What He Feels

-7-

Chapter 7:

The duty went smoothly. Tuluyan ko nang natanggal sa isip ko ‘yung tungkol kay Rachelle at Kiro. Or natanggap ko nang dapat na magkaroon na ng girlfriend si Kiro.

From: Angela Collins

Emergency meeting, girls. After ng duty ni Dandan. :<

I narrowed my eyes at the text. Nalaman na kaya niya ang tungkol kina Helena at Kevin? Bakit siya bigla-biglaang nagpatawag ng meeting?

It ten o’clock. Isang oras na lang at matatapos na ang duty ko.

To: Angela Collins

What happened?

I tapped on the chart as I waited for her to reply. Kinakabahan ako. Paano kung nalaman na niya? I couldn’t even imaine how devastated she would be.

From: Angela Collins

It’s about Mom. I need you later, Dandan. Please, I can’t decide what to do.

I can sense urgency in her message. I was rather shocked na hindi ito about Helena and Kevin. Gusto ko nang sabihin sa kanya pero natatakot ako. I don’t want to ruin such beautiful relationship.

And besides, they’ve been at it for seven years. Maybe wala na silang itinatago sa isa’t isa. I hope. But with the way Kevin reacted sa ER kanina, I doubt it.

Malamang ay wala pa ring alam si Angela.

To: Angela Collins

Yes. I’ll be there after duty. Relax ka lang.

I don’t know kung anong problema na naman ito. Hindi ko rin alam dapat ko bang sabihin ‘yung tungkol kina Kevin and Helena and their engagement. I’m torn in between. I’m friends with both of them and I don’t know kung sino ang dapat kong protektahan.

An hour passed like a second and I was there, waiting for Manong Ver sa harap sa St. Martin. Siya na lang ang maghahatid sa akin sa bahay nina Angela.

He arrived after a few minutes and we revved to Angela’s house.

“Itetext ko na lang po kayo kung magpapasundo ako or baka mag-overnight na lang ako doon.” I told Manong Ver.

He nodded. “Sige, Ma’am.” He replied.

I smiled and told him to drive safely. Well, he always does. Ten years na siyang driver naming at hindi pa kami naaksidente kahit minsan kapag siya ang nagda-drive.

I entered Angela’s house at nadatnan kong nandoon rin sina Kiro and the boys. And with Luigi’s cute girls. Gusto kong magtaka pero wala na akong panahon para magtanong kung anong ginagawa nila dito.

I glanced at Kevin who was sitting beside Angela, his arm’s wrapped around her shoulders. Wala. Hindi tungkol kina Kevin at Helena ang pag-uusapan namin.

Kevin looked at me meaningfully. Alam ko ang ibig niyang sabihin. I shut my eyes and sighed. Okay. My mouth’s closed on that topic.

I sat at the other side of Angela. “What’s happening?” I asked her.

She looked at me sadly. “Mom wants me to go back to California this Friday. This Friday na agad.” She told me.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Bakit daw?”

She shrugged. “Hindi ko rin alam. Basta ang sabi niya dapat nasa California na ako ng Sunday.” Inihilamos niya ang kamay niya sa mukha niya.

I looked at Anika. Hindi ko alam kung alam nila ang tungkol kina Kevin at Helena. I looked at Luigi and he’s looking as problematic as the rest. Siguro ay wala silang alam.