Take Me Home (City Series #4)

Chapter Twenty-Four

L

"Chen, watch out!"

I immediately looked up and avoided the basketball headed for my head. Kumunot ang noo ko sa lalaki na naka-blue na jersey.

"Bakit ka ba nag-lalaro dito sa loob?" mataray kong tanong. "Noestro, classroom 'to."

"Stressed ka nanaman ano, Miss Chen?" Ezra chuckled. "Sorry po!"

"Whatever, Ezra!"

He grinned. "Lia, pwede pala ako patulong?"

"Hindi."

"Sige na! Pili ka lang ano mas maganda, eh," he said and showed me a picture on his phone. "Tulips or roses?"

I sighed and started fixing my stuff. "Nakipag-away ka nanaman sa girlfriend mo?"

"Grabe ka naman. Malay mo kay mama ko pala 'to ibibigay."

"So sa mom mo ba?" I asked.

"Hindi rin. Tama ka nung una."

I let out a breath. As annoying as he is, he's also very amusing. And sometimes nice, too.

"The tulips look nice for my taste. But most people like roses," sabi ko sa kaniya bago ako tumayo. I grabbed my bag and held onto my phone.

Wala pa ring tawag. Wala pa ring text.

"Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Ezra. Sumunod siya sa akin palabas ng classroom kaya binilisan ko ang pag-lalakad ko, pero nakasabay naman siya. "Uyyyyy namumugto mata!"

"Shut up, Ezra!" sabi ko sabay palo sa braso niya.

"Hehe." He grinned. "Dahil ba sa boyfriend mo 'yan? Kapag umiiyak girlfriend ko sinisigurado kong hindi dahil sakin, eh."

I rolled my eyes and continued to walk. I grabbed my keys as Ezra waved at me before running towards the pathway ng courtyard.

Dumiretso ako sa parking at umuwi na. It's really early, and I thought I would do something.. anything today, pero wala naman kaya umuwi nalang ako. Panigurado, busy sina Raffy dahil malapit na ang midterms.

Once I got home, I threw on my pajamas and went downstairs to grab a tub of ice cream from the freezer.

I should probably review, too.

Dumiretso ako sa sala at kinuha yung remote control ng TV. I decided to watch Shrek with my feet on the coffee table nalang. I probably can't focus on acads, anyway.

"Uy, Shobe!" biglang salita ng isang lalaki galing sa archway papasok ng sala.

Napalingon ako sa kanilang tatlo. Kuya Gabe, along with Kuya Francis and Kuya Zeke just arrived with basketball outfits on, similar to what Ezra was wearing a while ago. Si Kuya Francis yung bumati sa akin, habang si Kuya Zeke ay nakahawak lang sa bola.

Kuya Gabe smiled at me, but I ignored him. Tumingin nalang ako sa TV. I felt their presence leave, but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was left behind.

And someone was.

"What are you doing?" tanong ni Kuya Zeke.

"Watching. Duh," I answered without looking. "Your friends are in the kitchen, if you were wondering. Naiwan ka na nila."

Nilagay niya yung bola sa sofa at umupo sa kabilang dulo.

"What's wrong?" tanong niya.

Unti-unting umalab yung inis sa sistema ko. His cousin is what's wrong. He hasn't texted all day.