Chapter 2: Luke

Winter A. Rodriguez

I am still looking at my phone screen dahil hindi parin ako makapaniwala, Paano niya nalaman ang account ko?

" Luke C. Kennedy...so that's his name.." if you're all curious of my reaction it's because back when I was grade 3, lot of students bullied and hurted me and he was the only kid that had the guts to protect me.

"You're the one who defended

me back then right?"

"That's right! I'm glad

you still remember it.

So, how are you?"

"I'm fine, nothing much."

"May nagbubully parin ba

sayo? Nanakit? May mga

kaibigan ka ba?"

Napakunot ako ng noo sa rami ng tanong niya, kakachat niya lang sa akin ang rami na niyang tanong.

"Sorry if I was being

annoying."

"Good thing you know."

"Ouch, you don't need to

be so straight forward."

"Why are you asking me

so many questions?"

"Well...nung hindi na kita makita dati sa elementary

school akala ko may

nangyari na sayong

masama."

Napatigil ako nung mabasa ko ang kanyang reply. Was he...worried about me?

"I see."

"It was obvious back

them that you didn't

have much friend except

for her."

I widened my eyes at what he said again to me. How did he know about that? Was he perhaps stalking me back then?

"Tell me the truth, are

you stalking me back then?"

"What? No! That'll sounds creepy!"

"Then how did you know

that she was my

only friend?"

"Well back then,

napapansin ko na siya

ang kadalasan mong kasama."

"Observant..." I muttered

"Hoy Win-win bat mag-isa ka nalang dito?!" Napatigil ako sa aking pagchat nang tinawag ako ni George. "Iniwan niyo ako eh." I answered "Hehe kumain ka na ba?" He asked and I just nodded as a respond."

"Bakit di ka makipag-us-"

"Someone tried to have a conversation with me but I ignored him and heared him muttering 'Ang arte naman' after walking away." I explained.

"Talaga? Who is it?" Tanong niya, tumingin ako kung saan banda pumunta si Brandy ata? At nakita siya. Napasulyap si George kung saan ako tumingin and he widened his eyes as soon as he saw him. "Si Brandon ba ang tinutukoy mo?" Brandon pala ang pangalan niya... "Oo, baket?" I asked. "Nakuuu buti nalang di mo yun kinaibigan! Alam mo ba kung makapagjowa yun parang nagpapalit lang ng damit panlakad eh, araw-araw may bago!" He answered. Malalala pa ata toh sa plauboy ah. The twins finally came back after what they did and we just seated on our seats. "Ano sis may new kaibigan na ba you?" Theora asked, I shaked my head as a respond.

"What ba naman this, you don't have new kaibigan padin?"

"The three of you are enough." and just like that, they went silent at what I said. "Sa totoo talaga may nakipagusap kanina kay Win-win." George said to broke the silence "Talaga? Who iyon?" Theora asked curiously "Si Brandon" George said, spitting each words like poison. "Whaaat?! Are you nagbibiro ba?! As in Brandon James?!" Theora asked excitingly. Nabigla si George sa naging reaksyon ni Theora at nagtanong "Bat ganyan ka makareact teh?"

"Krass kasi niya yung fvckboy na yon." Theo said while rolling his eyes. "Ano ba bro I sinabi to you na he is not a fvckboy kasi!" Sabi agad ni Theora na may halong pagkairita. "Tama si Theo, Theora. Palit kaya nang palit ng jowa yun, kinabukasan ay may bago na. Kaya kung ako sayo wag mo na yun pangarapin." George said as if he's giving her an advise. "Hmph palibhasa kasi he doesn't gusto you dahil you're beki." Theora answered back and rolled her eyes. "Tama si Georgia, sis. Wag mo nang jowain yun dahil sasaktan ka lang nun." Sagot din ni Theo. "What's your pake ba? Eh he's my gusto eh. He will be my jowa too someday at ako will be his panghuli." Theora said confidently while flipping her hair.

"Ano ba naman yang buhok mo Theora! Sa sobrang haba sa mukha ko talaga tatama?! Magpagupit ka na kaya!" reklamo ni George.

"You're dapat na magpahair-cut kaya, it's so mahaba it's not bagay to you!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA Sorry Georgia pero tama si sis pfft. Mukha kang si Kenma pero yung hindi pa nableach yung buhok HAHAHAHAHA."

"At talagang nagkampihan pa kayo ah! Magkambal talaga kayo!" Then the three of them started arguing. Such a chaos to the three of them. Naramdaman ko na nagring ang phone ko, mukhang may nagmessage sa akin. Tinignan ko kung sino ang nagmessage at si Nay Berta lang pala.

"Hija malapit ka na bang

umuwi? Nandito na ang tito

mo nag-aalala na siya sayo."

"Oho Nay Berta uuwi

narin po kami."

"Sige hija, ingat sa

pag-uwi."

"I had to go now, umuwi na si tito." Sabi ko sa kanila, dahilan para mapatigil sila sa kanilang pagtatalo. "Talaga? Ang aga pa naman bes. Mamaya ka nalang umuwi." Pagkumbinsi sa akin ni George. "Sorry, but you know I can't disobey my uncle right? He's always worried about me when I'm not at home." I answered sincerely. "Sige na nga pero paano ka naman uuwi?"

"Magtataxi na-"

"Ako nalang maghahatid sayo." Naputol ang sinabi ko nang biglang magsalita si Theo. "I'm fine with that." I said to them "Ok ha bro take alaga of Winny. If you pabayaan her, I will pahirapan ka rin too." Theora warned. "Parang hindi mo naman ako pinapahirapan..." He muttered.

"Did you sinabi something?"

"Ang sabi oo."

"Basta Theo ha, dapat handle with care. Alam mo naman yang si Winter, parang babasagin." George reminded him. "Oo na, oo na gentleman ata siguro toh. Kaya ako habulin ng mga babae eh." Pagyayabang ni Theo. "Habulin daw pero wala namang naging jowa ni isa..." George whispered and Theo glared at him. "Pinagtitingin mo diyan? Totoo naman ah, bakit meron ba?"

"Tara na nga Win-win, baka mapagalitan ka pa." He said while walking towards the exit. Nainis siguro siya sa sinabi ni George kaya ganon ganon nalang siyang umalis, wala na akong nagawa kundi ang sundan siya.

Nang makadating ako sa labas ay nakita ko nang nakaready ang kotse at lumabas siya sa kanyang seat at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. "Gentleman indeed." I said while looking at him with a slight smile. "Ginagawa ko lang ang bilin nila, baka malintikan pa ako eh." He said while looking away.

Dumating na ako sa labas ng aming bahay at nagpaalam na ako kay Theo at bumalik sa party. Agad na akong pumasok dahil baka hinihintay pa ako nila tito "Nakauwi na ako." Sabi ko habang pumapasok sa loob. "Win-win! Akala ko ay may nangyari na sayong masama!" Bungad agad ni tito pagkapasok ko.

"You're overreacting uncle."

"Ano ka ba Win-win call me kuy-"

"You're father's brother so your my uncle."

"Hindi kasi bagay eh! I'm only twenty-f-"

"Kahit ano pang sabihin mo wala ka nang magagawa dahil tito talaga kita."

"Haysss...wala tong patutunguhan, kumain na nga lang ta-"

"Nakakain na ako."

"Sanaol."

Just like that ay umakyat na ako sa aking kwarto at nagpalit. After changing my clothes, I took my laptop and checked my social media. Bigla kong naalala na may kachat pala ako kanina at agad kong tinignan ang aking messenger kung may sinabi pa siya.

"O bakit di kana nagreply?"

"Hello? Anjan ka pa ba?"

Nakita ko na may dalawa pala siyang message sa akin ngunit hindi ko ito nakita kanina dahil kausap ko kanina sila George.

"Slr, kaya ako umalis sa elementary school ay

dahil pinaghome-school

ako ni papa."

"Aaaahhhh kaya pala,

bakit ka pala hindi

naka reply kanina?"

"Am I obligated

to tell you?"

"Grabe ka naman,

nagtatanong lang eh."

"K. d(￣ー￣)"

"Cold ヾ(￣o￣;)"

I chuckled at what he replied, He's quite nice. I thought, I really hope he is a nice person like in the past.

"Geh na udnight."

"Goodnight also."

After that, I turned off my phone and the light on my room. It's been a long night.

To be continued ...