He’s gone (Tagalog)

S I X ( childhood friend )

Sky

I invited Jetro to my house without my family knowing. I don’t even know why I invited him.

“Sky are you sure he’s not a criminal?” Amber whispered.

“Aj hindi ka naman criminal diba?” I asked him. Aj na tawag ko sa kaniya in public for privacy purposes.

“No,” he answered. Napakamot ng ulo si Amber.

“Basta kung may mangyari mang masama sayo bahala ka na.”

Pumunta kami sa parking lot at nandon na sina kuya.

“Who’s that?” kuya Sol asked.

“A friend. Don’t worry kuya, I know he looks weird but trust me, he’s a good person. May gagawin lang kaming project sa bahay,” they all agreed. Well, except kay Amber. May pagdududa parin siya.

“Uhm, I don’t think kakasya tayo sa kotse,” palusot ni Amber para hindi masama si Jetro.

“May kotse si Aj. Sa kaniya nalang ako sasakay,” sabi ko at may biglang lumabas sa kotse ni kuya Sol.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Luis?”

He looks different now.

“Hola, did you miss me?” He winked at me.

I hugged him.

“God, I missed you! Bakit hindi mo ko sinabihan na ngayon ka pala dadating?”

“I want to surprise you.”

Luis is my childhood friend. He’s full spanish but was born and raised here in the Philippines. May malaking business din sila sa Spain kaya sumama sila samin noon papuntang Spain.

“I’ll go with Sky also,” Amber interrupted.

“Dito ka nalang sumakay Amber,” sabi ni kuya Syl. Wala na siyang magagawa dahil pumasok agad kami sa kotse ni Jetro. Luis opened the door for me.

“So this is your new friend?” Luis asked.

“Yes. Uhm... Aj, this is my childhood friend, Luis and Luis, this is my new friend, Aj,” pinakilala ko sila sa isa’t isa.

Tahimik kami buong biyahe.

After minutes of driving, nakarating narin kami sa tapat ng malaking gate namin pero biglang huminto si Jetro.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. Sinensaysan niya kami na lumabas na. “Akala ko ba sasama ka?”

“I’m busy.”

“Busy naman pala eh bat hindi mo ako sinabihan kanina? Nandito na tayo kaya tara na. I already told them that we’re going to study.”

“If he doesn’t want to come with us, then don’t force him Sky,” ani Luis pero hindi ko siya pinakinggan.

“They’re probably waiting for us, let’s go,” Jetro stared at me through the rear-view mirror. “Sige bahala ka, hindi ako lalabas dito hangga’t hindi ka papasok sa loob.”

Lumabas si Luis at hinawakan ang kamay ko para makalabas.

“Come on Sky, I can help you study. Ipapahatid ko kay manong yung books ko dito,” Luis offered but I refused.

“Fine,” tipid na sabi ni Jetro at biglang pinaandar ang kotse.

Tumawa ako nang malakas, sa kakatawa ko, sumakit ang tiyan ko. Naiwan si Luis.

“You know what Jetro, you’re so funny,” I stopped laughing when I realized that the door was open.

“Teka lang, slow down.. The door!“ I closed the door and laughed again.

Yung mukha ni Luis, nakakatawa.

Nandito na kami sa bahay at pinarking na ni Jetro yung kotse niya sa parking lot namin.

“Pumasok ka na pupuntahan ko lang si Luis. Maarte yun eh, ayaw na ayaw niya ang maglakad,” aniko. Malayo pa naman yung lugar kung saan namin siya naiwan.

Pinapasok na ni kuya Syl at Sol si Jetro sa loob.

Nasa gate na pala ng bahay namin si Luis.

“Y-your friend n-needs to learn s-some manners,” sabi niya habang hinihingal.

Pinaupo ko muna siya at binigyan ng tubig. Pagkatapos niyang uminon, dumiretso na kami sa loob.

“Sky hija!” nandito rin pala sina tita at tito, parents ni Luis. Nagmano ako sa kanila at ganun din si Luis.

“Mom, dad, tito at tita, punta muna po kami sa taas,” I said.

I saw Jetro and my two brothers talking with each other and it looks like they’re having fun.

That’s good.

“Kuya let’s go upstairs,” pumunta na kami sa study room.

“Yaya si Amber po?”I asked yaya Nene.

“Nasa kwarto niya po maam,” iniwan ko muna sila sa study room at pinuntahan si Amber.

I entered her room without knocking at ginulat ko siya.

“Holy kitty cat! Sky naman! Ginulat mo na naman ako!” I laughed.

“Bilisan mo nandoon na silang lahat sa study room.”

“Are we going to study?” tanong niya.

“Yes, parehas lang naman tayo ng grade level nina Aj at Luis diba?”

Pumunta na kami sa study room and I saw all of them laughing.

“Your friend is so cool Sky,” kuya Sol said.

Imbes na mag-study kami, pumunta kami sa theater room namin para manood ng movie.

“Wait guys Amber and I will cook popcorns muna and we’ll prepare some drinks,” I said and they all agreed.

It’s good to see that Jetro is getting close to my brothers.

“See? Aj is a good person,” napakamot ng ulo si Amber.

“May pagdududa pa din ako Sky. Why is he wearing a mask inside our house?” Ay oo nga, is he allowed to take off his mask? Nasa bahay lang naman namin siya. “Tell him to take his mask off and I’ll finally trust him.”

“Really? Sige mamaya,” gumawa na kami ng chocolate and caramel flavored popcorns.

May maids naman kami pero mas gusto kong ako mismo ang gagawa ng popcorn, cool kid ako eh.

Pagkatapos naming magluto ng popcorn, gumawa na kami ng juice at nag order ng pizza. Nakakahiya lalo na’t naghanda sina Jetro ng madaming pagkain noong nasa mansion nila ako. I also ordered a welcome cake for Luis and his parents.

Bumaba si Luis para tulungan kami.

“Kami na, ang gaan lang ng popcorn at juice oh,” Amber said and I chuckled. Si Amber talaga. Sabi niya saken noon na naiinis raw siya kay Luis kasi masyado rawng matulungin.

“No, let me help,” siya ang nagdala ng juices at pumasok na kami sa theater room.

Kukuha na sana si kuya Syl ng chocolate popcorn kaso hinarangan siya ni kuya Sol.

“Hey, that’s mine,” nag-aagawan sila ng chocolate popcorn, lahat kami tumawa.

“Kuya stop! May chocolate popcorns pa sa baba. Wait lang, kukunin ko,” para kay tita at tito sana yun kaso nag-aagawan na sina kuya.

“Let me help-“ sabi ni Luis at Jetro nang sabay-sabay.