T.L. Ako Sa'yo

Chapter 43 (Stranger)

Arkin's POV

The car pulled off in front of me. I was like a statue with my phone still in my ears. Wala na pala akong kausap sa kabilang linya. Nagbukas ang pinto ng sasakyan.

Lumabas mula sa harap ang isang lalaki. He went at the back of the car at pagbalik niya ay tinutulak na niya ang isang wheelchair. Napalunok ako. Para akong nanunuod ng isang suspense na movie. Hindi ko alam ang mga susunod na mangyayari. My chest was pounding and I felt like my heart is gonna come off my chest. Binuksan niya ang pintuan. Hindi ko nakita ang ginagawa niya sapagkat natatakpan siya ng pintuan ng kotse. Pigil ang hininga ko. Naramdaman ko ang malamig na pawis na tumulo mula sa noo ko. Then like a suspense movie, sinara nung lalaki ang pinto ng kotse revealing the view. The view of a man sitting in a wheelchair.

I looked at the stranger. He was wearing dark clothes. The only color different from his clothing is the silver wheelchair. He was holding his cellphone at his right hand while his left hand rested on his lap. His gaze was deadly and it's towards me. Napalunok ako. Tuloy parin ang tagaktak ng pawis ko. parang slow motion ang paglapit niya sa akin.

He was staring at me like he was a serial killer in that suspense movie. And I was the victim running away from him, but it's too late, because he saw me, and I have nowhere to run.

Dahan-dahang tinulak nung lalaki yung wheelchair. The whole time we were staring at each other. The closer he gets, I felt like I'm close to my grave. Nang almost 1 meter na ang layo niya sa akin, sumenyas siya sa lalaki na iwanan  kaming dalawa. Agad bumalik yung lalaki sa loob ng kotse. Binaligan niya ulit ako ng tingin. There was defeaning silence.

"What a pleasant surprise eh." Wika niya breaking the silence.

"T-Trev..." I couldn't even say his name.

Akala ko ready na ako for this day, this day that I can talk  to him, that I could at least see him, and apologize to him, the day when everything will finally be okay, but I was wrong. He stared at me again, studying me. I stared at him too.

Just like I've imagined him to be, he grew up to be a strong-willed guy. Kamukha niya si tito Jaime. Ibang-iba na siya. The sweet little boy I knew before, he's now this tough-looking guy in front of me and I felt like I'm staring at a stranger. Nakahawak siya sa wheelchair niya. He gazed at me in a strange way and I can't even explain the feeling.

"Oh, sorry for the surprise. I was going to visit you tomorrow but I can't wait." Wika niya.

"Nakabalik ka na pala..." that was the only thing I can manage to say, I'm still shocked.

"I was so excited to be here, I even went here straight from the airport to see you. And you should be touched, you're the first person I came to see as soon as I came back."

"I'm glad you're back."

"Yes, ito naman ang gusto mo diba? Ilang beses naring sinabi ni Yana sa akin that you wanted to see me. You wanted to talk to me. So here I am. You happy?" saad niya.

"I'm really glad you came back. It's been a long time and..."

"Yes it is, it's been a long time. In fact, it's been seven f*cking years." Pagpuputol niya sa sinasabi ko.

Natahimik ako. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. On top of that, I'm very tired, hungry, I think I loss all of my strength to even stand up.

"I'm sorry." yan nalang ang lumabas sa bibig ko. "I'm just... I'm so sorry."

"Sorry is a nice word, but that word can never bring back time. It can never bring back everything into place. Sometimes sorry isn't just enough." Wika niya glaring at me.