Softly, you whisper

Eight

Eight

"What do you mean she's not here?" I asked Isaac when he told me that Nori's not at work today.

"Nag-text sa akin kanina na hindi makakapasok sa trabaho. Hindi ba't magkaibigan kayo? Bakit hindi mo alam?" He gave me a narrow look.

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Pursing my lips, I fished out my phone from my pocket. Hinanap ko ang pangalan ni Nori sa contacts. As I was about to call her, a message popped up on top of the screen. Nakita ko ang pangalan niya kaya agad-agad kong binasa.

I was biting my lip as I read her message. Sinabi niyang hindi siya makakapasok ngayon sa trabaho dahil may gagawin sa school. She said that she might go home with her classmates.

She wasn't close with them kaya bakit siya sasabay roon? Unless, Margie or Margo is in the group, of course, they'll take her home.

I cannot resist not sending her a reply. Kaya mabilisan ang ginawa kong pagtatanong kung sa school lang ba sila gagawa ng project nila o ano.

Nori:
Sa school lang, Zo :)

What's with the smiley? Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. I stood up as soon as Isaac went back to my table. Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Aalis ka na agad?"

"Yeah. Gotta go." I answered in haste.

I hurriedly went outside of the pub. Ang kotse ko ay nasa gilid ng basketball gym. When I asked Mom to let me use a car again, she said it was okay for me to use it everyday. Kung iyon daw ang gusto ko ay papayagan na niya so that it won't be a hassle to Manong Ayda. May trabaho pa rin naman siya roon sa bahay. Manong Ayda works as a different man in the house, minsan driver, gardener at kung anu-ano pang pwedeng gawin. He was an all-around man.

I found myself driving towards College of St. Fatima. This private school wasn't as big as SFU. I have been here when we had a basketball match against their varsity team. Nilibot namin ni Vernon noong may oras pa kami. They've got nice and clean facilities and fewer students compared to SFU.

I took in a visitor's pass ID. Iniwan ko rin ang school ID ko sa guard nila para makapasok. Hindi naman naiiba ang school uniform ko sa kanila. Their senior high uniform was the same as ours. Ang pinagkaiba lang ay ang logo na nasa gilid ng aming puting polo.

I remember Nori telling me that she was a STEM student. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano bang section niya. Their Senior High is also separated from the College so it was easy to recognize where SHS students would stay.

I wasn't ashamed to ask about Nori. Some of them do not know her so I had to walk around more. Itinuro nila ako sa hanay ng STEM classrooms para mabilis ko raw mahanap.

When I went there and asked for Norine Ahava, they specifically told me that she did not go to class today. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. I even asked for Margie and Margo at sinabing nakauwi na ang mga ito, considering that it was already past 4:30.

Dismayado akong lumabas ng CSF. I kept on asking why Nori had to lie to me about it. May naging problema ba sa bahay nila at ayaw niya akong malaman iyon? Well, it was too late for her because I was now curious. Even more curious now because she lied to me.

Is it the first time that she ever lied to me? Kung nagsinungaling man siya noon, saan nga bang banda? How would I even know? I thought that Nori was an open book but she was still full of mystery. Everyday...she was getting deeper and deeper that I had to dive in, to know her...and maybe save her from whatever she's facing.

I found myself driving in front of their subdivision. I almost kissed my steering wheel as I passed the guards. I tried to recall where Nori took a turn when I took her home that night. I knew something happened to her...or her family. Maybe she had a fight with her Mom and she's grounded. At kasalanan ko iyon.