whole family. Buong buwan ng Disyembre ay nandoon kami sa States at umuwi lang noong malapit nang magsimula ang klase. Akala ko ay hindi na muling magagawi sa bahay si Yovin pero nagkamali ako. Nang umuwi kami, kinabukasan, nandoon na kaagad siya at pabirong naniningil ng pasalubong mula sa akin.

Of course, because I was not expecting him to be that demanding, I didn't have anything to give him. Even a simple souvenir or a box of imported chocolate. Wala. All because I'm not prepared.

"It's okay," he chuckled when he saw that I was pressured. "bumawi ka na lang sa birthday ko."

I just gave him a ridiculous glare. Hindi ako sumagot. Hindi ako umuo at hindi rin ako tumanggi. Ayokong may kung anong isipin siya e hindi naman kami close na dalawa. Siya lang itong nagsasabing friends na kami.

Eh sa pagkakaalala ko, si Tristan lang naman ang lalaking kaibigan ko.

"Ano bang... gusto mong regalo?" Sa huli, hindi ko pa rin napigilang magtanong.

I saw how his mood brighten more. Ang ngiti niyang halos mapunit na ang mga labi niya ay sobrang nakakahawa. Huli na nang mapansin kong nakangiti na rin pala ako habang naghihintay sa sagot niya.

"Kung anong sasabihin ko, 'yon din ba ang eksaktong ireregalo mo sa akin?" He asked in a very enthusiastic tone.

"Pwedi. But I will just use my remaining allowance. Kung kulang, manghihingi na lang ako kina Mama." Seryosong sagot ko.

Napakamot siya sa batok. "Ah! Nagbibiro lang naman ako. Ayos lang sa akin kahit wala kang regalo basta ba ay dadalo ka. I noticed that you don't have any girl friends. May ate ako na matanda lang sa akin ng ilang taon at may apat na pinsang babae na hindi nalalayo sa'yo ang edad. For sure magkakasundo kayong lahat."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "I'm perfectly fine with having just Tristan as my friend—"

"Si Tristan lang?"

I sighed. "Pati... ikaw."

Yovin smiled. "There's nothing wrong with just having a few friends. But for sure you'll be more happy if you have girl friends who you can relate with all the time and talk about girl stuffs and such."

Ngumuso ako at napaisip.

"I also noticed that you don't get along with your cousin. Masama ba ugali niya? Inaaway ka ba niya?" Curiousity is very evident in his eyes.

Umiling ako. "Mabait naman si Aubrey. Sadyang hindi lang kami magkasundo. Tita Isabel is also a strict mom so maybe that's why Aubrey always choose to stay inside her room than bonding with me."

"Kaya ba 'yung Tristan tuloy palaging kasama mo? Saan mo ba 'yan nakilala? Anong apelyido niya?"

"His surname is Del Prado."

"Doesn't ring a bell at all." Malditong komento ni Yovin na akala ko'y naging mabait na. Hindi pa rin pala.

"Whatever." I said sternly but he just laughed at me.