His Benevolence

Chapter 3

After what happened a week ago, hindi na ulit kami nag-usap ni Mama. She didn't say sorry about what she did before. Iyong pagsampal niya sa akin. Pero ramdam ko ang sisi niya, I didn't open up that topic dahil ayaw kong mag-isip ng kung ano-ano. If she wanted to say apologize, she will. And I don't want her to be pressured, I want her to apologize sincerely. Hindi iyong napilitan lang dahil binuksan ko ang topic na iyon.

I didn't tell my friends what happened either, ayaw kong pati ako problemahin nila. Pati iyong pagsampal nila Mama sakin, hindi nila alam. Ang tanging alam lang nila tungkol sakin ay noong sinabihan ako ni Papa ng masasakit na salita, and that was when we're still on jhs.

After that, hindi na ako nagkwento sakanila. Hindi rin naman sila nagtatanong pero alam ko naman na kahit gusto nila akong tanungin kung may problema ako, ayaw rin naman nila akong pilitin na sabihin ko sakanila.

And I appreciate them for that.

A week straight, madalang namin na nakasama si Yohan dahil 1 week diretso ang gig nila. Kahit na gustong-gusto noong dalawa na sumama para manood at suportahan si Yohan, hindi sila sumasama kahit noong napayagan sila dahil sasama lang daw sila kapag sasama ako.

1 week, I've struggled on my academics too. Isang linggo akong nagreview dahil paparating na ang examinations. Pati ang college entrance exam. Nagtaka pa sina Faith kung bakit grabe ako magreview. I told them na magttake ako ng exam for scholarship. Dahil sigurado akong hindi kakayanin ng ipon ko ang gastusin next school year.

"2 last sem na lang, Kia. Kaya kaya mo 'yan." bulong ko sa sarili habang naglalakad papuntang library.

Going to the library has became my hobby since puro review na ako. Pero this week, hindi na muna ako magrreview dahil may ibang activities pa akong dapat tapusin.

"Saskia!"

Taka akong napalingon sa tumawag sakin. Napakunot ang noo ko sa hindi pamilyar na tao na naglalakad papalapit sakin.

"U-uh? Yes?" mahinang tanong ko. I really don't like socializing with people.

"Here." abot niya sa isang paper bag. Tiningnan ko iyon. "This is for Ashleigh, Yohan asked me to give this to her but I can't see her around kaya pakiabot na lang."

"O-okay.." ani ko at inabot ito. "Thank you. Uhm, if you don't mind, can I ask your name?"

Napangisi siya. I immediately shook my head. "Oh, no! Para lang masabi ko kay Leigh kung sino ang nag-abot." mahina kong saad.

He sighed and scratched his nape. "You probably don't remember me, huh." he extended his hand for a hand shake. "It's Maven, Kia. Long time no see."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sakaniya. He's Maven?! Hindi ko siya nakilala agad!

"Oh! Ikaw pala! I'm sorry." I said. Ngumisi lang siya at binaba ang kamay niya.

"Hmm. What time is it now?" he looked at his wrist watch. "Oh! Kailangan ko ng bumalik, may practice pa kami. Catch up tayo soon, Kia!"

Tumango ako at kumaway sakaniya. Naglakad na siya palabas ng building pero bago siya lumabas ay lumingon siya sakin at sumigaw.

"Please do remember my name this time, Saskia!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at agad na yumuko. Until now, wala parin talaga siyang pinagbago. Pareho sila ni Yohan, sobrang gago padin.

I didn't recognize him immediately. Ang mature na niyang tingnan. He's Yohan's friend since we're still a freshman in this University. They would always hang up with us together. Kung hindi si Leigh ang kasama ni Yohan, si Maven naman.