Wonder Wall (Touch #4)

Chapter 23

“Ang mapagkakatiwalaan sa maliit na bagay ay mapagkakatiwalaan din sa malaking bagay.” – Lucas 16:10

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Chapter 23

Julia

He’s hiding something from me. 

Hindi kami stable ni Adam. On and off ang relationship namin. We were discreet. We flirted in front of our friends but they didn’t have any idea how far we went to. Or maybe they knew but didn’t matter at all. Sa trabaho, professional kami. Kapag trabaho, trabaho lang. Kapag kailangan namin ng sex, alam namin kung sino ang tatakbuhan. We ended up in the common comfort room in the office’s building and almost caught. But still, Adam was my steady lover. 

Not until these past few weeks, he slowly changing. 

It bothered me. Big time. Hindi ako naghahanap ng ibang lalaki. I entertained admirers but I didn’t let myself be kissed by them. I had this, loyalty to him. I started to have feelings for him. Ngayong mas gusto kong itaas ang level ng relasyon namin, saka naman siya nanlalamig sa akin. 

The last time we had sex was two weeks ago. We did only once. Hindi na siya interisado ulit. Tinawanan ko lang noong una. Baka pagod lang si Adam sa trabaho. And maybe, he was still thinking about Achilles and his recent marriage with Iris. He couldn’t believe what happened to him. He married that funny woman. Worst, he got her pregnant. I knew how careful Achilles when it comes to sexual relationship. I heard some women trying to corner him by having his child but they couldn’t. If there was any certain about Iris, I knew for sure, Achilles intended to get her pregnant. 

To despise Adam? It was still a mystery for me. But I had a feeling, there were something I didn’t know.

Ever since, there was a silent competition between of those men. There was a silent war for years. And they used everything or everyone to reach their goal and get a golden trophy. Iris was just a trophy. 

I sighed and raised my fist to knock again. I knocked the door three times. No answer. Another three times. There was still no answer. I sighed with exasperation. Inirapan ko ang nakasaradong pinto. Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa bulsa ng maong jeans ko at dinayal ang numero ni Jeric. After two rings, he answered. 

“Where’s Adam?” bungad ko sa kanya. 

He was halted. Then answered me. “Hindi ko alam. Ilang araw ko na siyang hindi nakakausap,” 

Napapikit ako. Hinilot ko ang noo at tinalikuran ang pinto ng unit. “It’s only ten AM. Nasa labas ako ng unit niya pero walang sumasagot. May iba pa ba siyang pinagkakaabalahan?” I asked him with seethe of anger and taste of desperation. My throat tightened. 

I heard Jeric’s sigh. “Wala akong alam sa ginagawa ni Adam, Julia. Why don’t you call him or text him you’re there? Kayong dalawa etong palaging magkasama,” 

“Kung alam ko, hindi na sana kita tinawagan.” 

“Then call Achilles.”

I scoffed and started to walk away from Adam’s unit. “It will be the end of the world if Achilles knows everything about him.”

“Then I can’t help you.”

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at bumuntong hininga. “I’m sorry, Jeric. Naiinis lang ako,” I looked back at the closed door. 

He chuckled. “I understand. Try to leave a message instead,” 

“Okay. Thanks.” 

“Welcome.” 

Pinatay ko ang tawag. Leave a message? Okay. Why not. Bumalik ako sa harap ng pinto. Inside my branded bag, I took out my mini notebook and pen. I flipped the pages until there was blank page available and wrote;