What Destiny Lies for Us (Esperanza Series #1)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10
Sweet Summertime
raeminiscence | #WDLFUwp

✧

The cup of tea in my hands was warm but since I'd been holding it for so long, its warmth just blended with my own. I rested my elbows on the island counter as I watched Papa put all his belongings inside his bag. Papunta na siya sa trabaho niya sa laundry kaso nga lang ay may mga dala siyang papeles na bawal niya dalhin doon kaya dumaan muna siya rito.

"Pupunta ka sa PTC nila Pierceson, 'di ba, Pa?"

"PTC?" he asked, definitely confused.

"Parent-teacher conference?" I pushed myself away from the counter and walked to his side. "Kuhaan ng grades ni Pierce ngayong Saturday."

He inserted his wallet back into his pocket with his eyes briefly closed for a few seconds. When he opened his eyes again, he exhaled deeply.

"Hindi ako pwede ng Saturday, Chai."

"Sige, ako na lang," I presented.

"Hindi, Chai. Hindi ko pwede ipasa na naman 'yun sa'yo."

"It's okay. Ako na rin naman kumukuha ng card niya dati."

"Nasasakto kasi dati sa araw na hindi ako pwedeng mag-leave ng araw. Hindi na ganoon ang kaso ngayon. Mag-li-leave na lang ako ng Sabado."

I shook my head sternly and placed my almost empty cup on the table. "I don't want us to lose one day of pay just because of that."

If I could make the time, I should do it instead of him. He had bigger and heavier problems lying on his back. Wala lang sa'kin na tanggalin 'tong iisang bigat na 'to sa kanya.

"Alam kong marami kang ginagawa. Nag-aaral ka niyan. Ako na, kaya ko na 'to."

"Natapos ko na 'yung mga kailangan kong gawin para sa linggo na 'to. 'Yung mga backlogs, journ work, and reviews ko, tapos na 'yun lahat. Kaya ko nang puntahan 'yung PTC sa Sabado," I lied.

I hated lying to him, I hated it. I still had tons of homework left to do. Those journ work I said I finished? Wala pa akong nasimulan doon ni isa o ni pagplano. 'Yung totoo lang sa sinabi ko ay 'yung pag-review ko dahil nasalba ako ng mga free cut time namin.

"Hind—"

Sporting an adamant expression, I cut him off, "Pa, seryoso ako. Kaya ko na 'yun, Ako na dito. Pumasok ka nang Sabado."

I did whatever I had to do just so I could clear my weekend. Hindi naman kami aabutin ng buong araw rito pero kailangan kong manigurado. Baka may mga iba pang kailanganin o tumagal kami dahil may traffic. Kahit ano pa 'yan, tinabi ko na lang lahat ng mga gawain ko sa gabi kung kailan sigurado akong magagawa ko.

Wala naman nang PTC para sa mga senior high kaya mas napapaligiran kami ng mga elementary students tsaka magulang o guardian dito sa labas ng building. Hindi na dapat ako magulat kung may katiting na senior high students na nagkalat dito; may kanya-kanya naman silang kailangang gawin. However, I was quite shaken when I saw Maddox walking from the other side.

Despite the scorching weather, Maddox wore an unbearable amount of layers. He had a denim-and-sand-colored varsity jacket over his plain grey hoodie. One hand was inside the pocket of his grey sweatpants while the other tapped keys on his phone. As simple as his overall look was, he finished his outfit with a high cut black and grey Air Jordan.

He took his focus off of his phone and his face lit up once he caught me walking towards his direction. He put his phone into his front pocket and fastened his pace towards me.