Scarper with Fremde

Chapter 3

Chapter III

I always put my phone off whenever the class starts. It automatically off when eight o'clock strikes, may oras ang pag off and on ng phone ko. I don't know when did it start but I remember, kaya ako nag o-off ng selpon ay dahil sa pag-rant ni Ate Thalian sa group chat naming magkakapatid.

If our family has it, mayroon din kaming tatlo. Guess what who made that?

"Thally, bebe ko!" Ate went to my room when our morning break came. "Lowbat ako! Pasabi naman kanila Mommy at Daddy na ma-l-late ako ng uwi! Paki-text na rin si Kuya na ayaw ko nang sumabay sa kan'ya kahit kailan—'de joke!" She laughs awkwardly but mockingly. Her eyes were looking in the side and her fingers were blocking her mouth. "Joke lang, Kapatid! May practice kami para sa debate! Next week na 'yon kaya paspasan na practice namin! Nasabi ko na kay maderlulu 'yon pero pa-sabi na lang ulit! Bye! Muwah!" Then, tumakbo na siya paalis, hatak hatak ang kasama niyang kaklase na nasa mid length lang ang buhok.

Sighing, I opened my phone as I walked to exit the building. There are more than twenty messages. Mostly from Ate on our siblings' group chat but there are also from our Family's group chat. But one message caught me off guard. Timibok ang puso ko ng malakas at pilit na hindi pansinin 'yon. Una kong tinignan ang message ni Kuya sa group chat.

Hindi ako mahahatid ni Kuya pauwi ngayon. Umuwi siya dahil hindi raw maganda ang takbo ng chan niya. Of course, Ate teased him. Mas nauna pa niyang asarin si Kuya at magsabi ng kung ano ano bago magpaalam na hindi siya makakauwi agad.

After reading the group chat, my eyes found the unregistered number again. Hesitantly, I slowly opened the text. Malakas at mabilis ang t***k ng puso ko.

There are a lot of students in the field, hindi mas'yadong mainit kaya marami doong nakatambay. Tatawid lang ako sa kabilang building at dahil katabi lang naman, sa hallway ng first floor ako dumaan kaya kitang kita pa rin ang kabuoan ng field mula rito. Open 'to kaya p'wedeng silungan ng mga nasa field kung maaraw. Isang room lang ang narito at para pa 'yon sa mga Teacher, kaya hagdan lang ang laging pakay dito kung hindi sumilong.

"Come on, Kez! Hindi ka na sumipot nu'ng sabado, hindi ka pa makakasama mamaya? MIA na nga palagi si Ja, si Kai naman puro pag-a-aral inaatupag, ngayon ikaw naman! Sino na makakasama ko nito ngayon!" A loud voice echoed throughout the hallway.

"Isama mo si Vein para ibang mukha naman makita no'n! Or maybe Sean, mukha nang bola 'yon, sa susunod siya na sisipain para ma-goal!" That familiar voice...

Sa dami ng estudyanteng nagsasalita at nasa harap ko ngayon, nanatili ang dalawang pigura lamang ang nakikita at naririnig ko ngayon. The beat of my heart went fast as it calmed earlier after I open the text. I couldn't focus on what I was reading on my phone. My sweat uncontrollably went out from my exposed skin.

As the two people approach, our distance is shrinking. And as I walked, their faces gradually became clearer. My thoughts become more clear due to it. Our eyes met, and that's how my heartbeat stopped.

My body was stuck on the floor as well as him. His eyes were widened, reflecting mine.

"Ianna," my name seems strange coming from him.

But then, I don't know him at all.

"Vinx," smiling, I nodded and dragged myself to pass on them.

Bakit magkasama sila? What connection do they have to be that close? He seems to know the members, recalling to their loud conversation.

"Wait!" He held my left arm. His hand is cold, is he okay? It should be warm. "What time do you go there?"

There? Oh, is he is he referring to Cofféy? "After school hours, maybe. Though, I should be home by seven."

Dean was about to speak when Vinx covered his mouth with his left hand. "Alright." My eyes followed his right hand when he let go of the hold of me. "May kasama ka ba umuwi?"

Tilting my head as I stared at his mole. "I don't." Wala si Kuya, gano'n din si Ate.

"That's good. I'll wait for you at the gate! See 'ya!" He hurriedly left, dragging the statue Dean. I nod my head when Dean's eyes went on me. He looked confused but he just followed Vinx.

A bunch of thoughts started to come one by one on my mind but I couldn't focus on one question because another question popped up.

I didn't get a chance to read the messages because it was even when the class resumed. I couldn't focus on the lesson, luckily, I didn't get called.

Pinilit kong huwag na 'yon isipin pa, na hayaan na lang malaman ng kusa, but my mind won't focus. I sighed and glanced at my seatmate.

"Ca," I called her. She's just reading a book as we wait for the Teacher to come.

She looked at me and put down her book. "Yeah?"

We're not that close but we're civil. Parehas kaming walang masyadong kaibigan o nakakasama pero dahil palagi kaming nagkakasama sa isang grupo at magkaklase na simula Primary, panatag ang loob ko sa kan'ya. It's just that, we're living in the world we like. It was much alike but still different.

"You're close with the band, right?"

'Cause if I'm correct, Dean, Sean, Kaien, Vein and Jandel. I know them because they are famous and well known here at the University.

She nodded. "What about it?"

My back touches the backrest of the chair. "I was wondering," my chest is beating so fast that something hot traveling from it to the back of my neck. "What's Kez's full name?"

"Kuya Kezi?" There is confusion in her eyes making me look away. "If I'm not mistaken," I glance at her but pretend I wasn't looking. "Keziar Riva."

That's when I faced her. "He has a second name, what is it?"

Ang mga mata niya ay malikot kahit walang emosyon ang mukha. Nilagay niya ang mga braso sa dibdib at pinagkros iyon. But our Teacher for English entered, stopping what she was about to say.

"We'll talk later."

Mariin akong pumikit at tila nagsisi na tinanong ko pa siya. We weren't close but that doesn't mean we're not talking with each other. I am the only one she just told that she and Sean are siblings. Alam ng lahat na mag ka-apelyido lang sila. Sikat si Sean dahil kasali sa club na palaging nagp-perform kapag may program at ayaw ni Cassiara sa masyadong ma-tao.

I forgot how Cassiara is in my life. Well, I did not entirely forget. Talagang may mga bagay lang na hindi madalas gamitin pero importante at kailangan.

Oh, right. I just dig my own grave.

Sa haba ng isang oras, parang ngayon ko lang hiniling na mas humaba pa 'to. Ah... I shouldn't have asked.

Bakit kasi English pa ang huling subject bago ang lunch? Parang binigyan ko lang ng mas mahabang oras si Cassiara para makausap ako.

"Baka nakakalimutan mong ako ang best friend mo, Thally?"

I close my eyes as Cassiara talks beside me. We are not close to talk to each other every time but... we knew each other's deepest secret. Our relationship was already complicated, which became more and more complicated as the years passed.

Hindi kami close sa personal, ni hindi nga kami nag uusap kahit magkaklase na, maliban na lang kung tungkol sa school ang topic.

However, we're each other's comfort. Parehas kami ng sitwasyon ni Cassiara. Parehas bunso, parehas palaging mag-isa. Sean's always outside, her Father's working, and her Mom's working in their Flower shop. Sumasama siya palagi sa Mommy niya pero busy naman sa pag-a-ayos ng mga bulaklak at hindi siya nabibigyan ng pansin.

Though we understand them still, we're just a child back then.

"Says who?" I looked up at the sky full of cloud.

"You, Dumbass." Sa tono pa lang ng boses niya, alam ko nang umikot na naman ang mga mata niya. "It still vivid on me." Her tone changed. "Kitang kita ko pa ang lahat. That day really... changed me. You had a good orenda."

I glance at her. "Tigilan mo 'ko sa gan'yan mo, Elana."

Hearing her chuckles, I looked at her as I leaned on the backrest of the wooden bench inside the garden. "It's been a while since we talk, huh?"

"Yup!" I nodded. "You've got busy helping the Librarian. You also in the club so," I shrugged my shoulder.

She laughed. "You know why I do this, Thally." Shrugging as she took a bit of her sandwich she probably made herself.

Munching my rice, I looked at her brown eyes that is like her Brother's. It wasn't glistening unlike her Brother whenever I see him. "I met someone."

She's still suffering.

"Who is this unlucky guy?" Ang emosyon ay mabilis na napalitan at nagmukha siyang masaya. It wasn't fake but I know she's not one hundred percent happy.

I glanced at the side before scooping up my rice and taking a bite together with my hotdog. "Dunno." I shrugged.

"What the... Thally!" Uminom siya sa tumbler niya at sumubo naman ako. "Bakit hindi mo kilala?"

My eyes squinted. "That's why I'm asking you what's Keziar's second name!"

"Oh!" Her eyes narrowed making me avoid her gaze. Then, she laughed like she just discovered something. "Oh..." Her tone switched to being playful. "Kuya Kezi, huh? Don't worry, you're safe with Kuya Vinx!"

Oh, dang... I knew it!

I have some hunch but I didn't let it grow since I want it to be heard from someone else. Or maybe straight from him.

He is known by the name Keziar or Kez, kezi to the people close to him but why did he give me his second name, Vinx? Well, I gave him my first name. Iilang tao lang ang tumatawag sa'kin no'n. Halos sina Daddylo at Mommyla lang nga. Maybe he has his reason like I had. No, of course, he has.

"I heard Kuya Thallus' has diarrhea?" Cassiara spoke as soon as the bell rang.

Our class was now finished. Niligpit ko ang mga gamit na nasa lamesa 'saka nilingon siya na nasa harapan ko. She's holding her bag in her hand as the papers are in the other hand.

"Sean told me." She added.

I just nodded and walked, she followed me but didn't talk. As silence developed us, the surroundings felt so wide as the people's noises prevailed.

The world is vast. It was broad and many living things were here, alive and moving so free. How I wish people would be more free than animals and nature. People nowadays are controlled by someone more powerful and greater than them, making the small way so narrow.

At isa ako sa mga tao'ng walang kontrol sa paligid ko. I am minor, young, and naive. I'm still under my parents' protection. However, I like how my Parents are so protective of me. Wala rin naman akong gustong gawin na hindi sila pumapayag.

May mga kabataan na hinahangad ang ganitong mga magulang, ngayon na mayroon akong ganito, I want to cherish every moment I have with them.

I don't want to be free on their holds and I'm not also too eager to be in a legal age. I just want to go somewhere I'm free to go but of course with their consent.

I want them to hold me, just a little bit loosely but still under them. And being with their watch.

"Oh, Kuya Kezi..."

Hearing that name made me snap back to reality, not because of Cassiara's voice. He's leaning in his BMW car as his hand is holding his phone while the other is inside his pocket.

"Oh, Cassiara," tumango siya kay Cassiara bago ako nilingon. "Ianna..." It was different. He used a different tone in saying my name.

They said that I'm good at picking up a tone. Naririnig ko ang kaibahan sa bawat tono'ng ginagamit ng bawat nakakausap ko. Well, maybe because Ate Thally and Kuya Thallus always plays their tone whenever their bickering, since sometimes I was with then, I slowly picked up their emotions from their voices

A question popped into my head but instead of answering that question question, I let fate do his moves. Kaysa mag-isip pa 'ko nang isasagot sa tanong na alam kong masusundan lang nang tanong na naman, hindi ko na 'yon binigyan pa ng pansin at hinayaang malaman na lang.

My eyes went around us. May kalayuan na ang University pero wala na halos mga estudyanteng naglalakad sa area na 'to dahil nagsisilbing shortcut 'to papunta sa Subdivision kung saan kami nakatira ni Cassiara. Nasa dulong part sila habang med'yo nasa gitna naman kami.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito, Kuya Kezi?" Cassiara asked when no one spoke after that. Pasimple pang sumulyap sa'kin.

"Uh," Vinx scratches the back of his ear and puts his phone inside his pocket on the back. "I just... uh," tumikhim siya at dumiretso ng tayo. "Gusto ko sanang, ano..."

A honk made me and Cassiara jump. It was so sudden that I didn't realize I held onto Cassiara's arm while her hands were in my uniform.

Nilingon ko ang kalsada kung saan nanggaling ang tunog na 'yon. It was a familiar car, a Toyota. Then, the window rolled down and Sean's head popped out. "Beh ko! Punta tayo mameh!"

"Why?" Cassiara's tone changed. Her expression and aura shifted into the one she usually uses. A happy, carefree and easy going aura.

"Nando'n daw sila Tita Elliza!"

Bumuntong hininga si Cassiara bago simulang maglakad. She's in my back so she needs to pass me first, but before that, I whispered. "What a great actress."

She stopped and glanced at me over her shoulder before smirking on my way. "'Know, right?" Then, nilingon niya si Vinx. "Take care of my Best Friend, Kuya. Make sure you get her home before seven. Oh, and," she fully faced Vinx. "Call Tito Thalinio or just Kuya Thallus to give them a head that she's with you."

I pushed her a little with the tip of my fingers. "Just go. Ang dami mo pang sinasabi."

"I'm just making sure you're safe."

"Sino kaya nagsabing safe—"

"—Sige na! Sige na! Shut your mouth, Thally!" She cut me off and dashed to enter Sean's car. Her emotions shifted again to an innocent and good girl aura.

What a fake actress.

There were a few minutes of silence after Sean's car left. It honked three more times at the same time as the lights on the back of the car flashed twice before it completely disappeared from my sight.