Chapter 7

"To see you. What took you so long?" He said with creased forehead and a face full of blue tinted shadows.

"Ha?" It was all I could manage to utter. Kailangan ko pang ipaulit ang sinabi niya dahil baka kung ano-ano na ang naririnig ko. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang iniisip ang sinasabi niya, I was nervous.

"Bakit hindi ka nag-text na matatagalan ka pala?" Bigla siyang napatingin sa kasama ko, he certainly looked displeased. "You're with him."

"Ah oo. We managed to bump into each other earlier." Gulo kong tinuro si Orion na napatango-tango lang sa mga sinabi ko. "Bakit ka nga nandito? I had some things to do, p'wede naman kitang i-text kahit late na ako makauwi."

I began to strut my way to the house. Naka sunod sa akin si Astraeus. Nagtaka akong bumuntot pa si Orion pero hindi nalang ako nagsalita dahil kausap ko pa si Astraeus.

"I called you many times," he said with a hint of annoyance in his tone. Hinilot niya ang sintido niya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakd.

I tilted my mouth and creased my forehead. He was walking so fast so I held the helm of his shirt to make him stop. "You called?"

I took my shoes of and set them aside. Nangunot ang noo ko nang biglang dumilim. I lifted my head up, just to see the figure of my mom in her work clothes, her hands on her waist and a face with a deep frown.

"Mariella ano ka ba. Matagal ka rawng nakauwi sabi ni Astraeus." Napailing nalang ako at tumayo. I hate how easily influenced Mama was when it came to Astraeus' opinion about me.

"Check your phone." He dared me.

Napatingin ako sa kan'ya. Nagkibit ako ng balikat at tinignan nga ang cellphone ko. My eyes grew like two big marbles when he did call multiple times, may nahalo ring mga text sa notification ko.

"See." Napailing nalang siya at pumasok na sa loob.

"What's his problem?" Bulong sa akin ni Orion nang nakasabay siya sa akin sa paglalakad. Hahakbang na sana ako sa porch nang mag-side comment siya.

"Ikaw? Ba't nandito ka pa?" Inirapan ko siya. Nauna na akong pumasok at iniwan siya sa labas na nakaawang ang mga labi.

Pagpasok ko ay bigla nalang sumulpot sa harap ko si Mama. She was still wearing her work attire and had her hands crossed with a pissed off demeanor written all over her face.

"Late ka raw na nakauwi sabi ni Astraeus." Ah yes, welcome home to me.

"Really, Mama?" I hate how easily influenced she is when it comes to Astraeus' opinions toward me. 'Yung totoo? He seemed more like my mom's trusted advisor than my friend.

"Asa'an si Astraeus?" I tried shifting the topic. 

I kicked my shoes off and planted a kiss on her cheek before heading straight to the kitchen.

"Hey we're not done--"

"Hi, Tita!" Ngayon lang ako natuwa sa pagiging paepal ni Orion.

"Oh Orion! Kasama ka pala ni Mariella?" She was completely focused on Orion now. It was my chance to make a run for eat.

Nagbuntong-hininga ako. Binuksan ko ang ref at nagtingin ng p'wedeng inumin. Napadako ang mga mata ko sa pitselna may orange juice, I drank straight from it and sated my thirst.

"Ah," I said freshly right after drinking.

Pinasok ko na ulit sa loob ang pitsel at isinara ang ref. As soo as I closed the refrigirator's door Astraeus immediately appeared behind it, he was leaning against the kitchen's counter and had him arms crossed in front of his chest.

"'Sup," bati ko sa kan'ya. 

I leaned at the free space beside him and sighed. "Look I'm sorry if hindi kita na-text." I was being insensitive earlier. Alam ko namang concerned lang siya sa akin pero pinamukha ko lang na naiirita ako--which was half true but that's not the point. 

"It's fine. May pagkain na sa labas, you should eat." Kung maka asta ang isang 'to akala mo naman siya ang may-ari ng bahay. 

I chuckled; I was hungry. I appreciated how easy to handle he was. "Ikaw? Kain ka na rin," aya ko sa kan'ya.

Sabay na kaming naglakad papalabas ng kusina. Nadatnan naming pinagsasandukan na ni Mama si Orion ng kain. Nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Orion, agad niyang inagaw ang sandok kay Mama nang makita ako.

"A-Ako na po, Tia. Hehe..." I rolled my eyes and ignored him. Naupo ako sa isang silya at sinimulang sandukan ang sarili ko.

"Mama ba't hindi pa po umuuwi ang isang 'to." Napatingin sa akin si Orion nang ituro ko siya gamit ng tinidor. Napatingin si Orion sa akin at sumimangot.

"Oh, Mariella. Just let him have dinner here for tonight. Sobra-sobra naman ang ulam natin," pangaral niya sa akin. She started eating and focused on her food.

Nagtaka akong napalingon sa paligid. Sabay lang naman kami ni Astraeus na galing ng kusina pero bakit parang wala naman siya rito sa hapag? Did he leave already? Or perhaps went to the toilet? Bakit hindi manlang nagpaalam ang isang 'yon, akala ko ba ayos na kami?

"Looking for someone?"

I let my thoughts wander too deep, hindi ko manlang napansin na tumabi na sa akin si Astraeus. He greeted my mom with utter politeness and got his serving.

"Kumusta naman 'yung gala niyo kanina." Nagkatinginan kami ni Astreaus at sabay na tumingin kay Mama. Pasimple akong tumingin kay Orion at nakitang wala naman atang pake ang isang 'yon sa usapan namin at nilalantakan lang ang pagkain.

"Oh it was fun. Mainit nga lang," aniya ko bago isubo ang karneng nakatusok sa tinidor ko. Tumingin sa akin si Mama ng saglit at tumango.

"Are you enjoying your food, Astraeus?" Bumaling naman si Mama kay Astraeus. Tipid namang tumango ang katabi ko na kinalawak ng ngiti ni Mama. She loves her ego being stroked with compliments about her cooking.

Pasimple akong sumulyap ulit sa katabi ko. He wore the same clothes as he did earlier in the park. It was out of context to ask where Devorah and Elly was, malamang nakauwi na ang mga 'yon. Gano'n ba ako katagal sa eskwelahan at nag-resort na siyang pumunta rito sa bahay?

He was always the protective type. He felt like an older brother than dear friend to me. He was like the kuya I never had, sa tingin ko ay gano'n na rin ang tingin sa kan'ya ni Elly--although Elly has an older brother. Magkakilala na kami ni Astraeus mula nung maliit pa ako, it was because our moms were the best of friends way back, Elly just happened to sit in the picture when high school started.

"Took you long enough," bungad sa akin ni Elly. 

"I'm sorry. You know how much our teacher loves to overdo things." Napailing nalang ako.  Maaga sigurong natapos ang klase ng isang 'to at nagkaroon ng panahon na hintayin akong matapos magklase.

Ito namang teacher namin, kakaumpisa pa nga lang ng pasukan mula nung sembreak tapos grabe na makapag-asign ng mga school works.

Well, we always eat together. Pero madalas ay sa canteen na kami nagkikita. It seems like she woke up at the right side of the bed today--which is extremely rare, it's like seeing crows turn white.

Sabay na kaming naglakad papunta sa cafeteria. Napatingin ako sa kan'ya nang ubod siya nang bagal maglakad. I frowned when I just saw her walking slow-paced with a big frown while looking at her phone.

"Hoy Elly---" Seriously?

"Mariella can you go on ahead? May nakalimutan akong kunin sa room, order me anything that's low on carbs!"

"Sama na ako--"

"Bye una ka na ha!" I couldn't even engage with a proper conversation with her. Hindi ko na nga siya mahagilap agad-agad dahil tumakbo na siya ng napakabilis. Gano'n ba kaimportante 'yung naiwan niya?

"If it's her wallet, pwede ko naman siyang ilibre." Napakamot ako ng ulo. Sa huli ay nagkibit-balikat nalang ako at dumiretso na ng canteen.

Nah. This was no big deal.

Pagpasok ko ng canteen ay napamura nalang ako sa haba ng pila. Pagtingin ko sa mga paninda ay halos ubos na! Napapadyak nalang ako sa inis. My poor self had no choice but to comply. Nakakainis naman kasi iyong teacher naming 'yon at talagang nasarapan sa lectures. Does he even get paid enough? Ba't parang masyado siyang masipag?

Pagkapila ko ay panay ang silip ko sa paninda. I was making sure that the sandwich pile still had some in it, kung paano ba naman kasi 'yun lang ang sa tingin ko matutuwang kainin ni Elly. God, why did she had to be so picky with her food?

"Ouch," I said by reflex. Napapikit ako nang mabunggo ang ulo ko sa balikat ng katapat ko. Med'yo may komusyon kasi sa likod kaya nadamay ako.

"Ayos ka lang--oh my gosh! Marie!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko si Devorah sa tapat ko.

Akala ko ba ay pang umaga ang mga senior students? Bakit biglang nandito siya? I glanced at her from her head to her heels. I stared at her footwear, her red high heels were so out of place. Hindi ko namukhaan ang likod niya dahil sa sobrang tangkad niya tignan gamit ang heels niya.

"Oh. Nagpalit ba ng shift 'yung pang umaga?" I asked curiously.

She giggled at my statement and crinkled her nose. Her chinita eyes were no longer seen and a faint dimple appeared on both of the sides of her mouth. "No silly. May rehearsal kami sa school play." Marahan niyang tinulak ang balikat ko.

I mindless walked when the line moved. Siya naman ay paminsan-minsan na sinisilip ako at nginingitian.

"You know you should watch us sa Saturday! Free ka ba?" Napaangat ang tingin ko nang bigla nalang niya akong tawagan.

"Yeah sure," Agaran naman akong sumang-ayon. I don't have plans for the weekend, so I guess it's fine squeezing this on Saturday--not that I'm a busy person though.

"Isama mo 'yung kaibigan mo, Marie! Elly was it?" It kinda weirded me out how she called me Marie. Wala naman kasing tumatawag sa akin no'n. Although it wasn't impossible since Mariella and Marie does make sense in some way.

Teka. I just can't believe that she forgot Elly's name. Considering the fact that Eleanor has the record of leaving such interesting first impressions.

"Oh--" Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong sawayin siya nang kunin niya ang huling tuna sandwich. There goes Elly's lunch. Sumimangot ako, mukhang mapapa-pasta kami ni Elly ngayong hapon ah.

"Hmm?" Biglang lumingon sa akin si Devorah. Inat na inat ang buhok nito at wala talagang pinalampas na baby hair ang anit. She had no makeup on besides the light tint on her thin lips.

Napatigil ako nang kagatin ko ang makapal kong labi nang hindi ko namamalayan.

"Oh. The sandwich?" She raised her brows. Hindi ba siya nangangawit at mukhang lagi nalang siyang nakangiti?

"N-No it's fine," mariing tanggi ko. Nakakahiya naman, hindi naman kami ni Elly ang may ari ng canteen. "P'wede naman kaming mag-pasta." Ngumiti ako sa kanya at pasimpleng kinuha ang dalawang styro container na may lamang carbonara.

I sighed in secret. I just hope Elly wouldn't make a big fuss about this. Alam ko namang strikto siya sa diet niya but jeez... give a break will she.

"Oh no watch--" out. That was what I was supposed to mutter, not until I saw one's arms slither on her tiny waist. 

My eyes widened with shock. I knew what would happen but clearly, my body couldn't keep up with the sudden shock. The misfortune supposedly for Devorah was passed onto me. Ang tanging nagawa ko nalang ay ipikit ang mga mata ko at itikom ang bibig ko.

This is going to be a sticky afternoon.