Achievements Within Tomorrow

Chapter 2

I tried not to make any noise, but I was unable to avoid it. Then, all of a sudden, I pushed against a book on the bookcase, causing it to fall and create a noise that attracted Thairus' attention.

Gusto ko nalang na biglang lamunin ng lupa dahil sa katangahan ko. Pero bakit siya nandito? Trespassing 'to ah! Or...

"U-uhm, what are you doing here?" I asked while stuttering, but I stood up and acted strong.

Nilagay niya ang libro na binabasa niya sa lamesa at kaagad na tumayo habang ang mga kamay ay nasa bewang. Mukha siyang tatay ko na nahuli ako sa ginawa kong krimen.

"I should be the one who's going to ask you that. What are you doing here?" His eyebrows rose after saying it.

Aba, aba! Ang sungit pala nito? Turn off tayo dito uy! At aba, magpapatalo ba ako dito? Syempre hindi!

"Excuse me? I was tasked with taking care of this by the owner of this house! Who are you to just enter and act as if you're the real owner, huh?" Aber, baka Alessia 'to, ang top 1 noong elementary.

My heart beat fast when he suddenly started walking towards me. I stepped back only to get pushed back against the wall.

"For your information, Miss, I am the son of the owner, so that means I'm also the owner of this house. Do you understand?" He smirked. Embarrassment immediately spread throughout my body. For sure, my face is now as red as a tomato.

So it's him...

He changed...

But, what should I expect? People really change, you know. He's not the kind Thairus Klyde that I know years ago.

"S-sorry. I thought you're a trespasser." I diverted my gaze away from him. Kahiya ka Alessia ah.

Teka, ba't ako mahihiya? Eh, ginawa ko lang naman ang ibinilin sa akin ni Tita Che.

"Uh-huh. You didn't only distract me from studying; you also accused me of being a trespasser." Then he walked away from me. Bumalik siya sa pagbabasa at binalewala ang presensya ko. Guilt suddenly crept into me.

Pero nakauwi na nga pala siya? And did he already forgotten me? Pero in fairness, lalo siyang gwumapo, hindi na kataka-taka dahil sobrang ganda ni Tita. Oh! I remember now. Years ago, she told me that they'll be living in New York. At baka nakauwi na sina Tita kasama si Thairus and Tito Oliver? But where's Tita Che? She's not even here.

I stopped thinking about it and just went to the cabinet to get my guitar. I brought some of my things here so that I wouldn't go back home whenever I'm busy. Okay lang naman kay Tita Che na nandito ang ibang gamit ko, besides sa akin naman niya ibinilin ang bahay na 'to.

Lumabas na ako dala ang gitara at isang notebook na puno ng mga kanta ko. Pumunta na ako na ako sa bakuran at doon nakita ang pinakapaborito kong tambayan. Ang puno.

I sat under it and positioned my guitar. Argh! Hindi ako maka-focus! Kasalanan 'to ng mayabang na yon eh. Bakit naging gano'n ang ugali no'n!

But after thinking deeply, an idea popped into my mind. I started strumming the right pattern for my song. Nakuha ko ang idea galing sa librong nabasa ko.

A guy who is secretly admiring someone, but that someone doesn't know about the guy's true feelings. So the guy's also secretly making a lot of songs about his unrequited love. He's always been by her side. He doesn't mind if he ditches some important events when 'someone' needs him. That's truly how much he loves her. And that's the meaning of true love, for me.

Strum...

"I can hear the birds singing harmoniously.

I joined them in song as I sat beneath the tree.

I'd like to sing a song for you, but I'm too drained from thinking about what to write."

Down, down, up.

"Listening clearly to the running river.

Watching you laugh about my small jokes.

You appreciate me, just as I appreciate you.

Well, isn't that love?"

The song sounds good.

"Head's upon my pillow

Thinking about you

How can I sleep when all I see is you?

Oh, teach me how to."

...

"Looking at you like you're the only thing that's important in this world.

How can I be okay? If you have those perfect smiles and laughs,

Baby, Cupid has aimed his arrow at me."

"At last, gonna finish this tomorrow." Niligpit ko na ang mga gamit ko at tumayo na.

Nagulat naman ako nang nakita ko siya na nakahilig sa hamba ng pintuan. I just acted like I didn't care if he was there.

Tumikhim muna ako bago nagsalita.

"Kanina ka pa riyan?" I asked like I didn't accuse him a while ago.

"Yes." Sagot niya, napatango naman ako at tuluyang nakapasok sa malaking pintuan.

"Are you going home?" He suddenly asked. Oh, ano naman sayo?

"Oo, bakit?" I fired back.

"Can I... go with you? It's so boring here." I got shocked at what he said. Seriously?? Siya? Sasama sa bahay? Okay lang siya?

"H-ha? Gabi na ah, baka ano pang sabihin ng mga magulang ko." Uy teka, bakit may konting disappointment akong nafe-feel?

"As I've said, it's boring here. Besides, hindi naman magagalit sina Tita Hannah at Tito Roland na kasama ni Alessia ang best friend niya, right?" Then he smiled sweetly at me. So... naalala niya pa pala ako.

After all this time, hindi pa totoo ang akala ko na hindi na siya uuwi? Na hindi niya na ako naaalala?

Hot liquid started to pool in my eyes.

"A-ah, buti naalala m-mo pa ako matapos ang ilang taon na umalis ka." Sumbat ko habang tumutulo na ang mga luha ko.

He's just standing while looking at me gently.

"T-tsaka, boring p-pala? Eh 'di sana l-lumangoy ka sa lupa kahit w-walang tubig, ayaw m-mo no'n, mababawasan k-kaboringan mo!" Patuloy ko kahit humihikbi na ako.

He chuckled and suddenly hugged me.

"I missed you, Alessia." He whispered and then he planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Hindi kita na-miss. Hindi talaga!" Aniko at hinigpitan pa ang yakap sa kanya.

Miss na miss na miss lang!

"Stop crying, you naughty girl." He said and chuckled again.

Kumalas ako sa yakap at tiningnan siya ng masama.

"Kanina mo pa ako tinatawanan ah!" Sumbat ko.

"Sorry, you're just so cute." He then wiped the remaining tears on my face.

"Cute mo mukha mo." I said and turned my back at him. Dumiretso na ako sa kwarto na nilalagyan ko ng mga gamit ko para ilagay muli ang gitara at notes ko.

My phone vibrated in my skirt's pocket. Kinuha ko iyon at nakitang may message si Mot-mot sa akin.

Timothea: Ate uwi ka na daw, kakain na.

I immediately type a reply.

Me: Oo, uuwi na.

Lumabas na ako at nakita kong nasa gilid pa rin siya ng pintuan habang nagtitipa sa kaniyang phone.

Agad niya naman itong binaba nang nakita niya ako.

"Uuwi na ako." Mabilis ko siyang tinalikuran pero bago pa man ako makalabas sa pinto, nauna pa siya kaysa sakin.

"I'm coming with you." Aniya habang nasa unahan ko at patuloy na naglalakad.

Aba! Bahala na nga, ah basta! Hindi ko siya kilala!

I locked the door and gate bago sumunod sa kanya.

Hinayaan ko siyang mauna pero humihinto ito para hintayin ako.

I kept my distance from him hanggang sa nakarating kami sa bahay. I faced him.

"Oh, ayan na ha, kaya umuwi ka na." He suddenly cut me off.

"No." He said and walk through our door.

Eh? Jusko naman.

Pumasok na rin ako ngunit wala sina mama sa sala, baka nasa kusina.

Sakto namang lumabas sa kwarto si Mot-mot. Agad ko namang iniling ang ulo ko ng paulit-ulit nang nakita kong nakatingin siya sa amin ni Thairus.

Pinakbet... Hindi niya pala alam na kababata ko itong si Thairus.

"Oppss... May ganyanan?" He then smirked and turned his attention to the guy behind me. "Oy, kuya Thairus, magkasama kayo ng ate?" Tanong niya kay Thairus, ay hindi ba obvious?

"Ah, yes. Hinatid ko lang siya... At babati na rin sana kina Tita Hannah." Napapikit na lang ako dahil baka kung ano na naman ang iniisip ng kapatid ko.

"Oh, hinatid pala si ate... At babati pa kina mama... Ma! Pa! May bisita tayo!"

"Sino?" Sagot ni mama at lumabas sa kusina habang nagpupunas ng kamay.

Nagulat naman ito nang nakita niya ang kasama ko.

"Thairus?!" Gulantang tanong niya.

"Good evening po Tita." He smiled at my mother, showing his dimples.

Wala na... talo na...