Chapter 28

Exam days went ahead on time. Naging abala na naman kami sa kanya-kanyang reviewers kaya hindi kami nakatugtog ng buong banda. First day of exam, masyado kaming nasurpresa. Iilan lang iyong mga naituro na nailagay doon. It's frustrating the hell out of me.

"I hate physics!" reklamo ko dahil nakalimutan ko 'yung ibang formula. Kailangan kasi na memorize namin lahat. Samantalang iyong last batch noon, hinayaan nilang magdala ng index cards. Ngayon lang sila naghigpit dahil last year, may estudyante raw na nanubok mandaya. 

"This term is so draining! Gusto kong matulog for 24 hours!" Maya groaned.

I shook my head. "You can't. We have another exam tomorrow."

She sighed deeply. "I'm going home, Cady, kita tayo bukas!" Maya said abruptly before dropping a peck on my cheek. Umalis na agad siya pagtapos.

I sighed and went out of the classroom. Masyadong pressured 'yung atmosphere sa loob dahil required na mataas ang scores namin ngayong term. We're turning senior high next year. We have to get serious when it comes to our studies.

Paghakbang ko sa labas, nakita ko si Calix sa hallway katapat ng classroom namin, parang may hinihintay. I scanned him from head to foot. Bukas iyong mga butones ng polo niya kaya kitang-kita 'yung puting tshirt niya sa loob. His hands are in the pocket of his slacks. Nakayuko siya habang kagat ang pang-ibabang labi, mukhang may malalim na iniisip.

Just when I took another step, he quickly swung his head up. Nagtama iyong tingin namin. Umayos siya ng tayo kaya tumaas 'yung kilay ko. Ako ba hinihintay niya?

He walked closer. Hinintay ko siyang makalapit habang nakataas pa rin ang mga kilay sa pagtataka. We occasionally see each other around school grounds. Hindi lang talaga kami nag-uusap dahil 'di rin naman kami friends. Kaya ang makita siyang naghihintay sa 'kin ngayon, nakapagtataka.

"What?" I asked when seconds later after standing in front of me, wala pa rin siyang sinasabi. 

Ilang sandali muna siyang tumingin sa akin bago nagtanong. He looks, again, as usual -  cold.

"Where is your father?" he asked in a defensive stance.

My mouth went agape at his tone. Hindi ko 'yon nagustuhan. I glanced around to see if someone heard him asking but they were too preoccupied from the last exam we've had. Mabilis kong hinila si Calix papunta sa loob ng laboratory room na medyo katabi ng room namin dahil walang tao roon. 

I closed the door and faced him. Naabutan ko siyang nakatingin sa kamay kong nakahawak sa pala-pulsuhan niya.

Tumikhim ako at binitawan siya. I frowned at him. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa 'kin at bumalik sa pagiging malamig ang tingin niya. I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Hindi ko nagustuhan 'yang tono ng pagtatanong mo, ha. Tanda ko pa rin iyong paninira mo kay Daddy noong namundok tayo! What now?"

He tilted his head while licking his lower lip. Kumunot lalo ang noo ko dahil parang ginagago niya ako.

"Why are you asking about Daddy?" I asked again.

"It's been a week since Tita didn't come home."

My face flooded confusion. "Tita who?"

"Tita Glaiza," he answered in a-matter-of-fact.

"Huh? She's your mom, 'di ba? Sabi niya?"

Umiwas siya ng tingin. "My parents are dead. She's a friend of my mother... who picked me up when no one wanted to."

Natigilan ako. "I-I'm sorry..."

Napatingin siya sa 'kin, mukhang nabigla sa narinig. 

"It's nothing," he said coldly. "I am here to ask you where your father is because I think, they've been together for a week now."

"What?!" I exclaimed. Umiling ako. Kaya niya ba ako kinausap ulit ngayon? Dahil sisiraan na naman niya si Daddy?! "Bakit ba ganyan ang iniisip mo kay Daddy? He's an honorable man. He loves my mother. He loves me and his family. Umalis siya dahil may conference siyang pupuntahan-"

He smirked. "Conference, my ass."

Nairita agad ako sa ngisi niya. Yes, he's quite good-looking but he's an asshole for thinking about my father that way!

Umabante ako kaya umatras siya nang isang beses habang naka-ngisi pa rin. He swung both of his hands up as if he's defeated as he chuckled sarcastically. 

"You praise your father too much, Missy," he annoyingly mumbled.

I gritted my teeth so tightly. Minsan ko na nga lang siya maka-usap dito sa school, maiinis pa niya ako! 

"Bakit ba si Daddy ang pinagbibintangan mo sa tuwing nawawala si Tita Glaiza? Maybe she has a boyfriend, but I assure you, that's not my father! He's loyal to my mom and he loves her. Itatak mo 'yan sa utak mo."

"If he really is loyal, why did they went out of town last month together?" he sarcastically spat.

Lalong lumalim ang kunot ng noo ko. Inalala ko kung nasa'n si Daddy noong nakaraang buwan. Naalala kong nagpaalam si Daddy sa amin para sa isa pang conference sa bandang Norte. Magkasama sila ni Tita no'n?

"Well, I guess, they were there for their job! Ang dumi ng isip mo!"

He scoffed. "For a job? While both of them are on a vacation leave?"

"What?"

Sumeryoso ang mukha niya at halos manlamig ako sa paraan ng pagkakatitig niya sa 'kin. He crouched a bit and looked sternly on my eyes.

"I went to the university they're working at and found out they both filed their leave on a same day with the same date. Had the advantage of having connections there, huh," he said. 

I just looked at him quietly, brows furrowed, but slowly getting my mind crumpled with so many thoughts. He pressed his hand on the door frame, just above the side of my head while still dreading my eyes with his subtle glare. 

"Now tell me... where is that damn conference he told you he's attending at for this week," he told me slowly but firmly.

Napakurap-kurap ako habang unti-unting lumalakas 'yung tibok ng puso ko. Sa bawat malalakas na pintig, nararamdaman ko ang sakit. Here again the doubts I've buried long time ago surging my mind. Unti-unti na namang nababahiran ng pagdududa iyong imahe ni Daddy sa utak ko.

My mind went back to how Daddy treats Mom. He's always been gentle and caring towards her. Kita ko iyon sa mga mata niya. He's always soft when it comes to Mommy. I know he loves her. Kaya paanong magagawa niyang magloko? It's impossible! 

But then... he's always going out for his conferences. I didn't even ask further about those because it's his job... Kung saan-saan... and last time when I reached to him for a hug, I smelled some perfume I'm not familiar of... I think it was Mommy's but now... I think I need to check on it.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Calix. He's staring at me, waiting for my answer. Unti-unting nag-init 'yung paligid ng mga mata ko.

"He's in... B-batangas..." I faintly answered, more so a whisper. 

My knees wobbled in weakness as I realize more of it. 

Mapapaupo na sana ako kung hindi lang nasalo ni Calix iyong baywang ko. He sighed as he scooped me swiftly. Nahigit ko ang hininga ko. Walang hirap niya akong binuhat. He put me down on the stool chair nearby then crouched a bit to reach my eyes. This time, he looks careful and gentle. Nangilid 'yung mga luha ko sa takot... sa takot na baka totoo iyong ibinibintang niya kay Daddy. Natatakot ako na kapag nagkatotoo itong lahat, masasaktan si Mommy.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt your father," he said while wiping the tears that fell onto my cheek. "I am concerned with Tita. I don't approve their relationship as much because in every corner of it, it is certainly wrong. I am telling you this because I don't want another family to stay in the darkness, not able to see the truth which is hidden behind a great trance of pretension. You don't deserve it, neither your mom do."

I bit my lower lip. Umiling ako. "I don't know what to b-believe-"

He sighed. "That's why I told you that night to find it out for yourself. I don't want to shove the truth to you because I know you won't believe me otherwise you see it in your own eyes."

I did not talk. Masyadong gulo ang isip ko ngayon. I don't know if I'd believe him, dahil noon ay muntik na at tingin ko, napatunayan ko namang nagkakamali siya. Kung dati pa siya nagsasabi sa 'kin ng totoo, ibig sabihin, ganoon katagal na kaming niloloko ni Daddy? I don't want to think about it further because it hurt so much. Iniisip ko pa lang, ang sakit na. Paano pa kaya kung totoo?

"Pag-isipan mong mabuti. I'll go now." Calix wiped another tear on my face before straightening himself up and walked out of the laboratory room.

Ilang sandali pa akong natulala roon bago nagpasyang lumabas na at magpunta sa parking lot. Gulong-gulo 'yung isip ko dahil ang dami kong inaalala sa bawat sitwasyon na umaalis si Daddy. Am I this dense? Bakit 'di ako nagduda? But then... I love him as much to trust him this way. Wala sa isip ko na magagawa niya ang ganitong bagay. Maybe Calix is wrong...

I stopped midway when a cone of ice cream welcomed my face. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita si Note sa gilid ko at nakangiti.

"An ice cream for your thoughts?" he smiled.

Ngumiti ako bago tinanggap 'yung ice cream. Suddenly, the chaos inside my mind calmed a bit when I see him. 

"Kanina ka pa?" I asked.

"Actually, I've been tailing your back since you went down the hallway. You're zoning out so much that you didn't notice that I walked past you?" He tousled my hair and pouted a little. "You okay? Did exams get you tired?"

I sighed. Naalala ko iyong problema ko kanina. Sana nga 'yung exam na lang. 

"What's wrong, Skylah?" 

I continued walking as I eat my ice cream. Hawak niya rin 'yung kanya. Sinabayan niya akong maglakad habang tahimik na hinihintay 'yung pagsasalita ko.

"Something's bugging me but... I'd tell you this tomorrow afternoon."

"Huh? Ba't hindi pa ngayon? Ano ba 'yon?" Ngayon ay nakaharap na siya sa 'kin habang naglalakad kami.

"Exam pa natin bukas. We need to concentrate."

"It is already bugging you. How can you concentrate, then?" pangungulit niya. "You should tell me now."

"And make you unable to focus on reviewing tonight?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "No, thanks."

"My girlfriend's being in trouble. How would you expect me to behave?"

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad para harapin siya. I squinted my eyes on him. Now, now. That word kind of lifted my mood.

"Girlfriend?" ngisi ko.

He nodded conceitedly. "Yes. Girlfriend. You."

"Kailan pa naging tayo?" panunuya ko. 

Tumuloy ako sa paglalakad pero hindi ko na maitago 'yung ngisi sa labi ko. 

"Since you dipped your soft lips on mine-"

My eyes widened. "Hoy!" 

Tumitingin-tingin ako sa paligid dahil baka may nakarinig sa kababalaghang sinabi niya. He laughed so hard.

"Why? It's true, though!" tawa niya.

"Hindi mo na kailangan i-broadcast!"

"Ang alin?" natatawa pa ring tanong niya. "Hindi naman malakas pagkakasabi ko. And if someone heard about it, so what? I'm your boyfriend now." Ngayon, siya na 'yung naka-ngisi.

Hindi ako umimik. Kumain na lang ako ng ice cream tsaka naglakad ulit. I can't let the issue take off my mind but Note's having me occupied by simply teasing me!

"Ayaw mo ba?" sabi niya matapos manahimik nang kaunti. "If you don't want to be in a relationship yet, then let's not label ourselves. Ikaw bahala. Basta sa isip ko, girlfriend na kita."

Umirap ako nang pabiro. "Stop guilt-tripping me, Note."

He chuckled. "I am not! Sinasabi ko lang 'yung opinyon ko."

"I won't kiss you and say those words to you if I wasn't ready to be your girlfriend," I muttered.

Hindi siya umimik. Nakarating na kami sa tapat ng sasakyan nila kung saan naghihintay si Kuya Rick pero tahimik pa rin siya. When I gave him a glance, nakita kong ang lapad na ng ngiti niya.

"So tell me about my girlfriend's problem, Skylah," he whispered just when I was about to enter the car.

I smiled at him intently. "I'd tell my boyfriend about that tomorrow, Note."

He pressed his tongue on the side of his cheek. "Damn. That made my heart skips a bit."

I chuckled and rolled my eyes on him. Pumasok na ako sa backseat at nagbuntong hininga. It's amazing how he can make my mind at ease even when I really am bothered about something. May kung ano talaga sa kanya na nararamdaman ko 'yung payapa. 

"If that something bugs you tonight, be sure to call me instead of letting it worry you alone," Note told me after he shuts the door close. Buti na lang nasa labas pa si Kuya Rick. He scooted closer beside me.

"We need to review, Note. Exam's our main priority now."

"Yes. But you're also my priority so let this one go. Knowing you're worried about something is enough to bother me even if I don't know what it is exactly."

I smiled at him. I really appreciate his presence. Always. And I'd always be thankful for him. "Thank you so much for being here all the time..."

"Well, you must prepare for a lifetime, princess. You're stuck with me," he smiled and landed a soft kiss on the side of my head. 

Just when he's done going back to his own space, Kuya Rick went in. Nagkatinginan kami tsaka sabay na ngumiti sa isa't-isa. My bag is on my lap and over here, Note intertwined our hands together as we quietly sat down like nothing happens.