Wicker sat on the same chair for full three hours and waiting for Catherine to come. It was his nineteenth birthday and they planned to have a dinner together. But everything ain't going well.
Wala pa rin si Catherine hanggang ngayon. Mabuti na lang at maganda ang napili niyang restaurant para gumaan kahit papaano ang pakiramdam niya sa mga nakikita rito.
"Would you like something to start, Sir?" the waiter asked him.
Wicker looked at him. "No, I'm okay. Please serve the food when she arrives," he said, wavering a weak smile.
Kanina pa tinatawagan ni Wicker si Catherine, kanina pa niya ito ti-ne-text. But seems her phone is unattended and got off when he called her right now.
Wicker sighed as if he'd waited for the rest of the night. Palagi niyang sinasabi sa sarili kanina, "The night is still young, she'll be here soon" ngunit magpahanggang ngayon, wala pa ring dumarating miski ang anino nito.
He's anxiously looking at his wristwatch a lot of times. He's absentmindedly swaying his legs waiting for her. Habang tumatagal, tila nawawalan na siya nang pag-asang dumating pa ito.
It's almost past eleven in the evening. Kahit sino, hindi na itutuloy ang dinner night out kung ganoon na ang oras mula sa mismong napag-usapan.
He finally requested a wine. The waiter poured it in his glass and drank it straight to ease and compose his patience. Sino ba namang hindi maiinis, halos tatlong oras ka nang naghintay tapos ganito pa ang mararanasan mo sa iyong kaarawan? It sucks and annoying.
Wicker stood up when the clock hits twelve midnight.
"Great. Just great," he muttered impatiently.
Catherine didn't showed up.
Wicker went home alone still thinking about Catherine. Pang-ilang beses na niya itong ginawa sa kanya. He should've confirm her first, but she promised she'll come. Nagtiwala lang naman sa kanya si Wicker and that is all.
Nakita niya ang kanyang ina na nakatulog sa couch. His mother probably waiting for him. Kung ginugol na lang sana niya ang kanyang kaarawan kasama ito, 'di hindi siya naging malungkot nang ganito.
He dropped his body on his bed tiresomely looking utterly at the ceiling. Nagpabuntong-hininga ito sa nangyari.
"Best birthday . . . ever," he breathed.
He can't sleep the whole night. Kahit pa nakarami siya nang inom ng wine, hindi pa rin nito natumabasan ang pag-iisip niya para tuluyan siyang makatulog.
Umaga na rin noong dapuan siya nang antok at nagising siya sa tunog ng kanyang telepono.
Catherine's calling . . .
He closed his eyes and shook his head. Napakamot pa siya ng kanyang ulo bago tuluyang sinagot ang tawag nito.
"Babe. I'm really sorry! Something came up. Naomi threw a party and pulled me to get along with them. Kahit pa tanggihan ko sila, wala na akong nagawa. Sinundo nila ako para hindi na ako maka-hindi sa kanila. I'm really, really sorry about it. Babe, sana 'wag kang magalit—"
Pinutol nito ang pagsasalita ni Catherine.
"Fuck off," he thought.
"It's fine," what he really said. He took in a deep breath. "We can plan the dinner night out together some other time. We can celebrate it again next year," he continues.
BINABASA MO ANG
Strange Voices of the Dead
Mystery / Thriller"I feel more than infinite with you." When Adrian died, Annara, a student library assistant, began hearing ghostly voices. Later in life, she meets Wicker, who resembles him, and this changes everything, making her realize that those strange voices...
