21 - Hate
Nagising ako na mag-isa sa guest room nila Winnova. I hurriedly looked for my phone, and my head snapped in the direction when I heard it rang.
Agad akong tumakbo doon at nakitang tumatawag si Mischa.
Ano bang nangyari kagabi? I looked down, and I was still wearing Winnova's dress that I borrowed from her last night.
"Reizo went here before noon. He looked like he went straight here from his flight." She told me. My eyes widened when I heard his name.
"Reizo?" I asked.
"Yes. Reizo asked me where you are. I told him you're at Winnova's. He was about to go there, but his grandfather called him to be at SVD. He told me that he'll fetch you after. Andiyan na ba siya? He should be there now dahil saglitan lang naman daw siya doon sa opisina niya."
Natahimik ako at agad nilibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng kwarto. I saw my dress there already washed. Agad akong nagpalit dahil mas nilalamig ako sa suot kong tube dress.
"Wait. Baka nasa baba. I'll just go down." Agad akong bumaba pero wala akong nakitang Reizo.
Their house helper appeared in the living room. Kita ko pa ang pagkagulat niya nang makita ako doon.
"Ma'am! Naiwan po kayo dito?" She asked me.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Opo. Hindi ba sinabi ni Winnova na natulog ako dito?" She shook her head.
"Ang alam po namin ay umuwi lahat ng bisita kagabi." Baka hindi na rin siguro naipaalam nila Winnova.
Luminga-linga ako sa paligid na mukhang napansin niya. "May hinahanap ka po, Ma'am?" Tanong niya sa akin.
"May nakita po ba kayong lalaki dito kanina?" Mukha siyang nag-isip at lumiwanag ang mga mata niya.
"Ah! Oo, Ma'am. May lalaki dito kanina parang kagigising lang din. Kaso umalis din. Naghanap kasi kanina kung may mga naiwan pa dito pero sabi namin wala dahil akala talaga namin wala ng bisita."
Kagigising? Maybe Reizo woke up from his flight earlier and went to our house before going here immediately. Kaya siguro sabi niya ay kagigising.
"Alam niya ba kung sino 'yon?"
"Hindi, Ma'am eh. Pero ang narinig ko kila Beth kanina, Saavedra daw."
"Saavedra?" Maybe Reizo's here a while ago. Hinanap niya ako at umalis nang akalang wala na ako rito.
"Opo, Ma'am." Lumingon siya sa may kusina. "May itatanong pa po ba kayo, Ma'am? Marami pa po kaing hugasin." Sabi niya sa akin.
"Sila Winnova po nasaan?"
"Tulog po si Ma'am Winnova at ayaw pong paistorbo. Ang umalis na alam ko ay 'yong kaibigan niyong dalawa pang babae."
Tumango ako sa kanya. "Sige po. Salamat po."
I called Mischa again. "Ano? Nandiyan?"
"No. He's not here anymore."
"Huh? Pero nandiyan kanina?"
"I think so..." Mababa kong sabi at umupo sa couch nila dahil nakaramdam na naman ng hilo.
"Hindi ka pa uuwi?" Mischa asked.
"Huh?" I was too disoriented that I just managed that word to slip out of my mouth.
Rinig ko ang paghinga niya nang malalim. "Uuwi ka na ba?"
"Hindi ko alam mag-commute." Sabi ko sa kanya.
"Okay. I'll get you there." She was cut off. But spoke again afterwards. "Wait lang, Kaela. Someone's here. Huwag mong ibababa ang tawag titignan ko lang kung sino ang dumating."
BINABASA MO ANG
Drop in the Ocean (Upper East Side Three)
General FictionHome is not a place. It is always a feeling. We always feel at home with the person we love the most. We feel the sense of comfort inside their arms... But in my case, home is no longer available. He's my home, but when I lost him, I lost my home. I...
