"Bakit ka nakangiti?"
Napatingin ako kay Anna nang bigla siyang magtanong habang naglalakad kami. She's narrowing her eyes and I just shrugged.
Mukhang magtatanong pa sana siya pero may biglang humarang sa dadaanan namin. Pareho kaming napatingin sa taong iyon at napakunot noo ako dahil parang pamilyar siya. Where did I saw this guy again?
"H-hi," the guy greeted while acting so shy.
"Hello. May kailangan ka ba?" tanong ko.
We both looked at Anna when she suddenly snapped her fingers. Then she pointed at him which made him step back a little.
"It's you! Ikaw iyong lalaking suici—" I nudged her arm and she intentionally coughed. "I mean, iyong lalaking dalawang buwan nang hindi pumapasok. Cleo, siya 'yung sinasabi kong naghahanap sayo."
I looked at him and he nodded. That explains why he's familiar.
"A-ako nga. I'm Andrei by the way," sambit niya at mukhang kinakabahan.
"I'm Cleo," sambit ko. "May kailangan ka ba sa akin kaya mo ako hinahanap?"
"A-ah ano...ummm..."
Mukha talaga siyang kinakabahan at tumitingin pa siya kay Anna. Tumingin din ako kay Anna at mukhang naintindihan naman niya.
"Una na ako. Hintayin ka na lang namin sa cafeteria," bulong sa akin ni Anna at mabilis na umalis.
When I can no longer see her, I looked at Andrei and motioned him to sit down at a nearby bench. Sumunod naman siya kaagad at pareho kaming umupo pero may distansiya pa din.
"So?" I said and tried to smile a little. "Kamusta ka na?"
Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan iyong tanong ko pero ngumiti din. I never got the chance to see him after his suicide attempt but I have this feeling that he's better now. Well, I hope so.
"A-ayos naman. Well, that's because of you," he said and I was stunned when he suddenly held my both hands. "Thank you. Thank you very much. Siguro kung hindi dahil sayo, nasa ilalim na ako ng hukay. You opened my eyes and I am very grateful you were there. Thank you very much. Thank you."
Hindi ako kaagad nakapagsalita at natulala habang patuloy siyang nagpapasalamat sa akin. I felt a different feeling inside me. It was like a feeling of relief and great happiness.
Many people already thanked me for my help. But that was online and never in person. But seeing Andrei and hearing him thanking me feels more real. I felt like I have accomplished something very important.
Ngumiti ako. "You're welcome."
He let go of my hands and wiped some tears on his face. Pagkatapos ay ngumiti siya nang malawak sa akin.
"Hindi ko alam kung paano ka pasasalamatan bukod sa mga salita. But can I at least treat you to dinner?"
"Dinner?"
He nodded. "It's the least thing I can do."
"Hindi na kailangan."
"B-but..." he bowed his head, "...I feel like you somehow n-need to know why."
I fell silent. Gusto kong malaman kung bakit ginusto niyang magpakamatay. Was that reason enough for him to take his life? What is his reason? Was that more worse than my past?
Questions like that occured inside me after that day I interfered in his attempt. Well, hindi naman siguro masama kung papayag ako.
I'm just curious.
BINABASA MO ANG
Officially Meeting You
Teen Fiction| Lady Blue book 2 | After a few months, their online conversation came to an end. Lady Blue knew that she will soon need to face the guy who kept bugging her and forcing her to meet someone she doesn't know. But with the lack of trust brought by t...
