(a short continuation of)
CHAPTER THREE
“A year ago one of my tenant ordered food online and it came around 10 in the night, but, morning came and the tenant occupying beside reported her missing. Up until now the police and her family are still looking for her, so I warn you don’t order food past the curfew hour that is stated on the handbook I gave.”
“Don’t you have CCTVs?” I asked and looked at the CCTV just above the entrances door, it’s impossible leaving the building if you don’t use the entrance.
“Yan din ang pinagtataka ko dahil hindi talaga makakalabas ang tao dito hanggat hindi sila dumadaan sa pinto na iyan.” Magtatanong pa sana ako pero nagpaalam na siya dahil may dumating na lalaki, umaalis na lang ako at nagtungo sa pupuntahan ko.
“Ate, Ate masusunog na iyan!” nagising ako at napalingon kay Ian na nasa likod ko lang, ningusuan niya ang nasa harapan ko kaya agad kong pinatay ang apoy nito at tinanggal ang kawali. Napalalim ata ang pag iisip ko,
“What were you thinking about ate?” tanong ni Ian na nandito pa rin sa gilid ko, nilapag ko na lang sa plato na dala niya ang nalutong nuggets. Napatinggala ako ng unti lang naman upang tingnan ang mukha niya, mas matangkad kasi siya ng limang pulgada.
“Wala, I just remembered about something.” Nakangiti kong sagot, tumango lang siya at pumunta na sa lamesa para ihain ang ulam. Kumuha na lang ako ng baso at pitsel bago pumunta sa lamesa, nagsalin ako at uminom. I miss someone, parang kulang kasi ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. I sighed and shoved my face on my arms sitting on the table, something is missing.
“Ate are you okay?”
“Hmmm…” sagot ko at pumikit, I sighed again to get rid this sudden heavy feeling. Iidlip lang muna ako ng sandali, hihintayin ko na lang sila matapos.
“Wake me up when you’re done.” Sagot ko at hindi nagtagal ay nakatulog ako.
THIRD POV
“Son, here’s your food.” A woman in her forties said as she knock behind her son’s door, she sighed when no response is received. Nilapag niya na lang sa sahig ang tray na dala niya at malungkot na umaalis sa harapan ng pinto ng kanyang anak, pagkalayo niya ay sumilip naman ang kanyang anak at tahimik na kinuha ang tray at ipinasok sa loob.
Isinara niya ang pinto at sumandal doon, napasandal siya at walang bahid ng emosyon ang mukha niyang tiningnan ang tray na puno ng pagkain. Huminga siya ng malalim at kinuha ang plato at sinimulang kainin, kung titingnan ang kanyang kalagayan ay para siyang bilanggo na isang taon na hindi pinapalabas at pinapakain.
Magulo, makalat at madilim ang kwarto, ganyan makikita ang kalagayan ng paligid. Palagi naman ito nililinis ng kanyang ina pero isang beses lang sa isang linggo ito nagyayari, tuwing lumalabas ito ng bahay.
“Hon, how long are we going to slide this attitude he shows?” tanong nito pagkarating niya sa living room, kabababa niya lang galing sa hagdanan kaya napatingin sa kanya ang kanyang asawa na nanonood ng T.V. Sininyasan niya ang kanyang asawa na lumapit sa tabi niya kaya agad itong naglakad at sumiksik sa tabi nito, hinaplos nito ang buhok at hinalikan sa noo.
“Let him think, may pinagdadaanan lang ang anak natin kaya dapat natin intindihin.”
“But it’s been a year now, hindi man lang natin alam kung ano ba ang nangyari.” Sabi nito at umaalis sa pagkakasandal sa kanyang asawa, she who the mother is doesn’t even know what her son is sulking for.
“Have you forgotten about the Falcon’s current situation?”
“I didn’t, pero hindi yun rason na magmumukmok siya sa kwarto niya ng isang buong taon,” sagot nito at nag crossarms, she’s worried about his son’s situation and also about the Falcon family.
“Hays… lets go sleep, he will be sent to school tomorrow so don’t worry. Maybe there, he’ll change.” Pagsuko niyang saad, pinatay na niya ang television at inalalayan ang kanyang asawa papunta sa kanilang kwarto upang matulog.
Mahimbing na ang tulog ng mga tao sa bahay ng pagsapit ng eight-thirty sa gabi pero gising na gising pa rin ang diwa ng nagiisang anak ng mag asawang Chua, mulat na mulat ang mata habang tanaw ang madilim na langit na tila uulan.
“Where are you?” tanong nito sa kawalan, walang emosyon sa mukha pero unti-unting nanunubig ang kanyang mata hanggang sa tuloy-tuloy itong dumusdus sa kanyang pisnge pababa sa maputla niyang labi.
Palagi ganito ang kanyang ginagawa, sa nagdaang labing tatlong buwan palagi siyang tahimik na umiiyak habang tanaw ang langit. It’s unusual I know, but, can you blame him? He’s hurt and longing for his best friend’s presence, it’s a way he express himself.
“It’s been years, six long years before I even remember you.” Sabi niya at napangiti ng tipid, tinakpan niya ang kanyang mukha at pinunasan ang kanyang luha. He sighed and cuddled a blue small teddy bear, it was a gift from his best friend. Just so you know the best friend I’m pertaining here is a girl, he cries for a reason and it’s because he is a human too with feelings.
“Are you still waiting for me? Or maybe you don’t remember me anymore.” Malungkot niyang saad habang maingat na hinahaplos ang ulo ng teddy bear, he has forgotten her for six long years and it’s been two years that he hasn’t seen here. The last time he saw her was the day that deal was terminated, niyakap niya nang mahigpit ang teddy bear at nagtago sa ilalim ng kumot.
“I wish and hope that when we meet again, you still remember me.” He said as he lay in bed and drift to sleep, as soon as he slumber the clouds starts to pour rain.
And that night onwards they are bound to meet again, but, in a very sneaky way that not even a slightest hint will be revealed just to trace that event. Or maybe some of you may see some either hidden or clearly shown in a funny way? I guess.
As soon as the night ends and another day starts, one day left and JH University is about to open their gates.
