RAYANA

Chapter 10

Nasa hallway ako ng school ng sinalubong ako ni Sandy and Bruce as usual. 

Sandy had a big smile while Bruce have his eyes on me already. I sigh.

Sumabay sila sa akin palabas. Sandy's heels was echoing in the hallway, kukunti na rin ang mga studyante sa school but I always go home in this time quarter to 5. Tumatambay ako lagi sa library pagkatapos ng klase.

"We have party this coming Saturday.. You should come." Basag ni Bruce sa katahimikan when we're in a parking lot.

I go to the back seat and pull the door open.

"Really?.. Saan?" Excited na tanong ni Sandy making her way to the passenger seat.

I got in and get my book with my reading glass.

"Kila Lukas.. We'll just get together. Hindi crowded at kunti lang tayo." Ngisi ni Bruce close his door and start the engine.

"Wow! I like it! Reya punta tayo!" lingon sa akin ni Sandy.

"Reya?!" Ulit nya. I look up and stare at her, I saw Bruce look at me on the rearview mirror.

"I'm busy.. " I shortly said.

She dramatically sigh..

"You're no fun! This will be the first time na pupunta ka sa party please?! Sige na? hmmm." Sampa nya sa upuan, did she realize that she wore a mini skirt?

"I have problems to solve.." Lipat ko ng page while glancing at them.

"What?! What problem?.."

"Math problems.. Room problem. kitchen problem. House problem. Pottery problem and all the problems that I can solve and be busy this coming weekend.." I answered and they already laugh in between. Wala namang nakakatawa sa sinabi ko.

Sandy took suddenly my book away while there's  a smile on her face.

"We'll gonna go.." Taas nya sa libro ko. I try to get it.

"No." I firmly said taking the book again.

"Come on, palagi ka na lang sa harap ng libro mo Reya! Have some fun baby! Sige na Rey!?.." Pilit nya at inaabot ang kamay ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Don't call me that." Irap ko.

"Sige na Reya! Come on baby baby baby!" Kulit nya making me frown more and close my book this time.

I saw Bruce smile on the rearview mirror while looking at the road. Listening.

 I am not a babe Sandy.."

"I call you baby.." giit nya.

"It's the same.. Umayos ka ng upo." Sipa ko sa likod ng upuan nya.

She pouted.

"It's not!... Baby is an infant and a babe is like.. a piglet.." Ngiwi nya sa huli.

"Then your a babe. Piglet Sandy." I said make Bruce laugh so loud while Sandy trying to smack me on my legs to get me but she can't.

"Yasshh Nakakainis ka Reya! Sige na kasi sama na tayo.!" Giit nya.

"Umayos ka sabi ng upo Sandriana." I seriously said. I used my cold tone.

Tumikhim si Bruce while Sandy shut her mouth and do what I said. There's this awkward moment in the air.

"Ang killjoy mo.." Sabi nya pa.

"I always find joy around the house Sandy. I don't need to go to the party to feel the joy.. Ikaw na lang kung gusto mo."

"Ang boring mo.." Pag aaway nya. I saw Bruce glance both of us.

"It's old news to me.."

"Hindi ako papayagan ni Mom na umalis ng di ka kasama.!" Asik nya sa akin halatang pikon na.

"Your reasons..!" Irap ko at tumingin na lang sa labas.

Malapit na kami.

"Totoo!.. She's too over protective!" I saw her looking at Bruce who obliviously look infront.

 Ask her first before you say that.." I said taking my bag when he park infront of our house.

Tinapik ko sa balikat si Bruce.

"Thanks " I said ready to go when I feel his hand taking mine on the driver seat.

I look at him asking, napapakurap na binitiwan nya din agad ang kamay ko.

"Can you come Reya.. Kahit ito lang?" Marahan nyang tanong like a whisper in the air. I didn't know that he can be this softy.

I sigh umiling ako.

"I can't.. I'm gonna meet Zach on saturday." Iling ko pushing the door open.

I heard Sandy gasp.

"You serious?! Why!?" Habol nya ng pababa ako.

"We have project remember.. with a partner"

Zach is my partner because the teacher doesn't want the old partner we've got which my old partner is Sandy.

"Pero end of the month pa yun!?" Asik nya not so sure.. She face me with distaste reaction..

"I want it to finished early.." I close the door.

"His gonna be here at 10am until night.. Go tell Drina about the party." I said walk inside.

I heard her shriek and shout my name but I close my front door already.

I sigh when I saw the empty hallway. It's been a week since I got home and Reiga wasn't there anymore but I saw Lei on the couch that day silently crying.

She saw me and pretend that she's ok and act like nothing happened. The fact that Reiga never contacted me this past days it means that they have both problem of each other.

Lei suddenly early to go home and still silent about anything. So even if being nosy is my part time sometimes.

"Did Reiga blackmail you or did he tell you offensive words?" I asked at her. She join me this night again. Hindi kami nagkakasabay mag dinner  this past months  because of her boyfriend but I understand that. Mukha lang napasama ang sinabi ko kay Reiga na mag usap sila ni Lei.

She should've told him about the guy she's dating right now. Sinabi ko na sa kanya yan dati but she ignore it and still denial about this.

She look at me and sigh, napainom sya ng tubig.

"He told me not to take you for granted and you still young to be alone at home.. His right about it at hindi ako nag isip man lang if ok sa yo na naiiwan ka lagi dito tuwing gabi gayung..."  She stop there and stare at me.

" I'm fine Lei.. Anything else he said?" Tanong ko.

Umiling sya.

"No Reya.. I'm sorry. I was being thoughtless about us and if.. if this continue.. He will.. He said he will take you out of here for your sake. Reiga is a man on his words.. And I was distracted this past months that I didn't notice every little things inside our home.."

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kubyertos ko but I smile at Lei.

"You don't have to say sorry Lei.. Reiga is just.. mad. He doesn't really think straight whenever his emotions are flowing around. Kakausapin ko sya mamaya." ngiti ko while finishing my food.

Lei sigh. Smiling a bit.

"You know every time I'm around you I feel like you are older than me." Malamlam ang tingin at ngiti nya sa akin.

"Sabi nga ni Drina kapag tinatawag ko sya feeling nya magkaedad kami.." Tawa ko make the atmosphere ease a bit.

"Yeah.. You don't even want to call me Mommy because you think I'm too young for that " Natatawa nyang sabi.

Napapangiti na lang na tiningnan ko ang pinggan ko. I don't want to call you Mommy because I don't deserve it.

Lei is like radiating sunshine to my darkest days for years. Kahit nung nagka boyfriend sya last year ay walang palya ang pag aalaga nya sa akin, she gives me everything that even the only child will envy. She treated me as her own while I refused to be attached too much.

I understand Reiga to act this way. Love isn't easy as you pulled the trigger and shoot the enemy and you felt nothing.

I took my phone on the side table. Lei was watching TV down stairs after dinner.

Dalawang ring pa lang sinagot nya na.

"Seriously! Missing and action huh?" Bungad ko.

I waited him to talk but I just heard a slow breathe on the line and a noise on the background like there's some event.

"Are you in a party? Bakit di ka nagsasalita Reiga?" Tanong ko and I think humanap sya ng hindi masyadong maingay dahil naging tahimik ang kabilang linya.

"Hello?... Bingi lang? What's wrong with you? Hoyyy!" Asik ko at bigla na lang naputol yung line.

Awang ang labing tinitigan ko ang phone ko at galit na tinapon sa kama. Kung ayaw nya kung kausapin di bahala sya.

Kala mo naman! Hindi lang sinabing may boyfriend na yung ex nya nakagalit na! Ang babaw!

Minsan, immature din si Reiga. Kung di ko lang alam na ganito sya di ko na sana sya tinulungan noon.

Nagbabad na lang ako sa shower at nagpalit ng damit pantulog. Di ko pinansin ang tunog ng phone ko sa labas.

Inaantok na ko ng lumabas at diritso na agad sa kama but my phone didn't stop ringing.

I answer it.

"Did you call?" Yun agad bugad nya. His voice is on edge.

"Yes, sinagot mo kaya. You didn't talk.."

"Fuckshit! f**k!" Bulalas nya sa kabila at napaayos ako ng upo.

"Bakit?"

"Get rid your sim and your phone now!.." Gigil nyang sigaw sa kabila.

"Ok.. Call me in the land line." Agad kung sabi bago pinatay ang tawag at binaklas lahat ng parte ng phone and ripped the sim.

I walk out with a bare foot and go to the land line. I saw Lei watch me take the land line away while smiling at her.

"It's Reiga.. I broke my phone again Lei. Galit na." Excuse ko at agad na umalis ng living room. Napapailing na lang sya sa akin.

Agad kung sinagsak ang land line at hinintay syang tumawag. Ilang minuto lang ang pagitan ng tumunog yun and I answer it right away.

"What the f**k happened Reiga?" Asik ko but in a low tone. Baka marinig ako ni Lei.

"I forgot my phone to the table and someone answer it.. Now listen Rayana." I hug my legs when I heard my name for the first time. It's been so long since he called me by my name.

"I will not go there for awhile... I'll get rid of this number after this. I'll contact you if things get clear and clean the ways. If she ask about me tell her I'll be outside of the country for months and not daily talk about things there."

"But Lei..."

"That's our problem you are not involve there. Just live peacefully. I'll go to you soon.. Be safe." He lastly said before the line was off.

I sigh and drop myself to the bed and stare at the beautiful ceiling.

It always been like this ever since, kaya ilang beses pa lang ding nakakabisita dito si Reiga because their enemy always follow him around, tailing him and find everything that his been doing.

His always been missing, like I knew Lei was tired of waiting him coming around and start to build her own life with a new man, I thought that they reunited and build their relationship again but it's been 3 years and I still always saw those sad eyes on Lei whenever I mention Reiga around and smile like it has always been this way, smiling with those sad eyes.

I sigh and just get ready to bed. I off my lamp shade and close my eyes but I still have that question that I can't ask Reiga.

Who's the man on the other line?