Perfect Pieces

03

"Peace be with you, papa."

I kissed my dad's cheek after I kissed my mom's. It was Sunday kaya ay nagsisimba kaming anim. Nakagisnan na naming magsimba every Sunday because of our mom kaya kahit minsan na may business trip sila, kaming apat ang nagsisimba. Minsan nagsisimba ako kahit hindi Sunday.

Pagkatapos nung misa ay lumabas na kami and just ate breakfast afterwards sa labas kasi nagugutom na talaga ako and we don't have food sa house pa and still had to cook. We just watched movies all throughout the day lang because we had this rule that Sunday, is family day and we had to be home.

Kinabukasan ay wala rin naman akong masyadong ginawa at pumasok lang ako sa university kasi lunes nanaman. I hate Mondays. I really do.

"Lani!" my best friend, Stella, who was the daughter of my parents' best friends when they were firefighters, called me.

"Stella," I said and hugged her. "Where's Pierce?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Pierce was the son of my dad's friend back in college.

She shrugged. "I don't really know! Ewan! Baka nasa banda niya o baka may kasama nanamang babae." she frowned.

I laughed. "Oh dear, you sound like a jealous girlfriend." I tapped her cheek.

I just knew that she had feelings for him and him for her, but they were too in denial to confess. Life is short. I mean, if you know that your feelings are real, that's enough reason to take the risk, right?

"I... I'm not jealous!" she stomped her feet at hinampas pa talaga ako ng bag niya sa balikat kaya mas lalo akong tumawa to tease her.

"So, you're the girlfriend nga?" tukso ko pa.

She frustratedly screamed while burrying her face on the bag. "Hindi nga! I don't even like him in the first place!" she said at aabutin na sana ang aking buhok but I was too quick to run.

But I was too busy running and looking back at her that I didn't notice that may tao palang paparating sa gawi ko.

"Hala!" rinig ko ang pagsinghap ni Stella sa aking likod sabay nang pagbunggo ko sa aking harapan.

But instead, I didn't fall. Malapit na talaga 'yung mukha ko sa floor but a hand pulled me back making me stumble back at ganon nalang ang panlalaki ng aking mga mata nung makita kong si Luan 'yon.

"Ohmygod, I am so sorry." I said and took a step back because what if he didn't like people touching him? He gave off that vibe.

"It's fine," he slowly said while looking at me.

"You should be careful next time." oh... Keziah. She's here too and two other guys. I didn't notice them earlier.

"Yeah, I'm really sorry for the trouble-" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko kasi may tumawag sa aking pangalan.

"Azalea! Azalea!" I immediately sighed kasi alam ko na kung sino 'yon kasi siya lang naman ang tumatawag non sakin.

"Excuse me... and I'm sorry again for the trouble." I smiled at them before turning my back. "Pierce? You need something?" nilapitan ko siya. May dala dala pang electric guitar na nakasabit sa kaniyang likod.

"Where's Stella?" he immediately asked me.

"She's literally at your back," tinuro ko si Stella that was sitting on the ground while using her phone at kumakain ng chewing gum.

"Hoy tuta!" he kicked the leg of Stella lightly.

"Hoy mo 'yang pagmumukha mo. Mukha kang aso." singhal naman nitong isa at tumayo at pinagpagan ang pantalon niya.

Pierce laughed at inakbayan kaming dalawa bago hinila sa labas kung saan ang 'busog alley'. That's what we call the alley outside our school kasi puno ito ng mga kainan at mabubusog ka talaga.

"Tinawagan ko na si Grey. Nandon siya sa wings place," he informed us.

"Hindi ko tinanong," Stella mumbled at his side.

"Hindi naman ikaw kausap ko. Si Azalea kaya, diba?" he eyed me at hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa aking leeg kaya ay naubo ako.

"Uh... yeah? Hehe." I awkwardly smiled at natahimik na.

Pagdating namin dun sa may wings place ay umupo na kami dahil kinawayan kami ni Grey and he actually reserved us a table dahil punuan ngayon.

"I want the spicy buffalo wings," sabi ko kay Grey nung paorder na siya.

"Ako, buffalo wings pero hindi spicy." sabi naman ni Stella at kumukuha ng pera sa wallet niya.

"Weh? Lipad ka nga," Pierce said which made our brows furrowed but then I realized what it was kaya ay natawa ako at nagalit na rin si Stella at hinampas ang batok ni Pierce kaya ay napuno kami ng tawanan.

We just ate peacefully there and then cached up with our lives kasi iba iba kami ng course at hindi na kami nagpapang-abot sa university. I stared at them kasi I know that someday... we'll be successful.

Pagka tapos naming kumain ay isa isa na rin kaming umalis. But instead of me, going home, dumaan muna ako sa isang coffee shop across the university to study. Kung sa bahay ako mag aaral, tatawagin lang ako ng kama ko at makakatulog. I ordered coffee and blueberry cheesecake before setting down near the glass windows. Umuulan pa ngayon kaya ay mas lalo lang akong ginanahan mag aral because of the smell and sound of the rain.

I was in the middle of highlighting my book when someone stood in front of me. I looked up and I saw Luan shaking his head lightly kasi mukhang nabasa sa ulan.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" turo niya sa upuan sa aking harapan. I looked around and that's when I noticed na puno pala ang coffee shop na.

"Of course not. Suit yourself." I smiled and gathered my books so he can have space for himself.

"Thanks," he mumbled and sat in front of me at inilagay nalang 'yung mga libro niya sa lamesa.

Tahimik na agad kami after that. We were just studying and reading silently together. I loved the silence... hindi ako nabobother sa presensya niya. A heir of a senator sitting in front of me. Maybe he isn't as evil as what people think he is... maybe.

But then my brows furrowed when my phone vibrated because of the notification.

luan followed you

luan sent you a message

luan: stop staring and study.

My mouth parted and still continued to stare at him. Hindi ko namamalayan kanina na sobrang nakatitig na pala ako at hindi ko na namamalayang nakatingin na rin pala siya.

lassantiago: You followed me.

luan: you should be thankful and be honored since you're the only person I followed.

lassantiago: Oh wow, thanks. I am so HONORED.

luan: always :)

Napailing nalang ako and closed my phone after following him back. We look stupid dito. We're still messaging each other kahit nasa harap lang kami ng isa't isa. I continued to stare at him kasi wala lang. Nakakapanibago lang.

"Is med school hard?" tanong ko sa kaniya and closed my book.

"It is hard... if you don't study well," he answered without taking his eyes off the book he was reading. "Why? Planning on going to med school?"

Dahil sa tanong niya, nanindig ang balahibo ko. "Oh no... no. My mind can't take all that information and thinking that I could cut open someone legally someday or thinking that a life of a human being will be on my hands"

"You can be a doctor but still won't cut people legally." he shrugged like it was nothing. "And... I think in any job you take, you still will be handling people's lives."

"At least not cut them open." I leered and pouted.

"Suit yourself." he shrugged and crossed his arms around his chest.

"I should go home," sabi ko at isinilid na sa tote bag ko ang aking mga gamit. Gabi na rin kasi and it's raining pa. My parents will surely get worried dahil hindi rin ako nag update sa kanila kung bakit matagal akong naka uwi.

"I'll walk you to your car. It's raining," he said at binitbit ang payong niya.

I shook my head. "Don't bother. I'll commute today since my brother borrowed my car." I smiled a little and continued packing.

"Then I'll drop you off to your house," he offered.

"Wag na. Abala pa sayo tsaka marunong naman ako magcommute." umiling ako because I saw hot thick the book that he was reading, and he wasn't even still in the middle page.

"I insist," he said at binitbit pa na ang libro niya and his umbrella and so I sighed at pumayag nalang.

The whole car ride was silent, but a playlist was playing on his car that was named, always. I texted dad nalang to pick me outside the gate kasi umuulan at mababasa ako at baka magka sakit pa. He said he was there na when we entered the village.

Tinuro ko nalang kung saang street ang house namin and he stopped right outside our gate where I saw dad wearing a white v neck shirt and black slacks- probably just got home from work. I saw how his forehead furrowed when he saw an unknown car approaching. Paghinto namin sa tapat niya ay kinatok niya ang bintana ni Luan and Luan opened it and was about to open the door when dad stopped him.

"Good evening, sir." Luan greeted.

"Uy! Magandang gabi. Don't open. You'll get wet because of the rain." umiling si dad and glanced at me. "Are you wet, love?" dad asked and went to my side and opened my door.

"Thank you, Luan! You should come inside, my mom's cooking soup!" aya ko sa kaniya pero he shook his head. Alam ko na agad na nagluluto ng may sabaw si mama kasi ulan eh.

"Thanks, but don't bother-" he said but my dad cut him off.

"Come inside. My wife's cooking dinner. Consider this thanking you for taking my daughter home safely," he said, and Luan got no chance to say no dahil binuksan na ni daddy ang gate and gestured him where to park the car. Malaki naman ang garahe namin dito because we love to collect cars and motorbikes.

Pagpasok ko ng bahay ay tumakbo kaagad ako sa kwarto ko dahil nabasa ako ng ulan at baka magkasakit pa. I showered and changed my clothes kasi giniginaw na ako and just walked inside my brother's closet to get a hoodie.

I saw Luan on the living room sitting like he was a lost puppy. Nakatingin siya dun sa harapan kung saan ang malaking tv and above it was our family photos. Nasa ibabaw ng tv talaga ay 'yung malaking family portrait namin tsaka sa gilid nun ay mga frames na na pictures namin together o kaya ay solo photos.

May shelves rin sa gilid kung saan may solo photo frames namin kung saan nakasabit ang medals, trophies, and certificates that we got all throughout our lives. Nandon nga 'yung name plate ng parents ko noon. I'll get that someday.

Gwynaelle Theandra Lopez - Battalion Chief

Lucas Jameson Santiago - Chief of Fire

Hindi pa pala nachange ni mama 'yung surname niya dito kasi battalion chief na siya way before she married my dad.

"Come in the dining, Luan." aya ko and he stood up almost immediately. "Basa ka ba? Baka magkasakit ka niyan?"

"Don't worry about me," he whispered.

"Oh! A visitor! Are you my daughter's friend? Come and sit! It's been a while since Lani had a friend over-" my mom said but got cut off.

"Mama." kuya... wait, kuya?!

"Kuya?" I asked and kuya Arch smiled.

"Hi, love." he said and kissed my cheek when I approached him.

"Why are you suddenly here? Aren't you busy?" I asked him because isa rin to sa ayaw niyang uwian dito ay malayo 'yung village sa university niya and he said it'll take more time from driving and traffic pa at sana ay inaral nalang daw niya 'yon.

"Wala ka na sigurong pagkain sa condo kaya umuwi ka," my mom accused him at tinuro siya gamit ang sandok.

"Mama..." kuya pouted at nilayo ang sandok sa mukha niya. "I have a lot of food there just like what you said. I just... I wanted to ask something pero mamaya na."

I narrowed my eyes at him when he suddenly looked away and his cheeks and ears were a little red. He's cheeks were now rosy pink, and it indicates na nahihiya siya... hmm. Malalaman ko rin ano ang chika!

"I hope you eat buttered chicken, Luan. I mean, kung hindi ka allergic. Hindi rin naman nagsabi si Lani na may kaibigan pala siyang magdidinner dito kaya hindi ako nakapaghanda! Meron ding bulalo kasi umuulan ngayon," my mom said at binigyan siya ng baso.

"It's okay, ma'am. The chicken looks and smells delicious." he smiled making my mom smile too. Kumain nalang ako and they are constantly asking Luan questions about how he's doing in school and his plans. They weren't talking about his personal lives kasi ayaw rin naman naming tanunging kami sa personal naming buhay sa mga hindi namin masyadong kilala.

"Stop asking him. He's eating, mama." kuya sighed. "Let him eat peacefully" sabi pa niya so mom pouted nalang at chinika nalang si papa.

Pagka tapos naming kumain, lumabas muna ako sa labas ng bahay na malapit lang sa front door para hindi ako maulanan at nakatingin lang ako sa pagbagsak ng ulan dun sa labas.

"Hey," tawag ni Luan sa akin.

"Hey," I replied without turning my back at tumabi naman siya sa akin.

"I should head home," he informed me.

I hummed. "It's still raining. Isn't it dangerous for you to drive on a wet road?" tanong ko.

He shook his head. "I'm used to it." he shrugged. "I already said goodbye to your parents. Her chicken tastes great like she's a professional chef."

"My mom wanted to be a chef." I chuckled. "But she didn't want to lose interest on what she loves over the years, so she ended up being a firefighter."

"It explains why your kitchen looks like a 5-star restaurant," he complimented, and my lips curved up into a small smile.

Katahimikan. Nakakapagkalmang katahimikan.

"I should go home," he said when the rain was not as hard as earlier.

"Of course. Be careful when driving." paalala ko sa kaniya and he gave me a small smile. Binuksan naman nung guard 'yung gate so his car can back up.

Before he completely went out of my sight, I saw him hazard three times before driving away.