Angel on Lend

14

Days passed by quickly since By and Langley had a little fight. Ako nga ang nahihiya para kay By pero masaya rin ako na nagbati agad sila. Sabi niya pa mukha raw mabait si Langley. I'm also surprised that she apologized. Subtle changes. She's growing.

Nandito ako sa garden namin at dinidiligan ang mga halaman ko. I saw my mother getting out of the house, siguro aalis na ulit siya.

She stopped by the garden and greeted me. "How's school, honey?" She said while smiling sweetly at me.

I smiled back and put down the hose. "I'm doing well." Tipid kong sagot.

"Running for cum laude pa rin ba? I hope so kasi dapat sumunod ka sa yapak namin," she said while giggling like getting a Latin honor is that easy.

I understand them, isa sila sa mga pinakasikat na botanist sa bansa kaya pinakuha nila ako ng Bs Bio na course.

"Anyways, nand'yan sa loob si Brad. How's your relationship with him ba? Sailing smoothly ba? Alam mo naman we're friends with his paren-" 'di ko na pinatapos ang nanay ko at nakipagbeso na sa kaniya.

"I should keep him entertained. See you later," I said as I run towards the house.

Hindi ko na siya nilingon at hinanap na lang kung nasaan si Brad. Nung nakita ko siya, panay ang sabi niya sa'kin na nawalan na raw ako ng time sa kaniya. "I missed you 'no pero tampo pa rin ako sa'yo."

Niyaya niya 'ko kumain ng lunch sa labas pero run sa malapit sa school kasi may kukunin pa raw muna siya run.

Nang makaupo na kami sa kainan, ang dami na namang in-order ni Brad. "I like seeing you eat. Tsaka para tumaba ka na rin, singpayat mo na yata 'yung walis tingting."

I just looked at the utensils not minding his last words. Pero I'm distracted nang makakita ako ng salamin sa unahan namin, I look so thin. I also scanned my wrists pero ang payat pa rin. Is it wrong? Kahit pakiramdam ko ayos lang sa'kin na payat ako.

I just shaked my head and said to myself to not let those words go into my head.

I was happily eating my pancakes when Brad asked "I was thinking of confessing to this girl."

Sa gulat ko ay nabitawan ko ang utensils ko at napatingin sa kaniya. "What? Who?"

"Hindi ko lang alam kung paano. Dapat ba may flowers and chocolates or both? Dapat ba enggrande o normal lang?" He said while panic is painted in his face.

I sip at my drink thinking what to say. "You like this girl, 'di ba dapat alam mo kung anong gusto niya?"

Napalingon siya agad sa'kin at napakunot ng noo. "Pero 'di pa 'to nagkakajowa, 'di ko alam."

"Isipin mo muna anong gusto mo. 'Kala ko mag-confess ka lang pero parang gusto mo rin namang jowain." I said as I continue to eat my food.

"I liked her for years already. Tsaka legal age na siya siguro pwede ko na ayain to date 'di ba?"

Tumango ako sa kaniya at kumain pa rin. "So sino nga?" Pagtatanong ko ulit.

"You'll know, soon."

Nang makatapos kami kumain sabi niya sabay na kami pauwi pero sabi ko may practice pa 'ko ng sayaw. Kaso pinilit niya na ihatid niya 'ko. "Malapit lang 'yun. I can ride a je-"

'Di ko natapos ang sinabi ko ng tumigil ang motor sa harapan namin. I saw Brad' jaw clenched as he saw who's riding the motorcycle. "Ang kapal din naman ng mukha mo. Pagkatapos mong nakawin phone ni Maddie," panimula ni Brad.

"Napag-usapan na namin 'yun. We're good," sabi ni Langley tapos tumingin sa'kin. "Tara na late na." He said in a cold deep voice.

Halatang nalilito si Brad sa sinasabi ni Langley kaya I've explained to him na we're dance partners and nangyari 'yun dahil sa binigay na flyer ni Brad.

Nakataas pa rin kilay ni Brad kahit nagpapaalam na ko sa kaniya. He even threatened Langley. "Ingatan mo 'yan. 'Di mo alam kung gaano ko inaalagaan 'yan."

Nalito ako sa sinabi ni Brad pero I just shrugged.

"Oh do you?" Pagtatanong ni Langley ng nakangisi kaya mas lalong nainis si Brad.

I just hopped on his motor para makaaalis na. The tension's not good. 'Di sila pedeng magkasama.

I scolded him about how petty he is earlier. "He's just being protective. Tsaka ang tagal na naming friends, how can you say that to him."

Pinark niya ang motor and fixed his hair. "Protective ba 'yun? Ingatan daw kita. Bagay ka ba para ingatan?"

He didn't let me answer him. Hinila niya na lang ako run sa thriftshop. I thought we're going to practice bakit kami nasa ukay-ukay? When we entered the shop, I quickly covered my nose kasi may kakaibang amoy 'yung building.

Sabi niya maghanap na raw kami costume para raw makapag-practice ng may costume at 'di na manibago. Okay I understand his concerns pero bakit sa ukay pa? Ang dami namang shop na malapit sa'min and hindi second-hand.

I roamed around and try to pick some clothes. Hinanap ko rin 'yung fitting room pero nagulat ako na kurtina lang pantakip. I can't try my clothes in there!

Kaso no choice na ako and sabi ni Langley siya na raw magbabantay, ako na mauna magsukat. I tried the beige top. May pagka-fitted siya sa waist pero maalwan naman kung sasayaw. I liked its details na may puffy long sleeves na see-through at may glitters. The neckline's not too low rin kaya gusto ko. I can pair it with my dirty white na shorts. Parang ayos din naman kung ipapangsayaw at pede rin magamit for casual attire. Kaso 'di ko maisip kung ipapakita ko ba sa kaniya 'to at kung papayag siya kasi kitang-kita na ang payat ko rito. Baka pagtawanan niya 'ko.

When I decided to open the curtains, I saw him looking at his nails and looks bored. "Hey," I called his attention so he can say something about my top.

He lifted his head and smiled. Nag-thumbs up pa siya. "Okay lang?" I kept asking him kasi 'di ko mapakali baka sinasabi niya lang na okay pero 'di naman. Baka 'di bagay sa'kin kasi ang payat ko though I like it pero nakakakaba pa rin.

"Bagay," he simply said.

Kumunot noo ko sa kaniya. "Hindi ba ang payat ko? Bagay ba talaga? Maganda ba?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"Bagay nga. Pero ikaw, basta sa'kin you're the prettiest when you feel like you're the prettiest."

I was taken aback by his words. "Okay lang kahit payat tignan?"

"Gusto mo ba 'yung top?" He asked kaya umoo ako sa kaniya. "Nahihiya ka ba kapag suot mo?" He asked again kaya I shaked my head.

"It fits me perfectly, pero ikaw nga tinatanong ko," naiinis kong sagot sa kaniya.

"Iyun naman pala eh. Bakit tinatanong mo pa 'ko?" He asked and tilted his head.

Nainis ako sa kaniya kaya sinara ko na ulit at nagpalit na. Pagkabukas ko ulit ng curtain at lalabas na may sinabi siya sa'kin. "You should know by now that it's always how you see yourself. Beauty is subjective and I say you're pretty when you're confident. Bagay sa'yo kung sa tingin mo bagay sa'yo," and he tapped my shoulder signaling for me to step aside. Kasi siya na papasok sa fitting room.

I'm dumbfounded by his words. Should I really not worry about how thin I am? Lalo na kung ayos lang naman sa'kin?

We paid for the clothes at sobrang tuwa ko kasi 50 pesos lang 'yung top.

Nang pauwi na kami tumigil muna kami sa open space malapit sa school niya. We're sitting on the grass while watching the skies blooming in full colors.

"Bakit naisip mo na 'di bagay sa'yo kasi payat ka?" He suddenly asked out of the blue.

I shrugged my shoulders and clicked my tongue. "People around me keep on saying I'm so thin. Magpataba ka naman, mukha kang stick and so on." I said while remembering a few people saying those words.

Tumango-tango siya at humiga sa damuhan. Tinignan ko siya at " You know what? Kahit 'di maayos ang pagkakilala natin, I must say I'm thankful for meeting you. I'm happy." I chuckled a little 'cause I realized it's too cheesy.

He just laughed and clapped. "Me too. I'm happy."

Tumayo na siya at inabot ang kamay niya para mapatayo na rin ako.

"I'm happy that I'm making you happy." He said as I grabbed his hand.