"Ang tapang ninyo para takasan ang teacher n'yo noon," sambit ni Rafael.
Nasa loob sila ng kotse ni Earl. Nasa back seat sina Seth, Cindy at Anwar. Rafael was sitting in the passenger's seat while Earl was driving. The three didn't respond. Papunta na sila sa gubat kung saan naroon ang ilog.
Napansin ni Earl ang pamumula ng pisngi ni Cindy. Kanina pa niya ito tinitingnan mula sa front mirror.
"What happened to your cheek?" he asked. Earl gave her a worried look.
"Sinampal ako ni daddy kagabi."
"What?" Seth asked anxiously.
She felt a gentle touch on her cheek. "Are you okay? Bakit ka sinampal ng daddy mo?" Seth asked in a worried voice.
Earl's grip on the steering wheel became hard at itinigil ang kotse sa gilid ng kalsada. Nilingon niya si Cindy at napatingin sa kaniyang namumulang pisngi.
"Sinaktan ka niya? Bakit?" He's controlling his anger.
Her eyes were moist with tears. "Narinig ko na nag-aaway sila ni mommy. Pumasok ako, then I saw mommy on the floor. He's furious kasi nakipagkita si mommy sa inyo, sir."
Her hands are shaking. Hinawakan ni Seth ang kaniyang kamay.
"I became mad dahil ininsulto niya kayo ni mommy, then it happened."
Tears were flowing over her beautiful face.
"Pinaalis na siya ni mommy." Seth's hands slid up her back in a slow caress. It was friendly and gentle. Anwar sat in silence while pity trickled through him.
Earl's rage simmered. He badly wanted to punch Vince on the face.
"May naisip ako."
Napatingin silang lahat kay Rafael.
"Nag-oo ka sa tanong ng nanay ng classmte mo named Aling Yana na ang nakita niya was your moron father and your mother, but on the contrary, it was Earl, right?"
All of them were puzzled because of his sudden statement.
"Yes sir," Cindy answered.
"All of a sudden, bumalik si moron father mo at nagkabalikan sila ng mommy mo. Natanggal sa picture si Earl. Lahat ng ito ay dahil sa simpleng confirmation mo? Pero hindi ba kayo nagtataka, nawala ang bisa ng kasinungalingang nabaliktad."
Taimtim lang silang nakikinig kay Rafael. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kay Rafael humingi ng tulong si Earl. Rafael is a keen observer. Kababata niya ito kaya nakita na niya mula pa noon kung paano nakakapag-focus sa mga bagay-bagay si Rafael. He notice things other people miss. He can see the bigger picture and can also analyze the small details. He have unusual talent towards solving problems—kalmado at malinaw.
"Bakit kaya nabaliktad?" Earl asked.
Rafael's gaze fell on Cindy and his eyes twinkled with hope, the dimple made an appearance.
"Because of love."
***
"Paano mo sila nahanap noon?"
Nauunang naglalakad sina Rafael at Earl papasok ng gubat. Sumusunod naman sina Seth, Anwar at Cindy.
"Tumawag 'yong co-teacher ko sa office. Inutusan ako ni Mr. Morales na sundan sila. Nakita ko ang kotse ni Sir Rivero tapos sinabi niya na may tumawag daw kay Cindy mula sa bahay nila na naaksidente si Sera. Hindi ako naniwala at naglakad ako kung saan itinuro ni Mr. Rivero kung saan sila pumasok. Hanggang sa may narinig akong agos ng tubig kaya sinundan ko 'yong tunog."
"Okay. Nakapagtataka naman dahil hindi sila sinundan ni Rivero or sana, sinamahan ka man lang."
"Galit na galit siya nang madatnan ko siya kaya nauna na siyang bumalik," Earl answered.
Naglakad sila sa masukal na gubat. Maririnig ang pag-apak nila sa mga tuyong dahon.
"Sir, sa tingin ko ay wala naman po tayong mapapala rito?" wika ni Anwar kay Rafael.
"Gusto ko lang makita, Anwar. We don't have any idea kung ano ang magiging solusyon natin. Anything na puwede nating maging hint ay kailangan nating tingnan."
They slowly walked through the gloomy and intricate forest. They stopped when Rafael raised his left hand.
Lumingon siya at napatingin sa paligid.
The three teenagaers gave him a quizzical look.
"Parang may sumusunod sa 'tin." Napatingin din sila sa paligid pero wala silang nakitang tao.
"Let's go, para makauwi tayo agad mamaya," sabi ni Earl. Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad hanggang sa makarating sila sa kinaroroonan ng ilog.
The river glittered in the sunlight. A cold wind blew across the river.
"Ito pala ang enchanted river." Napabuntong-hininga si Rafael. Mukha lang itong ordinaryong ilog. Yumuko siya at pinagmasdan ang tubig ganoon din si Earl.
"Ano kaya'ng mayroon sa ilog na ito?" sambit ni Earl sa kaniyang sarili.
Inilibot ni Cindy ang kaniyang paningin ganoon din sina Seth at Anwar hanggang sa mapatingin sila sa kanilang harapan. Napatitig sila sa ilog. It looks ordinary but their emotions were like firecrackers skyrocketing through their conscience. From the smell of the river to the sound of the flowing water, everything contributes to the blazing fire that burns their etiquette.
Cindy and Anwar started to cry while Seth remained silent.
The three realized that monsters are not born, but made. Kailan ba sila naging masama? That's the question that keeps on knocking on their head but they don't want to dwell with it.
Hindi sila naligo sa ilog pero namumula ang kanilang mga mata na parang naulit ang paglangoy nila sa misteryosong ilog.
Napatingin sina Earl at Rafael sa kanila at nagulat sa hitsura ng tatlo.
"Ano'ng nangyayari sa inyo?" tanong ni Rafael. Agad silang lumapit sa kanila at pinatalikod.
"Umalis na tayo rito," nag-aalalang pagkasabi ni Earl. Hinila niya si Cindy samantalang inalalayan naman ni Rafael sina Anwar at Seth na tila wala sa kanilang mga sarili.
Binilisan nila ang paglalakad pero tulala lang ang tatlo. Rafael caught his breath, instinctively turned his head. Mabilis na dumidilim ang kalangitan kahit na tanghaling tapat pa lang.
"What's happening, Rafael?"
Nagsimula na silang tumakbo.
The darkness was suffocating them. Hinigpitan ni Earl ang paghawak sa kamay ni Cindy. Napapamura siya sa tuwing natitisod ang estudyante.
Earl and Rafael were becoming agitated, a little bit claustrophobic. Nahihirapan si Rafael na hilain ang dalawang tulala na lalaki.
Nakita nila ang pag-asa nang makita nila ang kanilang kotse. Akala nila ay hindi na sila makalalabas.
Rain was dripping from the trees. "Bilisan na natin," sambit ni Earl.
Nang makarating sila sa kotse ay inalalayan nila ang tatlo papasok sa likod ng kotse.
Sumakay na sina Earl at Rafael at pinaandar ang sasakyan.
Hingal na hingal silang dalawa na napatingin sa isa't isa.
Rafael sighed.
"What the fuck happened?"
^•^
BINABASA MO ANG
The River of Truth
Teen Fiction"The most dangerous liars are those who think they are telling the truth." Lying is frequently characterized as selfish behavior. However, it became a habit for three youngsters. They believe lying is necessary, and they are unconcerned about the fe...
