Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 3

Weird

Two weeks have passed, since classes started. I'm currently in the library, with Kuya, of course. We have two hours of spare time. Our next subject teacher had an emergency. I don't know though, kung ano.

I'm sitting in one spot near the aircon while answering our assignment that is due for next week. Well, I hate cramming. Kuya is on my right side, as always taking his nap for the day. Siya nga ang pumili na rito maupo para sa kanya mapunta ang malamig na hangin. Laging tulog 'to, ano kaya ginagawa nito kada gabi, kinabukasan laging puyat.

"Hi Dana! Can I sit in here?" I looked up and saw it's Carter.

I was shocked, really. When I found out that  Carter was actually in our class. He's our classmate, hindi ko siya napansin sa first day. Siguro dahil naging abala rin ako sa pagkirot kay Kuya. A small school it is, an expensive one at that.

"Yup! Go ahead." He pulled the chair that's right in front of me.

I then continued doing my assignment. I need to focus because it's PreCalculus. Sumasakit na ang ulo ko pero sige lang ng sige. Dapat aralin, dehado kasi ako sa subject na'to, hindi ako pinanganak na Math Lord katulad ng natutulog kong katabi. Need ko na lang ng skill. 'Wais skill'. 

"Anong subject 'yan?" Carter habang tinatanaw ang assignment na tinititigan ko lang. Tumigil ako sa pagtitig roon at inangat ang tingin sa kanya.

"PreCalculus, nahihirapan kasi akong sagutin ito, 'di na gumagana ang utak ko. Ang iba nasagutan ko naman pero ang iba kasi nahihirapan na ako." Nakangiwing saad ko bago yumuko sa mesa at bumuntong hininga.

Minsan naiintindihan ko naman, pero may panahon lang talaga na 'di gumagana yung utak ko, gaya ngayon. It's not like I can wake Kuya up just for this, he is obviously tired and worn out. Nakakainis pa naman ito pag nagtuturo, namimitik ng noo. Kasalanan ko bang hindi ko maintindihan?

I heard someone stood up. Soon, I felt someone went on my side and sat on the vacant chair.

"Can I take a look at it? Maybe I can help you. Tapos ko na rin kasing sagutan 'yan kanina." Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na inayos ko ang aking pagkakaupo at malaki ang ngiti na tumingin sa kanya, showing my perfect set of white teeth. 

A help from a humble person!

"Okay lang ba? Wala ka naman sigurong ginagawa hindi ba?" Napakamot ako sa aking ulo. Nahihiya ako, baka may gagawin pala siya pero inilaan lang sa akin ang oras?

May ngiti sa labi na umiling siya. Inabot niya ang aking notebook at tiningnan ito. Habang abala siya sa pagtingin sa assignment ko, tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid. May nahagip ang dalawa kong mga mata, dalawang babae na magkasamang nakaupo sa kabilang mesa.

Ang isa ay tahimik na nagse-cellphone ang isa naman ay nagbabasa ng manga. They literally have their own world but they look so lovely and cute together. I think I saw them in the classroom.

Kaklase ko ba sila?

Before I can think of it, Carter asks for my attention about the assignment. I set aside the idea of those girls and just focus on what is in front of me - PreCalculus assignment.

Carter was teaching me how to solve one as he explains it on the way. I can say he's a good teacher. Madami rin akong natutunan sa kanya. Mag simpleng paraan para mapadali ang pagsagot nito. Namangha ako ng pagsagot ko ay agad kong nakuha ang kanyang tinuro!

Carter and I are so engrossed about it that we literally jumped on our seats, when we heard a loud crash that came from a chair that's fallen on the ground. It was caused by someone who suddenly stood up! I looked at who it was and it's no other than Kuya!

Why did he do that?

Everyone is literally looking at him!

Nagtataka akong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo at nilapitan siya. "Kuya, what's wrong?" He looked so angry, he also had both of his hand clench into a fist. What's bothering him? And when did he wake up?

I hold his arm trying to calm him down. Inangat ko ang aking tingin sa kanyang nakakunot na noo at madilim na mga mata. I saw him looked passed me. Tumingin din ako sa likuran ko at nakita si Carter na nakatayo at nakatingin sa amin.

Muli kong binalik ang nagtatakang tingin sa kanya. What about Carter?

I looked back at his eyes and saw an emotion pass through it. Dahan-dahan niyang tinanggal ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanya.

"Ku-" He walked out, still fuming mad about something.

Agad akong humarap kay Carter. "I'm sorry, talk to you later." He just nodded at me, his face is also full of confusion and wonder about what's happening. Nahagip ng aking tingin ang dalawang babae na nakatingin sa aking bawat galaw. 

Chismosa in your area, Alert!

I gathered all of my things and immediately went out of the library. I saw his physique turning left as I hurriedly followed him. I don't know where he is going but I will surely follow him!

Ang haba naman ng hakbang ng lalaking 'to, dahan-dahan naman diyan di po gaano kahaba ang mga binti ko! How can he walk quickly when he's mad but acts like a kid when he's joking? Napailing ako sa iniisip at nagfocus sa pagsunod sa kanya.

Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa mapunta kami sa likuran ng building. Liliko na sana ako sa kanyang pinaglikuan ng may humila sa akin at isinandal ako sa pader. Muntikan pang mahulog ang aking dalang gamit. When I looked at who it was, it was just Kuya.

I sighed in relief, akala ko kung sino na. "K-Ku-" He cut me off guard when he strongly hit the wall right beside my face using his right hand. I gaped as I watched his gray orbs, who's seriously staring at me. I saw how his chest rapidly heave because of the emotions building up inside of him.

What's wrong? Something's definitely wrong!

Tinitigan niya ang aking mga mata. May kung ano roon na tila may gustong ipahiwatig sa akin, may gustong ipaalam. He was looking so serious and all I want to know is what in the world is making him so furious?

"Is something wrong? Did I do something to make you mad?" I hold his arm with my free right hand, risking my best to calm his raging ass down. My eyes widen when be put his head on my shoulder. Parang may kung anong dinadalang mabigat sa kanyang dibdib.

Ano ba kasing problema? Bakit ayaw niyang sumagot?

I bit my lower lip. I can feel this frustration building uo inside me. "Kuy-" He suddenly snapped and turned his back on me.

"Leigh! Stop calling me 'Kuya'! You know what I feel when you call me that!" Nagulat  ako sa kanyang sinabi dahilan ng pagkahulog ng aking gamit sa sahig. Nakita kong bumaba roon ang kanyang tingin. Napunta ang kanyang kamay sa kanysng buhok at naiinis na ginulo iyon, bago ako muling hinarap.

W-What? What is he talking about? He was definitely fine when I called him that. I have been calling him 'Kuya' since I was 5 years old, so what change? I don't understand.

"What do you mean, stop? K-Kuy-" He looked at me, he's very mad. This is the first time he burst out. I can see see his eyebrows furrowed, tila naiinis sa akin dahil hindi ko maintindihan ang kanyang sinasabi.

So, he doesn't want me to call him 'Kuya', he can just ask me nicely you know, without him being emotional and all. Madali naman akong kausap. Him, doing things like this just confuses the hell out of me.

"Okay okay. Then, what will I call you?" I ask anxiously, looking at his face to see his reaction. He might snapped again if I said something triggering.

His face softens as he sees me checking his reaction, he softly smiles at me while looking at my face.

"Call me baby."

Napakunot noo ako ng tila langaw lamang ang aking narinig. "W-What? Did you say something? I didn't hear it."

What is he whispering over there? His lips was moving so I thought maybe he said something. Kung may gusto siyang sabihin, sabihin niya! 'Di yung nagwa-walk out, parang tanga lang.

Bumuka 'yung bibig niya habang ako ay naka-abang lamang sa kanyang sasabihin.  Why do you try to open your lips, then only to closes it again. Parang tanga talaga 'to.

"H-Hugh." Under his breath, he answered. Parang hindi ata to sigurado. But, oh well.

"Your second name? Okay!." May maliit na ngiting sabi ko.

Pinanood ko siyang magpakawala ng hininga. Ang lalim no'n ah. 'Hugh' lang pala gusto niyang tawag ko sa kanya, pronounced as 'hue'. Bumaba siya at kinuha ang aking mga gamit sa sahig. After picking all of my things, he gave me a cute smile, waiting for me to call his name.

"Hugh." I called out. Tumingin siya sa aking mga mata. Nakita ko sa kanyang mga abong mga mata na masaya siya. Ang babaw naman ng kasiyahan nito. But even with the shallowest things, I will do my best to make my Kuya happy. Seeing him smile at me, sorrounds my heart with a warm and tender feeling.

He walked towards me. He suddenly grabbed my back as he enveloped me with a tight hug. I smiled and hugged him back. 

Weird but I actually loved how this day turn out.

______________

sshandi

.

Minsan naiintindihan ko naman pero, may panahon lang talaga na di na gumagana yung utak ko, gaya ngayon. It's not like I can wake Kuya up just for this, he is obviously tired and worn out. Carter went on my side and sat on the chair that's vacant.

"Can I take a look at it? Maybe I can help you? Tapos ko na rin kasing sagutan 'yan kanina." Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na inayos ko ang aking pagkakaupo at malaki ang ngiti na tumingin sa kanya, showing my perfect set of white teeth. 

"Okay lang ba? Wala ka naman sigurong ginagawa hindi ba?" Nahihiya ako, baka may gagawin pala siya pero naaawa lang? Umiling lang siya at kinuha niya ang notebook ko. 

Habang abala siya sa pagtingin sa assignment ko ay tumingin ako sa paligid at nahagip ng dalawa kong mga mata ang dalawang babae na magkasamang nakaupo sa kabilang mesa. Ang isa ay tahimik na nagse-cellphone ang isa naman ay nagbabasa ng manga. They literally have their own world but they look so lovely and cute together. I think I saw them in the classroom, kaklase ko ba sila? Before I can think of it, Carter asks for my attention about the assignment. I set aside the idea of those girls and just focus on what is in front of me - PreCalculus assignment.

Carter was teaching me how to solve one, I can say he's a good teacher. While Carter and I are so engrossed about it, someone suddenly stood up, causing the chair to fall back onto the ground and cause a loud sound. I looked at who it was and it's no other than Kuya! What is he doing? Everyone is literally looking at him!

"Kuya, what's wrong?" What's wrong with him? And when did he wake up? He looked so angry, he also had both of his hand clench into a fist. I stand up and I hold his arm trying to calm him down. He looked passed me, tumingin din ako sa likuran ko at nakita si Carter na nakatayo at nakatingin sa'min.

What about Carter?

I looked back at his eyes and saw an emotion pass through it, dahan-dahan niyang tinanggal ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanya at tumalikod.

"Ku-" He walked out, still fuming mad about something.

"I'm sorry Carter, talk to you later." He just nodded at me, his face full of confusion and wonder about what's happening. I even saw the two girls looking at my every move.

Chismosa in your area, Alert!

I gathered all of my things and went out of the library. I saw his physique turning left, I hurriedly followed him. Ang haba naman ng hakbang ng lalaking 'to, dahan-dahan naman diyan di po gaano kahaba ang mga binti ko!

I followed him hanggang sa mapunta kami sa likuran ng building, but when I'm about to turn where he went. Someone grabbed me and pinned me to the wall. When I looked at who it was, it was just Kuya, I sighed in relief, akala ko kung sino na.

"K-Ku-" He cut me off guard when he suddenly hit the wall right beside my face using his right hand, I literally jumped on my feet. His chest is heaving. W-What's wrong? Somethings definitely wrong! He looked me in the eyes, his eyes are saying something but I just can't name what it is.

"I-Is something wrong? Did I d-do something to make you mad?" I hold his arm trying again to calm his raging ass down. He put his head on my shoulder, parang may dinadalang mabigat ang lolo niyo. Ano ba kasing problema?

"K-Kuy-" He snapped and turned his back on me. Parang may kinikimkim talaga siyang mga salita na gustong sabihin.

"Leigh! Stop calling me 'Kuya'! You know what I feel when you call me that!" W-What? What is he talking about? He was definitely fine when I called him that. I have been calling him 'Kuya' since I was 5 years old, so what change? I don't understand.

"W-What do you mean, stop? K-Kuy-" He looked at me, he's very mad. This is the first time he burst out. So he doesn't want me to call him 'Kuya', he can just ask me nicely you know, without him being emotional, madali akong kausap.

"Okay okay, t-then what will I call you?" I ask anxiously, looking at his face to see his reaction, he might snapped again if I said something triggering. His face softens as he sees me checking his reaction, he softly smiles at me while looking at my face.

"Call me baby."

"W-What? Did you say something? I didn't hear it." What is he whispering over there? His lips was moving so I thought he said something. Kung may gusto siyang sabihin, sabihin niya! Di yung nagwa-walk out, parang tanga lang. Bumuka ýong bibig niya and here I am waiting for him to say something. What am I gonna call you?, when you only try to open your lips only to close it again. 

"H-Hugh." 

"Your second name? Okay! Hugh." Bumuntong hininga ito, ang lalim no'n ah. 'Hugh' lang pala gusto niyang tawag ko sa kanya, pronounced as 'hue'. He smiles at me as he hears me calling his name.

"Hugh." I called out again, tumingin naman siya sa aking mata at nakita ko na masaya siya. Ang babaw naman ng kasiyahan nito. 

He suddenly grabbed me and enveloped me into a tight hug, I smiled and hugged him back. 

What a weird day it is. 

______________

sshandi