Four More Minutes of Air

Chapter 2

The sound of the droplets from the dark clouds hitting the ground and the noise of the thunder wake me up. It is raining cats and dogs outside. So, I can't go outside to watch the sunset later.

"Skye! Gumising ka na raw. Malapit na magbreakfast oh," sigaw sa akin ni Ate Gwyneth habang nililigpit niya ang kaniyang kama niya.

Napansin ko na nagtutupi siya ng damit at nilalagay niya iyon sa kaniyang maleta. "Are you leaving, today?" I asked.

Kahit na lagi niya akong sinusungitan, hindi ko maitatanggi sa sarili ko na nalulungkot ako ngayon dahil tinuring ko na rin siyang kapatid.

"Skye," natapos na siya mag-impake at tumayo na. Pumunta siya sa harapan ko kaya napatingala ako dahil sa kaniyang katangkaran.

"Hm?" 

"I want you to do your best. Can you do that for me, please?" Ate Gwyneth asked. 

I remember the time when I was only 60 months old and she was 72, she scolded me because I am always inside the house whenever we're allowed to play outside. She said that sometimes we need fresh air and we need to enjoy life. That's why from now on, I like to watch the sunset or the sunrise.

"You're the reason why I love to watch the sunset or sunrise," I said.

To be honest, I don't know why I feel sad whenever I see it but since Ate Gwyneth said that, I did what she said. So, I spend my time watching it.

"You didn't answer my question. You're going to do your best to get high grades, right?"

I don't know why getting high scores is a big deal and I don't know if I can grant your wish, Ate Gwyneth.

"O-of course, Ate Gwyneth," pagsisinungaling ko sa kaniya. Binigyan ko siya ng matamis na ngiti at nagsimula na siya maglakad. "I hope so..."

Sumunod na ako sa kaniya pababa at tumulong na rin maghanda ng pagkain para makakain na kami.

Sa totoo lang, parang gusto ko na lang ihinto ang oras. Hindi tayo nakaksigurado kung ligtas ba si Ate Gwyneth sa pupuntahan niya eh. Sana hindi niya na lang ituloy ang plano niya dahil parang malakas ang kutob ko na may masamang mangyayari.

After we ate, we went to our room to say a sweet good bye to Ate Gwyneth. We're all seating on our bed while watching Ate Gwyneth prepare.

"Is it final? You're going to leave na ba talaga? Malakas pa yung ulan oh," I said.  

Sa tingin ko, hindi rin matutuloy si Ate Gwyneth dahil malakas ang ulan ngayon. Hindi pa rin iyon humihinto. Hinihintay ko na lang na sabihin ni Tita Meng kay Ate Gwyneth na hindi muna siya aalis sa ngayon. 

"Yes, I have to. I am already 215 months old and bukas ay magiging 216 months old na ako. Of course I have to study in a real school," she said while brushing her long black hair.

After she brushed her hair, she gave me her brush, "I don't know why I want to give it to you. I feel like you need it."

"I need it? Does my hair look messy?"

"You'll need it soon," she gave me a small smile after lifting her bag. She also gave a smile to the others then she left.

I'm looking at the rain through the window. Lightning and thunder scares me whenever they scream. I was about to open the window when I noticed that the rain suddenly stopped.

After the rain stopped, I went outside holding the brush that Ate Gwyneth gave. It's muddy and dirty outside because of the rain. There are many puddles all around the house. I went near the pond and I noticed that the water rise up a bit because of the heavy rain earlier. Nakita ko rin na nasira ang ginawa kong maliit na bahay sa malayo. Medyo nalungkot ako dahil pinaghirapan ko iyon gawin.

Napagtanto ko na hindi ko pala makikita ang paglubog ng araw. The sun is hiding behind the heavy dark clouds. I looked at the brush that Ate Gwyneth gave. It looks odd.

Bakit niya kaya sinabi na kakailanganin ko raw ito sa lalong madaling panahon? Does it have a meaning or something?

There's like a line separating the hand of the brush and the actual brush. I tried to separate it but it didn't break. This time, I used all my force to separate it.

It's a knife...

It's so sharp and my face reflects on it because it's clean and shiny. Looks like she used it before because I can see dried blood on the end of the silver thing.

"Oh, hey! What's that?" At first, I thought it's not Deux at first because his voice and the way he said it was different.

"It's nothing. Just a normal brush."

"Nice to meet you! What's your name?" he cheerfully asked. He also lent his hand to me.

What? There is something wrong in here but I think he just forgot my name.

"I already said that to you. Nalimutan mo na ba agad?"

"Oh" His eyes widened and then he started to laugh, "I forgot"

"You're weird. What did you ate earlier?" dinaan niya lang sa tawa ang tanong ko. He didn't answer my question. There's really something wrong.

"Yeah, I think I really am weird today." 

We sat on the big rock because it is muddy. My clothes will be dirty and Tita Meng will notice that I sneaked out for sure. He is sitting on my left side kaya nang tumingin siya sa kabilang direksyon, nakita kong may dumi siya sa noo.

"May dumi ka oh."

"Huh? Where?"

Tinuro ko ang noo niya kung saan may dumi. Malapit sa kaniyang kanang sentido ang dumi.

"Oh, it's not. That's my birthmark." 

"I also have that one too but mine is on my left temple," I showed him my birthmark.

Actually, I didn't noticed it when I first met him. His hair today is messy and it is covering his birthmark located on his right side of his forehead. Napansin ko lang kanina ang kaniyang birthmark dahil hinawi ng hangin ang kaniyang buhok.

Nagulat ako kasi napatawa siya bigla kaya napatingin din ako sa kaniya. I'm so confused...

"I never thought you will be this dumb," he said after he laughed, "So, ano na?"

"What? Anong ano na?"

"Wala."

Inirapan ko na lang siya at tumayo na. Hindi ko naman makikita ang paglubog ng araw kaya uuwi na lang ako.

"Uy wait, saan ka pupunta?" sinabayan niya ang bilis ng lakad ko.

"Sa bahay, uuwi na 'ko. Hindi ko naman matutunghayan ang paglubog ng araw eh."

Natapilok ako sa maliit na batong nakaharang sa harap ko kaya nadumihan tuloy yung damit ko. Hindi man lang ako tinulungan ni Deux kaya inis kong pinagpag ang damit ko pero may kumakapit pa rin na dumi.

"You really are that dumb?" 

"Can you shut your mouth for a second? Nakikita mo na ngang nahihirapan na ako magtanggal ng mantsa," sabi ko habang kinukuskos ko ang damit ko gamit ang kamay ko.

"Yeah, you really are."

Bigla niya hinila ang kamay ko at dinala ako sa tapat ng lawa. Yumuko siya sa tapat ng lawa habang hawak pa rin ang kamay ko kaya napayuko rin ako. 

"Wait! Ano bang gagawin mo?" inis na tinanggal ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin.

"Kung kukuskusin mo iyan gamit lang ang kamay mo, walang mangyayari," hinawakan niya ulit ang kamay ko at nilapit ako sa lawa.

"Sandali nga lang, baka kumalat pa yung mantsa," hinila niya ang puti kong damit at nilagyan ng onting tubig, "Wait lang nga kasi! Bakit ba kailangan mo pa 'tong gawin?" 

"I'm curing your dumbness." 

Malakas na tinulak ko siya pero mahigpit ang pagkakawak niya sa damit ko kaya biglang napunit ang damit ko. He took off his hoodie and handed them to me. Buti na lang puti rin ang hoodie niya kaya hindi naman ito masyadong mapapansin ni Tita Meng. May suot din siyang t-shirt na kulay pula.

"Hehe sorry na. Tinulak mo kasi ako eh," nahihiyang sabi niya habang kinakamot ang batok niya sa kahihiyang ginawa niya. 

Tatalikod na sana pero may narinig akong parang may bumagsak. Tumingin ako sa likod at nakita kong nakahandusay si Deux habang pinupunasan ang dugo mula sa labi niya.

"It was an accident! Okay? I already said sorry to her and I mean it," pagpapaliwanag ni Deux.

Lumapit sa akin si Kendrick para suriin kung ayos lang ba ako. 

"I'm fine, it was an accident. Bakit kailangan mo pang gawin iyon?" I said after I wore his hoodie.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry I protected you earlier," biro niya.

"Bakit mo iyan sinasabi sa akin? Hindi naman ako yung sinapak mo."

Nilahad ni Kendrick ang kamay niya kay Deux para tulungan siya pero imbis na tanggapin niya iyon, tinabig niya ang kamay ni Kendrick.

Hinila ako ni Kendrick palayo kay Deux "Where did you met him? Sino ba siya?" he asked.

"Ah, he's Deux. I don't know kung bakit siya ganiyan ngayon. He is fine noong una ko siyang nakilala," I answered. Nakita kong napatingin sa amin si Deux.

"Hey! I can hear you," Deux shouted. 

"What? So, dati mo pa pala siya kilala and hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin."

"No, pangalawang beses ko pa lang siya nakikita ngayon and he said that his surname is Fernsby. Are you familiar with it?"

Sa halip na sagutin niya ang tanong ko, mabilis siyang lumapit kay Deux at humingi ng tawad pero inis na nakatingin pa rin si Deux sa kaniya.

"I already said sorry. Bakit hindi mo ba ako mapatawad and that bruise doesn't look painful."

"Their pride really is as high as their height," I whispered to myself.

"Sige fine, let's make a deal. Patatawarin kita kung sasama ka sa akin," Deux said then he gave Kendrick a small smile. "Oh, no. I mean kung sasama KAYO sa akin," then he looked at me.

"Saan? Malayo ba iyan? G ako! Tara," masayang sabi ko kay Deux. Wala naman akong gagawin sa bahay and mas gusto ko pang gumala kaysa mag-aral so why not?

"It's getting dark and we are going to eat dinner soo-" what Kendrick said was cut short by me.

"Yes, we're coming with you. Right Kendrick?" I held Kendrick's hands and I squeezed it.

"A-ah yes," he looked at me with his eyes ready to kill me.

Deux started walking so we followed him. It is really dark and the only light that guides us is the bright moon. The wind is howling so loud and it is hugging us. I think it will rain anytime because I can feel small bit of raindrops but I'm not sure if it is from the clouds or the remaining dew from the leaves of the tall trees.

"Where are we heading? Is it so far?" I asked him because we're walking for like 10 minutes now and I haven't seen anything but darkness.

He didn't answer me, instead he just minded his own business. It's like he already knew the route and he is so used to it. 

"Ang tagal naman. Uuwi na ako," Kendrick mumbled.

"Sige umuwi ka na. Sana alam mo pabalik," I joked. The wind blew harder and my hoodie can't stop the cold wind from entering my warm body.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang may humila sa mahabang buhok ko. I pulled it back but it looks like my hair is tangled from the bush.

"Wait lang! Don't leave me," I shouted as I'm pulling my long hair.

"Kaya mo iyan, Skye. Malaki ka na," Kendrick joked.

"I'm serious! Help." 

Lumapit na sila Kendrick at Deux sa akin para tulungan akong tanggalin ito pero ilang minuto na ang nakalipas, hindi pa rin nila matanggal.

"Bakit naman kasi nangyari iyan?" inis na tanong ni Deux.

"I don't know. I think we don't have a choice but to cut it," malungkot kong sabi.

"Paano naman natin iyan gugupitin?" Kendrick asked.

I took my brush from my pocket and took the knife from the brush. I saw their bizarre face as they saw me cut my hair.

"Where did you get that? We don't have that sa bahay," ani Kendrick.

"Actually, Ate Gwyneth gave it to me. She's right. I really am going to need it."

Pagtapos kong gupitin ang buhok ko, nagpatuloy na si Deux sa paglalakad kaya sinundan na namin siya. Madami akong nakikitang puno kahit na madalim. Nakikita ko iyon dahil sa binibigay na liwanag ng buwan. Mas madami pa pala ang mga puno rito kaysa roon malapit sa bahay. Napansin ko rin na mas masikip ang daan dahil medyo magkakatabi ang mga puno. 

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