Chapter 10
Friday came and Kairi wasn't really looking forward to the weekend. Parang hindi na niya kayang hindi makita si Miss Herrera for two whole days, and the thought left her restless.
As she packed her things, Zoe reminded her about their plans later. "Kairi, huwag kang ma-le-late mamaya, ha."
"Late? Kailan ba ako na-late?" Kairi shot back, smirking.
Palabas na siya ng classroom nang makita niya si Miss Herrera sa hallway. Nakatayo lang siya, parang may hinihintay.
"Miss Herrera," Kairi called, surprised.
Naglakad si Miss Herrera palapit kay Kairi.
"Hi, Kairi. I just wanted to tell you I'm leaving early today. I figured baka magpunta ka pa sa last class ko," Miss Herrera said, smiling.
"Where to, Miss?" tanong ni Kairi. Disappointed siya sa narinig, she was really looking forward to spending time with her teacher.
"Curious ka masyado," Miss Herrera teased. "Bye, Kairi."
Magsasalita pa sana si Kairi pero nagsimula ng maglakad si Miss Herrera na parang nagmamadali.
Nakita at narinig ng mga kaibigan niya ang pag-uusap nilang dalawa na naging dahilan para asarin na naman siya. Hindi na nag-react pa si Kairi sa pang-aasar nila.
Kairi just sighed. She already couldn't wait for Monday.
Pagkarating ni Kairi sa bahay nila, sinalubong siya ng kapatid niyang si Lara na may malisyosong tingin.
"Ang aga mo yata ngayon," sabi nito habang naglalakad paupo sa sofa, hawak ang isang bowl ng fries.
"Hi din, Ate," sarcastic na bati ni Kairi with her fake smile.
Kairi put her bag down and sat down beside her sister who was watching on the television. Without asking, kumuha siya ng fries mula sa bowl ng kanyang ate.
"Ang alat naman," reklamo ni Kairi, pero ipinagpatuloy ang pagnguya. She's fine with it, gusto lang talaga niyang asarin ang ate niya.
Lara scoffed, pulling the bowl closer to her. "Nakikikain ka na nga, ang arte mo pa."
Kairi just laughed as she stood, grabbing her bag. Habang nag-aayos siya, napatingin ang ate niya sa kanya.
"You know, Kai, may napansin ako," pagsisimula ni Lara.
"Hmm? What?" Kairi simply asked, not really thinking about it.
"You've been smiling a lot lately," Lara said, amused. "Like, ang saya-saya mo."
Kairi paused mid-step, turning to face her sister. She shrugged casually, a small smile playing on her lips. "Am I?"
Napakunot ang noo ni Lara sa reaction ni Kairi, leaving her even more curious. May kakaiba talaga sa kapatid niya. Kairi was never like this na kung makangiti, parang kinikilig na ewan.
"Hindi mo man lang ba i-she-share sa ate mo?" pahabol ni Lara, pero naglakad na si Kairi palayo, heading upstairs.
Narinig pa ni Kairi ang muling pagtawag sa kanya ng ate niya pero hindi na niya ito pinansin pa at napapailing na lang na pumasok ng kwarto.
Nag-decide silang mag-hangout na mga magkakaibigan, just to chill. Napili nilang kina Zoe na lang dahil wala ang mga magulang niya, pero nakapagpaalam na rin naman.
Pagkababa niya, naabutan niya ang ate niyang nanonood pa rin hanggang ngayon.
"Alis na ako, ate. Pupunta ako kina Zoe. Nasabi ko na kay Mama," Kairi informed her.
"Okay, have fun," Lara said smiling. "Drink in moderation, Kai."
"Noted, ate," Kairi replied with a chuckle before heading out.
Natutuwa si Lara na lumalabas labas na ang kapatid with her friends.
In fact, she has been encouraging her. Alam niya kasi kung gaano ka-focus si Kairi sa studies niya at bihira lang sumama sa mga kaibigan.
Kahit naman hindi sabihin ni Kairi, alam ni Lara na stressed si Kairi sa school, lalo na noong nasa Junior High pa siya.
Gusto niyang i-enjoy ng kapatid ang natitirang buwan niya sa high school before it's too late.
Pagdating niya kina Zoe, nakahanda na ang lahat. Si Maya, nag-aayos ng mesa sa sala habang si Zoe naman ay abala sa paglalagay ng inumin sa baso. Nang makita ni Kairi ang mga bote ng alak, tumaas ang kilay niya.
"Light alcohol, huh?" biro ni Kairi.
Zoe grinned. "Oo, si Maya kasi, mahina sa alak. May ibang drinks din tayo for later, kapag knocked down na itong si Maya."
"Grabe ka sa akin Zoe, ha," kunwaring pagtatampo ni Maya. "Pero thank you sa consideration."
Natawa na lang si Kairi sa dalawa at tumulong na rin sa paghahanda. Soon, they all sat around the table, eating, laughing, and sharing stories.
Kagaya ng dati, sina Zoe at Maya ang pinakamaingay, nagpapalitan ng kwento habang si Kairi ay tahimik lang na nakikinig, pero paminsan-minsang sumasabat.
Hanggang sa biglang magsalita si Maya.
"Alam mo, Zoe" Maya started with a sly grin. "Nakita kita kahapon with someone from 11th grade. Ang sweet niyo, ha."
Biglang bumaling si Kairi kay Zoe, naghahanda ng mang-asar.
"Ah, si Nikki?" tanong ni Zoe na hindi nahihiyang umamin. "Cute siya."
"Ohhh, cute pala, ha," nakangiting sabi ni Maya na parang kinikilig pa for Zoe.
"Nikki, huh?" Kairi asked with a teasing smile. "Mahilig ka pala sa mas bata sayo. Do you like her?"
"Gusto ko siya," Zoe admitted with confidence. "Hindi rin naman malaki ang agwat namin sa isa't isa."
"That's true," Kairi said, nodding. She admired Zoe's honesty and boldness. She took a sip from her glass before continuing with the tease. "Cute din naman kasi ang crush."
Maya and Kairi continued teasing Zoe, even raising their glasses together in cheers.
"Tapos ka ng mang-asar, Kai?" tanong ni Zoe nang may nakakalokong ngiti.
"Of course not," sagot ni Kairi na hanggang ngayon ay natatawa pa rin.
"Good," Zoe said, moving closer to Kairi. "Kasi ikaw naman."
"Anong ako?" Kairi asked, confused.
"Sino nga iyong crush mo na parang wala kang chance?" Zoe asked, smirking.
Kairi took a sip of her drink, not answering right away.
"Wait wait, teacher ba natin 'yan?" Maya jumped in, knowing exactly kung sino ang tinutukoy ni Zoe.
"Ah, teacher pala natin. Anong subject?" dagdag ni Zoe, pretending to be clueless.
Tumingin lang sina Zoe at Maya kay Kairi, waiting for her response. There was a moment of silence before Kairi finally spoke.
"Okay, fine. Oo na. I like her."
Mag-re-react na sana si Maya pero hinawakan ni Zoe ang kamay niya para pigilan siya.
"Ano? Sino?" Zoe pushed. She needed to hear the name.
Kairi rolled her eyes before answering. "Miss Herrera. I like our literature teacher."
And there, Kairi's friends squealed in joy and excitement.
"Damn! I knew it!" Zoe exclaimed, habang si Maya naman ay halos tumalon sa upuan niya.
"Kai, my girl!" sigaw ni Maya. "Grabe! Sa wakas, umamin ka na rin!"
Napapailing na lang si Kairi, pero hindi na rin niya napigilan ang ngumiti. Hindi niya rin maitatangging gumaan ang pakiramdam niya. Finally, may napagsabihan na siya ng tungkol sa babaeng nagugustuhan niya.
"Okay, okay," pagsisimula ni Zoe habang nagpapakalma pa ng sarili. "Given na na maganda si Miss Herrera. Pero aside from that, ano pang nagustuhan mo sa kanya?"
Saglit na nag-isip si Kairi, pero mabilis din siyang sumagot. "She cares."
"Aww, ang lalim naman," Maya said, appreciating Kairi's simple answer, yet it says so much.
"We care din naman ah," muling pang-aasar ni Zoe. "How does she care for you ba?"
"Well, she listens. She notices things," Kairi said simply, a small smiling player on her lips.
Their questions continued, with Kairi giving brief but sincere answers. They teased her relentlessly, hanggang sa lumalim ang gabi at tuluyang sumuko si Maya sa inuman.
Zoe and Kairi, however, were still nursing their last glasses of drinks. The mood had shifted to something quieter and more serious.
"Kai," Zoe began, her tone softer than before, "Alam mo namang imposible 'yan, di ba?"
"Alam ko," Kairi answered, her gaze fixed on her glass.
"Pero hindi ka titigil?"
Tumawa si Kairi, pero walang biro sa mata niya. "Nope."
Pinagmasdan lang ni Zoe ang kaibigan. Pinag-iisipan niya kung pipigilan ba ito o susuportahan. Pero hindi naman siguro masama kung paghanga lang ang nararamdaman nito at sana, hindi na lumalim pa.
"I know it's impossible," pagpapatuloy ni Kairi. "Pero minsan, Zoe, hindi naman kailangang may mangyari, 'di ba? Minsan sapat na na nararamdaman mo lang."
Zoe sighed. "Ayaw lang kitang masaktan."
"I'll be fine," Kairi reassured, giving her a small smile.
The conversation was interrupted by Kairi's phone ringing. It was Ella.
"Ella?" Kairi answered.
"Kaiii~," Ella slurred, clearly drunk. "Can you...pick us up? Pleeease~"
"Us?" Kairi asked, already standing. "Sinong kasama mo? You're drunk, huh?"
"Just...come, okaaay?" Ella insisted before hanging up.
"I have to go," pagpapaalam niya kay Zoe. "Lasing si Ella. Kailangan kong sunduin."
"Paano ka pupunta? Medyo lasing ka na rin," Zoe pointed out.
"I'm not drunk, Zoe. Kaya ko 'to," Kairi assured her.
Nahihilo lang si Kairi pero hindi naman siya lasing. She's still aware of her surroundings. As soon as she got Ella's location, she booked a ride.
Ella and Kairi hang out together a lot. Mas matanda si Ella sa kanya pero Ella wanted Kairi to treat her like they're just the same age. Minsan lang tumawag si Ella sa ganitong situation kaya alam ni Kairi na wala ng ibang choice ang pinsan at siya na lang talaga ang maaasahan nito.