I lied.

I didn't sunod to them sa parking lot after I got a new mask from the school nurse. Instead, I went to the back gate. Doon ako lumabas. I managed to get out even though the classes are still on-going because the clinic pass was with me. I have it and I'm glas that I didn't give it to mama or to my ate.

I know what I did or what I'm doing right now is not correct. Not a characteristic of a good child. Of a good daughter. But who said I was that kind of child. Who said I was the 'good' child that every parent asks for.

Silang mga ate ko lang ang ganyan. Masunurin, brainy, madesiplina, magalang, at kung ano-ano pang mga katangiang maganda.

Clearly not me.

Well, I am. I know that by myself. They don't. Not their fault, not mine, also.

Ilang minuto narin akong nakalabas sa paaralan ko and ilang pag-ring narin ang naririnig ko sa aking telepono.

I know what will happen when I get home later. The consequences of my actions are waiting for me sa bahay. Nothing new.

After ng ilang minutong paglalakad at pagsakay ay nakarating narin ako sa wakas sa destinasyon ko.

"Hi, po, papa..." I placed the flowers that I picked from the school garden on the surface. "Pa, I made takas to them, again. I'm sorry. Nahihiya at natatakot parin kase akong sabihin sakanila na gusto kong araw-araw akong pupunta rito. Or they don't even know that I know this place or if this place exists dahil tayong dalawa lang ang nagpupunta rito noon after you fetch me from school." I giggled to myself. "Anyway, pa, ang ganap for today's vidyow is natamaan ng bola ang bone-y ng cheekbone ko. Left side, po. Look, oh. Mapula-pula pa. Also, that's the reason why I'm here earlier than usual. So, I think hindi na ako makakasabay sa'yo ng pag-eat. I need to go home early, eh. Hundred percent, papa, we'll have a fight nanaman later with the fam." I tried laugh but it came out bitterly. "I'm sorry po, papa, ah, if I always make mistakes. I'm sorry po na I'm being a bad daughter. Sorry po na I'm not like my ates..." I said, looking up the sky.

Ganito ako everyday. Dito ko sini-spend buong araw ko galing school hanggan sa gumabe. I eat here, with my papa. I talk to him. I share some thoughts, I let out things, I cried here.

Every. Single. Day.

I leaned back to the tree. I still remember the day, the first day papa brought me here. It's just a normal place. Para siyang bukid tapos makikita ang view sa ibaba. I still remember the day when we engraved our names in the tree.

Papa Jesse and Sky were here | 03-03-12

We both spent sometime here for months. I continued to go here even after wala na siya.

We were the only ones who knows thos place. Not even mama. Not even any of my sisters.

But someone found out.

Si Mars. One time, sa school, I was so upset. So upset na hindi ko namalayang may sumunod na pala saaking nang papunta ako here. But although she knows this place na and that I go straight here after school, she still doesn't invade my alone time here.

Kung uulan man, since walang masisilungan dito ay doon ako kina Mars tumatambay. Maglalaro kaming video game. Or wala, tambay lang o kakain. Malapit lang dito bahay nila, eh. Tapos, siya narin maghahatid saakin when I need to go home na. That's just the time na nandirito siya. Kahit na tinatanggihan ko, she'll still insist. Everyday talaga 'yan. She has a default time sa pagpunta niya saakin sa pwesto namin ni papa and that's the time na she'll hatid me home.

But, we made it both clear na plantonic lang ang lahat.

Mars is a grade older than me but almost 2 years older than me. Maureese Ashvonn Ruis; turning 18 in weeks. Mars. My only friend. In school and out. I met her when we were partnered up two years ago for school foundation week science club activity.

We clicked and became friends. Though we don't really interact sa school since minsan lang din naman kami nagkikita, but trust me, when we're outside the campus, para kaming mga sira.

"Gaga ka, Eesjee, nag-rugby ka ba?" Natatawang bungad saaking ni Ash. I retrieved my phone from my school vest's pocket to look at the time. May pasok pa, ah. "Absent ako."

Maureese is the only one who can call me 'Eesjee'. Siya lang, kase ampangit nun and I don't know how she formed that name.

"Hindi ako nagtatanong."

"Ah, ganon pala, ah." She tickled my side and we both laughed out load until naoadaking ako. "Hala, are you okay? May masakit ba sayo?"

"Wala, I mean yeah, masakit cheekbone ko." I pointed where. "Natamaan ng soccer ball."

I heard her cackle, making her sit on the empty surface beside me.

"Good afternoon po, Sir Jesse."

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The moment Mars' car stopped in front of out condo building, I took a deep breath.

"Hm, ambaho!" Pangaasar ni Ask with matching paypay pa sa ilong nito. Sinamaan ko namat it ng tingin. She smiled cheekily. "Joke lang!"

"Umayos ka, Ruis."

"Sorry naman na, Robredo."

"Anyway, thank you for driving me home, again, for ths millionth time, Marsi." I sad making her smile. "Sige na, I'll go na. Ingat ka sa daan, ah. Diretso uwi sa bahay niyo, kundi patay ka kay tita."

Lumabas na ako ng tuluyan sa sasakyan at pumasok na sa building. Tsaka naman umalis si Mars. She always make sure na nakapasok akong safe. Baka kase daw siya 'yong hanapan ng mga tao when I go missing. Gagi.

Sumakay na ako ng elevator at huminga nanaman ng malalim ng naka-face-to-face ko na ang pinto ng unit namin.

First time ulit 'to, ah.

Uuwing gising na gising pa sina mama at ang mga ate ko.

"Where are you been, Nicolette!" 'Yan ang nabungad saakin the moment I opened the door.

Hay...

"Do you know that mama really got worried na kung saan-saan ka nalang nagsusuok?!" Sigaw ni ate Tricia saakin. "My goodness, Jeileurv Samantha Nicolette." Gerona Robredo.

"You could've atleast answered our calls or called us back ba or even replied to our messages para alam naman sana namin kung saan ka nagpunta." Ate Jillian joined.

"If I know, Nicolette, excuse mo na 'yong 'walang mask' mo kanina para makatakas saamin." Asik naman ni ate Aika. Excuse? Excuse me? "Oh, ano, ba't naiba mukha mo jaan?"

"Ate, I really didn't have a mask earlier." Ang unfair lang naman at kung hindi ko ede-defend ang sarili ko. At isa pa, wala naman talaga akong mask kanina. I don't know where the one I used was. "I don't know where my mask was. That was why I went back inside the clinic."

"That's not the point here, Cole." Angal parin nito.

"Ang saamin lang-"

"'Tigil niyo na 'yan." We heard mama's voice. Galing siya sa kusina. "Pinagtutulungan niyo na naman 'yang kapatid ninyo. Sam, anak, go to your room and change. Dinner will be in a minute."

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