The Delinquent and The Silent

Chapter 14

We went shopping after dinner. I'm gonna be needing those invisible ink pen stuff for you know... some evil purposes kaya humiwalay ako ng pasimple.

"Where are you going?"

I'm not that fast though. I faced my mom. "National bookstore?"

Hindi naman talaga ako pupunta dun. There's this particular store na nagbebenta ng invisible ink pens and UV light and string sprays na kailangan ko.

"Take Century with you, she needs... stuff too" my dad gently pushed Century towards my way.

Pfft.

We reached the store and I automatically looked for those wonderful pens. I got some with cool lasers too. Believe me, they contribute a lot in getting high grades. Naghahanap pa ako ng ibang pwede kong magamit nang may lumapit sa'king staff.

"Ano pong hinahanap niyo, sir?"

I looked at... him. Wala siyang nametag. "Ah okay lang, kaya ko na 'to" I answered. Alangan namang sabihin ko kung meron silang string sprays eklabo chuchu o kaya UV light.

"Puca, i-assist mo nga 'yon. Hindi ko siya gets"

So Puca pala pangalan nung guy. He left at itong babae naman nag-assist sa'kin. I gave her the same answer. Sinabi ko na lang na tulungan niya 'yong Puca guy para lang tantanan niya ako dahil ayoko ng may bumubuntot sa'kin pero siyempre hindi ko na 'yong pinarinig sa kanya.

"Hmp. Hirap spellingin nun, sir. Ang arte arte. Dito na lang ako."

I shrugged.

I look for Century nang tapos na ako. Nasa likuran niya si Puca at may dalawa pang staff.

Wow matindi. Tatlo talaga, Century?

Nilapitan ko siya nang sumama timpla ng mukha niya sa sinasabi nung isang staff.

"Ma'am, kinakausap po kayong maayos. Wag po kayong bastos. Para kayong tanga na turo lang ng turo, eh pag kukunin namin kung ano ano naman ginagawa niyo. Nakaka-irita na" gigil na sabi ng isang babaeng staff.

Century's not holding her tablet at mukhang naiwan namin sa sasakyan.

Century glared at them and opened her mouth, trying to say something.

None.

She then pointed at some guitar strings.

"O tapos? Pipi ka ba? Nakaka-irita na miss ha. Nakakabastos na talaga"

I pulled Century close to me. "She is. Ngayon, kung meron mang bastos dito—" I pointed at her. "—ikaw 'yon. She's trying her best to communicate pero hindi niyo pinapansin. Mukha siyang tanga? Mukha lang pero ikaw, solid ka sa katangahan. Ang tanga tanga mo. Dapat nga ikaw na lang naging pipi dito eh kasi sa totoo lang nakakairita yang boses mo."