RAYANA

Chapter 11

Saturday come as fast as I can't imagine.

Kinulit pa rin ako ni Sandy about the party but she never win. Wala akung planong mag party sa loob ng isang bahay na hindi pamilyar sa akin. I don't even wanna meet a lot of people because of my situation. I just don't look good around them.

So now I am opening the door for Zachary, my partner and classmate. Awkward syang ngumiti sa akin habang hawak ang dalawang straps ng backpack nya.

I glance outside and saw a man with not far my age looking out to us, ang designated driver nya. His curious eyes was on me..

"H-Hi. I'm sorry I'm late." Bati nya whil fixing his eyeglasses.

"Pasok.." Bukas ko ng mas maluwang sa pinto.

Napapasinghap na agad syang tumalima at nagtanggal ng sapatos sa harap ko.

"You don't have to do that.. Pasok na" Saway ko.

"A-ano baka madumihan kasi yung.."

"Ayos lang.." Iling ko at napapabuntong hiningang hinila ko ang damit nya papasok. Para syang hindi nakahinga sa paghila ko and stumble while trying to stand on his feet.

"Reya!"  Napalingon ako sa labas at agad kung nakita ang kumakaway na si Sandy sa tapat ng kapa-park lang na sasakyan ni Bruce.

Inirapan ko lang sya at sinara ang pinto. Nilagpasan ko si Zach na tuod na nakatayo sa gilid.

"Punta ka na sa living room.. Kukunin ko lang ang gamit ko."  Baling ko sa kanya ng nasa puno na ko ng hagdan, tinuro ko sa kanya ang papasok sa living room.

"A-Ahhh S-sige.." Pilit nyang ngiti at kamot ng ulo. Ano bang kinakaba nya? Wala naman akung gagawing masama sa kanya.

Napapailing na lang na umakyat ako sa taas at kinuha ang bag ko at gamit na kakailanganin sa project. I brought my loptop for our research.

Naabutan ko syang nag aayos ng bag nya. Nakatanggal ang sapatos nya at nasa gilid ng pinto papasok ng living room na di abot ng carpet.

Agad syang umayos ng upo ng makita akung nilapag sa kabilang side ang mga gamit ko. 

"Your pissing me off.." Malamig kung sabi habang umuupo sa carpet while he still on the couch.

"H-Huh?" Laki nyang mata sa akin.

Diritso ko syang tinitigan kahit nakatingala ako. I admit that his big for his age, mas matangkad din sya sa akin at mas malaki ang katawan kahit masasabing patpatin kapag tinapat sa mga higher level sa school but I can't believe that his so weak to the point that bullies want to play him around.

"Halatang kinakabahan ka at parang takot na takot.. Takot ka ba sa akin o ngayon ka lang naka bisita sa bahay ng classmate mo?"

Bukas sara ang bibig nya na parang naghahanap ng salita at lingon ng lingon para makaiwas sa tingin ko, he even dropped his bag and breathlessly look down and gripped his pants tight.

"S-Sorry.." Mahina nyang sabi.

Tinitigan ko sya. His hopeless.

"Ok.." I said, he suddenly look up and stare at me completely shocked.

I raised an eyebrow to him before look away and open the laptop.

"You should seat on the carpet...Nahihirapan akung tinangalain ka." I said while opening my book and holding a pen.

I glance at him and saw him take a seat in front of me quietly. Napapailing na lang na binigay ko sa kanya ang libro at tinuro ang ginuhitan ko ng high light pen.

"This will we start. Read it first so we search on the net. I'll give you my opinion after " Tumango sya at kinuha yun. We're going to create a research paper.

I'll proceed to my laptop.

Naging busy kami in past hours until I need to cook so I let him there for awhile and make us something to eat.

We take lunch and I've never expect him to be talkative. Tango lang ng bahagya ang ginagawa ko habang nagke-kwento sya, naging relax sya pagkalipas ng ilang oras. He even laugh and smile at me, I give him a single nod everytime.

Tumulong sya sa pag uurong after and we proceed again to our project. He talks about his family while we type on our loptop.

I get something to eat snacks around 4 pm. I noticed that it's getting dark outside, so I prepared to make dinner, time to time I checked his work.

Nasa kalahati na kami ng ginagawa namin at patapos na ko sa pagluluto ng tumunog ang door bell. I off the gas  stove and clean my hand before go to the front door. Hindi yun tumigil sa pagtunog. Lei never do that.

I saw Zach take a pick on the side of the living room to the front door and glance at me.

Sumilip ako sa pinhole ng pinto and saw this colorful face of Sandy with Bruce on her back.

I sigh and open the door. 

 "Good evening! " Tumambad sa akin ang maikli nyang dress at heels with her red lipstick while Bruce wearing a checkered polo shirt and tight jeans.

"What are you...?"

"Pasok ka Bruce.. Pasok." Iwas ni Sandy sa akin at hinawi ang kamay kung nakahawak sa pinto, nauna pa syang humakbang while Bruce smiling at me, apologizing.

I just look at him and close the door after.

Naabutan ko silang nakatayo sa harap ng Living room at nakatitig kay Zach.

I saw Sandy look at me so lost in words while Bruce have no reaction on his face while looking at Zach who awkwardly standing in the middle..

"Zach!... Andito ka pa..! Nice!" Bigla ni Sandy at pinandilatan ako ng mata na parang may ginawa akung masama.

Nagtatakang sumingit ako sa gitna nila.

"Why are you both here?... Mamaya na yan Zach. Let's eat." Tanong ko sa kanila bago bumaling kay Zach at niligpit ang mga nagkalat na libro.

"Sige." Tahimik nyang sabi na ako lang ang nakarinig.

"We left early para sana makasabay kang mag dinner but..." ngiwi ni Sandy sa akin at pinakita ang dala nyang pastic bag na may tatlong box. I didn't notice that.

Tumayo ako ng tuwid and look at Bruce who still looking at Zach who is tense and look nervous.

"Ahh.. " Sagot ko getting Zach bag to place it to the couch.

"Dinner? You should call me Sandy.. Nakapagluto na ko. I told you that Zach will stay here til' night." Irap ko sa kanya at hinila si Zach pa puntang dining area na karugtong lang ng kitchen.

Binitiwan ko rin sya agad at humarap sa dalawa na nakasunod na sa amin.

"I'm sorry akala ko hindi hanggang dinner. I saw Tita Lei and thought may be your alone here hindi pala.. Anyway let's eat na!" Nguso ni Sandy at hinila si Bruce pa upo sa bakanting upuan. Kasya naman kami dahil limahan naman ang table.

Pumunta ako sa kitchen at kinuha ang niluto ko habang sumunod naman sa akin si Sandy leaving those two.

"What are you doing?" Bulong nya sa akin may halong inis. She's glaring at me.

"Kinukuha yung ulam natin.." Baliw ba to?

She sigh heavily and face while glancing at those two who's been quie the whole time..

"Hindi magandang may kasama kang lalaki dito Reya habang wala si Tita. Ano na lang sasabihin nya? o ng mga kapit bahay?" Laki nyang mata sa akin at pabulong na kinastigo ako.

"Gumagawa kami ng project.. Alam mo naman. Tsaka walang chismosa dito ikaw lang." Asik ko sa kanya. Awang ang labing iniwan ko sya dun at nilapag ang ulam sa harap namin.

Tumikhim si Sandy at awkward na ngumiti kay Zach na sinuklian ng huli ng nahihiyang ngiti.

I proceed to eat without waiting them.

"Sya nga pala Bruce si Zach. Zachary si Bruce.." Pakilala nya sa dalawa.

Tumingin ako kay Sandy na pilit na ngumingiti sa dalawa na wala pa ring mga imik.

"They knew each other Sandy.." Inom ko ng tubig.

Bumaling sa akin si Sandy na nabibigla.

Napapailing na kinuha ko ang kanin at nilagyan ang plato ni Zach..

"Kumain na tayo.. I need to finish the project today." Pag iiba ko ng usapan.

That's the most awkward dinner that I have in because of the tension na pinalala pa ni Sandy dahil sa mga tanong nya sa dalawa though she's trying to ease the tension but she makes it more worst.

I was washing the plates when Zach help me with it so I don't complained.

"M-May gagawin ka ba bukas Reya?" Tanong nyang bigla sa akin while I'm busy tending the plate.

"Hmmm." Tango ko.

I sense his eyes, I think his waiting for me to talk.

"I'll be going to grocery after church" Sagot ko na lang but it's true though. I don't really want him to feel outcast by me.

"Really!? I am active in our church but why I can't see you after the mass?" Inabot nya ang sinabon kung plato.

"I don't like finishing the mass. I'll just pray to Him.. quite ask him at least if His true." I said looking at the glass I hold. He didn't really answer me though. Lei introduce me to Him in one summer first months of being here. Until then I started to wonder every Sunday for almost 3 years. 

"Right.. I know the feeling pero it's quiet surprising that you go there.. Akala ko hindi eh." Tawa nya at ngiti habang binabalnawan ang nasa kabilang sink.

I look up to him and agad nyang napansin ang tingin ko.

"Don't get offended! Hindi kasi masyadong nag sisimba ang mga teenagers kagaya natin lalo na sa mga katoliko and it's just quite surprising to know that you do too! I'm sorry_"

"Don't be.." Iling ko at tinapos ang pagsasabon ng plato.

"Let's finish this, then may be..?" Lingon ko para sana kunin sa dining ang mga mat ng makita ko si Bruce na nasa pinto at madilim ang mukhang nanonood sa amin.

Awang ang labing magsasalita sana ako ng bigla syang tumalikod at parang bagyong umalis. 

I was taken aback and stock with my feet. I didn't feel his presence nor heard his foot steps.

Malakas na kalimbag ng pinto ang bumulabog sa buong bahay making Zach gasp and startle looking at me..

"What is...?"

"Just the wind.." Dahilan ko smile a bit to him and proceed to go to the table.

Nawala agad ang ngiti ko pagkatalikod at tumingin sa dinaanan ni Bruce. What the hell.

Dumating si Lei ng mga 8 at paalis na rin si Zach. They've met briefly.

Bumalik si Sandy finding Bruce had just left and make an accusing look at me before proceed to go to the living to watch netflix.

The next day, I've go up early sumama sa akin si Lei sa pagsimba but after that she's going to a one day seminar sa agriculture business kaya mabilis din syang umalis at mahabang paalaman pa dahil lunes ng umaga na sya makaka uwi.

Palabas na ko ng gate ng church ng masulyapan ko ang familiar na sasakyan sa kabilang kalsada in front of the bakery store. May mga bumibili dun sa tapat at ma tao rin dahil nga linggo.

Paliko na ko papuntang grocery store ng may tumawag sa pangalan ko. I saw Zach running towards me smiling so bright.

"Andito ka! Pupunta ka ng grocery store?" Habol nyang hininga habang malaki pa rin ang ngiti sa akin. His casual clothes was pants and tshirt and rubber shoes..

"Oo.." Sagot ko at aalis na sana ng makita kung susunod sana sya sa akin.

"Tapusin mo yung mass." Baling ko ulit sa kanya at sumulyap sa malaking simbahan, dinig na dinig ang boses ng pari kahit dito sa labas.

"Hmm.. Patapos na rin eh. I can go with you."

"No." I cut him off.

Bumagsak ang ngiti nya.

"Nagpaalam naman ako.." Mahina nyang sabi.

"I don't care. Tapusin mo yung mass. Sige na.." Paalam ko sa huli, I saw his eyes drop and look at me sadly but didn't pursue me anymore.

I glance at the car while turning around and walk away from Zach.

Why I didn't noticed this sooner?

My ability was rusting or I just bring my guard down?

But Reiga won't let me move freely if this town have enemies around? Did I estimated it wrong? or his just another boy who wants to get my nerve off?

Or may be...

Reiga didn't tell me at all about this town's people.