Fading Memories

“Wake up grumpy!” Naramdaman kong may yumogyug sa aking balikat ngunit binale wala ko lamang ito. I wanted to sleep more. I've been up until 2am because I played online with Nazzer. “30 minutes mom,” Hirit ko rito. “You slept late again last night young man! Gusto mo bang i-cut ko ang internet connection dito sa room mo? Or better put some signal jammer para wala ka nang kapupuyatan!” Sigaw niya kaya nagpabangon ako agad. She's standing beside me kaya I hugged her in her waist. “Mommy naman. See I'm already awake I'm just teasing you.” “Don't start with me Skyler! Si Nazzer na naman ba?” Inis pang sabi nito at inalis ang pagkakayakap ko sa kanya at binuksan ang kurtina dahilan para masilaw ako sa liwanag. “Mom closed it!” “Ano ka ba aswang? Get up, its time for school. And sabihan mo iyang Nazzer na iyan na huwag kang dinadamay sa mga kalokohan niya sa buhay!” I was about to protest when he looked at me. "Move young man, bago ko totohanin ang mga sinabi ko kanina." I know mom, she's the sweetest, but she's also the scariest. Sa oras na sinabi niya, dapat talagang mangyari. I didn't wait more at dumiretso na ng bathroom. I don't want her putting signal jammer in my room. I not that into gaming but when the time I started it, wala na talagang tulugan. Also Nazzer is a great game kaya nadadala rin ako. Yun nga lang may marka na naman siya kay mommy. Mom's fond of him andtreat him like hers kaya madalas niya rin itong pagalitan. I did my morning chores and when I went out the bathroom, I smiled when I saw my uniform neatly placed in my bed. Napakamaasikaso talaga ni mommy. Maayos na rin ang kuwarto ko. I will never regret that I choose her as my mommy when I was a kid. I am humming a song when I heard a loud knock on my door. Sunod-sunod iyon kaya alam ko na kung sino ang nasa likod ng pinto. Binuksan ko ito and I'm right. I looked down to see her. “Good morning princess!” I greeted her but she just glared at me. She's Sunshine Chill Montealto, a year after mom and dad's marriage here come Chill. She's nine and she's a brat. “You move so slow! Inutusan tuloy ako ni mommy!” Maktol niya. Natawa na lang ako at lumuhod upang magtapat kami. “Ang sungit mo naman, hindi mo man lang babatiin ng good morning si kuya?” Lambing kong tanong sa kanya. “Hmp! Good morning.” Masungit niyang bati at saka ako niyakap. Bigla na lang siya umaklas at nagtungo sa likod ko at patalon akong sinakyan. Napangiwi pa ako sa bigat niya. “Move kuya! You're my horse, Hey!” Hinampas pa ako sa balikat, akala mo talaga kabayo ako eh. Sinunod ko naman siya at patakbong bumaba ng hagdan. We are laughing on our way to kitchen nang sawayin kami ni mommy. “Tumigil na kayong dalawa at kumain na! We'll be late on our stuffs. Nasaan ba ang daddy niyo?” Tanong niya habang inaasikaso si Cloud Jacob, ang bunso naming tatlong taong gulang na. “I'm here honey! Morning kids!” Lumapit si dad kay mommy at hinalikan ito, medyo tumagal iyon kaya nagkomento na naman si Chill. “Eew! Dad, mommy!” Sigaw niya habang nakatakip ang mata, na tinawanan lang ng dalawa. “Half day lang ang class ko today mom. Want me to go to your office para magbantay kay Cloud?” I asked. “Yes baby please. I have important meeting today sa 'yo ko na siya iiwan para maisama ko ang secretary ko.” Sagot naman ni mommy na tila nabawasan ang problema. “Okay see you later.” Paalam ko. Ginulo ko ang buhok ni Chill ngunit hinampas niya ang kamay ko na tinawanan ko lang. “Which car will you bringing?” Tanong ni daddy. “I won't be bringing one dad. Magtataxi na lang ako.” I said bago tuluyang umalis. I don't want to drive today well, I can ask our driver but I just don't feel any of our cars. Pinagbuksan ako ng gate ni Mang Jun, guard namin. At hindi na rin ako nagtaka nang may naghihintay nang taxi sa akin. Maybe dad asked Mang Jun. Pagkarating ko sa tapat ng Montealto University, which my dad owns sinalubong ako ni Nazzer Natividad, one of my friends. Nag-fist bump kami at nagtungo ng classroom, tahimik lang ako habang naglalakad sa while Nazzer'ss talking some nonsense. “I swear dude, beware on that girl she's a thief! I ask the admin her name but she has no record. Argh!” Gigil niyang kuwento. “It won't happen kung titigilan mo ang pambabae mo.” - sagot ko sa kanya. “You're not listening, are you? I wasn't okay, kailan ba ako nambabae?” I hold my chin as if I am thinking. “Everyday?” “What?! Never mind. I wasn't, atsaka kararating ko lang at naglalakadlakad sa field kanina...” “Bakit ka nasa field? Para mang babae?” “Yeah...what! No. I was just killing time! So I was just there and I bump into that girl, I help her picking her stuff. Hindi ko naman alam na nabudol na ako.” He said. “How can you say na nabudol ka?” He glared at me. “Bakit ba ang dami mong tanong? Makinig ka naman kase!” I just raised my left brow. He sighed. "After I help her iniwan ko na siya. But then she called me while waving my wallet. I thank her but, she said siya dapat ang magthank you then she left me. Then I went to cafeteria to buy wala na lahat ng cash ko! 10k rin yun, Damn it! Siguraduhin niya lang na 'di ko siya makikita ulit, I swear I'll sue her." I tap her back, cause he looks like he is ready to punch someone, though hanggang salita lang talaga siya. After our class, nagpaalam na ako sa kanya. I promised him to check if who that girl is. I might ask dad to check on the surveillance. The girl might be a student here at iba lang ang pagpapakilala kay Nazzer. Wala naman makakapasok dito kung hindi student or staff ng school, o kaya personal na kasama ng board. Well wala nga ba? I need to make sure of that. Naglakad ako hanggang labas ng school premises, it's kinda far but it's fine. Pagkatapos kaseng makalabas ng school gate ay may kalsada na tanging taga-Montealto University lang ang makakadaan. If you doesn't have a car, you have no choice but to walk para makalabas sa sunod na gate, parang subdivision na rin. I was waiting for the red light para makatawid nang may makabunggo sa akin. Wala namang nahulog na gamit kaya sinawalang bahala ko na lang. Nang magred light agad akong tumawid. I was in the middle of the pedestrian lane, when someone called my attention. Patakbo itong lumapit sa akin. She hand me a wallet. No. My wallet. Napakunot noo ako bakit nasa kanya ang wallet ko? “Ah, ano ako iyong nakabangga sa'yo I saw so I assume na sa'yo ito?” Alanganin niyang sabi. Tumikhim naman ako. Bakit hindi ko naman napansin? “Ah ganun ba?” Inabot ko ang pitaka ko at pinagpatuloy ang pagtawid. Magkasabay lang kami. Napaisip ako, bakit parang may mali? “Thank you.” I'm confused, but I did still thank her. She smirked, I was taken a back. What is going on? She looks like a witch! “Haha No, thank you.” She tap my shoulder. With that, I remember what Nazzer said to me earlier. A girl. Bumped to him. His wallet. The f**k! I immediately checked mine and hell! I'm also a victim. The girl is the thief. I was to run after her when she's nowhere to found! Argh! I'll sue that witch.