Bro's Goofy Classmates

Putting Kate in safety

So, picture this: Mama rents this apartment with a second floor. Climbing up the stairs, that's Mama's personal domain. We didn't dare go up there that day. In the kitchen, there's even a dirty kitchen attached. There's a water pump there, always wet because my sibling either showers there or Mama does the laundry. There's a room in that area where my sibling crashes. The walls are all plywood, raised about 5 feet. There's a ladder up, just enough for one person. We had the girls who were already out of it sleep there. Dadoy offered to walk Nikki home. Angela, Lorraine, and Jessica were already in my sibling’s room. Meanwhile, my sibling, Kate, and I were left chilling in the dirty kitchen, now our makeshift hangout spot. We made sure everything was tidy before Mama came home, so she wouldn't be too mad if she found us drinking.

The three of us were awkwardly silent, so my sibling stood up. Just then, we heard the clank of the padlock on the small gate out front. We knew it was Mama, so my sibling went to meet her.

"Hey, you should tell Arcy...", Kate whispered. I nodded.

"Let's go...", I said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to greet Mama.

"Me...", I greeted.

"Oh, you're here? Did you lock up properly? No lights or water left on?"

"None, I left everything in order, Me... By the way, this is Kate, my girlfriend."

My sibling and I exchanged surprised looks.

"Hello, Tita," Kate chimed in.

"I just dropped by. I'll be leaving... I'm just walking Kate home," Kate glanced at me.

"Are you coming back home?", Mama asked.

"I'm just walking Kate home. I'll come back because I ran into my old classmate, Dadoy. We're catching up."

"Where are you taking your friend?", Mama asked. My sibling had already gone up to his room.

"Manuguit... Isn't that where you live, Kate?"

"Yes, just past the tracks," Kate replied shyly.

"So, have you had lunch? Because I have to leave soon for a barangay meeting back home. You two can catch a tricycle."

"Do you want to eat first?", I offered Kate, but she declined.