When Love Grows (COMPLETED)

Chapter 12

When Love Grows (12)

"3 apples plus one apple is equal to?" I was waiting for Maya to say the correct answer. She was looking at her fingers while silently counting.

Paglabas namin kanina ni Kuya Miguel we went to the spot where we ate the last time I went here. Sakto rin na nakapagpalit na ng damit si Maya at Ate Kristina. She already has her materials with her tapos tinabihan na niya ako so I started to teach her math.

"Four na apols Ate!" she showed me four of her fingers.

I slightly pinched cheek. "You got it right!

"Patabi ako, a," Kuya Miguel sat with us. May hawak siyang sketch pad at pencil.

"Maya, answer mo lahat ito. Tapos che-check ko kapag tapos ka na." I told her.

I glanced at him. His brows were furrowed. He drew something pero binura niya rin agad.

"Kuya, ang pangit pala ng sulat kamay mo." Hindi ko napigilang sabihin nang makita ko ang notes na nasa likod.

He chuckled. "Nagmamadali na ako, e. Importante mga nakasulat dito. Studyante pa ako dito noon."

"It's not legible. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan." I said trying to read what was written.

"Isulat mo nga pangalan mo dito. Mapanlait ka a," he handed me the sketchpad.

I arched my brows. "I'm the former secretary of our class." I laughed from glorifying myself.

I wrote my name on his sketch pad, Precious Chavez.

He said my complete name and he looked at me. He didn't say anything, see? He wasn't against me.

I challenged him. "Write your name beside mine. Compare natin."

He scribbled and finished quickly. Parang pinadaan lang niya ang pencil sa papel.

"Miguel Alvares." I read his name.

"This one's just fine." I said. "Nababasa naman siya." Pangit parin.

"Ako din, sulat ko rin sa'kin!" mabilis na kinuha ni Maya ang sketchpad.

She wrote slowly. Maya Gleni Alvares was what written there.

"Your full name is cute." I chuckled, repeating her name Gleni.

"Kain. Baka gusto niyo," Ate Kristina placed the plate of sliced guavas on the table.

"Bakit kumakain ka na naman? Kaya sumasama iyang tiyan mo halo-halo na ang kinakain mo." She smiled and sat with us, hindi siya nagsalita.

"Kahapon naghahanap ka ng suha. Parang hindi ka nabubusog."

"M-Miguel naman. Parang kasalanan ko pa. Malapit na akong datnan kaya ganito." She said. I agree. I tend to eat a lot before my period. Lalo na sour foods ang hinahanap ko.

"Anong dadating Ate?" napalingon kaming tatlo kay Maya.

Napatawa si Ate Kristina. "May dadating na regla. Kapag dalaga ka na magkakaroon ka nun." Halatang hindi niya naintindihan ang sinabi ni Ate Kristina. It was something out of her mind zone. It wasn't graspable to a five year old kid.

"Legra? Ate Prechut may ganun ka na?" biglang tanong niya sa akin.

I hesitantly nodded. Napatingin ako kay Kuya Miguel. I wasn't comfortable discussing it lalo na't tinanong pa ako. She didn't know, she was a kid.

Bumaling ako sa pad paper niya. "Three more left to answer. Sagot ka na dali." I needed to shut her curiosity off dahil alam kong she won't stop asking until her confusedness get sealed.