Subway of Cyberspace (a love beyond internet) ✓

21

Chapter 21

PAGKAGISING KO, sinilip ko si Solitaire kung nandoon pa ba s'ya. Hindi ko alam kung nananadya ba s'ya pero wala na s'ya doon. Gumaganti yata nung ginawa ko sa kanya last February like I left him like a whore. Ang pagkakaiba nga lang gising s'ya nung iwan ko at tulog naman ako nung iwan n'ya ako ngayon. Maaga pa naman ako gumising para takbuhan s'ya but he's the one who ran away. Tinupi pa nga ang higaan. Wow.

Pakealam ko ba pala kung nauna s'ya nagising at iniwan ako agad? Mas mabuti nga iyon diba? Para naman salubungin ko ang umaga na wala s'ya dito. Ano bang pakealam ko kung iniwan n'ya ako? He did this before. What else can I expect?

Bumangon ako, lumabas ng kwarto at bumaba ng sala. I'm planning to go straight home but Nisha, who's up early too, offer me a coffee, like she sense someone is up too. Oh well, what do you know. She knows everything.

"Bakit ang aga mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Nakapulupot pa ang tuwalya sa ulo n'ya at naka bathrobes pa s'ya.

"Work. May bagong case na tinapon sa lamesa ko. Parang ako lang yata ang inspector sa Pilipinas." Walang gana n'yang sabi saka uminom ng kape. "Ikaw? Bakit ang aga mo?"

"Uuwi ako." Sagot ko.

"Make sense." Sabi n'ya.

I drink the hot coffee she stir freshly. Sumimsim ako at naramdaman na hindi na ito mainit sa puntong mapapaso ang dila ko. Nagdadalawang isip ako kung tatanungin ko ba kung anong oras umalis si Solitaire.

"Nauna s'ya magising sa akin. When I went to the kitchen, he's leaving. Kakaalis n'ya lang actually. You're sitting right where he left me." Biglang sabi ni Nisha habang tinitingnan ako ng nakakaloko.

"What the fuck are you? Psychic?" Hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong. I came to my senses so quick I realize it was a dumb question. Napailing ako at sumimsim muli ng kape.

"You're thinking out loud, Patricia. I'm a Police. I know someone when they are guilty."

"Guilty of what?"

"I don't know. I don't know you and Solitaire. I just met him last night. But as a Police and a woman, I trust my guts. I can feel you two have something. Doing your best to ignore  each other and then secretly staring at one's back."

And this is I don't spend time with police. I am innocent but she's making me admit a crime I don't think I did and will be doing. She's good at manipulating and reading people. That's why Potchi likes him so much. Potchi loves Nisha so much. Nisha is a woman who roast thoughts.

Dali-dali kong inubos ang kape ko dahil hindi naman ito mainit na. I don't wanna spend time with her sa umaga, ayokong simulan ang araw ko na sinasapian ng badtrip at pakiramdam na napagkaluaran ng isang manghuhulang may lisensya at baril. Pagkaubos ko ng kape ko ay inilagay ko ito sa lababo. Kinuha ko ang susi sa lalagyan ng wine ni Potchi.

"How was the coffee?" Tanong n'ya.

"Good. Thank you very much. It woke me up." Biro ko. I play my keys between my fingers and start to tie my hair with a rubber band I found in the sink.

"You should. Have you ever ask yourself why that coffee isn't so hot?"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. I turn my gaze on her.

She sip the last ounce of her coffee. "That cup was own by Solitaire. He didn't finish it so I gave it you. Coffee, saliva, kiss. You tasted him."

Napairap lang ako at saka narinig ko s'yang tumawa na para bang ang saya-saya talagang asarin ako.

Potchi, jusko sana naman pag-isipan mo kung papakasalan mo si Vanisha.

Pagdating ko sa bahay, I saw a black and white Ford Rover parked in front. Napailing lang ako saka bumaba ng kotse. She's here again.