Lan Danaya : Ang Paggising

VI

Dali dali kong pinindot ang log out button sa telephone. At last I can end my misery. Seven and a half hours kaya along halos di gumagalaw sa kinauupuan ko dahil siya ang katabi ko. When I hear him talk to his clients over the phone, seems like music to my ears. I just love it but I dont want him to notice at all...

But I guess it kinda obvious.

I hurriedly reached for the elevator thats about to close, then I kept pressing the Ground Flr button... Just when its about to close when a hand grabbed the elevator door and successfully opened it again.

Its Him... Its the guy that made this shift a beautiful nightmare. Well alangan naman sabihab ko siyang wag pumasok... Inayos ko ang pag kakakabit ng shoulder bag ko as he entered. Im behind him. Unti unti akong lumingon sa gilid ng elevator and saw my reflection on the metal wall... Thanks God at hindi magulo ang buhok ko.

When the elevator door closed, a manly scent enveloped the room. Mukhang nagawa pa niyang magspray ng pabango. Pakiramdam ko akap akap ko siya nang oras na iyon.

Mas matangkad siya saken ng konti. Siguro mga 5'9" siya. Kahit nasa likod niya ako i can see his muscles and fit body even if its covered by his thick cottony black shirt.

Then he placed earphone on his ear mukhang may tumatawag ata sa kanya...

"Hey babe wazzup?..." he said, low tone pero dinig na dinig ko dahil nasa elevator pa kami..

BABE???!!... He is calling someone babe? May jowa siya....?

Aray....

"Yeah lets meet this weekend.."

Mukhang may date pa ata... hmp... baket kelangan marinig ko pa to lahat.

"Yeah... working on it... I really need to go... love yah..."

And that confirms it all.. He is taken....

Halos nawala ako sa ulirat when I heard that conversation until the elevator door opens. Ground floor na at last... end of torture.

He quickly disappeared after the door opens. Mukhang nagmamadali. Ano naman pakealam ko dun. May jowa na siya... thats a fact... time to move on... hindi lang siya ang nag iisang lalake sa mundo noh.

I decided not to take a ride. Hindi naman mainit... makulimlim ang panahon mukhang may bagyo... malakas ang hangin pero pabugso bugso ito AT wala namang ulan.

Di ako dumaan sa lagi kong dinadaanan... I took the long way instead.. Gusto kong daanan ung tahimik at mapuno na kalsada. I need a breather...

As I pass this street madami kasi akong naiisip.. life, career, friends, family but this time its him...

I find him so mysterious... well ung nangyari kanina that I heard his voice without him even opening his mouth is kinda wierd but he is wierder. Hindi naman ako panget why would he not at least find a way so ill feel comfortable sitting next to him.

But on the other hand why would he??? Baka ako lang naman talaga ang may problema... Baka im just trying to make myself uncomfortable where in fact i can always feel at ease.

Suddenly i felt raindrops gently falling... bigla ding umihip ang napakalakas na hangin...

"Oh shit... Toyang is here." Ang bagyo na ibinalita sa tv na paparating..

Huminto muna ako at nagpalilim sa isang malaking puno ng acacia... dali dali kong binuksan ang body bag ko at hinanap ang payong...

Lumalakas na ang ulan at wala nang nagagawa ang puno para protektahan ako.. i can feel my shirt getting wet and still i couldnt find my umbrella halos ilabas ko na ang laman ng bag...

Then i felt a cover... Parang may kung anong sumukob saken.. i notced someone is behind me. I quickly turned around and saw him holding a big black umbrella.

"Let me take you home." He said...

I couldnt say a word. Di ko alam anong sasabihin ko. I just stared at him with heart pounding.

"Ok... lumalakas na ang ulam at hangin so its either we get wet here or ill take you home...."

"Umm... no im fine... may payong naman ako..." mabilis kong sagot sa kanya.

"I didnt see any."

"Well..." hinahalukay ko na naman ang bag ko.. "its here... somewhere.."

"Look... malaki naman tong payong ko... we'll fit..." offer niya... pero ayoko... ayokong makasama siya pauwi...

"Well... unfortunately I forgot my umbrella... but.... i have this..." inilabas ko ang extra t shirt ko na nasa loob ng bag.

"A shirt..." sabi niya..

" Yup..." i covered it on top of my head... "thanks for the offer" dali dali na akong naglakad...

Nagthank you naman ako sa kanya, i dont think im rude... but thats close... though i felrmt relieved somehow may regret din akong naramdaman... that could be a start but i didnt grab it...

Lumiko na ako agad sa Crispin St.. dalawang kanto na lang from the house... Tahimik ang subdivision... Wala kasing pasok ang schools at government because of the storm... Then i slowly walked again... i can feel rainwater dripping on my cheeks but i dont care...

Then i heard footsteps behind me... I gazed and saw Ken just 3 meters away walking with his black umbrella... He saw me looking at him and he stopped and he gave me a smile...

Is he following me?

Dali dali na akong naglakad and again my heart is pounding... I can still hear his footsteps and kahit anong bilis ng lakad ko seems like his footsteps is getting nearer..

Then i turned my back and looked at him... He stopped and looked at me and smiled again... one hand holding the umbrella and the other on the side pocket of his white jacket...

"Are you following me?" I asked... medyo may tapang sa boses...

Tinanggal niya ang earphones niya.

"Im sorry?" He replied.. mukhang di ata ako nadinig...

"I said are you following me?" I asked again medyo nakataas na ang kilay...

"No... " he simply answered..

I gave him a look head to foot... just in case rape-in niya ako ma idescribe ko siya sa pulis... i turned around and continue walking...

Dali dali akong lumiko sa Padre Damaso St.. alam ko may mga tao dito kasi may nagtitinda dito ng ulam so kung ano mang balak niya di niya matutuloy... pero sa kasawiang palad sarado ito kaya dali dali na lang akong naglakad pero nadidinig ko pa rin na nakabuntot siya sa akin...

Shet katapusan ko na ba... baka serial killer to ng mga birhen na gaya ko... pero kung rape lang naman baka papayag na ako... pero pano kung i chop chop niya ako after...

Kung ano ano na lang naiisip ko hangang sa napuno na ako... i gathered every courage... i have to confront this guy...

I turned to him again..

"Ano ba talaga problema mo baket....." di ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko... i saw him opening a blue painted gate.... " you live there?"

"Yeah..." maiksing sagot niya..

"Ahhh oo-,ok." Pahiya ng konti... "i live there" sabay turo ko sa street kung saan ung bahay namin.

"Ok nice to know....." then he gave me a look. "You might want to borrow this" sabay abot niya ng payong..

"No im ok malapit na lang naman. I ss-should go now..."