Unwavering

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25
Give it a chance

after seeing mama in the cafe.  three days later she came back home with her things. Dad was shock seeing her and mom looked at both of us sadly and then seconds later, she was sobbing and she couldn't stop saying sorry.

Hindi makapaniwala si papa pero nakikita ko ring hinihintay niyang umuwi si mama noong mga nakaraang araw. He barely even left the house nor go outside for awhile and most of the time ay hindi niya ako magawang kausapin. His eyes were always sad and he looked empty ngunit nang bumalik ulit si mama ay parang nanumbalik ang pag-asa sa mga mata niya but I can still see pain in it.

Aiden also came back to school just yesterday and Angelo is now talking to me often. Masasabi kong naging mas close kami sa isat-isa simula noong sumama siyang makipagkita kay mama sa cafe.

Maraming nangyari sa loob ng tatlong buwan. Nakahanap ng bagong trabaho si papa sa isang azucarera sa canlaon kaya hindi siya nakakauwi araw-araw pero sinisiguro niya namang makamusta kami ng madalas.

Malapit narin ang moving up ceremony namin and in a few months, Im enrolling for grade 10 and prepare for my SHS.

"Grabe, final exam na nga pinahirapan pa tayo," mangiyak-ngiyak na saad ni Jane. Napabusangot siya habang mahigpit na hinahawakan ang straps ng bag niya. Naglalakad kami ngayon sa hallway at kakatapos lang ng lahat ng exams namin and I feel relieved na wala na kaming po-problemahin kundi ang bakasyon at ang recognition day nalang.

"Yeah, I agree! Feeling ko talaga sasabog na yung utak ko kanina, buti nalang hindi nangyari." Saad naman ni Ana sa tabi ko. Natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. Mahirap naman talaga ang exams, lalo na kapag hindi ka nag aral. Alam ko namang tamad ang dalawang ito na magreview kaya panay ang reklamo nila.

Tahimik na lamang akong nakinig sa talak ng dalawa kong kaibigan hanggang sa maabot namin ang dulo ng hallway. Bumaba kami sa hagdan patungo sa ground floor ng building while still talking about the exam.

"Kamusta kaya yung score natin?" Tanong ni Jane. I was about to answer when I caught a glance at a tall guy walking up towards us. At an instant I froze at my spot and so is Ana and Jane.

"Hello, do you know where is the grade 9 class A room is?" Tanong nito. British accent ang tono ng pananalita niya at sa sobrang tangkad ay kailangan namin siyang tingalain. His hair was blond and his skin is fair white. He was holding his phone as if he was texting to someone. Masasabi kong may itsura ang isang ito at mukhang yayamanin.

Ngunit imbis na mamangha kami ay nagkatinginan kaming tatlo nina Ana dahil sa tanong niya. Why is he asking about our section?

"Classroom natin yun diba?" Mahinang bulong ni Jane. Kaagad ko naman siyang sinagi at saka tinignan ulit ang lalaking matangkad. I felt a kind of familiarity specially in the structure of his face. Para siyang may kamukha and I can't specify who it is.

And then there it is, I finally realized that he somehow looked like, Angelo.

The shape of his eyes and his lips. His sharp jawline and his tall height like of a basketball player, No doubt that he looks like, Angelo Esclamada, or maybe I was just imagining things dahil hindi ko man lang nakausap ang isang iyon, ngayong araw.

"It's in the second floor," Sagot ko kay kuya. He nodded his head and then pressed his fingers against his phone without even glancing at us. Nagsimula siyang maglakad at umalis papunta sa hangdan, probably going to the second floor. My jaw dropped at his action.

Grabe! wala man lang pa thank you!? Gwapo sana, panget nga lang ng ugali!

"Ay, nag left the group kaagad. Wala man lang reply." Napangiwi si Jane. Natawa naman kami sa sinabi niya. Hindi na lamang namin binigyan pa ng pansin ang nangyari at kaagad na kaming tumungong canteen para kumain ng lunch.