Meet Me In Mabini (City Series #2)

Chapter 2

#MMIM02

I took a deep breath as I walked on the sidewalk while it rained. Wala pa akong nadalang payong ngayon, and I have to get to Church before 5 dahil maghahanda pa kami ng gamit para sa youth service namin tonight.

I guess Claude already left, though. Ang sabi niya sabay kaming magpapa-Church ngayon.

Nilabas ko yung phone ko at sinubukang itext sina Hanzo pero mukhang nag-message na si Claude. Typical. He's with Raffy again.

It was nice seeing her again. Margaux was one of my closest friends, and Raffy's always been her little sister to me. It's crazy to think that Claude actually likes her.

I know I shouldn't be selfish about it. I'm just his best friend after all. Nakakalungkot lang na hindi ko na siya nakakasama masaydo. Sometimes, I feel like the only time we get to spend with each other is when he isn't with Raffy.

Hindi pala nakakatuwa maging second option, 'no?

"Uy, Nat!" tawag ni Lance na mukhang katatapos rin lang ang klase.

Lance usually just keeps to himself. Pero medyo madaldal naman kapag kasama kami. But aside from that, he's too lazy to socialize with other people.

"Pa-town ka?" tanong ni Lance sa akin.

Kinuha niya rin yung hawak kong libro at eco bag na nilagyan ko ng mga ginamit namin sa isang subject.

"Yeah. Akala ko pwede pa 'ko sumabay kay Claude," I answered.

"Ay, nauna na 'yon. Mineet si Raffy ata," sabi niya sabay kibit balikat.

"Wala ba kayong training ngayon?" I asked.

Umiling siya. Sabay kaming tumigil sa harap ng gate para mag-para ng taxi. Sobrang haba rin kasi ng pila ng jeep.

Ginala ko yung mata ko para makahanap ng taxi. Medyo maulan rin kaya sumilong muna kami ni Lance sa isang waiting shed.

"Kumusta na pala ate mo?" tanong ni Lance sa akin.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko sa kanya dahil hindi ko pa 'yon nakkwento sa kanila.

"Paano mo alam?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ka-video call ni Mommy si Tita kagabi." He shrugged. "How is she? Uuwi daw ba sina Tita?"

"Hindi, eh." I laughed. "She's staying home for now. Nagulat rin kami, eh. Hindi makauwi sina Mommy."

Lance forced a smile and patted my head.

I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment now that I needed Claude more than ever. Especially since we just found out that my sister's really sick. Ilang beses ko na siyang sinubukang tanungin kung pwede ba kaming lumabas, at ilang beses ko na rin siyang inimbita sa bahay para mag-dinner.

He's always so busy now.

"Kung kailangan mo ng tulong, sabihin mo lang, ah," Lance said. "Pwede naman kami pumunta sa inyo."

Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Kaya namin 'yan, aysus. Gagaling rin si Ate."

He chuckled and raised his hand for a taxi. "Napaka-optimistic mo rin, eh 'no?"

"Naman." I smiled. "Ikaw kasi nega ka eh!"

"Hindi naman." He laughed as we both got inside the cab.

Napatingin lang ako sa labas habang paalis kami ng Bakakeng. It's a pretty wide area, at maraming pa-sikot sikot at paakyat baba pero it's still peaceful for me. Unlike sa main campus na parang lahat ng tao pagod na pagod at nagaapura na makapunta sa kailangan nilang puntahan.