I didn't bother to ask Trace what was on his neck was all about. I doubt that it would even be a comfortable question for him.
Nang sumunod na araw, nagtanong ako kung bakit may band aid ang leeg niya. He just answered me with, "May kati lang."
I contemplated whether I will ask or not since we've shared some things about each other so far, but we've just met two days ago. We don't even know each other that much for him to be too comfortable with me. Sure, he shared some things with me, but knowing each other for a long time isn't the same.
Nang tumungtong ang Friday, nagdesisyon akong ipagsawalang bahala na lang kung ano man iyon at hindi na lang nagtanong.
Tanghali na natapos ang klase at dumiretso kami ng mga kagrupo ko para gawin yung report namin. Sa ngayon ay pito lang kami dahil nagkasakit yung isa naming kagrupo.
Yung pumiyok.
"Uhh, tama ba 'to?" Dinig kong tanong ni Adelaide sa leader naming si Laine. May pinapakita siya sa phone niya. Siya kasi yung nagsusulat ng report habang kaming lahat ang nakatoka sa pagdesign sa cartolina.
Umiling si Laine at may tinuro. Nagpasalamat si Adelaide bago bumalik ulit sa pagsusulat.
Maya-maya ay nagpaalam ako na pupunta lang ako sa kusina para maghanda ng pagkain nila. Kumuha ako ng tray sa cabinet at nilabas ang pitsel ng tubig sa ref. Napahinto ako nang may marinig akong mga yapak.
Nang i-angat ko ang ulo ko ay nakita ko si Laine.
"Uhm, tutulungan sana kita."
"No, it's alright. You can go back."
"Erm..."
I sighed. "It's really fine. Ituloy niyo na lang yung ginagawa natin. Ako na dito."
"S...Sige."
She seemed flustered and turned her back. I felt guilty for shutting her off. I rubbed my eye and went back to prepare.
Hindi naging madali ang paggawa namin ng report. We're making the same mistakes in designing the cartolina over and over again that Laine had to step in. Napapakamot na lang siya ng ulo.
Gabi na rin nang matapos kami. Saktong nakaalis sila nang dumating si Tita.
The bags under her eyes seemed like a complication. I think she's awake for a whole day now.
"I heard Manong. Your classmates are here?"
I only nodded. I saw her mouth opening, expecting something more would come off her mouth but...nothing. After hesitating, she just straight up turned her head to go at her room upstairs. She really needed some sleep.
Right before I exited the kitchen, pumasok si Ate Maki sa kusina para hugasan ang pinagkainan ko. Lumingon siya nang tawagin ko.
"Huh, po ma'am?"
"Baka...baka magising si Tita nang madaling araw. Can you cut slices of fruit and put it on the fridge? She usually just put cookie chips on her mouth."
"Ah, ayun lang po ma'am?"
"Yes. Salamat, ate Maki."
"Apples, ma'am?"
"Pati yung grape at tangerine,"
"Magluto ba ako gulay, ma'am?"
"Okay lang po kahit wag na, ate Maki,"
I scratched my cheek before I officially turned my back.
I just got here two months ago, so I can't exactly tell how long Ate Maki and Manong Louie been serving the family. But when you look at the picture frame plastered on the wall right after you come in the living room, you'll see their young faces along with the family. They're beside Lola from the left side and Lolo from the right side. Tita was in the middle, while her three older brothers, my Tito's, were standing behind them.
Now when a stranger come into the house, they'll be asking who am I in the family, since I'm not anywhere.
An outsider is the best fit to describe me. and I'm getting used to it.
When Monday arrived, I went to school sleepy. Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos dahil nakalimutan kong gawin yung essay tungkol sa sarili namin sa isang subject, so I stayed up until 3 am.
Papikit pikit akong naglalakad papunta sa classroom dahil sa antok. I was about to take up the stairs when my heart almost skipped a beat after sliding from an identification card on the second step. I scratched my temple and picked it up.
I was dumbfounded when I looked at the name written on the ID.
Sylvester Nox Cooper.
"Seriously?" It's the second time! What the hell?
Now I've got to trouble myself to go at the Lost and Found again.
Tumalikod ako at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa kabilang building. As I was about to turned the hallway across the canteen, dahan-dahan na akong huminto. I saw Trace's cousin with his red backpack on, with a bandaid on his left cheek and neck, and a plaster on his right arm, walking towards my way.
He was a bit surprised when he saw me. I showed him his ID with a blue lace.
I saw him gulped before accepting his ID from me.
"T...Thank you."
I don't know if this is about my lack of sleep or I'm being unnecessarily mean, but I replied him with, "Just so you know, if your ID got lost again for the third time and I happen to find it again, hindi ko na ibabalik yan sayo."
Gulat siyang napaangat ng tingin sa akin. Nakita ko ang pamumula ng mukha niya dahil hindi tulad ni Trace, kulay gatas ang kutis niya.
"S...Sorry."
I sighed. "I'm going back. Huwag mo nang iwawala."
Muli akong humakbang pabalik nang may makalimutan ako.
"Ah, I'm Alice. If you're ever curious."
"I...I know."
My eyes narrowed. "Alam mo?"
"Narinig ko..."
Where he could've heard it? I never step near from him and no one ever called my name loudly. Could it be that Trace told him?
I was a little flummoxed, but I choose to ignore it despite all the curiosity.
"...Right."
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