Chapter 6: Old friend

Winter A. Rodriguez

Nagising ako ng marinig ko ang aking alarm clock. Bumangon na ako dahil sisimulan ko narin ang aking mga school works lalo na't nandito ang papa ko.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. As soon as I'm done ay bumaba na ako dahil na amoy ko narin ang niluto ni Nay Berta. The smell was familiar and I already know what will be our breakfast. Beef tapa with fried rice and egg, my favorite.

Nang makababa na ako ay naghugas na ako ng kamay at nagsimula nang kumain. The atmosphere was awkward because of what happen last night so we just ate silently not until my father broke it.

"About your school wor-"

"I'll finish it as soon as I finish my meal." I answered to him.

He didn't answer back so we were back again at the awkward atmosphere.

After eating, I put my plates in the sink and went upstairs to take a shower and finished my school works for the month.

.....

After I finish all of my school works, I took a rest because it felt like hell finishing my works for the entire month. A few minutes later, I heard my phone ringed so I look at it and saw George's message.

9:32 AM

G.A.Y:"Guuuys!"

"What?"

G.A.Y:"Meet tayo mamaya

sa mall!"

T.B.H🏐:"Gege"

T.B.H✒:"Kk"

"I don't know if

makakapunta ako,

my father came

home yesterday."

G.A.Y:"Weh? Kala ko ba

next year pa siya

babalik??"

"May imemeet daw siya dito."

G.A.Y:"Aaaaahhh"

T.B.H✒:"Aaah"

T.B.H🏐:"Aaahhh"

"Sabay-sabay talaga kayo?"

G.A.Y:"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

T.B.H🏐:"AHHAHAHAHHAAHAH"

T.B.H✒:"JAGSJAGAHAJGAHAH"

"Anong oras ba magkikita? Magpapaalam ako,

baka payagan ako."

G.A.Y:"Mamayang 4:30 para

di masyadong matirik

yung araw, bawal kang

masinagan ng araw diba?"

"Thanks for the consideration,

I'll try to come."

G.A.Y:"No prob basta

ichachat ka namin

kapag dumating na kami."

"K, I'll ask my father."

After that, I went downstairs to ask my father for permission to go out later.

"Father."

"Do you need something?"

"My friend invited me to go at the mall later around 4:30 PM, can I go?"

He looked at me for a while and said "As long as you finished your school works, you're free to go."

"Thanks."

As soon as I thanked him, I went back upstairs and read some novels because I had nothing to do anymore other than wait for the time to meet my friends.

.....

It was 3:10 in the afternoon when I finished the novel I read. Isinara ko na ang libro at ibinalik na sa shelf para makapaghanda na. I changed my clothes into casual attire. I just wore a long blouse, straight jeans, a bucket hat and sneakers. I also put sunscreen sakaling matirik pa ang araw kahit na sasakay naman ako sa SUV.

Tinext ko muna si Mang Berto na pupunta ako sa mall para maihanda na niya ang sasakyan. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay bumaba na ako dahil baka naghihintay na pala si Mang Berto.

"Mang Berto, tara na ho."

Nagsimula nang magmaneho si Mang Berto habang ako naman ay kinuha ang aking phone at chinat sina George.

3:43 PM

"Papunta na ako, saan

tayo magkikita?"

T.B.H✒:"How about sa

Me'aza cafe?"

G.A.Y:"Cge dun nalang"

"K, I'll meet you guys there."

After that ay ibinaba ko na ang aking phone at naghintay nalang papunta sa mall.

.....

Nandito ako ngayon sa entrance ng mall papunta sa cafe dahil baka hinihintay na nila ako.

Me'aza cafe, some may find the name of the cafe weird but in Amharic, the language of the country where coffee is originated from which is Ethiopia. Me'aza means aroma or scent in English which is why it's suits the cafe dahil kahit na sa entrance ka palang ay naaamoy mo na ang kape at iba pang dessert.

Nang nahanap ko na kung saan nakaupo sina George ay agad na akong pumunta papunta sa kanila.

"You guys haven't ordered yet?"

"Hindi pa eh hinihintay ka pa namin" sabi ni Theo tsaka tumayo.

"Ako na ang oorder, ano sa inyo?"

"Strawberry Shortcake at Cafe Latte akin."

"Blueberry Cheesecake and Thai Milk Tea nalang for me."

"I'll have Tiramisu cake and Black tea. Thanks."

After Theo ordered our food, I asked George why did he want to meet us.

"Ah, eh...namiss ko lang kayo.."

Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko sa naging sagot niya.

"Seriously ka ba?" Tanong ni Theora sa kanya.

"Spill it, alam kong may dahilan ka." Sabi ko sa kanya dahil hindi ako naniniwala sa rason niya kung bakit gusto niyang makipag-meet.

"Sige na nga! Na-curious ako sa sinasabi mo kasing kaibigan eeeh." He answered why looking at me.

"You could've told me, sasabihin ko naman eh." Bahagya pang nagulat silang dalawa sa naging sagot ko.

"Talaga? Akala ko kasi magagalit ka."

"Wala naman akong rason para ikagalit na sabihin sa inyo yung tungkol sa mga dati kong kaibigan."

Theo came back with the foods that we ordered and sat on his chair.

"Which one do you guys wanna know first?" Tanong ko habang si Theo ay nagtataka sa tanong ko.

"Si Luke muna hehehehehe."

"You're so bading talaga."

Mukhang na-enlightened na si Theo kung ano ang mga pinagsasabi namin kaya nakinig siya sa.

"Luke and I are not that close, he just defend me every time I was bullied. Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko pa nga alam ang pangalan niya dati eh."

"Hanep, di mo pa kinilala yung nagliligtas sayo." I chuckled at his comment because he was right, I really didn't care about the others. Except for her...

"Then sino yung tinutukoy mo dati?"

Theo asked, they all looked at me and was curious at my answer.

"She was my only friend that I considered in the past. We always play chess and scrabble together."

"Wow, you guys are like matanda na the way you laro like why don't you guys play dolls nalang?" Komento ni Theora.

"Kinda childish."

"Eh anong pangalan niya?"

"I forgot..."

"Hano?!"

Hinampas ni Theora ng mahina si George dahil masyadong malakas ang boses niya.

"I forgot her full name but I remember I call her Anne."

"Tch sayang naman, hahanapin ko pa naman siya sa FB o IG."

"Kung hindi pa siya nagbabago, sigurado akong wala siyang social media accounts." I remember when I asked her do she play games and her answer was she plays board games only because she doesn't like technology.

"Weh? Parang pinsan ko pala, walang social media accounts pero..." hindi itinuloy ni George ang sinabi niya kaya napatingin kaming tatlo sa kanya.

"Hayss, nebermaynd na nga lang!" Sabi ni George kaya kumain nalang kami at iniba ang topic.

Kamusta na kaya siya... it's been so long I've never heard anything about her...

To be continued ...