Sunken Ships

5

..

He froze for awhile before walking towards his mother. Kunot-noo nitong sinalubong ang ina. His mother was all smiles as she fetch his son.

Kumawala ako sa kumpol namin at tinakbo ang distansya ng pinanggalingan ni Alec. Kinuha ko ang librong nabitawan niya at balak kong ibigay.

Lumapit ako sa kanila na ngayon ay mukhang handa ng umalis. Astrid and her parents are joyfully saying their farewell. They stopped waving when they saw me nearing.

"A-alec!" I called him nervously, feeling the tension of all their eyes.

But his mother's attention made me waver. Napatigil ako ng mabuti dahil sa paraan ng pagtitig nito. Her aura manage to get the the attention of the crowd but her stare has that instensity that would make you hold your ground and stay where you are. Ni hindi ko na naisipang mapalapit pa.

"Alec.." I trailed off. I suddenly don't know what to say. Parang natuptop ang dila ko at iniligpit para hindi na magamit pa.

Her mother's brow raised as if waiting for me to continue. Her face showing like her time is not of waste. Mukhang naaabala ko na sila masyado kaya kahit natutulala pa ay pinilit ko na magsalita.

"H-hello po ma'am. Ako po si Sarada. Classmate po ni Alec."

Nakarinig ako ng mga impit na tawa di kalayuan. In my peripheral vision I saw the said family secretly laughing at me. Astrid's.

"I just want to--" hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko nang putulin ito ni Alec at siya na ang nagsalita.

"Mom meet my classmate, Sarada."

Her mother's face showed recognition. She eyed me from head to toe. She then offered a small smile without it reaching her eyes.

"Hi, Sarada. Nice to meet you, sweetie." Pagbati nito na hindi din nagtagal ang titig dahil lumipad iyon sa aking likuran.

I turned around to know what she is looking at and found my parents behind me. Nakalapit na sila nanay at tatay at parehong nagtataka ang tingin.

"This must be your parents." She stated.

Lumingon ako muli nang marinig siyang magsalita at nakitang nakatingin na ito sa kanyang orasan sa bisig.

Nang umangat ang tingin niya ay walang paligoy-ligoy nitong sinabi, "Nice to meet you Sarada and her parents." Tinanguan nito ang magulang ko.

Lumingon ito kay Alec at doon na nagtagal. "We have to go. May importante pa akong kailangan'g gawin."

Tumango ang huli at tumingin sa akin. "Bye Sarada, Ma'am. Sir."

Nauna nang naglakad ang kaniyang ina at tumalikod pagkatapos ilagay ang telepono sa kaniyang tenga. She then talked to someone in her phone, probably calling for their driver.

Naiwan si Alec sa aking harap. He crossed the distance between us leaving a foot away. Tumingin ito bago kumamot sa ulo at bumuntong-hininga.

"I'm sorry." That's what he said. The two letter word that turned my mood upside-down.

I felt like my heart is being squeezed out of life. My chest tighten so hard I thought I would cry.

"I did not know that my mother will fetch me today."

His eyes are guilty and pleading. Mukhang sising-sisi at hiyang-hiya sa nangyayari. Hindi pa man nito nababanggit ang dahilan kung bakit siya humihingi ng sorry ay alam ko na. I never thought that I would pity myself this much.

"Ayos lang." Simpleng ngiti ang ginawad ko dito.

"Sarada...I.-"

I felt my eyes watered. Parang biglang naging malamig ang simoy ng hangin at biglang akong gininaw. Para akong sisipunin, hindi ko alam kung dahil sa luha o awa. Ito na naman.