Heart in Disguise (Heart Series #2)

N I N E T E E N

Gaya ng nakasanayan namin ni Lucas, tuwing umaga ay nagluluto ako para sa kanya. Siya naman ay inaasikaso bawat mga kailangan niya para sa pag-alis niya. Nang matapos naman ako sa ginagawa ko sa loob ay lumabas ako ng bahay upang magwalis ng mga natuyong dahon na nakakalat sa bakuran ng bahay.

Doing these things helped me fight against boredom. Nakakatuwa naman kasi talagang maglinis lalo na kapag walang pipigil sayo. Also, tidying up is pretty nice when no one’s trying to tell you what to do.

I was humming while cleaning the yard. I heard the dogs barking. They probably saw some people who are coming near the house. I will wait na lang na magsalita ang taong iyon. Besides, may mga kapit-bahay naman kami, I’m pretty sure na bisita iyon ng kapit-bahay. Hindi naman kasi tatahol ang mga aso kapag kami ang nakikita. They know us.

The barking of the dogs stopped. Napatigil din ako sa ginagawa. Tumingin ako sa paligid pero wala namang dumaan. Though, I do not know if dumaan na ba dahil nasa likod ako ng bahay.

“Zevi? May naghahanap sayo.” Tawag sa akin ni Lucas.

My creased forehead. Sino naman ang maghahanap sa akin?

But then my heart started to hammer. If there’s someone who will look for me, I know that it’s my parents. Or maybe, my friends.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad patungo sa harap ng bahay. Every steps that I make, I feel like I am going to fall from a cliff. I feel so anxious. Para akong bibitayin.

Is it my parents? Is it my friends? Kung ang mga magulang ko ang naroroon, they’ll probably throw hurtful words at me again. And I know that I do not have any right to stop them. Dahil kahit saang banda tingnan, tama ang gagawin nila.

As soon as I reached the front of the house, I was hesitant if I should raise my head and look at the person who’s looking for me. But eventually, tumingin na rin ako.

My heart beats wild. My eyes began to get teary.

He’s there. Standing in front of Lucas’ house. I could see a lot of emotions in his eyes. I could see how he missed me.

“Philip.” Bulong ko.

I saw him looked down to my stomach. Then he looked straight to my eyes. Right now, I could see longing in his eyes.

“Zevi, hinahanap ka niya. Sino ba itong lalaking ito?” tanong sa akin ni Lucas.

But I stayed silent. I don’t know how to answer him. Now, that I could see confusion and fear in Lucas' eyes.

I saw Philip looked at my hand. Doon sa may hawak na walis at dustpan. I forgot to leave it at the backyard dahil sa sobrang kaba. I saw how his forehead creased upon seeing the broomstick and the dustpan on my hand.

“Zevi, sino ba ‘tong lalaking ‘to? Sumagot ka naman, oh. Naguguluhan na ako, eh,” ani Lucas.

“Don’t call her ‘Zevi'. She’s ‘Phaebe Zevierre' and not ‘Zevi'.” May banta na sabi ni Philip.

“Eh, sino ka ba? Ano ba ang ginagawa mo dito? Anong kailangan mo sa asawa ko?” Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Lucas.

Kita ko ang pag-igting ng panga ni Philip nang marinig niya ang sinabi ni Lucas. His eyes darkened as if he’s going to do something that I wouldn’t like.

“What is this motherfucker saying, Z?” Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang banta sa boses ni Philip.

Mas lalong bumangon ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Para akong hindi makahinga. I do not even know how to answer him. Because I couldn’t give him a proper reason kung bakit ako nasa bubong ni Lucas.