Lost Then Found

3

"Uy Mads, daan muna tayo kay kuya." Banggit ko habang naglalakad kami sa hallway. We were supposed to head back to our class but I remembered the lunch I prepared for my brother earlier. Baka hindi na siya kumakain sa tamang oras.

"Sige," Tumango siya at sabay kaming nagtungo papunta sa classroom ni kuya.

"Kuya!" I waved my arm to call his attention. Ngumiti siya at lumapit sa'kin.

"Ash, why are you here? Hey, Mads." He waved specifically for Mads only, tsk. Ako walang hi? Ngumiti lang ang kaibigan ko pabalik as an exchange greeting.

"You've been busy lately, second week pa lang, ah." I observed. Kahit minsan hate ko 'to so kuya, I still worry about him. "Here, dinalhan kita lunch so you won't skip a meal. Ako nagluto niyan!" Kuya Zandro is a year older than me, he's also a med student.

Ngumiti siya bago kinuha 'yung pagkain. "I should be the one taking care of you." He raised a brow. Nagkunwari pa, kailan ba siya nagluto? "Thank you, Ash. Namiss ko luto mo." He smiled again before hugging me, so cheesy but I love my kuya anyway so I hugged him back. I admit, I missed him. He was too busy to come home when I was a senior back then.

"Excuse me." I heard a familiar voice behind us. Humiwalay na ako sa yakap at nilingon ang tao. Hindi ko napigilan ang pagtaas ng isa kong kilay nang malaman kung sino 'yon.

"Oh, Leverest?" He glanced at me when I called out his name. Probably wondering how I knew.

"Nakaharang 'ata tayo." Bulong sa'kin ni Mads, na sinusubukang akong hilain paalis ng daan.

"Oh, you know him, Ash?" Napalingon ako kay kuya na kinakain ang sandwich na dala ko. "He's my classmate." Oh, classmates? Ano naman pake ko?

"Mauuna na'ko kuya, baka may maabutan pa akong scanner." I tried to say without displaying a trace of sarcasm in my voice, emphasizing on the word scanner. "Dadaan nalang siguro ako mamaya para kunin 'yung baunan." Inabot ko ang kamay ni Mads at hinatak na siya paalis.

"Last week pa 'yang scanner na 'yan ah. Hoy bruha, sino ba kasi 'yan?" Hinablot niya ang kanya niya pabalik, resulting in me to stop walking.

"Speaking of the devil." I gritted my teeth. My eyes were fixated on the woman behind my friend. Naglalakad na siya papunta sa gawi namin.

She stopped meters away from us, and then she scanned Mads! I scoffed and sarcastically laughed, clenching my fists. Get a grip, Ash.

"Siya 'yung scanner? Gets," Tumango-tango si Mads na sumang-ayon sa ipinangalan ko sa babaeng 'yan. She then glared at her right after.

"What do you want?" I gritted my teeth, once again. I managed to slightly calm myself down after a few moments.

"Wala lang. Your friend's taste in fashion is just, heh. Actually pareho nga kayo, e." Tumawa ang scanner, kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Hinila ko 'yung buhok niyang nakabun, causing her hair to loosen up, strands falling down her head.

"Aray! Why did you do that!?" Parang nakakakita na ako ng isang galit na tigre sa harap ko. Sasabunutan ko talaga 'to kung hindi lang ako inawat ni Mads.

"Ah, wala lang." I laughed before shrugging, acting innocent. Pero maya maya ay sumeryoso ako. "Pagsalitaan mo na ako ng masama at lahat, huwag lang ang kaibigan ko. Let's go, Mads." Hinila ko muli si Mads, this time to the classroom.

"Trish!" I heard Juanito's voice call upon my name as soon as I sat down on my seat. Lumapit siya at umupo sa vacant seat sa tabi ko. It's lunch break so halos lahat ay wala rito.