Chapter 6

Days passed like a blur. Another school year is about to start. Two days before the school starts, Naya and Kenna need to move to the dormitory to organize their things in their new place. 

Sumama si Nathan at Emily sa paglipat ni Kenna at Naya sa school dormitory. Sa entrance palang ng dormitory ay may nakaabang na sa kanila para bumati. Napaka welcoming talaga ng Duveen sa mga bagong estudyanteng mag-aaral. Nagcheck in sila sa front desk at pagkatapos ay binigay na sa kanila ang isang room card at sarili nilang student card. 

Malaking building ang dormitory. May dalawampung palapag at may labing dalawang kwarto sa bawat palapag. Nasa 18th floor ang kwarto nila Naya. Pagpasok nila sa loob ng dorm ay nakita kung gaano kalaki sa loob. 

"Shut the front door! This ain't a dorm, this is an apartment." Kenna exclaimed. 

Emily, Nathan and Naya laughed. They did a little tour around. Ang sala ay malaki at kompleto sa mga gamit. Isang bedroom na may dalawang kama at malaking closet na tama lang para sa dalawang dalaga. May maliit na study room, saka may sariling kitchen.

"Oh no we can't cook!" Kenna exclaimed again looking at Naya when they saw the kitchen. 

"Oh no!" Naya teased and chuckled. "Madam Keena nagpaturo ako ng iilang simpleng luto kay mommy Emily, don't worry pagsisilbihan kita ng mabuti. I will not let you die in hunger." She added.

Kenna snorted. "You're not my yaya. We can always go to the cafeteria naman if we can't cook. I know a freshman college life is super busy I don't want to add more weight on you." Kenna said seriously. 

"Softie." Magkasabay na sabi nila Nathan at Emily na nakatanggap ng mahinang tawa kay Naya.

Pagkatapos magbilin ng iilang bagay ay nagpaalam na sina Emily at Nathan, naiyak pa si Kenna ng sinabi ni Emily na hindi na sila magkikita ng madalas kaya iingatan nila ni Naya ang isa't isa dahil silang dalawa lang ang magkakasama sa dorm. Parang ayaw pa ni Kenna maghiwalay sa pagkakayap kay Emily. 

"Kenna sweetie, you and Naya can always go home every weekend. Don't worry you'll be fine here. You behave here okay? No boyfriend first please? You're still my baby." Natatawang pag-aalo ni Emily sa anak.

"Mommy! I don't want a boyfriend. It'll be annoying if anyone invade my personal space. No!" Parang batang tugon nito na nakayakap pa din sa mommy nito.

Natawa sila. Bumulong si Naya sa daddy niya. "Dad how about me? Can I?" May halong pagbibiro na tanong niya.

Nathan also hugged his daughter. "Pwede bang wag muna? Ayokong mawala ang baby ko. Pag thirty kana pwede kana magpaligaw." Tumingin siya sa mukha ng anak at nakita ang pagkunot ng noo nito. Natawa siya. "Joke lang, sige pag twenty-nine kana pwede."

"Dad!" Reklamo ni Naya saka umalis sa pagkakayakap ng ama.

"Naya baby, it's too early to talk about this." Nathan put his hands on his daughter's shoulder. "You're still young, don't break dad's heart okay?"

"Exactly what I mean dad, I'm young and kids my age are usually curious and love to explore new things. Young kids like me fall in love so quickly and easily, I know you knew because you were young once. Am I right dad?" Naya said and asked calmly.

"Well...can you not be curious and explore new things?"

Naya chuckled. "Don't worry dad, I'll tell you when I became interested in entering a relationship. I'll be fine. I'm old enough to know what I'm doing. Okay?"

Nathan sighed. "You're making my heart ache." He acted sad and heard his daughters and Emily low laughs. "You all are happy seeing me sad? Wicked people." Lalong natawa ang tatlo.

Di nagtagal ay nagpaalam na din ang mga magulang nila. Hinatid nila sa baba ang dalawa at tahimik na bumalik sa dorm. Pagpasok nila sa loob ay kapansin pansin ang katahimikan ni Kenna.

"Hey, are you alright?" Naya asked the other.

"Hmm," Kenna hummed nodding. "Just adjusting with this new environment."

"You were excited to move just days ago. Tapos ngayong nandito na tayo parang di ka naman masaya."

"I'm happy, it's just that I realized I can't see mom, dad and kenken for the time being. It's making me a little sad."

"It will gonna be fine. It's part of growing up and being independent. You know we can't always rely ourselves to them, we need to learn how to live and make decisions by ourselves."

"Yeah, I know." Tumango naman si Kenna.

"A'right. Let's go unpack, there's so many things to do around." Aya ni Naya kay Kenna.

Naging busy silang dalawa sa mga sumunod na oras at di napansin na di pa pala sila nagtanghalian.

"Ughh, so tired and so hungry." Kenna said while recklessly letting her body knock over on the sofa.

Naya laughed. "C'mon let's grab a lunch. Let's see if there's food in the cafeteria."

"Wait lemme rest for five minutes." Tugon ni Kenna na inikot pa ang katawan padapa sa sofa.

"Okay, magbibihis lang ako." Sabi ni Naya at dumiretso sa kwarto. Nagpalit siya ng simpleng v-neck na t-shirt at itim na jeans.

Pagkalabas niya ng kwarto ay nakitang nagsi cellphone si Kenna. "Hey, don't you want to change before going out?" Naya asked.

Binaba ni Kenna ang cellphone at tumingin muna kay Naya bago sumagot. "No, I'm good. You know what? You look younger in casual clothes. At home I always see you in dresses and skirts, you looked mature in those outfits."

Naya smiled. "Impluwensiya ni mommy." Nakita ni Naya ang pagbago ng ekspresyon ni Kenna kaya inunahan na niya ito. "It's okay, I just shared why I dress like that. I don't mind talking about my mom."

Kenna sighed in relief. "Okay, let's go eat na I'm so hungry." Pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

Naya nodded. "Let's go."

Medyo malayo ang cafeteria sa dorm kaya naglakad pa ang dalawa. Kapansin pansin na ang dami ng estudyante sa paligid. Noong pag audition nila ay hindi gaanong marami ang nasa paligid, mga iilang estudyanteng may summer classes at mga staff lang ang makikita. Ngayon ay maraming estudyanteng naglalakad sa paligid, yung iba nag-iikot sa school saka yung iba ay kararating lang at lumilipat sa dorms. 

Pagpasok nila sa cafeteria ay marami rami ang mga estudyanteng naroon. Tumingin sa paligid si Kenna at may nasilayan na isang pamilyar na mukha. Napangiti siya.

"Naya, let's go there first." Turo ni Kenna sa isang lamesa na may isang lalaking nakaupo. "I know him, c'mon I'll introduce you to him." Tumango si Naya at naglakad sila palapit sa lamesa. "Hey! you look familiar, have we met before." Kenna said to the man tapping his shoulder. 

The man looked at Kenna and smiled seeing her face. "Well, hello gorgeous, fancy seeing you here. You look beautiful as ever." The man replied in flirty voice.

Kenna giggled. "Kuya MacKenzie! you're such a flirt." 

The man laughed, he stood up and hugged Kenna. "Bunso, I didn't know you'll attend DCM."

"You know Duveen is my dream school, of course it's my first and only choice." Kenna replied while also hugging the man. Then Kenna remembered Naya on her side. Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa lalaki at pinakilala ang dalawa sa isa't isa. "Kuya MacKenzie remember the stepsis I mentioned? This is her, Nayasha Lopez. Naya this is MacKenzie Adam Briones, my cousin."

"Of course I know Nayasha Lopez, she's quite famous you know." MacKenzie said looking at Naya and offered a hand. "It's good to finally meet you Naya."

Naya smiled and shook his hand. "It's good to meet you as well. You have a nice name." Naya added.

MacKenzie chuckled. "It's a girl's name. My mother fancy the name, she said she'll name her first born 'MacKenzie' whether it's a boy or a girl. But I guess it work just fine for me?"

"It sounds nice." Naya said smiling. 

May isang lalaki ang lumapit sa lamesa, may dalang tray ng pagkain.

"Mackie nawala lang ako sandali may kinakalantari ka na." Sita ng bagong dating kay MacKenzie na may halong biro. Nagulat ito ng makita si Naya. "Hey, I knew you'll pass the audition. It's good to see you again. You still remember me do you?" Nakangiti nitong sabi kay Naya.

Naya laughed lowly. "Of course and you passed too. It's good to see a familiar face."

"And you still remember my name?" 

"Naturally. Yanique Sanchez, your name is too unique to forget."

Yanique chuckled. "Thank you for remembering me." He said and glanced at Kenna.

"Yanyan this is my cousin Kenna Jane Briones." Pagpakilala ni MacKenzie ng makitang nakatingin si Yanique sa pinsan niya. "And a step sister of Naya. Kenna this is Yanique Sanchez, my best bud." He added.

"Oh I remember you!" Kenna exclaimed. "You were the one talking and laughing with Naya during the interview." 

"Well I guess that's me?" He replied glancing at Naya. 

"You two knew each other?" MacKenzie interrupted, glancing back and forth at Naya and Yanique.

"I knew her years ago, we attended the same school back then." Then Yanique chuckled. "Pero di niya ako kilala dati. Nagkakilala lang kami nung audition." Pag iexplain niya.

"Hmm. Why don't you two join us? Matagal ko na ding di nakikita tong pinsan ko." MacKenzie suggested to the two girls.

"Sige kuya. Kukuha lang kami ng pagkain, gutom na ako." Reklamo ni Kenna. 

Kumuha sila ng kanilang pagkain at bumalik sa lamesa.

"Kuya when did you came back?" Tanong ni Kenna kay MacKenzie ng makaupo sila ni Naya. "And you didn't tell me you'll also attend in this school. I thought hobby mo lang yung gitara?"

"I came back just recently, I did my audition through online and yeah guitar is just a hobby but I like writing songs these past months so I'll give it a try. And of course I felt like joining yanyan here." He said smiling.

Napangiti at iiling iling na lang si Yanique habang nakatingin kay MacKenzie. "Don't blame me if you get tired."

"This school looks fun and it's massive! Like a small city, when I entered I thought it's not a school."

The rest of them laughed. "For real!" Kenna replied. "Pero wait, I didn't know you have a best buddy?" Kenna asked again glancing at Yanique. She smiled at him "no offense okay?"

"Non taken." Yanique smiled.

"We met in california, I was randomly busking on the street when he came and watched." MacKenzie laughed. "I thought he would leave just like the others but he watched me play till the end. After I played, I approached him and we talked. Surprisingly we came from the same country, then we exchanged numbers and hang out from time to time. Sometimes we play on the street, me playing the guitar and he singing. He's good." MacKenzie explained. "Nauna lang siyang umuwi dito. Pinauwi daw ng dad niya. Tapos nalaman ko nalang na mag aaral pala siya dito, kaya ayun nag audition na din ako. Nakatsamba." He added laughing.

"Hmm." Kenna hummed and nodded. "So you sing?" She asked Yanique. "Naya is good too."

Naya who was silently eating almost chocked. "I didn't know I'm good." She chuckled. "I mean I think I can but just so-so. That's all."

"Sometimes I heard you sing. It's good in the ears." Kenna said.

Naya just smiled and nodded.

"But she's more badass in piano." Yanique commented smiling at Naya.

"No doubt about that." Kenna seconded proudly. 

"Y'all flatter me too much. I'm good because I practiced it a lot. You all are good too because you passed the audition." Naya said.

Kenna chuckled. She leaned at Naya and whispered. "You shy taking compliment now?"

"No, I'm not. Do I look shy?"

"Hmm. No? Okay you're not shy." Pagwalang bahala ni Kenna saka tumingin ulit kay MacKenzie. "You two moved in the dorms?"

"Yeah, we're roommates. How about you two?" Tanong din ni MacKenzie.

"We are roommates too. We moved today." Kenna replied. "Hey, why don't you two play tonight. There's a cafshows during the night in here. I wanna see how well your chemistry in playing." She added looking at the two men.

Natawa si MacKenzie. "Di ka pa rin nagbabago madam Kenna. Utusera."

Kenna snorted. "I'm not ordering you MacKenzie."

"Tamo MacKenzie na, wala ng kuya." 

"Okay kuya." Kenna said putting a stress in saying 'kuya'. "Kuya MacKenzie can you please play tonight?"

MacKenzie chuckled. "Okay po madam. Ano po bang kanta ang gusto niyo ng mapraktis namin."

"Kayo nang bahala. I just wanna see you play guitar, it's been a while since the last time I saw you play."

"Okay po madam. Noted."

"Stop calling me madam. You're annoying."

"You're annoying." MacKenzie mocked and smirked.

"Mackie stop, para kang bata." Sita ni Yanique kay MacKenzie.

Natawa si Naya. "Lemme guess, you're the responsible one pag magkasama kayo nito." Naya said eyeing MacKenzie. "He smells trouble."

Yanique chuckled and was about reply but MacKenzie replied first. "Hey I'm not a troublesome. I just love annoying this little kid." He said laughing and looking at Kenna's sulking face. 

"Yeah, she's adorable when sulking." Naya also teased. 

"Stop this na." Kenna said in annoyed voice. "It's not fun to be always teased with."

Naya faked a cough. "Okay sorry madam."

"Naya!" Kenna hissed at Naya.

"Habits, sorry again." Naya said forcing herself not to laugh.

"Bunso, you're being a mood killer." MacKenzie said to Kenna.

"No I'm not." Iniba nito ang topic. "I'll ask the staff nalang if may cafshow mamaya. Saka I'll ask for a reservation so you can't take your words back." She stood up and leave.

"I think you really annoyed her too much." Yanique said to MacKenzie. 

"Nah, we teased her a lot before, especially kenken, he loves to annoy Kenna. When we were little he would annoy his twin and Kenna would end up crying. Tita Emily always scolded Kenneth for making Kenna cry. Later Kenna would be annoyed to us for teasing her but she's not really taking it seriously. She's maybe childish but she's not a shallow person." MacKenzie said. 

Naya smiled to herself. Kenna is indeed as what MacKenzie said. Naiinis nga ito pero di nito siniseryoso at dinadamdam ang mga biro nila. 

"But still don't overdo it. Maybe she's not taking it seriously but a person's patience is not made of eternity." Yanique said.

"Yeah okay, I know. You can stop lecturing me now sir." MacKenzie said smirking. 

Yanique shook his head and whispered 'shithead'.

Naya who was secretly listening to the two, chuckled. The two look at her with confused eyes, she smiled at them. "Don't mind me I just remembered something."

"Care to share it with us?" Yanique asked.

"Nah, it's nothing. You two can talk don't mind me."

"Hey about you play piano tonight?" MacKenzie requested to Naya.

"I don't think so." Naya replied.

"C'mon, just one song or piece? I heard from Kenna you are really good. And yanyan said earlier you are a badass in playing piano, you have to know this man is hard to impress. So lemme hear it yes?"

"Hmm, maybe next time? My fingers are not really in the mood to press any keys right now. If my fingers are not in the mood, it'll just ruin the music I play. It's gonna be disrespectful." Naya made her voice sounds convincing.

"There's such thing as like that for a pianist?" MacKenzie asked confused.

Yanique murmured 'idiot'. Naya heard it but MacKenzie didn't. Naya chuckled lowly.

"Yes Mackie there's such thing as that. So don't push it. She can't play now or later." Yanique straightforwardly said.

Naya laughed. "Hey, I'm kidding. Of course I can play." Then she chuckled. "Tell me, ano bang gusto mong marinig. Please don't tell me na ako nang bahala or I won't play." She said to MacKenzie.

"A'right." MacKenzie grinned widely. "That's what I'm talking about. Hmm...okay lemme think of a good song to play." 

Yanique whispered something into MacKenzie's ear. Tinaasan ni Naya ng kilay ang dalawa. 

"Okay just tell me what you got." Naya said.

"He said." MacKenzie said pointing Yanique. "Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement?" Di pa sigurado sa pagkakabanggit nito ng piece.

"Really? Narinig mo na ba yun?" Naya asked.

MacKenzie laughed awkwardly. "No? I'm more into pop and rock music."

"You can listen to it first." Yanique said.

MacKenzie did searched for the piece and listened. After a few minutes he was silent and looked shocked from what he had just heard. 

"That's what you'll be playing?" MacKenzie asked Naya.

"Uhuh, it's not overly difficult." Naya mixed her voice with sarcasm. 

"You kidding me right? It sounds difficult."

"No, it's simple." Naya shook her head.

"Tonight's gonna be fun." Yanique said.