Epicenter Tape #2: Point in Time

#PIT18

#PIT18

"Hey!" I rose up from the couch and took my backpack and skateboard. "Alis muna ako!"

Wala namang namimilit sa text ni Tanner pero iyong utak ko ang kuryoso, he just texted a simple ice cream and I can feel that he's sad... I don't know the reason but I hope it's not about his relationship because I don't want to see him heartbroken. Sana malungkot lang siya dahil sa pagod, nagiging hectic na kasi ang schedule nila.

"Saan ka?" tanong agad ni Loti pagtapos madaliin ang paglagok sa bote ng juice.

"Diyan lang, may titingnan sa Town's shop!"

"Ano?"

Nangiwi ako sa daming tanong ni Loti. "Stickers sa skateboard ko!"

"Kakabili mo lang noong nakaraan, ah?"

Humalakhak si Barbara. "'Yong totoo, daig mo pa mga San Juan, ah! Nanay ka ba ni Kiya?"

Nagtawanan sila, naging bukambibig na tuloy nila ang San Juan. I grinned at Loti and waved my hand.

"Saglit lang ako!"

She glared at Barbara then back at me while pouting with confusion.

"Hindi naman! Kaya lang iiwanan mo ang manliligaw mo rito?"

My forehead creased as I glanced at Warner who's just looking at us simply while holding a cue stick, kalaro kasi siya nila Barbara ng billiards at hindi ko naisip iyong tanong ni Loti. Kailangan ba magkasama kami ni Warner? Hindi ko naman siya puwedeng isama sa amin ni Tanner! Nakakahiya iyon, 'no.

Warner blinked and rubbed his nape timidly. "It's alright, Loti. Hindi naman responsibilidad 'yon!"

I smiled widely and shrugged at Loti.

"You heard him, Lots! Babalik na lang ako kung nandito pa kayo hanggang mamaya!"

Loti gasped and squinted her eyes. "Sige, bye-bye! Ingat ka!"

"Ingat!" pahabol ni Maui at Barbara.

Kumaway rin si Warner at Ralph, lumabas ako ng bilyaran nila Barbara at sumampa na sa board ko para mas mapabilis. Nagbaon lang ako ng rubber shoes para mapalitan ang black shoes at mas kumportableng mag-skate, the street is a bit rowdy at this kind of hour. Uwian kasi at maraming tao dahil tambayan talaga ang linyang ito ng mga ayaw pang umuwi.

I slowed down and texted Tanner where we'd meet today and I was nervous with excitement while skating, nagreply naman siyang sa Ice-scam kaya roon na ako dumiretso agad. Mamaya na lang ako bibili ng panibagong stickers ko, hindi ko naman talaga kailangan pero natutuwa lang akong mag-ipon.

I immediately saw him leaning on the bicycle racks in front of the Ice-Scam, he's wearing a white Champion cap with his specs, a black muscle shirt and a pair of faded jeans. I just noticed how his wrist suits the multi-strand braided leather bracelet, nanonood siya sa mga nagdadaanang tao habang ang isang kamay ay nasa bulsa at ang isa'y nakatukod sa bicycle rack na hinihiligan.

My heart was thumping loudly, huminga ako ng malalim at lumapit na sa gawi niya habang yakap sa aking braso ang skateboard at nakasukbit ang backpack. I inhaled the sweet smell he has as the wind blows against me; he didn't notice my arrival that I had to poke his arm from the side. His head turned; our eyes met, ramdam ko ang pag-init ng mga pisngi nang kumurap siya kasabay ng pagngiting hindi labas ang mga ngipin at mapulang labi lamang.

"Haw..." he uttered.

His eyes... there's something off I couldn't fathom. I just feel it.

My stomach's whirling but I pretended normal, I shrugged and looked around.