Chapter 21 #jttwbs
Iniwan ako ni Fern sa isang tabi habang kausap nila ang lalaking may hawak na puting sobre. I watched Fern's back as if I'm trapped in some trance.
His answer back there kept on repeating in my head as my cheeks basked in the red hue coming from the strobe lights, exactly how they would appear even without it.
Napatuwid ako ng likod matapos tuluyang maunawaan ang nangyari. I muttered a curse as I hurried blending myself in the crowd.
Isa ang sigurado ako. Lalong hindi ko na naman siya kayang harapin!
Nahirapan akong hanapin si Camara na galing sa CR noong nagkita kami. She's too surprised to see me, like the memory of her bringing a plus-one tonight is in the trash bin beside the doorway.
And maybe Fern understood. Kasi kahit tapos na sila, at nagkatinginan kami mula sa magkabilang banda, hindi na siya nagtangkang lumapit ulit.
I'm with Camara the rest of the night. If only she didn't excuse herself later on. Sasapit na ang oras ng curfew, hindi pa rin siya bumalik.
Saan ba 'yon nagpupunta? Hindi naman gaano malaki ang lugar pero hindi ko siya makita-kita!
Rara:
Hey lets go home. Nasa baba na ko.
I pulled myself up and immediately headed out, fighting the urge of checking on the four's whereabouts. Kahit plakda na si Luis, umiwas ako sa mesa hanggang sa makalabas. Tinahak ko ang hagdanan kasama ang ilan ding umaakyat o baba.
"Ayan na, ayan na. Bilis," I heard when I'm down to the last metal step.
My foot suspended in the air as I searched for the source of that quiet fuss. Pinagkait ng dilim ng gabi ang mukha ng apat na nakasandal sa pader malapit sa dulo ng hagdanan. But I could still recognize them.
Akala ko... nasa taas pa sila.
"Lapitan mo na, 'tol, ano ba? Ang daming lamok dito, maawa ka," anang iritadong boses ni Keno.
Pinagtutulak nila si Fern palapit sa direksyon ko.
Fern pushed himself off the wall and advanced a step but his body stilled after only three steps. One shove from Marion sent him more.
Then he resumed on his own, the glow provided by the moon above slowly but subtly revealing his face.
Itinuloy ko naman ang lakad, lumilingon-lingon sa paligid. Hindi ko siya hinihintay 'no... Hinahanap ko si Camara!
Pero huminto rin ako agad nang nasa tapat ko na siya.
After we both stood face to face, he gripped on the top of his head as he glanced at the three over his shoulder. Parang nagpapatagal kasi hindi pa handa na harapin ako.
"May tanong daw si Fern, Eri!" sabi ni Caelan mula sa kinatatayuan nila.
Kumunot ang noo ko.
I wondered as I stared at his jawline being highlighted as the moon casted on it, more so when it ticked. Mukhang nairita na inunahan siya ni Caelan.
Suot niya sa isang braso ang itim na guitar bag. His hold on the strap, resting above his plain gray shirt, was slightly tight as how it looked. Medyo lumuwag nang bumaling na ulit siya sa akin.
Isinuksok niya sa bulsa ng jeans ang nakakapit sa buhok kanina. "Hi... Pwede ba tayong mag-usap?"
May naramdaman akong nagbunyi sa loob ko. Mag-uusap. Kami. Mag-uusap kami! I longed for that!
Pero naalala ko rin agad ang nakalipas lang na nangyari. Siguro naramdaman niyang nasa options ko ang umiwas kaya nagsalita siya agad.
"Eri, I'm sorry."
BINABASA MO ANG
Just the Ticket
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