I loved to read. Unfortunately, not many girls love guys who love to read. I was called a geek, a nerd and a bookworm and those labels did not exactly help me with my social life. My friends weren’t bookish so I could say that I was the odd one in the group. I was in my senior year in high school and was already resigned to the fact that, unlike my friends, my calendar wouldn’t be filled with schedules for outings or romantic dates.
It was a Saturday afternoon and I just finished reading a new book I bought. Ganun kasi ako, kapag gusto ko ang libro ay hindi ko binibitawan hangga’t hindi natatapos.
“Sebastian?” Narinig kong tawag ni Mommy.
“Po?” I replied as I got up from my bed and opened my door.
“Hindi ka pa kumain, anong oras na? Kaya lalong lumalabo yang mata mo sa kakabasa mo ng libro.” She softened her words with a smile. Close ako sa Mommy ko because she practically raised us. Pilot si Daddy at sobrang dalang nyang umuwi. “Sabado ngayon, wala ba kayong lakad ng mga kaibigan mo? May pera ka pa ba dyan?”
“Mom, meron pa po. May lakad sina Luke pero di na po ako sumama.”
“Anong gagawin mo dito sa bahay? Wala rin ang mga Kuya mo tapos may lakad ako kasi nagpatawag ng meeting si Principal de Nilo.”
“Mommy, okay lang po. May dalawang libro pa po akong hindi nababasa kaya hindi po ako mababagot dito.” I replied and she smiled before she briefly touched my cheek.
“Mag-lunch ka muna bago ka magbasa ulit. Kaya nangangayayat itong bunso ko eh. Halika na at bumaba ka na kasabay ko kasi gusto kong makitang kumakain ka bago ako umalis.”
“Mommy, kakain po talaga ako.”
“Kilala kita. Kung pababayaan lang kita ay wala ka nang gagawin buong araw kundi ang magbasa.” Mom said as she pulled me with her. We went down the stairs and straight to the dining room. “Conching, ipaghanda mo nga ng tanghalian itong si Seb.” She told one of our househelps. “Kumain kang mabuti. Kahit ba ang hilig mong magbasa, you shouldn't skip meals. Hindi naman mawawala yang mga libro mo.”
“Opo.” I answered before I hugged her and kissed both her cheeks.
"Conching, ipapaubos mo kay Sebastian yung pagkain nya, ha. Wag mong papaakyatin itong batang to hangga't hindi nya naubos ang pagkain nya."
"Opo, Ma'am." Sagot ng katulong namin.
"O, sige na. Alis na ako baka 6PM na ako makakauwi." She said kissing me on the cheek. "Wag basa nang basa, bunso. Mag-malling ka kung gusto mo."
"Dito na lang po ako sa bahay, Mommy." I replied as she waved goodbye at me.
As promised ay tinapos ko muna ang tanghalian ko bago umakyat sa taas para maligo. Pagkatapos kong magbihis ay kinuha ko kaagad ang bagong libro ko para simulan na naman ang pagbabasa. Nasa chapter three na ako noong biglang tumunog ang phone ko. I frowned when I saw that the number wasn’t registered.
“Sino naman kaya ito?” I asked myself and my frown deepened when I read the message.
Kelan mo ba isasauli yung hiniram mong libro? Yan ang hirap sayo eh, magaling ka lang manghiram pero hindi ka marunong magsauli! The message said.
Hindi ko sinagot and I even deleted the message. I thought the message was a prank. Ganun kasi ang mga kaibigan ko, mahilig mag-trip lalo na kung magkakasama sila. My phone sounded again and I groped for it on my bedside table.
Hoy! Sumagot ka! Ang kapal ng mukha mo, ha! Isauli mo yung libro ko! Napakunot ang noo ko. Sino naman kaya sa mga bugoy ito? Lakas mag-trip. I thought.
