Running After The Dusk

20

Halt

"Nandyan na mga bodyguards mo."

I sighed in relief as I saw the three of them entering the canteen. Nabalot ng iba't ibang bulong bulungan ang bawat sulok dahil sakanilang tatlo. Murmurs are on each corners lalo na nang pumasok pa si Cyrus at ngumiti na parang nakajackpot sa isang laro.

From my guess, I think they recognized the faces of Chev. Magmula pa nung nabuo ang panibagong team nung freshman ay naging matunog na rin ang pangalan nila sa Rio so no wonder why the students are whispering on each other's ear as if there are artists who came by.

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko nang makitang palingon lingon si Andrei at animo'y may hinahanap. His shoulders got down when our gazes met, switching to a poker face right after. Dali dali silang naglakad hanggang sa makarating sa mesa naming tatlo.

"You didn't tell us exactly the canteen."

Andrei's forehead narrowed in frustration.

"Obviously, it's the Senior high ano ba tingin niyo kay Kleo, grade 6?"

"Just try to be more specific next time."

"Ito kasing si Cyrus, sabi sa Elementary na canteen raw." Miggy pointed his index finger on Cy, looking tired. Tagaktak ang pawis na tumutulo sa gilid ng mukha niya. Assuming from what the boys look like, they must felt stressed out in finding the canteen. Mukhang tumakbo pa nga sila.

"Nagmukha tuloy kaming mga guardian ng mga bata doon."

"Bagay naman sayo, tol. Mukha ka nang tatay e."

Miguel had his hair slicked back, carefully pressing both of his eyes together so he could manage to see. Kapag kasi babad siya initan at biglang lumilom, makakaramdam agad si Miguel talaga na parang nangingitim ang paligid. He doesn't even have trouble in seeing but then he finds it too hard to see when he just came out of the sun.

"Ulol, kaya pala pag magkasama tayo tingin ng tao ikaw tatay ko."

"Where the hell did you get the face of arguing in front of the students? Hindi ba kayo nahihiya?" Pumagitna si Andrei sa kanilang dalawa at marahan silang tinulak. Andrei, being the oldest in the group really acts matured lalo na kapag sa harap ng mga tao.

Just then, the two boys stopped quarreling as they pulled a chair from the other side of the table.

Pinagkunot ko ang noo ko nang mapansin kong nakatitig lang silang apat sakin. The two boys are starting to waggle their brows and so is Kleo. On the other hand, Andrei just stared at us with no expression at all- just casually leaning his back against the chair.

Tumingin ako kay Vino para silipin kung napapansin niya din ba ang napapansin ko. He then shrugged his shoulders, obviously with no idea at all.

"Oh come on, you guys can sit closer even if we're around. It's not even a big deal to us." Kleo broke the silence, raising a corner from his mouth.

"Kaya nga, be comfortable with us bro." Miguel tapped Vino's shoulder virtually- nagmukha tuloy siyang nagppreach. He then looked at me before placing his hands down. "At ikaw naman Halt, wag kang pabebe alam ko namang gusto mo rin."

"Parang hindi ka naman nasanay samin e." Cyrus added. "Ayos lang talaga, pipikit nalang kami ng mata pag iba na."

"As if."

They're so shameless- really. Good thing, it was only that sitting closer they noticed. Kung magsasalita pa sila ng panibago, aalis talaga ako sa harapan nila.

"Won't you come back?" I consciously asked as I eyed for the group of people he left a while ago (including Leiane) the boys and Kleo are probably annoying each other so they don't really give a damn about us right now.