Weirdos I: The Crystal Monster

Chapter 12: First Weekend

"Have you heard of the news earlier?" tanong sa 'min ni Alice nung nagkita-kita na kami sa mall na napagkasunduan naming puntahan.

"We're actually there! Your brother was really cool!" sabi naman ni Jack kay Faye.

"He was actually eating breakfast with me when Ms. Juno called him," sagot naman ni Faye.

"And he can teleport via lightning? That's really cool!" sabi pa ni Jack.

"It took him a few years just to master that technique. Tanda ko pa nun na madalas siyang masugatan dahil sa kakatawag niya ng kidlat."

Liningon ko naman si RB na nakasunod lang sa 'min. He's wearing a simple sweatshirt and shorts. Hinawakan ko ang braso niya sabay hatak sa kanya.

"Ang bagal mo maglakad. Gusto mong magpa-iwan?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"So, where should we go?" tanong ni Jack.

"Busog pa naman siguro kayo. Why don't we go to an equipment shop?" suggestion ni Alice.

"Sure. Nice idea," sabi naman ni Faye.

Sumasabay lang sa 'kin na maglakad si RB pero hindi man lang siya umiimik.

"Hoy, hindi ka man lang ba magsasalita?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Faye actually invited me to come too. She's been really nice to me ever since. Even Alice and Jack are really nice," sagot ni RB.

I raised an eyebrow. "What's with the random statement?"

He sighed before gazing around. "There are a lot of people here. I'm not actually used to seeing a lot of people..."

Natigilan ako.

...I was very dangerous back then. The slightest change in emotion can trigger my weirdness so I always have to remain apathetic and emotionless...

"Tungkol ba 'to doon sa sinabi mo sa 'kin kahapon?" tanong ko.

RB nodded.

"Ano ang plano mo? Maghapon kang hindi magre-react? Akala ko ba kaya mo nang kontrolin ang weirdness mo?" tanong ko.

"Baka kasi akala mo magaling na ako dahil sa pinakita ko sa Combat Education. But I'm just a first-year like you. Hindi ko pa rin kayang kontrolin nang buo ang weirdness ko," sagot niya.

RB sighed. "You saw what happened yesterday. Sumigaw lang ako nang konti pero ganun na ang resulta. I shouldn't feel anything if I want to keep everyone safe. I don't want to hurt you, guys. You were my first true friends that I ever had in my whole life," he said in his monotonous voice.

Kahit papano ay hindi ko maiwasan na makaramdam ng konting awa sa kanya.

"But you smiled to me yesterday and nothing happened. So that means, hind ka naman makakasakit kung magiging masaya ka lang. Palagay ko naman nawawala lang sa kontrol ang weirdness mo kapag natatakot ka o nagagalit. You can still feel happiness without triggering your weirdness. Happiness is never a bad thing, you know. So why deprive yourself of it?"  sagot ko naman.

RB's face lightened up a bit. "Yeah. I guess that's true. It's just that I never had any friends until now that's why I don't have any concrete idea about happiness..."

I frowned a bit. "How about your parents?"

His face suddenly reddened. Hinatak na lang niya ako papasok sa equipment shop kung saan nauna nang pumasok 'yung tatlo kanina.

"Check out these gloves here!" sabi ni Jack sabay hatak sa 'kin. Sumama na lang si RB doon sa dalawang babae.

"Ano naman diyan?" tanong ko.