Tutoring Hearts

Chapter 12

When they arrived at the mall, the kids could barely contain their excitement. Jaya and Ravi immediately pulled Jaren and Ansel towards the play area, their faces lit up with joy.

"Kuya, look! They have a new slide!" Jaya exclaimed, pointing eagerly.

Ravi was already dragging Jaren towards the entrance. "Let’s go, kuya!"

Tumawa lang siya at tumango habang hinahayaan niyang kaladkarin siya ng mga kapatid. "Alright, alright. Let’s go check it out."

Ansel followed closely behind. Once they reached the play area, Jaya and Ravi quickly ran off to explore, leaving Jaren and Ansel to find a spot to sit.

"They’ve been looking forward to this all week. Busy kasi ako sa school, kaya hindi ko na sila nailalabas para makapag-enjoy," Jaren said, his eyes following his siblings as they played.

"Gusto mo ng ice cream?" Ansel asked him.

Naguguluhan niyang tinignan ang binata. "Ice cream?"

"Mhm. My treat."

"Bakit?"

"Alam mo ba yung ice cream therapy? I heard it comforts people."

Nakatingin pa rin si Jaren sa kanya. Pilit niyang iniintindi kung anong ibig sabihin ni Ansel. He's trying to read his face, and figure out what's going on inside his mind.

Don't get him wrong. Alam niya kung ano ‘yung ice cream therapy. Nagulat lang siya dahil bigla siyang inaya ni Ansel.

Nagsalita naman ulit si Ansel. "Mukha ka kasing malungkot nung pumasok ako sa kwarto mo. Hindi ka rin masyadong nagsasalita kanina habang naglalakad tayo sa bahay niyo."

Happy-go-lucky ang tingin ni Ansel sa kanya. He is bright, very well liked, and a carefree person. Hindi naman sa iniisip niya na hindi na makakaramdam ng kalungkutan si Jaren, but it was rare for him to see Jaren like that.

Noong sinundo siya ng binata sa café ng tita niya, napansin na niya agad na parang may iniisip ito. Jaren’s usual smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, and he seemed more subdued than usual. That concluded Ansel that something was bothering Jaren.

"Anong flavor ang gusto mo?"

"Sasamahan na kita—"

"Huwag na, Atreus, ako na. Bantayan mo na lang sila Jaya. So, flavor?"

Napatigil si Jaren sa pagtayo sa kinauupuan nang marinig niya ang pangalan niya mula sa binata.

Oh, I'm not gonna get used to this.

Maayos ulit siyang umupo sa kinauupuan. "Cookies and cream, please. Thank you!"

Nang makarating si Ansel sa food court, dumiretso siya sa bilihan ng ice cream. He bought two cups of cookies and cream. He wasn't really a fan of ice cream, but he figured that things like this could help lift Jaren's mood.

Pagbalik niya sa play area, nakita niya ang mga bata na masayang naglalaro habang si Jaren ay nakaupo at nagmamasid sa kanila. As he approached Jaren, he saw his face light up at the sight of the ice cream. Ansel smiled to himself, knowing he had made the right choice. "Here."

Jaren took the ice cream, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks."

They sat in comfortable silence, eating their ice cream and watching Jaya and Ravi play. Ansel could sense that Jaren had something on his mind. He wanted to give him the space to talk about it if he wanted to.

Huminga nang malalim si Jaren bago magsalita. "It’s about Mom."

He nodded. Wala na siyang sinabi at hinintay niya na lang magsalitang muli si Jaren. It's up to him if he wants to open up the topic or not. He'll still respect it either way.