MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 9

"Hindi pa rin umuuwi si Tito?" tanong ni Raiah kay Ae habang isinusulat nila ang lecture.

She sighed. "Hindi pa. He's not responding to my chats and calls but Mommy said he's just in a remote area with some of his colleagues."

"Nakausap niya?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Ae. "I'm not sure. Hindi ko rin alam kung maniniwala ako dahil naririnig ko na naman si Mommy na umiiyak kagabi."

"Baka naman maghihiwalay na parents mo?" sabat ni Vina sa usapan.

There was something about Vina's tone that gave Ae the ick. Para kasing napaka-insensitive ng delivery nito. Sanay naman siya sa bunganga ni Vina kaya lang ay ngayong may pinagdadaanan ang pamilya niya ay parang napikon siya rito.

"Hindi naman siguro, Vina. Normal naman sa mag-asawa ang nagkakatampuhan," sagot ni Raiah. Siguro ay napansin nitong nagbago ang ekspresyon niya dahil sa pagkapikon kay Vina.

Mabuti na lamang din at inunahan na siya ni Raiah. Baka kung hindi ay nagkasagutan sila ni Vina. Wala pa naman siya sa mood ngayon dahil red days niya't nag-aalala siya sa kanyang ama.

Their last class in the morning ended. Nagyaya si Raiah na kumain sa canteen ngunit dahil walang ganang makasama si Vina ngayon ay tumanggi siya.

"Babawi na lang ako bukas, ha?" aniya kay Raiah.

Wala na itong nagawa. Raiah left with Vina and their two other classmates. Inayos naman ni Ae ang mga gamit niya sa kanyang bag ngunit habang abala sa ginagawa ay naramdaman niya ang paglapit ng pamilyar na bulto.

Linel took her bag then wore it on his left shoulder. "Tara. Lunch tayo."

Umiling siya. "I'm not hungry."

"Kung gano'n ay samahan mo na lang akong mag-research para sa special project ko."

Ae sighed. "Sa library lang?"

Tumango ito. "Yeah." He pinched her cheek. "You can take a nap while I'm doing my research. I won't mind as long as you're with me."

Tila may mainit na palad na humaplos sa dibdib ni Ae. That's the thing about Linel lately. Basta kasama siya nito o kausap ay ayos na ito. Maaga na rin itong pumapasok dahil sinusundo siya para hindi na siya mag-taxi. Hindi na rin ito nagyoyosi o nagbubulakbol. Linus said Linel is active in their classes again. Natutuwa naman siya sa balitang iyon. Looks like Linel is doing his end of the deal.

"I'll go to the ladies room first," aniya.

Linel agreed. Buhat nito ang bag niya nang lumabas sila ng silid at dumiretso sa banyo.

"Hihintayin na kita," said Linel while leaning against the railing.

"Akin na ang bag ko."

His brows furrowed. "I'll hold it. Just get your tissue."

"No, uhm . . . I have my . . ." Her cheeks burned. Hindi niya rin magawang ituloy ang sinasabi dahil nahihiya.

Lalong nalukot ang noo ni Linel. "You have your what, baby?"

She pursed her lips. Dala ng hiya ay inagaw niya ang bag niya kay Linel. "Basta!"

Dali-dali siyang pumasok sa banyo. She went inside one of the cubicles and opened her bag to get her pads. Ngunit kung siniswerte nga naman siya, hindi niya makita ang pinaglalagyan niya ng pads niya.

Did she forget it somewhere? Nagbanyo rin siya kaninang recess. Hindi kaya naiwan niya sa kabilang banyo? Iyong malapit sa Science lab?

Ae groaned. Dahil no choice ay muli siyang lumabas. Namumula pa rin ang mukha nang lumapit kay Linel.

"I . . . have to buy something," aniya habang todo iwas na salubungin ang nagtataka nitong tingin.

"What is it? I'll buy it for you."

Umiling siya. "Ako na lang ang bibili."

Linel sighed. "Mainit. I'll go. Just tell me what it is that you need."

"Hindi nga pwede, Linel kasi pambabae 'yon. It's embarrassing."

Linel's forehead creased while looking at her. Maya-maya ay tila naintindihan na nito kung ano ang nangyayari.

"You need some pads?" diretsahan nitong tanong.

Lalong uminit ang magkabilang pisngi ni Ae. "Linel naman!"

Nagpigil ito ng ngisi. "'Yon lang naman pala. Akala ko kung ano na." He shook his head. "Wait for me here. I'll buy you some."

"No, no! You don't have to do this." Hiyang-hiya niyang tiningnan si Linel. "I'll buy it myself."

Nagkakamot ng batok na bumuntonghininga si Linel. "There is nothing to be ashamed about it, Evangeline. Period is a normal thing. I wasn't born yesterday."

"B-But you're a guy!"

Umismid ito. "Yeah, I'm a guy. But I'm also the guy who would track your cycles someday so I could rush to the grocery store to buy you pads whenever your period is coming up." He clicked his tongue. "This is me training for my husband duties someday."

Ae grunted. "This is not the right time for your silly pick up lines."

"And I am not pulling any pick up lines right now." He pinched her cheek. "Just simply stating a fact." Nagnakaw ito ng halik sa kanyang pisngi. "Wait for me here."

Wala na siyang nagawa pa nang mabilis na naglakad paalis si Linel para ibili siya ng sanitary pad. She swears she couldn't imagine him, the knucklehead Linel Elmont Shault of SJ High, buying sanitary pads. It seems too emasculating yet Linel doesn't seem to give a damn at all!

Sumandal na lamang si Ae sa railing at naghintay. Hindi naman nagtagal ay bumalik si Linel dala ang paperbag na may logo ng malapit na convenience store.

"Here. I asked the lady in the counter. She said the pads with wings are better," ani Linel na animo'y normal na bagay lamang ang pinag-uusapan nila. Yes, it's definitely a normal thing but not to a teenager like her?! This is embarrassing!

"T-Thank you," nahihiya niyang sabi. Maya-maya ay napasulyap siya sa ibang laman ng paperbag. Nang makita ang mga iyon ay nalukot ang noo niya. "You bought more pads?"

Linel smirked before he proudly showed her the rest of what he bought. May isang pack ng sanitary pads, isang banig ng pain reliever, at may wet wipes pa nga na para sa private part ng babae!

"I'll keep these in my bag," ani Linel.

Napakurap si Ae. "What?"

"I said I'll keep these in my bag, baby," ulit nito.

Nalukot nang husto ang noo ni Ae. "For what? Lalake ka, Linel. You don't need that. Except 'yong pain reliever pero 'yong pads at wet wipes? I don't understand why you'd put those in your bag."

"So I'll have these in case you're gonna need them," he answered as if it's the most casual thing to say. Proud pa ang kulay asul na mga mata habang nakatitig sa kanya.

Ae grunted. "Linel, you don't have to do that. Those are girly stuff! People might laugh at you."

"But I still wanna do it, and I don't give a f**k whether people will find me funny or not." He clicked his tongue. "I'm running for the best boyfriend position so they can laugh for all I care. Opinyon mo lang naman importante sa'kin. . ."

Napairap si Ae. "Ewan ko sa'yo," she hissed before she stormed inside the bathroom. Ngunit pagpasok sa cubicle ay natagpuan din naman niya ang sariling napapangiti.

She sighed when she realized that she's smiling because of what Linel just said. Umiling-iling pa siya bago niya binulungan ang sarili.

"Looks like someone stands a chance after all . . ."