Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Chills

We're here now at Chills dahil nga sa wala na kaming klase. We're talking about the debate that happened earlier and asking Travis what are his plans if ever he'll win the election.

"Ang galing mo kanina Trav" sabi ni Coleen.

"I know" Travis answered that I didn't expect. Yabang talaga. We're busy looking at the menu for food. Hindi pa kasi kami nakakapaglunch dahil inabot nga ng anong oras yung debate.

"Order na kayo sagot ko" Travis said while smiling. Oh, so sya pala yung sinasabi nila Isha na manlilibre kanina.

"I want seafoods" Isha said. "I'll order buttered shrimp and crabs and a smoothie"

I'm still looking for a food when my phone beeped.

miggyslabs: san ka lab?

miamore: @chills. Wanna go he?

miggylabs: who's with you?

miggylabs: no spicy foods, no seafoods, no peanuts, no chocolates !!!!

I laughed silently because of his exclamation points. Galit na galit?

miamore: gg? Hahaha punta ka ba?

miggylabs: I have a class :( I'll treat you nalang after class

I replied again and look at my friends. They're still choosing their food.

miamore: okay. Asahan ko yan boss! :P

I was about to keep my phone in my bag when I hear someone says "Pakitago ng mga phones. I hate when I see someone using phones while eating"

Hindi lang naman ako ang nagpophone so di lang pala ako ang sinasabihan niya. I put my phone in my pocket quickly and glanced at the menu. 

No spicy! No seafoods! No peanuts! No chocolates!

Okay, maraming bawal so kailangan kong mag-ingat.

"Hey, tagal mong umorder te! Akala mo naman ang lakas kumain!" They all laughed with what Akisha said. Ako naman ay hirap pa rin sa pagpili dahil sa hindi pamilyar ang mga pagkain na  nasa menu.

Pasimple ko naman na binulungan si Akisha at sinabi niyang siya na nga ang  bahala sa order ko. Ten minutes passed at sa wakas ay dumating ang order namin. Agad namang nagkaniya-kaniya ang mga kasama ko dahil nga sa pare-pareho kaming gutom. 

I smiled at myself nang makita kong Balsamic Salad lang ang inorder ni Isha para sa akin. 

"Oo nga pala! Napag-usapan namin kanina ng partido ang tungkol sa plataporma ni Davin" sabi ni Adrian na kasama ng kuya ni Akisha sa partido. Lahat naman kami ay nakikinig sa kaniya.

"Yes nabanggit nga sa akin nila Leila. They said na kulang ng atensyon ang sports clubs pero mas nagfocus pa rin sa academic clubs sila Davin." I secretly raised my brow naman, why would he neglect the sports club e kilala ang school namin dahil for how many years ay kami ang champion in differents sports competition.

"What. That's odd, we all know na Davin and almost all of his colleagues are into sports so bakit kaya?"

"Maybe they have something in mind?" I murmured. Mukha naman kasing may iba silang pinaplano, knowing na kilala silang into sports so why settle sa obvious?

We continue eating our food. I've been thinking about our upcoming training. Finally, I can find my sweet escape again away from my suffocating world. It's been a month since nagpahinga kami sa trainings and I can say that it's like hell for me. I really can't wait na makabalik sa dorm at makapag training uli.

"Guys, I need to go! Nagtext yung mom ko I need to fetch her" Akisha said. We bid our goodbyes to her at pinaalalahanang mag-ingat siya.

We continue to talk about our schoolworks when Travis pushed a glass of water beside me. What? I mouthed him. He rolled his eyes to me like I'm asking a stupid question. Siyempre at itatanong ko sa kaniya yun. Malay ko ba kung ano gagawin diyan? Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at tinuloy ang pagkain ng salad ko. Hindi ko pa nakakalahati pero busog na ako. I know na masama ang magsayang ng pagkain kaya I will request na lang na ibalot to so I can eat it later. Wala naman si Akisha so walang kokontra hihihi.

Tapos na pala silang lahat pati sa dessert nila habang ako ay wala pa sa kalahati ang food. "Hey, I need to go na. Hindi ako eat and run Trav ha!" tawa naman ni Coleen. Kami nalang ni Travis

"Paano ako? Iiwan mo ako? I will sama na lang sayo!" sigaw ko kay Coleen. Bago pa man ako marinig ni Coleen ay nakababa na siya sa hagdanan ng cafe. Liligpitin ko na sana ang gamit ko at magpapaalam sa kasama nang bigla siyang magsalita.

"Finish your food first. I'll wait for you." ani ni Travis habang matamang nakatingin sa akin. I looked at my food and by just looking at it I can feel that I will vomit if I continue eating it.

"I am so full Trav, have mercy on me," I told him while averting his gaze. "No. I treat you so you finish your food" he said while rolling his eyes.

"What? Sinusumbatan mo ako? It's not like I pilit you na itreat ako." he laughed so hard for unknown reason. Ako pa pinagtatawanan niya?

"Are you making tawa because of me?" I punched his arm while asking. "Fck, I can't stop laughing." My gad, what's funny?

"Anong nakakatawa? At stop cursing no!" I am irritated talaga right now but yeah it's effective. He doesn't remember my food hehe.

"You know what? I'm leaving, you're like a baliw" I sneered at him and was about to get my bag when he holds my right hand. He put his hand above my hand and make me move like a puppet. I was just looking at him confused about what is happening.

"What? What are you doing?" He just looked at me plainly and uttered "Eat. Kahit kaunti lang" he is so annoying at bakit ba pinipilit niya ako? Pwede ko naman siyang bayaran kung yung panlilibre  ang iniisip niya.

"If you are thinking about your libre, I will pay na lang. I can't eat na talaga my tummy will hurt kapag pinilit pa."  He looked at me like I am saying something stupid. "Fine, let's take it out. Kainin mo mamaya kapag nagutom ka. Hindi pwedeng ganyan lagi ang eating habits mo,remember na athlete ka so you have to be healthy"

"Okay, I understand" I whispered. He requests the bill and also took out the food I didn't finish. He also ordered a box of pies. The waiter gave him the paper bags and I was about to get the first bag pero inilayo niya lang yun sa akin. 

"I'll carry this, let's go," Sabay kaming lumabas ng cafe. "May gagawin ka pa?" he asked me without looking at me. 

"Yes, I have to review my notes. Also need ko mag stretch kasi magtetraining na kami ulit a few weeks from now" I said to him and hoping he gets the signal.

He stared at me intently na parang tinitimbang ang sinasabi ko. 3 pm na at masyado pang maaga para tapusin ang araw ko.

"Okay, hatid na kita" sabi niya sa akin at lalakad na sama patungo sa sasakyan niya. "I'm sorry Trav but kaya ko ang self ko" 

"Okay, here please eat these when you get hungry" iniabot nya sa akin ang dalawang paper bag na may lamang foods. "Thank you for these" sabi ko at kumaway na sa kaniya bago tinungo ang kasalungat na daan.

My smile faded when I turned my back. Why am I smiling anyway? I do not deserve to smile. I chuckled soundlessly, how can I forgot that. Walking and walking without destination and made up my mind that I have to go somewhere. 

Isang oras din ang iginugol ko sa pagbiyahe papunta sa lugar na patutunguhan. Buti na lang ay kahi matagal nang panahon ay di ko pa rin nakakalimutan.  Isang kanto nalang ay bababa na ako, sinikop ko ang dalan mga paper bags at naghanda sa pagbaba.

Pumara ako sa bababaan, tandang tanda ko ang lugar na ito. Lumiko ako sa may puno ng mangga at natanaw sa tawid ang lumang gusali na may dalawang palapag. Agad akong lumapit sa sliding door na mahirap nang buksan marahil ay dahil sa katagalan na din,

"Magandang hapon po, Lola Nini" ngiti ko sa matandang nag-aayos ng estante. Matiim niya muna akong tinignan bago dahan-dahang ngumiti. "Dea iha?" I smiled at her sweetly and run to her for a hug.

"Aba ay kamusta na? Matagal na noong huli kitang nakita ha at napakaganda mo talagang bata ka" I felt the little peace that I am looking for. "Okay naman po ako lola, kayo po?" Talaga ba Dea? Okay? Sinong niloko mo haha

"Kitang-kita ko sa mga mata mo anak. Natatandaan mo ba yung sinabi ko? Na kapag ako ang kasama mo hindi mo kailangang magpanggap. Malaya ka dito Dea, walang manghuhusga sayo dito" napangiti naman ako sa sinabi ni lola. She haven't changed, she is still my family, she still cares. I hug her again tightly. 

"Go to your happy place na anak. Nililinis ko yan lagi dahil alam kong paborito mo ang spot na yan. Matagal nang sarado yun pero alam kong babalikan mo yan" sabi ni lola Nini.

"Thank you Lola, Salamat nang marami" ngiti ko sa kaniya. Nagpatuloy na ako sa paglalakad sa lugar na sinasabi niya. It's been years and it still feel the same.  I looked around and I can vaguely imagine my young self around the place.

"Nandito ka na naman Deydey" I smiled bitterly.

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