Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 36

36
Arrested

That night, Octavian told me he's coming home soon. Hindi ko alam kung kailan pero iyon ang sinabi niya. He's been nowhere for the past 2 years and the only thing I knew about it is that, he's been trying to accumulate pieces of evidence for a case he wants to pursue.

I am not naive. Alam kong konektado ito sa tatay niya at isa itong rason bakit ako nababahala araw-araw kung na saan siya.

Sa nagdaang taon, he didn't want to tell his exact location to any of us, nor inform us the places he went to. After he got his license at their oath-taking for civil engineers, iyon na rin ang araw kung kailan siya nagsimulang umalis ng Baguio.

Ayoko ring malaman kung ano ang eksaktong pinagkakaabalahan niya. Not that I didn't care, it's because I knew that Octavian wanted it privately. It was enough for me that he texted me or called me a couple of times to inform me that he was okay.

Besides, napagusapan na rin namin ito. I didn't want to meddle in his life decisions, at least for now, because I knew it was something he could only decide about and make actions for. It was our coping mechanism for being away from each other. Hindi naging madali ang set-up para sa aming dalawa. It was tiring, but patience bears good fruits.

In all honesty, I didn't mind about the distance and separation. The more I was away from him, the more my trust and adoration strengthened. If this isn't the truest of my reality – I don't know what this is anymore.

"He's coming home?"

Nilingon ko si Dominic na kasalukyang naglalagok ng baso ng Cuervo. Kumunot ang noo ko nang mahalatang wala siyang alam sa pag-uwi ni Octavian. 

"Oo. Sinabi niya sa akin noong isang gabing tumawag siya. Did he not tell you?"

"We talked but he didn't mention anything about coming back home," he shrugged. "Surprise, maybe?"

"Bakit kayo ang isu-surprise? Bakit hindi 'yung girlfriend?" natatawang tanong ni Caitlyn bago bumaling sa akin. "Anyways...is he coming back home, for good?"

Ngumuso ako. Hindi ko rin alam ang sagot sa tanong na iyon. He just told me he's coming back to Baguio pero hindi niya sinabi kung mananatili na ba siya ulit dito. I wanted him to stay for good. I've missed him so much, but whatever Octavian's decision is, I'd go by with it for now. 

"There's actually chance because the case he's trying to pursue is almost at end," said Lucifer. Dahil sa kaniyang sinabi, lahat kami ay napatingin sa kaniya, handang makining sa mga sasabihin pa. "Perfect timing is what he just needs right now. Everything's settled and he's just waiting for the right time to execute his plans. Uuwi rin 'yun dito at sigurado akong hindi niya matitiis ang mas malayo pa."

"How did you know about that?"

"The brute took a lawyer from us – a relative."

My lips twitched at that. Muntik ko ng makalimutan na ang mga Salva ay pamilya ng mga naglalakihang abogado, and it somehow comforts me that Octavian took a lawyer from them. They are like the bests in the country.

"Dapat lang na umuwi na ang gagong 'yon! Dalawang taon na siguro 'yung palaboy-laboy, ano? Gusto ko na ring makumpleto tayo. Palaging na lang na may kulang dahil pati si Alfred ay nilalamon na rin ng med school!" tatawa-tawang saad ni Dominic.

I smiled with the view of my friends, even though Octavian and Alfred aren't around.

For the past 2 years, bihira na lang din talaga kami magkita-kita. Lucifer instantly bought the Archimedes Corporation which was nearly failing after they graduated so he had to work harder for it. Naging abala rin si Dominic sa pagpapatakbo ng business ng kanilang pamilya and I even heard that his fiancée is running the same business as his. Si Alfred din ay nagtrabaho muna ng isang taon bilang nurse bago pinagpatuloy ang pag-aaral sa med school.