Midnights to Remember

Memory: Three

Three

Kumakain kami ng breakfast ng parents ko pero parang wala akong gana. Tiningnan ko silang dalawa at busy sila sa mga kani kanilang laptop getting ready for work.

"Mom?" panimula ko.

She looked at me and told me to wait dahil may kausap pa sya.

"What is it, darling?" takang tanong nya.

"Mommy may gusto po akong salihan na school organization." hesitant na sabi ko.

She stopped what she's doing and looked at me with interest in her eyes."Really, what organization?"

I was so hesitant to tell her dahil baka magalit sila. This conversation could go wrong and baka hindi pa ako mapayagan.

"Uh it's a school organization about charity Mommy."

Nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ni Mommy at inalis ng Daddy ang paningin nya sa laptop."Charity? The one's who help less fortunate people and people who gets affected by natural disasters?"

"Yes Daddy, iyon nga po." sagot ko.

Natahimik ako. They look like na hindi sila papayag about sa gusto ko.

"Those school organization always seek for other people's help because they don't have enough funds. Mahihirapan ka lang diyan and I mean they're always on the go since they help people in different places. Makakasagabal lang ito sa pagaaral mo Kadence, just focus on your studies." ani nito.

"Okay, Mom." I gave them a bitter smile.

I am sad and disappointed, sana hindi ko na lang sinabi sa kanila. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain at nanahimik na lang ako.

"Besides this organization is not connected to your course. It's better if you join school organization that is relevant to your course. Magagamit mo pa in the future unlike those charity stuff." Mom added.

I pursed my lips para hindi na sumagot sa mga sinasabi nila. They really have no idea what I like, I don't even give a damn about business stuff. Sila lang naman ang may gusto ng ganoon but I stayed silent.

"Right." I just said.

Sabi ko sa sarili ko phase lang 'to but I opened it up anyway yet I still got dissapointed. They really don't give a damn about what their daughter like. It's always what they like and what they want.

~

After ng first subject ay lumabas ako ng classroom dahil may one hour vacant kami. Sinalpak ko ang earphones ko at naglakad sa mataong hallway. Nakasanayan ko nang tingnan ang school bulletin board kaya nagbasa basa ako habang sinasabayan ang kanta na pinapatugtog ko.

And i've always lived like this

Keeping a comfortable distance

I was too focused on what I was doing hindi ko pinapansin ang paligid ko. Nagulat ako nang may sumabay sa pagkanta ko.

And up until now I had sworn to myself

That I'm content with loneliness

Because none of it was ever worth the risk

Nagulat ako sa kanya kaya napaatras ako. Binabasa nya rin ang nakasulat sa bulletin board habang nakapamulsa at ngumingisi ngisi.

"Nice song, miss." sambit nito.

What is this dude's problem. Jeez lagi na lang may nagiinvade ng personal space ko. He looks familiar pero hindi ko maalala.

"Uh thanks?" I replied. Maglalakad na sana ako paalis nang marinig ko ang boses ni Ashley.

"KADE!!" masayang sabi nito. Lumapit sya at umakbay sa 'kin pero lumayo rin ako.

"Kade?" I asked confused. No one's ever called me "Kade" or any nickname.

"Mula ngayon 'yan na ang itatawag ko sa 'yo para unique diba." masiglang pagpapaliwanag nito.

"Oh okay." I just said because I was caught off guard she was the first one who called me by nickname.

"Naconvince ka ba nito, Kade?" tanong nya. I was awkward the whole time kasi hindi ako sanay na may tumatawag sa akin ng ganoon. Hinampas nya ang lalaki habang tumatawa na sinasangga naman nito.

"Wow Kaius, congrats for the first time may narecruit ka!" masayang sabi ni Ashley.

Akala nya ba narecruit ako ng lalaking 'to"Uh excuse me. I think you misunderstood, we don't know each other." turo ko sa lalaki.

"Aray dinideny mo ako, Miss. Last week nga kasama mo pa akong nagdate." ani nito

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sobrang gulat."Anong date?!" inis na sabi ko. Iyon ang unang beses na nanigaw ako ng tao. I was caught off guard on the way that I acted.

"I mean i'm sorry, it's just I don't know you" dagdag ko.

Si Ashley ay tumatawa sa gilid. "Hayaan mo siya wag mo na 'yang pansinin. Kulang kasi sa aruga 'yang si Kaius." sita ni Ashley.

"Anyways napagisapan mo na ba, Kadence?" dagdag nya.

I went silent for a second. Tiningnan ko lang habang iniisip kung anong sasabihin ko.

"Sasali ka ba?" tanong ng lalaki to break the silence."Ikaw ah gusto mo lang ako makita palagi e kaya ka sasali" dagdag pa nya.

Tinapunan ko lang siya ng tingin at binaling ko ang atensyon ko kay Ashley.

"Manahimik ka diyan Kaius, baka mamaya matakot sayo hindi na sasali." pangaasar ni Ashley sa kaniya.

"Actually I'm not. I'm always busy and my parents think it's a waste of time." Nagulat sila at para hindi maoffend cinorrect ko."I mean they thought mahahati ang oras ko sa pagaaral kapag sumali ako so they won't allow me. I'm very sorry."

Naglakad ako paalis nang may makita akong babae na nadapa. Wala man lang tumulong sa kaniya at tinawanan lang siya ng mga nasa paligid. Hahayaan ko na sana but I felt the urge to help her, she look embarrassed I cannot just shrug it off.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at tinulungan ko siya tumayo. Tinanggap niya ang kamay ko at sinipat ko ang itsura niya, her knees are bleeding. May punas at band aid ako sa bag kaya kinuha ko ito at pinunasan ko ang sugat niya tsaka nilagyan ng band aid.

"Are you okay?" nagaalalang tanong ko habang pinupulot lahat ng libro niya.

"Okay lang po ako ate, salamat po." it was a freshman student I saw in her I.D.

"You don't look okay, let me take you to the clinic para malinisan sugat mo." sabi ko.

"Maraming salamat ate." tinulungan ko siyang tumayo, habang naglalakad kami sumulpot si Kaius at Ashley.

"Tulungan ka na namin, Kade." sabi ni Ashley.

Inalalayan naman ni Kaius ang babae dahil nahihirapan itong maglakad. I was silent the whole time nang binasag ni Ashley ang katahimikan.

"You're heart is so pure 'no? We were about to help her earlier kaso sabi ni Kaius tingnan daw muna namin kung anong gagawin mo. I got disappointed when you started walk away pero natulala kami nang balikan mo." I got dumbfounded sa sinabi niya. She looked amused while looking at me kaya umiwas ako ng tingin dahil naiilang ako.

"I think you're perfect to what we are looking for Kadence after all you passed the test." sabi nya.

I got confused."Anong test?"

"Iyong ginawa mo, remember our organization is all about helping and you showed us today that you are perfect for the position." masayang sabi niya.

"Seryoso ba 'to?" confuse na tanong ko.

"Seryoso 'yan, ganiyan din ginawa nya sa amin kaya member na kami ngayon ng organization na 'to. Budol nga 'yan e." sabad ni Kaius habang tumatawa.

Natahimik ako habang naglalakad pa rin kami."Ayaw mo pa rin ba?" tanong ni Ashley.

Hindi pa rin ako sumasagot at tiningnan ko lang sila."If you change your mind, may meeting kami this Saturday, you can come if you'd like. Kung gusto mo lang naman, no pressure." nakangiti niyang sabi.

I passed something that I am not aware of. What a great job Kadence, I laughed sarcastically.