The Nameless Hour

Chapter 08: The Boy Named Louis

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"Alam mo... pag nagfuse si Dora at Sadako, gano'n ang itsura mo," bungad ni Leola na nakatayo sa tabi ng salamin.

I continued looking at myself in the mirror while deliberately ignoring her. Kanina pa siya dada nang dada. Mas excited pa yata siyang pumasok ng school kaysa sa 'kin.

Pati ako, naguguluhan din sa kung paanong napasok ako sa sitwasyon na 'to. The last time was my meeting with the Queen, and I was just nodding at everything she says. It was too late when I realized that I agreed to take a look at this town's highschool.

Sinasabi ko na lang sa sarili ko na 'di bale, lilibutin ko lang naman ang paaralan. It's not like I'll go and study there for real... at least not yet. Nabanggit kasi na pwede akong mag-aral doon sa oras na magustuhan ko ito. So, my future kind of depends on this seemingly simple tour.

"Tell me, why am I wearing your clothes again?" Even if I stayed my eye contact in the mirror, Leola knows that I'm referring to her.

"Because you always wear a white dress! Don't you want this for a change?" Turo niya sa suot ko.

I'm wearing a leather jacket, a striped shirt underneath, pink knee-length skirt, and a beret hat.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked at her "masterpiece" with a sense of pride. I continuously pull the skirt down, though. Too short for my taste.

"At bakit nga ba hindi ka pumayag sa offer ng Reyna?" My droopy eyes landed on her.

Her eyes shifted from both sides, as long as it's not in my direction. Her mouth formed unreadable words although no voice came out of it.

Once she regained her composure she said, "Bakit ba? Gusto ko ngang magpahinga ng isang taon. De-stress, gano'n."

"Hindi ka ba nacu-curious sa itsura ng school?"

"No!" she immediately answered, loudly.

Saka niya napansin ang titig ko sa kaniya kaya niya tinikom ng bibig. Leola casted her sight on the floor.

There was silence so, I walked away from the mirror. I prefer silence, but not this kind. It's suffocating.

Pasimple ko siyang nilingon. Inaasahan ko pa naman na siya ang makakasama ko lalo na't tungkol pa naman sa gala. Instead, she flatly refused but acted weird afterwards. May tinatago siya, sigurado ako.

"Oh, iha... nakapag-ayos ka na ba?" Leola's grandmother just walked out from their room.

Tumango ako. "Yes po."

Pabiro ako nitong tinapik sa 'king balikat. "Naku naman ang batang ito. Tawagin mo na akong Lola, ha."

"Uhm..."

She smiled softly.

"...O-Okay, Lola." Tumango ako bago umalis na.

It was weird saying that to someone who wasn't a blood-related. Strangely though, something warm formed in my chest. Something I can't quite pinpoint.

"E-Enjoy... and take a lot of pictures, okay?" sigaw ni Leola sa tonong parang bata na napilitang magsalita.

Napatingin ako sa kaniyang nayayamot na itsura. "Okay."