Meet me at the Caroline Street

Nine

JOE

I was about to go up to the second floor when I stopped. Napansin ko sa 'di kalayuan sina North na nakatambay ngayon sa hagdanan ng kabilang building at mukhang nagkakasihayan ang mga loko dahil hanggang dito sa tinatayuan ko rinig na rinig ko ang halakhak ni South.

Napayuko ang ulo ko at pinagmasdan ang hawak kong isang notes. I sighed as I stepped back my feet down the stairs again. Lumabas ako sa building at nilapitan sila.

When I got close to them I immediately stood in front of Denver who was now sitting on the stairs next to North. I immediately handed Denver my notes. "Here take this. This is what you want right." I said to him.

Bago pa mukha ni Denver ang notebook ay agad na inagaw ni South ito at binuksan. "Woah. Binibigyan mo ba siya ng reviewer, Joe?" South said as he continue to turn every pages of the note.

Nakidungaw rin si Ronan at Quinn.

Napairap na lang ako. "Yeah." I answered.

Quinn, South and Ronan turned their heads up and looked at me. Pagpagkahulugan ang mga tingin nila kaya agad na akong nagpaliwanag. "Don't give me those look. Denver was just asking."

"Asking what?" North suddenly asked.

"Not actually giving that notes. Well, this man wants me to tuitor him from the upcoming exam but I can't." I answered. I looked at Denver who suddenly using his phone.

"So, I decided to just gave Denver some of my notes that can help him." I continue. I crossed my arms. "Any questions?"

"Grabe ang daya. Ba't siya lang binibigyan mo? Paano naman ako?" pagdadrama bigla ni South.

As usual binatukan na naman siya ni Noth. "Paano ka? E kung itapon ko sa'yo mga ninanakaw mong notes ko sa kwarto at tatambak mo lang naman sa table mo? Sipain kita r'yan e." iritableng sambit ni North.

"Sinabi ba talaga 'yon sa'yo nitong si Denver?" Ronan asked. I nodded. "Hindi ka na nahiya pare!" singhal pa ni Ronan saka niya pinagtatadyak si Denver.

"Gago ka ba ah! Nasasaktan ako!" Napatayo na si Denver at gumanti sa pagtitrip ni Ronan sa kanya.

Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin at tiningnan si Quinn na hindi maipinta ang mukha.

"Ayos ka lang?" tanong ko kay Quinn.

Quinn nodded. "Yes. But did Denver said something to you last time?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing? He just told me. He like me... He like me to be his tuitor but as you can see I refuse." I answered.

Yeah. That's what he meant last time we met in the field. Akala ko kung ano nang malalim na pag-uusapan, iyon lang pala. Pinakaba pa ako ng unggoy na'to.

"Gago! Akin 'yan!"

"Teka lang naman! Picture lang!"

"Ako muna kasi!"

Natawa na lang kaming tatlo nina Quinn at North habang pinapanood ang tatlong unggoy na si Ronan, South at Denver na nag-aagawan sa notebook ko.

Hay nako. Nag-away na naman ang mga bata.

"Nga pala, Joe. Hindi ba't sa susunod na araw na ang swim meet ninyo? Saan raw gaganapin?" lumingon sa'kin si North na nagtatanong ngayon.

"Iyon ba? Sa Beverly raw umaga." sagot ko naman.