Call Me Death (Fallen Series #4)

Chapter 18: What Home Feels Like

We left at exactly nine in the morning. Pupungas-pungas pa si Reverie habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kotse.

Last night, we fell asleep right after the phone call. We didn't talk much, o dahil ayaw ko nang marinig pa ang boses at sasabihin niya. I'd rather we won't talk again. I just can't.

Tahimik siyang nagmaneho, at hindi na rin ako kumibo. Ganoon din si Ariel na nakatanaw lang sa labas ng kotse habang nakaupo sa backseat. Hanggang sa inihinto ni Reverie 'yong kotse, kaya sabay kaming napalingon sa kaniya.

"Shit, walang gas." Napahilamos ako sa mukha at lumabas. We're in the middle of nowhere. Wala masyadong dumadaang sasakyan sa kalsada na 'to. There's a forest at the side of the road, while on the other side is a cliff. I leaned on the hood of the car, waiting for other vehicles to come and help us, while Reverie tried to contact the resort. "Ah! Walang signal!"

Inihagis niya ang mobile phone niya sa loob ng sasakyan at tumabi siya sa akin. "Relax, it's your semester break so you don't have to rush," I assured her. Napabuntong hininga na lang siya at saglit na tumahimik. Si Ariel, nanatiling nakaupo sa backseat at hinayaan kami sa labas.

"But I was supposed to bring you to a place I used to go to." She sounded so frustrated, na para bang nawala na lahat sa plano. "This day was supposed to be a memorable day."

Tumingala ako sa langit. It doesn't look like it's going to rain but the sky is clear. "It's okay, everything becomes memorable when I'm with you," I blurted out without thinking. Natawa siya at nilingon ako, pero hindi ako makatingin sa kaniya. "Nah, I'm just kidding. You're a nuisance. There's no way."

"Now, I'm relieved." Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi niya. She kept on teasing me when a middle aged man came out of the forest. Napalingon ito sa direksiyon namin, kaagad naman siyang nilapitan ni Reverie. "Excuse mo po, Manong. May alam po ba kayong malapit na tindahan dito na may telepono? Nawalan po kasi kami ng gas."

The man looked at our car and then his gaze dropped to me, as if he can see me. "Malayo-layo pa ang tindahan dito, pero kung gusto ninyo, puwede ko kayong dalhin sa bahay ko. May telepono ako roon."

Tumalikod ang matanda sa amin, susundan na sana siya ni Reverie nang hinila ko siya. "I know what you're thinking. That man is probably dying and he needs our help, but, Reverie, please." I closed my eyes. "Let's not interfere this time."

Kumunot ang noo ni Reverie at inalis ang pagkahahawak ko sa kaniya. "I just can't turn my back to someone who needs my help." Naglakad siya at sinundan ang matanda without even looking back. I sighed and brushed my hair. Damn it.

Sumunod kami ni Ariel sa kanila. Iniwan namin 'yong sasakyan sa gilid ng kalsada. Naglakad kami nang naglakad papasok sa gubat. I can't believe there's someone living in a place like this. Alone on top of that.

Mayamaya ay may nakita kaming maliit na bahay sa gitna ng mga punong kahoy. A house, enough for a single man like him. "Nasa loob ang telepono." Binuksan niya ang pinto at pumasok kaming tatlo. The inside was much more wider than I thought. Kuwarto na kaagad ang bubungad, nandoon na rin ang kusina sa bandang kaliwa, at maliit na banyo naman sa gilid. The telephone is placed on the side of the bed, on the top of a small table.

Lumapit si Reverie roon, kami naman ni Ariel ay nanatiling nakatayo. But Ariel seemed bored so he roamed around. Mayamaya ay lumapit siya sa isang picture frame. "So you're a married man--" Hinila ng matandang lalaki ang frame mula sa kamay ni Ariel.

"Kapag tapos na kayong tumawag, puwede na kayong umalis." Inilapag nito ang frame at itinaob. I went out of the house to wait for Reverie. That old man is living here alone, but there's a picture of him with a wife and a son. Nakita ko 'yong larawan kanina bago niya kuhanin. They seemed happy.