CHAPTER 8: New Bff Vs Present Bff
1434 Words
“CLASS dismiss,” ani ng Guro.
Mabilis na niligpit ni Arky ang mga gamit niya. Pupuntahan na niya si Shanfiel dahil malamang ay kanina pa ito naghihintay. Nag-extend kasi ang last period teacher nila ng dagdag na 10 minutes sa klase.
He looked at Gleci who was sitting beside her at nag-aayos na rin ito ng mga gamit.
“Sabay ka na sa’kin lumabas, Gleci. Baka mamaya harangan ka na naman no’ng mga ‘yon.” He cleared his throat.
Gleci smiled. “Thank you, Arc. Pero cleaner ako ngayon, eh. Mauna ka na lang. Okay lang ako.”
He frowned. “Cleaner? You alone? Who are with you?”
She smirked. “No one, Arc. As you can see. I’m a total outcast in this school since I transferred here last year.” Nagkibit-balikat ito.
He sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
She nodded at him.
“Don’t worry, Glez. From now on, I’ll be friends with you.” He flashed a smile.
She smiled, but she didn't realize she was crying already. Her tears fall. She immediately wiped them. “I’m sorry. I’m just being emotional. What the h*ck?” She forced herself to laugh.
He tapped her back. “It’s okay. You can count on me.”
She smiled as she nodded.
“Want me to help you?” Ibinaba ni Arky ang backpack na soot sa upuan niya.
“I’ll be more than grateful, Sir Diaz.” She bowed at him.
He laughed. “Stop it!”
They laughed together.
Tinulungan niya ito sa pagwawalis.
Ang maganda lang kasi sa Cassomo School ay ang mga taga-Summit class ay tinuturuan ding maging responsable kaya may cleaners din every day. In the typical schedule, it was made up of six cleaning students. But he pitied Gleci. No one wanted to be in the same group as her. He didn’t notice that at first, because he wasn’t paying attention to her or to anyone.
He stopped sweeping and gave all his attention to her. "Glez?"
She didn’t stop what she was doing.
“Yes, I’m listening.” Patuloy pa rin ito sa pagwawalis.
“Why didn’t you tell our adviser about this?” He frowned.
She paused and looked at him. “Because I told her to just let it be. Kaya ko naman, Arc, eh. Bakit ko pa palalakihin ‘yong butas. If they don’t want me, I don’t want them either.”
He flashed a satisfied smile. “’Yan tama ‘yan. Now that’s a real attitude.”
Ngumisi ito. “Actually, the truth is, we have a complicated family, Arc. My parents are separated. May bagong kinakasama na ang Daddy ko and I don't get along with her.” She looked down.
He frowned. He felt even more sorry for her when he learned about it, but he persuaded himself that wasn't how he should feel about her.
Binitiwan niya ang hawak na walis at bumagsak ito sa sahig. Nilapitan niya si Gleci.
He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Why do you look so discouraged about it? It’s not a crime to belong in a broken family. That shouldn't make you feel inferior to others.”
She stood straight and looked straight into his eyes. She frowned. "How come do you know about my feelings when we just started talking?”
He put his hand down at nagkibit-balikat.
They smiled at each other. At that moment, Arky felt like he must protect this girl.
Habang naglilinis silang dalawa ay nagkwento pa nang nagkwento si Gleci sa kanya habang naglilinis sila. He was somehow glad na komportable ito sa kanya at nakakapag-share ito ng mga personal na bagay tungkol dito As he learned more about her, he became more and more aware of how long she had kept everything to herself because she had no one with whom to share it.
“You’re such a strong girl.” He didn’t realize he was staring at her habang nagpupunas ito ng bintana. Ang pawis nito ay lumalandas sa maputi nitong balat mula sa noo pababa sa leeg nito. Nakabungayngay na ang buhok nito but it looked fashionable. He must admit that she was so beautiful.
“I am.” She chuckled without looking at him.
He shook his head when he found himself staring at her.
“Let’s go home now, Glez. Dumidilim na,” aniya,
His eyes widened when he realized something, oo nga pala, si Shanfiel.
“Glez, I’ll be back,” he said to her.
He threw the damp cloth out the window and dashed down to Shanfiel's class as quickly as he could.
Hingal na hingal siya pagdating sa classroom ni Shanfiel pero wala ng tao roon at naka-locked na rin ang pinto ng classroom. Napasapo siya sa kanyang noo. He remembered his phone at mabilis na naman siyang tumakbo pabalik sa taas.
Gleci was waiting. “Where did you go?" she asked.
“I’m sorry. Let’s go home now.” He walked past her.
Mabilis niyang dinampot ang backpack at kinuha ang cellphone sa loob nito. His eyes widened. He had only missed one call from Shanfiel. He frowned. Really, only one? He couldn’t believe that girl. He was expecting 20 missed calls.
“Let’s go, Arc.”
He nodded at her. He put his phone in his uniform’s pocket and wore his backpack.
Sa entrance ng eskwelahan ay naghihintay na ang sasakyan na susundo sa kanya at naroon na rin ang sasakyan na susundo kay Gleci.
Gleci waved at him bago ito pumasok ng sasakyan. He waved back.
“ANAK, ano’ng meryenda ba gusto mo? Kumusta pag-aaral?” Pagdating ni Shanfiel ng bahay ay inasikaso siya agad ng ina. Her Nanay Eva is the sweetest. Palagi itong gano’n ka maasikaso sa kanya. Siguro dahil mahal na mahal siya ng magulang bilang nag-iisang anak.
She forced herself to smile and kissed her mother. Sa totoo lang ay nasasaktan siya ngayon. She saw Arky forgetting about her while having a fun talk with his female classmate. He was even working with her. Simula noon ay never pa si Arky na tinulungan siya sa kahit na anong trabaho. Naaalala niya noong nine years old pa lang sila. Nagdidilig siya ng halaman no’n, pinanood lang siya ni Arky. When she asked for his help ay tumayo ito pero imbis na halaman ang binyagan ay siya ang binasa nito and she ended up crying. He was always a spoiled prince. He never liked to do household chores. Pero nakita niya itong nag-i-enjoy magpunas ng bintana. Porket si Gleci lang ang kasama nito.
Kilala niya si Gleci. Malamang dahil pantasya ito ng lahat at anak pa ng Mayor ng lungsod nila. Hindi naman imposible na maging si Arky ay humanga rito. Mabait naman kasi talaga si Gleci. Ilang beses na niya itong nakasalubong sa loob ng campus at palagi siya nitong nginingitian.
“Nay, pass po muna sa meryenda. Nag-meryenda kasi kami sa school, eh. Busog po ako.” She lightly patted her tummy and smiled.
Her Nanay Eva frowned. “Sigurado ka, Shan? Sayang may blueberry cake at Leche flan sa mansion.”
Her eyes widened. Lumapad ang ngiti niya at lumapit sa ina. Ipinulupot niya ang braso sa braso ng ina at humilig sa balikat nito. “Nanay talaga. Hindi mo agad sinabi. Tara na sa mansyon, Nay.” Iginiya niya ang ina palabas ng bahay. Humagikhik naman ito.
Weakness niya kasi talaga ang blueberry cake at Leche flan. Mga paborito niyang pagkain.
Dumiritso agad sila ng ina sa malaking kusina sa mansyon.
Nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid. “Nay? Nasa’n sina Tita at Tito?” She frowned.
“Wala sila sa bahay, anak.” Inihanda ni Eva ang mga kubyertos.
Naupo na siya sa lamesa.
Nakita niyang kinakapkap ng ina ang pantalon nito.
“Ano po ‘yon, Nay?” She frowned.
“Naiwan ko ang cellphone ko sa bahay. Baka tumawag ang Tatay mo. Mauna na ‘ko, anak. Kumain ka lang diyan, ha. Sumunod ka na lang sa bahay.” Tinalikuran na siya ng ina at lumakad na ito.
She shook her head, smiling. “Nanay talaga. Makakalimutin.”
Naglagay siya ng blueberry cake at Leche flan sa pinggan niya.
Lumipad ang tinidor nang bigla siyang ginulat ni Arky mula sa likuran.
She stood and faced Arky. She stomped her feet once while frowning. “Arky, naman, eh.”
Arky kept laughing.
She frowned. She realized that Arky wouldn't ever perceive her as a woman. To him, she’s just the best friend he liked to bully. Kaibigan na nagpapatawa rito ng malakas.
- Writer
