Playful Smile

45.Playing Safe

Minah's POV

Katatapos lang nang meeting namin for Mr. And Ms. A&A. Pinagusapan lang naman 'yung kung pa'no tatakbo 'yung program. Next week pa daw mag sisimula 'yung rehearsa, pero each representative kailangan nang mag prepare ng talent nila.
As usual nasa green house kami ngayon.

"So Minah? What will be your talent?" Red asked. Himala nga bigla nanamang sumigla si Red, parang kahapon may kadramahan pa siyang ewan eh.

"Wag kang kakanta! Matatalo tayo."  Pang aasar ni Kyle sabay tawa.

"Grabe kayo. Yes she can't sing, but I'm sure she can dance." Ren said sabay akbay sa'kin.

"Pa'no mo nalaman?" I asked. Ni minsan kasi hindi ako sumasali sa mga programs. Kahit pa sabihing mataas yung extra curricular, sus! Di ko na kailangan niyan, pero I guess ngayon kailangan ko. Specially now that Ren came.

Ren laughed

"Hula lang. So marunong ka nga?"
Ren asked. Ba't ba ang bango nang mokong na'to? Nakaakbay pa rin kasi siya sa'kin at grabe from here naamoy ko 'yung scent niya. Just like Red.

"I think so."  I said.

"Yeah! Can't believe parehas tayo ng talent." Ren said at nakipag appear pa sa'kin.

"Baka naman parehong kaliwa yung paa mo."  Red said then laughed. Di ko alam pero parang na-hurt ako ng konti kahit joke 'yon. Specially kay Red pa nang galing.

"Kayo talaga. Lagi niyong inaasar si Demi." Ren said. Sa wakas! Nag karoon din ako ng kakampi.

"Oy. Ren! Watch out! Inaagawan mo ng posisyon kuya mo." Angelo said while laughing.

Anong posisyon?

"Oy. Hindi ah. Marunong akong lumugar." Ren said.

Red laughed.

"Para kayong mga tanga! Walang maagaw sa'kin si Ren. Mahal na mahal kaya ako niya. Diba kambal?" Red said sarcastically.
How cute they are.

"Syempre naman. Kuya pa. Kahit inaagawan niya ko. Ni minsan di ko pinag tangkaang agawan siya. Mahal na mahal ko talaga 'yung kuya ko." Ren said.

I laughed.

"Tama na nga 'yan guys! Nag pa-plastikan na kayo eh." I said.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na yang mga 'yan Minah. Ganyan lang talaga sila since they were a child." Angela said habang tumatawa.

"I see.."

"So sumasayaw ka pala?" Angela asked. Inulet!

"Yes." I said.

Familiar tone of phone rings.
Hindi pa rin pinapalitan ni Red 'yung ringtone niya. It's still Angela's voice.

"Excuse me lang guys ha."  Red said before he answered the call.

[Hello po.] Hindi namin marinig yung nasa kabilang line.

[Mamaya?]

[Sige po.]

[Yes.]

[Hindi naman sure 'yon diba?]

[Okay sige po. Bye.]

Angela laugh.

"You didn't change your ringtone huh." Angela said gladly. Tss! Keleg ka naman!

"Why would I? It's a cute voice of yours."  Red said. Bakit ba ganto nalang lagi 'yung nararamdaman ko everytime na ine-entertain niya si Angela. Nakakainis!

Ren cough. A fake. I guess.

"Minsan 'yung sweet nakakasakit."
Ren said. Di ko gets.

"Ano nanaman 'yang ka-corny-han na 'yan?" Red asked.

"Wala sabi ko paasa ka. By the way sino 'yung tumawag sa'yo." Ren asked.

"First of all hindi ako paasa." Talaga lang ha? "Second. It's a friend of mine."

He said.

"Akala mo lang hindi ka paasa and friend of yours pero nag po po ka?" Ren said.

"May pinaglalaban ka talaga eh noh?" Red said.

Ren laughed.

"Joke lang kuya. Alam mo namang mahal na mahal talaga kita." Ren said sabay gulo ng buhok ng kuya niya.

Iniwas naman ni Red 'yung ulo niya.

"Tama na nga 'yan! Kayo talagang dalawa. Tss. Tss. Tss.." Angelo said at pailing iling pa.

"Oo na. Eto lang talagang mahal na mahal kong kambal, sobrang kulit." He said na habang gigil na gigil sabay kurot sa pisngi na kapatid niya. "Kaya ang sarap ilublob sa kukulong tubig." Red said sarcastically.

"Aray naman kuya!" Ren said sabay hawak sa pisngi niya. Ang cute niya talaga.

"Oy tama na 'yan. Magta-time na. I think we better go." Tristan said.

"Better." Red said then bigla niya 'kong hinawakan sa kamay at hinatak. Chansing nanaman 'tong mokong na'to eh. Okay assuming girl!

"Sige mang iwan kayo! Sanay naman kaming maiwan eh!" Ren shouted dahil palabas na kami sa may bahay.

Biglang huminto si Red. Still holding my hand.

"Bilisan niyo kaya noh. Kaya kayo naiiwan eh!" He shouted.

"Matuto kasing mag hintay!" Sabat naman ni Angelo habang papalapit na sa'min.

"Chansing ka nanaman!" I said sabay alis nung kamay ko na hawak niya. Nakita ko namang parang gulat siya. Tiningnan niya pa 'ko from head to toe. Problema nito?

"I thought it was Angela's hand." Nanlaki 'yung mata ko sa sinabi niya, kahit medyo masakit. So does it mean si Angela dapat 'yung hahatakin niya from here? Sabi naman kasi sa'yo Minah 'wag mag assume.

"You thought it was Angela? Unbelievable, hindi mo ba nakita 'yung mukha ko? Ang linaw linaw oh!" I said irritatedly.

"Malay ko ba. Katabi mo si Angela kanina diba. Hindi ko naman tiningnan 'yung mukha eh, basta hinablot ko lang 'yung kamay. Nasa likod kita habang hinahatak kita. Hindi ka naman umangal or nag salita so it means ginusto mo rin!"

Red said. Oo nga. Hindi ako umangal! Pero Ugh! Bwiset 'tong lalakeng 'to.

Bago pa'ko mag salita nakalapit na 'yung 5PM. Together with Angela.

"Grabe ka Tay. Iniiwan mo na si nanay ngayon ha." Ace joked. Okay. Nanay. Tatay.

"Mag sisimula nanaman kayo sa kalokohan niyo eh." Red said irritatedly.

"Eh kasi naman kawawa si nanay Angela. Always left behind." Sabat naman ni Ren.

"I never leave her." Red said. Parang Ugh! The hell?! What kind of feeling is this? Nung narinig ko 'yon? Parang ang sakit sa dibdib.

So parang in-accept niya yung nanay ek ek nila Ren!

"Wow. Hindi pa ba pang iiwan 'yung ginawa mo kanina?" Angelo asked. Di ko alam kung nangaasar ba talaga 'tong mga mokong na'to eh!

"I really thought it was Angela's hand!"  Red explained. Kyle grin.

"So are you telling Demi was the one supposed to be left behind?" Ren asked. Oo nga. Napuntuhan mo Ren.

Tumingin sa'kin si Red nang nag aalangan.

"N-no."  He said.

Napailing iling naman silang lahat.

"You're playing safe kuya." Ren said in disbelief

"Alam niyo guys. It doesn't matter if Red leave me behind. What matter is male-late na tayo sa subject class natin, so I think we need to go." Angela said. She's acting like she's not affected. Tss!

"May punto ka diyan. Tara na nga Jelay." Ren said tas hinawakan 'yung hand ni Angela then hinatak na siya

Tumingin ako kay Red. Umiling iling lang siya.

Is he jealous?

"Let's go." Red simply said.