Teka Lang

Wakas III

Wakas III

"Hindi ka sasabay?" Niel asked me when they noticed I walked first before them.

I nodded and replied, "Oo, kasama ko si Cleneo ngayong recess."

Agad naman nilang naintindihan iyon at hinayaan na akong umalis. Ngayong Biyernes lamang kami nagkaroon ng oras magsabay sa recess dahil nitong mga nakaraan ay hindi na ako madalas bumaba upang kumain.

Lagi akong naghahapit tuwing break time dahil mas gusto ko pang matulog at magpahinga sa gabi kaysa mag-aral pa.

I noticed that I've been too busy caring much about my academics to the point that I started risking my health. Bahala na kung hindi tapos ang assignments o take home activities, basta makapagpahinga.

Laging maraming tao sa canteen at madalas din akong nababati ng mga kakilala tuwing nandito.

I stood in front of the entrance as I waited for Cleneo. Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating na siyang walang kasama. She immediately smiled upon seeing me.

"Kanina ka pa?" she asked.

"Nope, just came a minute ago," I answered.

I noticed the hair clips pinned on her head, the clips similar to what Aleydis' used to wear before.

She spoke, "Hindi ka pa bumibili? Tara na, baka makasingit tayo."

I held her left hand as we entered the crowded canteen, I seriously had no energy to interact to others specially to girls because I didn't want Cleneo to think differently.

Sabay kaming pumila sa nagtitinda ng rice meal, mabuti na lamang at mabilis din kaming nakabilli.

We decided to stay at the school's student lounge and thankfully there was a vacant table for us.

Nakita ko ring sa kabilang lamesa lamang sina Drake at Niel, they probably noticed us too but they chose not to interfere. There was nothing as awkward as this.

"Kumusta ang RRL mo?" Cleneo tried to speak to me.

"Tapos ko na and this time, tama na," I chuckled, "plano naming mag-overnight next week para i-practice at gawin 'yong presentation sa defense."

Her eyes widened and asked, "Saan kayo mago-overnight?"

I shrugged and replied, "Still not sure but our first option ay sa inyo."

"Hala, kailan?" she sounded excited.

I smirked and stated, "Bakit parang mas excited ka pa?"

"Siyempre, pupunta kayo... so kailan nga? Para mahanda na rin ang bahay, 'no!"

"Hindi pa naming sigurado dahil hindi pa yata nasasabi ni Chloe. Doon ang una naming option kasi malapit sa lahat ng bahay nina Drake, Niel at Joy. Saka sabi ni Chloe, hindi siya papayagan if siya ang mago-overnight sa bahay ng iba. Probably Monday kami mago-overnight sa inyo, then sabay-sabay na kaming papasok," I told her.

"Nice! Hindi talaga papayagan iyong si ate kasi strikto sina mama't papa. Ang dami pang pagdadaanan bago ka payagan," kuwento niya.

"Gano'n din sila sa 'yo?"

She nodded and whispered, "Kaya nga hindi kita mapakilala, 'di ba? Gustuhin ko mang ipaalam sa kanila, natatakot din ako."

Tumango na lamang ako dahil ilang beses na namin itong napag-usapan. Hindi ko rin siya maipakilala sa magulang ko dahil si mama, na sa ibang bansa at nagt-trabaho. My father's busy with his new family.

My relative barely even cared. For them, I must only study well so that I'd have something to show to them. Kailangan ko lang mag-aral para hindi masayang efforts ni mama at pagt-tyaga ng mga kamag-anak ko sa akin.