Chapter Three

We are here at aling Sena's carinderia. He ordered all the food and we will use our hands instead of spoons and forks. I missed the food here. When we were in high school we always eat here. Pag-uwi galing sa school at kapag weekend pumupunta kami rito kapag lunch or merienda. Nang tumuntong kami ng senior high ang madalas ay naging bihira. Naging abala kami sa pag-aaral pero mas abala siya. Abala sa pag-aaral at sa love life. Nahati ang kanyang oras sa dalawa kaya sa akin halos wala ng matira.

"May dumi ba ako sa mukha?," tanong niya. Kanina pa kasi ako nakatingin sa kanya. Sino ang hindi magkakagusto sa kanya kung ganyan siya ka gandang lalaki. Medyo makapal ang kilay at katamtamang haba ng pilik mata. Matangos na ilong at ang kulay ng labi niya ay daig pa 'yung akin. Ang ngiti niya ay kakaiba at ang lakas ng dating sa akin. Sa tuwing ngingiti siya hindi ko rin mapigilan na hindi ngumiti. Hindi ko alam kung may mahika ba itong taglay lalo na ang kanyang mga mata. Sa tuwing magkakasalubong ang aming mata ay parang hinihigop ako at sa tuwing tinitignan niya ko katulad ng ngayon ay nakakapanghina.

"Mn, are you ok?," he asked and pinched my left cheek. I cleared my throat. "Y-Yeah,I'm ok."

"Hulaan ko, pinagkakainteresan mo na naman itong kilay ko."

I pouted. "Bakit hindi na lang naging akin yan." Hinawakan ko ang kilay niya at hinaplos ito. Hindi gaanong kalapit at kalayo ang distansya ng aming mukha sa isa't isa. Nagtagpo ang aming mata at seryoso itong nakatingin sa'kin. Napalunok ako.

"Mam, Sir heto na po order nyo."

Napabitaw ako sa kilay niya at umayos sa pagkakaupo. Mabuti na lang dumating ang pagkain kahit papaano nabawasan ang awkwardness. We eat silently. I saw a boy and a girl at 2 o'clock. I think they are in high school base on their uniform. I am confident that they're a couple. They are sweet to each other. I saw the spark to their eyes. They happy now but in the end, storm always be there. Am I sound bitter? Well, I'm not. My remark was too plain.

"Do you want me to feed you too?" he asked suddenly after he glanced at the couple.

"Friends don't do that."

"Why? I feed you when you're sick, remember."

"That's a different case."

Gusto kong magpasubo pero mas lalo lang akong aasa.

"What's the difference with that?"

"My boyfriend can do that. He is allowed to do that."

"You don't have a boyfriend."

Aba't!

"Then I'll find one."

He stared at me as if he was trying to read my mind.

"What? I'm serious about that. I'm not getting younger. I need to find a boyfriend or a man who's willing to marry me."

"Find someone that you love and he loves you back."

"Then can you be my boyfriend?"

He was coughing because of my question. I give him a glass of water and he drinks it. "What did you ask earlier?"

I sighed. "Nothing."

Pagkatapos namin kumain ay umuwi na kami. Walang imikan kahit bumaba

na ako sa kotse. Pumasok ako ng bahay at nadatnan ko ang aking kapatid sa sala nanonood ng TV habang kumakain ng popcorn.

"Instant star cinema, ha." I commented. She buffeted my hand as I would take popcorn in her bowl. "Selfish."

"Ma, ate's here," she shouted. Lumabas naman si mama sa kusina at nagmano ako.

"How's your day?" Mama asked.

"It's fun, Ma." I know my eyes tell another way around. I bid goodbye to them when I'm going to my bedroom. I changed my clothes and sat on my bed. I know he heard it.He just pretended that he didn't. What if he takes it seriously, maybe he'll avoid me.

The next day, Ni drove me to school and he said he would pick me up later. I go to my room and clean it with the help of my students. After the cleaning I began to teach. Someone interrupted me. He's knocking at the door.

"Teacher Anthony," I said. He rolled his eyes. He doesn't like that name. He said we should call him Tony. One of his idols is Toni Gonzaga. Tony is a gay and we respect it.

"Good morning teacher Louise. Good morning cuties."

""Good morning teacher Tony," they greeted back in unison.

"Class, copy this in your notebook. I and teacher Tony will talk outside."

Teacher Tony handed me the three red roses and four pink roses.

"Haba ng hair mo, girl."

"Whom it is from?"

"The red one he will call you. The pink roses, I don't know who's the person behind it. Sarah handed me that and the pink roses had a card."

"Teacher! Teacher! Your phone is ringing." I get my phone and go back outside.

"I gotta go."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

I answered the call. "Hello."

📱: "You received it?"

"Don't tell me that red roses are from you."

He chuckled.

📱: "Yes,that's mine. Why? Do you have another flower besides mine?"

I tried to be calm and I did it. But, I can't suppress my smile.

"I also received pink roses. I think the person who gave me the red roses yesterday is the same."

"Well, I don't care about that person. Anyway, do you like it?"

"Hmm...pwede na."

📱: "Really, ha."

I sense the sarcasm in his voice. I chuckled.

"Thank you, Ni. Later, you have a thank you kiss from me."

I heard him laugh.

"Why are you laughing?"

📱: "Nothing. Ok, I'll hang up. I know that you are in the middle of your work. Sorry, if I disturbed you."

"It's ok. I disturbed you too."

He chuckled.

📱: "Ok, bye. See you later."

I went back inside and asked my students if they were done. I told them to go to my table one by one because I will check their notebook. On second thought, I forgot to ask him why he gave me flowers. Later, I will ask him.

It's quarter to five but the older brother of baby Lexie is not here. I saw the sadness in her eyes. She's looking at the doorway. She bit her lower lip to prevent her from crying. Oh, my baby. I gather my things and put them in my bag.

"Teacher, are you going home?"

"Yes, baby." I received a text from Ni. He's outside of the gate. "How about me po?" Her tears fell down.

"Oh, baby. Shh...don't cry." I said while wiping her tears. "I will not leave you. You'll go with me. My friend and I will send you home. So stop crying na."

She nodded.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Ni came to us.  I told him why baby Lexie's crying and I asked him if we could bring baby Lexie to her home. He agreed with me.

We are inside the car. I sat on the front seat while baby Lexie sat on my lap. I am thankful because she stopped crying. I knew the route of their house because I visited them last month.

"Are you comfortable on your seat, baby?"

"Yes, teacher. Am I too heavy, teacher?"

"A little bit but it's ok. I like hugging you." I kissed her cheek repeatedly and she giggled because of that.

"You like children," Ni commented.

"I want a child," I muttered.

"Kuya Nick, teacher wants a child. You can make a baby po," baby Lexie exclaimed. I feel my cheeks turn red.

"Really? Ok, we will make a baby."

Tinignan ko siya ng masama at tumawa lang ang paasa kong kaibigan. "Yehey! Teacher you heard it. You'll going to make a baby. We will have a baby sister or brother," she said. The joy is seen in her eyes.

I pouted. "Baby Lexie..."

"Kuya Nick, look!" She pointed my cheeks. "Teacher is blushing."

He chuckled.

"What do you want, a boy or a girl? Maybe twins?"

"Ni!"

The car was filled with his laughter and baby Lexie was also giggled. He really likes teasing me. For him it was just a joke but for me it's not. He is happy to talk to baby Lexie. He also likes the children.

"We're here." Ni went out of the car to open the door. He took baby Lexie from me and I went down.

"Mama!" baby Lexie shouted.

"Oh, Lexie." Her mother went out of their gate and took baby Lexie from Ni. She embraced her daughter and kissed her forehead.

"I thought you lost, sweetie. Your brother told me that you're no longer at school."

"Where's kuya, mama?"

"He is looking for you."

"Pasensya na po. Isinama na namin si Lexie dahil wala pa ang kuya niya at malapit na rin gumabi. Nagkasalisihan lang kami."

"Ayos lang, ma'am. Salamat po sa paghatid sa anak ko. Sana magka-anak na kayo ng iyong nobyo."

Ni cleared his throat as if he's trying to not laugh. I looked at him badly and he diverted his gaze away at me. But the laughter who wants to leave his mouth is still there.

"Hindi ko po siya nobyo. Magkaibigan lang kami," nahihiya kong saad.

"Ahh pasensya na ma'am. Bagay po kayo. Malay niyo kayo ang magkakatuluyan." Narinig kong tumawa ng mahina si Ni. Tatamaan na talaga 'to sa'kin.

"Ahh sige po. We have to go. Bye, baby Lexie."

"Bye po, teacher and kuya Nick."

"Bye!"

"Ingat po kayo."

Binatukan ko siya ng nasa loob na kami ng kotse. "What was that for?"

"Bwesit ka!"

He chuckled. Ni handed me the invitation. We are invited to his best friend's birthday party.

"I thought it was a simple celebration. Its family, family relatives and close friends are the only invited. Bakit may invitation?"

"You're my best friend so you're also invited. I will not attend to his birthday party if he didn't invite you."

"Baliw."

"Actually, ang invitation ay pakana ni Aiden. Surprise gift niya kay Gil."

Natawa na lang ako sa kalokohan ng kaibigan nila.

"Will you come to me tomorrow night?"

"Yes."