Back at Step One (COMPLETED)

9. Excuses

Sometimes, I think I have the most incessant thoughts. For a moment, I just wished that having a sticky note tapped on someone’s forehead should be considered as fashion sense, because well, people need constant reminders.

I for one needed so. Hindi ko naalala na hindi nga pala ako nagpaalam kahit kanino sa school kung bakit ako absent for the previous day. I was always there on time, no offense, a few times that I would be tardy, but that wasn’t a regular thing, mga once in three months lang.

So imagine what happened when I got back sa Maranatha with a day of unexcused absence.

Chatter was the greeting I got when I got back at school Tuesday morning. I had just walked up to the room’s door before actually having to knock, making sure Kuya Gab was behind me all along.

The door was opened by MamiFaye, who was scheduled to be in the room for Literature class ng section namin. I bowed slightly, uttering a good morning.

MamiFaye—I mean Ms. Fajardo smiled. “Good morning, Andy. I believe you’re running late.”
“Goodmorning, Ma’am. I’m sorry for the tardiness. I’d take blame.” Kuya Gab steps in. “I’m Gab Alcantara, her guardian for the day, and was thinking if I could talk to you?”

Ms. Fajardo looks at us for a second before she nods. “Come in, Andy.” Sabi niya, opening the door for me. “You can take your seat, while I talk to your guardian.”

                                                                                      

Pumasok ako saka naman dumeretso sa may upuan ko. A bit of silence as I walked through. It wasn’t a new sight na may malate, but three periods late? That was a bit unusual. Kuya Gab and I ran later than that expected. Medyo umaga na kami nakarating ng QC and we stayed for slight breakfast sa bahay, and of course para makapag palit, with Papa telling me we would be talking about me running away later on. And then we were greeted by the heavy traffic.

Say, medyo nalate kami. I shrug off my bag sa tabi ng armchair ko before settling in sa tabi ni Jethro, who smiled. I gave one of my own back before they started bombarding me with questions.

 

Here was the dreaded part.

“At san ka galing, babaita?” Jenna asks me. “Bigla bigla ka nalang nawawala.”

I smiled at her, though Aya chimes in. “Well, salita na! Nag ditch ka noong Friday, tapos wala ka ng jogging session ng team noong Saturday. Pinuntahan ka namin ng Sunday sa bahay ninyo, wala ka daw dun. Tapos di ka papasok ng Monday? Anyare sayo?”

Nakatingin ako sa kanila. Of course. We were all on the volleyball team. Even in summer, we see each other on daily basis. And I rarely miss any training so… yeah. They were worried.

“Well, I was sick.” Sabi ko. I can lie, can’t I?
“But you are never sick.” Sabi ni Jethro.

“Well, you’re never one to doubt what I say before, now are you?” sabi ko, reeling him very silent as MamiFaye comes back into the room..