Thorns All Over the Stem (SHS Trans Series #1)

Chapter 02

"Gosh! Ang tagal lang Resh ah!"

Papalapit pa lang ako sa bench na kinaroroonan ni Bobbie, rinig ko na agad ang mga lintaya nito. Nasa sa isang bench siya malapit sa labasan ng school, tangan sa kaliwang kamay ang aking backpack.

I did not bother to bring my bag with me when I went to Mommy's office. Chinat lamang ako ni Bobbie na dinala niya na lang daw ang bag ko dahil ipina-lock agad ang room namin. What a thoughtful friend.

Bobbie or Bartolome Vilandro is a close friend of mine since Elementary. We have the same SOGIE kaya siguro that's what makes us so clicked to each other, we were so close since then. Bobbie is so energetic in so many aspects. Especially when it comes to flirting with boys' years older than us. Which unfortunately, he considers as his talent!

"As if I lasted an hour lang ah," I playfully rolled my eyes at him, trying to put a joyful facade.

"Ay, yan ang 'wag mong gagawin sis! Ang bigat-bigat pa naman ng bag mo. Semento ba laman nito?" Bobbie said, handing my backpack at me. Tinanggap ko naman iyon.

"Wanna check baka may pala at mga bato rin?" Patong ko sa biro niya at umakto pang bubuksan ang bag.

"Ay, joke ba 'yon Ressia Avi?" Pambabara nito sa akin. I just playfully rolled my eyes and decided to sit in the concrete bench na nasa tabi namin. Ipinatong ko ang backpack ko sa aking hita. Sumunod naman sa akin si Bobbie at tumabi sa pag-upo.

"So, anong chika?" Bobbie asked interestingly. "Anong sabi ng Mommy mo?"

I heaved a deep sigh. Iniiwasang sagutin ang kanyang tanong. If possible, I don't want to talk about it anymore. But I just can't hide anything to Bobbie! Sobrang magaling mangilatis nito eh.

Marahil napansin niya ang pag-iwas ko sa kanyang tanong. "Don't tell me..." Bobbie trailed off. See what I'm talking?

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako, thinking he already know what happened back there. Bobbie knows my stories. We've been friends for years kaya kilala niya na ako. All my problems and issues, sa kanya ko sinasabi. Pati na rin iyong relasyon namin ni Mommy sa isa't isa.

That's why I'm very comfortable with Bobbie. I can be who I am. Iyong walang pinatutunayan. Walang judgement. Hindi ko naman magawang magkwento sa dalawa kong Ate, kasi alam ko rin na pressured din sila ni Mommy. So, I know for a fact na may kanya-kanya kaming outlet regarding in this matter. And in my case, Bobbie is my outlet.

"Argh! Really? Mababa na naman grades mo para sa kanya?!" Just what I thought, right? Bobbie is Bobbie.

Malungkot ko na lamang siyang nginitian. "I did not make it to the Highest honor eh."

"What? E' 97 na nga 'yung average mo ah!" Bobbie hissed. "Kaloka, kung sina Mommy lang 'yun, baka may pa-party pa ako!" He crossed his arms over his chest.

I sighed. "It's fine, though... Maybe I just did not work harder lang talaga."

"Ay ganun? Sabihin mo mas mataas lang talaga sa Mt. Everest ang expectations ng Mommy mo! Talo ang Jeddah Tower sa taas niyang mag-demand ah." Bobbie said, obviously trying to make me laugh.

At some point he was right. But he was still talking to my Mother, so it was still a little bit off in my part.

"Hey, she's still my Mom, Bobs." Saway ko. "Besides, wala naman siyang gaanong sinabi, maliban lang sa..."

"Sa ano?"

"Well, pag-uusapan daw namin ito sa bahay, 'tsaka..."

"Tsaka?" Usisa nito. Malungkot ko siyang tiningnan.