20. Good and Bad Things
1451 Words
GELO was left alone in the library. When he was finished doing all his assignments, napagdiskitahan niyang basahin ang Philippine Constitution book. May mga salitang hindi niya naiintindihan pero nag-take note siya para mai-search niya iyon sa dictionary mamaya.
“Ate.”
Napalingon siya sa may pinto dahil sa narinig na munting tinig na iyon. He was hypnotized by her beauty. All magnificent, so lady-like for a young girl. Tingin niya ay kaedad lang niya ang diwata–este dalagita. Kitang-kita niya ang similarities nito at ng kaibigan ng ate niyang si Angela. Hindi maipagkakailang magkapatid ang dalawa.
Kahit na nga may kaibahan pa rin. May sariling presensiya ang dalawang magkapatid.
“Hi!” he greeted her.
She smiled shyly. “Hello. Did you see my sister, Angela?”
He returned her smile. “Yeah. She’s in the kitchen with my sister Suzie. They’re doing their experiment.”
Iba talaga ang mga mayayaman dahil kahit nasa bahay lang, nag-e-english. Mabuti na lang talaga at nagpapraktis din sila ng ate niya sa bahay. Dahil kung hindi ay hindi niya kakayaning makipagsabayan ng english dito.
“I see.” she said, her magnificent ice blue eyes meet his dark brown.
Nanatili ito sa kinatatayuan nito at hindi humakbang palapit sa kanya. Napaisip tuloy siya kung nakakaabala ba siya rito o hindi naman kaya ay ayaw nito ang presensya niya sa bahay nito.
Dahil naa-awkward siya, tumayo siya, nagdadalawang-isip kung susunod na ba sa kapatid niya sa kusina o mananatili roon.
May mga kaklase siyang may kaya sa buhay, at kadalasan sa kanila ay hindi siya gusto at ang ibang mga batang wala sa buhay. Ginagawa lang silang ‘boy’ ng mga ito. Tagagawa ng mga assignments ng mga ito, tagabili ng snacks at kung anu-ano pang bagay na naiisip ng mga ito. Kapalit niyon ay kaunting barya na ‘binibigay’ kuno ng mga ito sa kanila.
Kapag hindi naman sila sumusunod sa mga ito ay pinapahirapan sila ng mga ito.
Gelo could sense that his sister’s friend Angela is a good person, but still. Seeing things that an eight year old shouldn’t see, Gelo has grown cautious to everyone.
She tilted her head a little bit. “You must be Gelo.”
Tumango siya. “Yeah, and you are?”
“Tiffany.”
“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Tiffany.” He tried to sound friendly, but his voice came out serious.
“Same here. Goodbye, Gelo.”
Wala ba siyang amor kausap? Parang ang sakit yata sa ego na nagpaalam kaagad ito sa kanya kahit hindi pa man sila masyadong nagkakausap. Or talagang hindi lang siya nito gusto dahil ‘mahirap’ lang sila ng ate niya?
Kung ayaw siya nitong kausap, hindi rin niya ito gustong kausapin. “Bye.”
He noticed her froze a second before leaving. He shrugged, sat again and continued reading the book of the Philippines Constitution.
She’s beautiful though like her sister, he thought.
* * * * *
“DID THE two of you brought clothes?” Angela asked suddenly after their dinner. Kasalukuyan silang nasa sala at nagte-tea para magpatunaw ng kinain.
Hindi mahilig sa tea si Suzie. Ang totoo niyan ay iyon ang unang pagkakataon na makainom siya ng tea. It’s new for her tastebud pero tiniis na lang niya. Hindi naman kasi sa kanya ang bahay na iyon para mag-demand.
Nang tingnan niya si Gelo ay napangiti siya dahil mukhang nagustuhan nito ang tea.
“Yeah.” Suzie answered. “You said we’re going to stay for the night so I did bring clothes.”
“Good!” Angela smiled. “This will be great then.”
And so it went.
* * * * *
SUZIE woke up late the next morning because they slept past midnight playing cards. The bestt sleepover she had.
“Oh, my god!” she shouted.
Both Angela and Gelo looked at her.
“Why?” magkasabay na tanong ng dalawa.
She looked at the clock. It’s already six thirty. Ever since she could remember, it was the first time she overslept past five am. Alas kwatro ng madaling araw siya nagigising madalas dahil inaasikaso pa niya si Gelo. “I overslept.”
Angela smiled. “It’s okay. I could ask the driver to send Gelo to his school and we can go to the school together.”
“No. I mean, I did not bring our uniform. I only brought pajamas and an extra t-shirt.” Dapat talaga nagdala siya ng extra uniform kahapon. Pero hindi naman kasi niya inaasahang mapapasobra ang tulog niya.
“I’ll let you borrow mine.” Angela offered.
“Thanks,” Then her eyes flew to Gelo. “But Gelo…”
Her brother smiled. “You worry too much, sister. It’s alright. We don’t have a class today until tomorrow. I’m sorry for not telling you.”
“No, it’s alright.” she said, now calm. Kaagad na kumalma na ang mini-panic niya.
They ate their breakfast with Tiffany, Angela’s dear younger sister.
“Hmm…let’s see,” Angela said in the middle of silence. “What if Gelo stays here for the day? Just fetch him after class so that Tiffany will have company.”
“What do you think, Gelo?” Suzie asked her brother.
“That would be fine with me, Ate.” He politely said. He secretly took a glimpse at the young woman eating silently in her lady-like gestures.
Angela smiled. “Will you mind, Tiff?”
“Not at all, sister. He’s nice. I can say.” Tiffany looked at Gelo. He met her eyes. “Besides, we’re friends.”
* * * * *
WHEN Suzie and Angela were riding the car, soft music was playing in the background. It was relaxing and it was making her sleepy.
“Angela, who taught you to play card games?” she asked curiously. “It’s just not your type to play such games.”
Angela laughed softly. “Really? I hardly thought about it. Anyway, Lance taught me.”
“Lance who?” she thought who Lance was until she realized. “That student council auditor in college?” she remembered how Angela always reacted when he was around. “You two were friends?” alam niyang may gusto ito sa binata.
“Two years ago, we’re friends.”
“You are not friends now?”
“How I wish.” Angela sighed.
She nodded and an idea crossed her mind. “Wait, don’t tell me you are the one who broke his heart?”
“Yes. Our friendship ended just as our relationship.” Angela looked at Suzie. She trusts her. She knows Suzie won’t betray her. “I was the one who ended our relationship.”
“I’m sorry for that.” Suzie said sincerely.
Angela smiled sadly. “You don’t have to. Every time he’s near, I’m always struggling from pain. Until now.”
She cheered for her friend. “Don’t worry. I’m here. I’ll help you get rid of him.”
“Thank you.”
Suzie felt sorry for her friend. It has been two years yet Angela’s still in pain. Hindi talaga madaling mag-move on kapag nasaktan.
* * * * *
SUZIE was walking alone in the corridor. Angela went to the SCR-HS because there is a meeting she needs to attend as the student council’s vice president in High School.
She yawned, not covering her mouth because there were no students on her way up to the stairs, she saw Cris. She called him up.
He stopped and looked at her. He smiled.
“You’re here…” her voice was almost a whisper. She didn’t think she could still see him here after he was expelled.
“Yeah, thanks to your lover.”
Her forehead knotted. “Lover? I haven’t had one.”
“Luis Alvarez I mean. The student council’s president. That man.”
“Luis. But he…”
“Throw me away? Oh no, lady. He just did his job. He’s the SC’s president. He just did what his dear mother ordered. As he said, ‘hiwalay ang trabaho sa personal na buhay’.”
Luis.
“After a week of being banned, he appeared at my doorstep telling me I can go back to SJU.”
“He made it by himself?”
“Yes. Not afraid of what I do to him since he’s in my territory.” He looked her directly in the eye. “I think that man really likes you since I’ve heard you did not dare talk to him after my departure.”
She lowered her head. Not willing to show to him her red cheeks.
“I need to go.”
- Writer
