Every Bad Thing

Chapter Three

Silas is good at disappearing during recess and lunch. Bago ko pa siya maayang sumabay sa akin sa pagkain ay palagi siyang naglalaho na parang bula.

I could look for him. May isang lugar na ako na sigurado akong pinupuntahan niya. The gym, what else? Pero hindi ako nag-abalang pumunta dahil inaya ako ng mga kaklase kong babae.

Nung lunch naman ay katulad ng nakagawian, kasama ko ang mga kapatid ko maliban kay Hyon at ang pinsan namin na si Ate Lavie.

That school day ended with me saying goodbye to him. It actually made me happy when he said it back to me, too.

The next morning, I woke up earlier than I usually do. Naunahan ko sa pag-ayos at pagkain ang mga kapatid ko.

My parents questioned me again why I'm going to school earlier, I didn't lie this time. I just told them that I feel like it. Hindi naman nila ako pinigilan. Ipinahatid nila ako sa driver namin.

My mood brightened when I saw Silas in our classroom. He's here and he's alone! Walang epal. Lumaki ang ngiti ko.

He's got a book placed on top of his desk. He's reading again. I guess he's into that stuff, huh.

I closed the door behind me. That caused Silas to lift his head and turn to the door way. Our eyes immediately met.

"Hi!" I cheerfully greeted. Lumapit ako sa pweso naming dalawa. I brought down my bag, hanging it on the back of the chair in front of me.

He was looking at me expectantly. Like he already knew I'd say something to him and he's just waiting for it.

"Are you always this early?" I asked him.

He gently nodded. "I'm a morning person."

"Really?" I grimaced. "Ako, I like mornings, but I don't like being forced to wake up. Gusto ko kusa akong magigising."

Silas didn't say anything. Itinukod ko ang siko sa ibabaw ng desk ko at pumalumbaba abang nakatingin lang sa kanya. He's looking straight back at me.

"You're not shy around me anymore." I meekly smiled, still looking at him. Nagiging hilig ko na yata ang titigan siya. No one can blame me though. He's too gorgeous not to look at. "Pero dapat lang yan. We're already friends. I want you to be comfortable spending time with me."

"I'm comfortable." he nodded.

My smile turned into a grin. I shook my head to shake off my silly expression. "Do you have other friends here other than me?"

He shook his head. I frowned because of it. "Why?"

"I was raised in New York. I just recently moved here in the Philippines."

"Really? But you're good in Tagalog for someone who was raised in the West. Why did you move here?" I asked.

"My mom... was a Filipina. She would always talk to me in Filipino. She... passed away last year, and my father decided it'd be best if I'll be here with him."

My heart suddenly felt heavy. Is this why he's got a world of his own? He's still mourning? He's still too hurt to welcome new people in his life?

Sabagay, new people means you're officially moving on. I don't think it'd be easy to let go of both the person and pain. Kahit na masakit, at least nararamdaman mo pa rin kahit na nawala na sa'yo diba?

"You miss her." I quietly said.

"Everyday." he nodded.

Hindi ko na alam ang isasagot pa roon. It's too early for such a heavy topic, but it felt nice that he opened up to me. Pakiramdam ko ay tunay na tunay na talaga ang pagkakaibigan naming dalawa.