Matahum [Completed]

29 Mangliw

Mangliw

The weekend came and she gathered all the energy that has left in her body to attend the concert. Ilang araw na siyang iniiwasan ni Gabriel. She wanted to confront him of what’s going on with him. However, when she corners him, he finds another way not to talk about the things between them or the lack thereof. Palaging may gagawin ito sa acads. Palaging may affair na pupuntahan. Palaging may pusang o-operahan.

If he wants to act this way, then she will give him a show. Isang music festival ang pupuntahan nila na may maraming banda ang kasali at tutugtog. It was located in a grassy open field wherein a grandstand was located. Naalala niya tuloy ang napurnada nilang concert noon na hindi niya pinuntahan. Somehow, she wanted to make up to him because of that. Maaga siyang dumating at inaliw ang sarili sa mga nakapalibot na activities, pre-show at mga pagkain.

Sinipat niya ang relo at napabuntong-hininga. Wala pa rin ito. She skipped the food stall when she planned to eat with Gab but he was nowhere to be found. Sa labas siya ng grandstand naghintay habang nagsisimula na ang mga banda. Kitang-kita niya naman ang nangyayari sa stage dahil iilan pa lang naman ang nandoon. Mukhang hinihintay ng lahat ang mga sikat na banda. Kalmado niyang tinawagan ang binata. Ilang sandali lang ay dumating na ito.

"Sorry medyo late." He was restless as he was gasping for air after he ran the entrance to where she was.

The plan to give him a show drifted away from her mind.

"Hindi pa naman nagsisimula—” Napatingin siya sa bitbit nito. “Ba't ka may dalang aso?"

He patted the dog’s head and replied. "He has surgery tomorrow. Ako 'yong nurse niya. Wala ‘to sa plano but they can only let him enter in this vicinity. Are you okay with that?" tanong nito.

She held her own sigh. It’s not her nature to be calm and compose but for once, she counted in her head before giving him a response. Tumango lamang siya at pinanuod ito habang kinakausap ang aso. He put the dog down and held its leash. Pinigilan niya ang pag-ismid. Buti pa ang aso hinahawakan nito.

"Are you hungry?"

“Medyo.” She smiled a little. Nasa dulo na lang talaga ng sinulid ang kanyang pasensya. Wala ba itong ibang kaklase? Bakit ngayon pa talaga na date nilang dalawa? Couldn’t he spare some time just for once? She is disappointed with him but she doesn’t have the heart to tell him.

"That means you’re famished.” Inabot nito ang pulang tali ng aso. “Hold Buknoy for me. Balik lang ako,” he said and left her with the dog.

"Gabriel!" sigaw niya ngunit malayo na ito.

Napatingin siya sa aso na nakatitig sa kanya. Mukhang aspin ito. A medium sized white dog with brown spots around his left ear and some on his butt. Naglabas ito ng dila at pabaling-baling na nakatingin sa mga taong dumaraan at pabalik sa kanya.

"Anong tinitingin-tingin mo dyan?" mataray niyang sabi.

Bigla itong nag-puppy eyes na ikinainis niya. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ito ginagawa ng mga aso. She knelt, trying to pet his head carefully. Hindi pa niya ito nahawakan ay dumapo na ang dila nito sa kanyang mukha. She flinched away, wiping her face left with the dog’s saliva.

"Ugh! Not your tongue!"

Kumuha siya ng wipes sa kanyang bag para punasan ang mukha. Buti na lang at hindi ito umamoy. Mukhang malinis naman ang aso. Napatingin ulit siya sa gilid para pagbantaan ang aso ngunit wala na siyang katabi. Napatingin siya sa likod at nakitang mabilis itong tumatakbo. Narinig niya ang iilang sigawan ng mga tao.

"Hoy! Buknoy, balik dito!"

Hinabol niya ito. She run as if her life depended on it. Hindi na siya humingi ng paumanhin sa iilang taong nababangga. Ang kanyang mata ay focus lang sa aso. Bakit ba ang bilis nito? Lumiko siya sa kaliwa at nabunggo ang isang babae.