CHAPTER THREE
710 Words
Mira woke up sa tunog ng mga pinggan sa baba.
Sandali siyang napatitig sa kisame — then it hit her: bagong bahay, bagong buhay, bagong “family.”
She sat up, hair messy, eyes half-closed. “Okay… day one.”
Pagbaba niya, naamoy agad niya ang amoy ng kape at toasted bread. Her mom was already in the kitchen, humming softly.
And by the counter, si Lance — nakasuot ng plain black shirt, may earphones sa isang tenga, hawak ang mug.
“Good morning,” Mira greeted, trying to sound cheerful.
“Morning,” he answered, monotone, hindi man lang tumingin.
“Ang aga mo ah,” she said, sitting down. “May pasok na ba?”
“No,” he replied, eyes still on his phone. “Sanay lang gumising ng maaga.”
“Ah. Overachiever pala,” she teased, half-smiling.
He didn’t reply.
Her mom turned, smiling. “Anak, upo ka na. Kain tayo.”
Pero bago pa man siya makaupo nang maayos, Lance picked up his bag.
“Lance, kumain ka muna,” sabi ni Tito Randy.
“Busog pa ako,” sagot niya nang walang tingin, at tuloy-tuloy na lumabas ng pinto.
The silence he left behind felt heavier than the morning air.
Mira poked her egg with a fork. “Friendly guy.”
Her mom sighed. “Anak, give him time. Hindi pa sanay si Lance.”
Mira forced a small smile. “Okay lang po, Ma. Sanay na rin akong binabalewala.”
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After breakfast, Mira decided to explore the village. Tahimik, maaliwalas, parang bawat bahay may sariling garden.
Pero parang ang layo niya sa lahat.
Pagliko niya sa kanto, nakita niya si Lance nakaupo sa gutter, may earphones, nakatingin sa phone, bike nakaparada sa tabi niya.
She hesitated. Pero naisip niyang sayang naman kung hindi siya babati.
“Ang tahimik dito, no?” she said, trying to sound casual.
He didn’t even look up. “Kaya nga ako dito.”
“Wow. Okay,” she said, half-laughing. “Friendly talaga.”
“Hindi ko naman kailangan maging friendly,” sagot niya, finally looking at her. “Hindi ko rin naman hiningi ‘tong setup na ‘to.”
Mira blinked, taken aback. “Setup?”
He stood, fixing his bike chain. “Yeah. This… family thing.”
“Oo nga, pareho tayo,” she said, crossing her arms. “Hindi ko rin naman hiningi ‘to.”
He glanced at her briefly, expression blank, before getting on his bike. “Then we agree on something.”
And just like that, umalis siya — iniwan si Mira sa gitna ng kalsada, tahimik, nakatingin lang sa likod niyang papalayo.
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Pag-uwi ni Mira, nadatnan niya ang mama niya na nag-aayos ng flowers sa vase sa sala.
“Na-meet mo si Lance?” tanong ni Rose, hopeful pa rin.
Mira sat sa sofa, sumandal. “Oo, Ma. Nagkausap kami… well, kind of.”
Rose smiled. “Tahimik lang talaga ‘yun. Pero mabait ‘yan, deep down.”
Mira rolled her eyes playfully. “Deep down daw. Eh Ma, baka sobrang deep, di ko na mahanap.”
Her mom chuckled but looked worried. “Give it time, anak. Hindi madaling mag-adjust.”
“Okay lang po. Hindi ko naman siya kailangang maging best friend, ‘di ba?”
Rose sighed. “Hindi, pero sana maging magkasundo rin kayo eventually.”
Mira smiled weakly. “Sana nga.”
Pag-akyat niya sa hallway, nadaanan niya ang kuwarto ni Lance — nakabukas ng kaunti ang pinto.
She heard faint guitar strumming from inside. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero tumigil siya sandali para makinig.
Ang linis ng tunog — precise, calm, at parang walang emosyon. Gaya ng may-ari ng kuwarto.
Sandali pa, huminto rin ‘yung tugtog. Then the door creaked slightly — and Lance’s voice came, cold but firm:
“May kailangan ka?”
Mira froze. “Ah—wala. Narinig ko lang… magaling ka pala mag-gitara.”
He looked at her, eyes blank. “Don’t eavesdrop next time.”
Then sinara niya ‘yung pinto nang walang ibang salita.
Mira stood there for a few seconds, staring at the closed door.
“Ang sungit mo talaga, Kuya Frost,” she muttered under her breath, before walking away.
- Writer
