Matagal nang kilala ni June ang mga magulang ni Cornelia bago pa man siya magpakilala sa mga ito.
Ilang beses na rin niyang nakikita ang nanay ni Cornelia sa bahay ng tiyahin niya tuwing may pinapalaba ito. Every other Saturday, he'd go there to help with their online business since they needed his artistry during product pictorials. Of course, as much as June wanted to start a conversation with Cornelia's mother, wala siyang pagkakataon dahil abala ito sa paglalaba.
Baka isipin pa feeling close siya.
Madalas naman silang nagkakasabay sa jeep ng tatay ni Cornelia, tuwing umuuwi ito. At that same hour, June would either be going home or going to the nearest bookstore for art supplies. Nalaman lang niyang tatay siya ni Cornelia nang makita ang graduation photo nito noong elem sa wallet niya, carefully kept between old receipts and discount coupons.
Nahulog ang picture na 'yon dati noong dumukot ito ng perang pambayad. June, being the closest Good Samaritan to him, readily picked it up.
"Ay, pasensya na, hijo... Salamat."
In the end, June could only smile, a bit nervous upon realizing he was sitting next to the girl of his dream's father.
It reminds him of that "universal connection" they discussed in philosophy class a few months back. Ang sabi ng propesor nila, konektado ang lahat ng mga bagay. Every object is connected to something else which is also connected to others---an endless chain. And interestingly, these chains are also connected, in a sense that nothing can stand by itself. Nakadepende ang existence ng isa sa existence ng iba.
Nakakatuwa.
Nakakatakot.
'That means every human is connected to another one,' June thought. Huminga siya nang malalim at, sa wakas, kumatok sa pinto.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Wala pang ilang segundo, agad itong bumukas.
"May nahanap na po ba kayong lead tungkol kay---! A-Ay, pasensya na." Cornelia's mother bursted out of the front door, startling him. Nang makita ng ginang si June, she quickly tried to make an effort to look presentable.
Pero kahit na pasimple nitong ayusin ang buhok at damit niya, hindi nito matatago ang pagod at pag-aalala sa kanyang mga mata.
The smile didn't even reach her eyes.
"Classmate ka ba ni Elia?"
"O-Opo. Paano mo po nalaman?"
Napasulyap ito kamay niya. June realized that he still hand acrylic paint stains on his fingers.
"Ganyan din si Elia tuwing umuuwi. That's why I remind her to wash it off before eating dinner... Pero hindi ko na nasabi sa kanya," her voice suddenly broke. "At hindi ko na alam kung masasabi ko pa ulit sa kanya."
June felt sorry for her. Hindi niya alam kung anong eksaktong nangyari o kung paanong nawala sa sarili niyang kwarto si Cornelia, but he's now more than ready to get to the bottom of this.
She can't just vanish like that, right?
"Kaibigan din po ako ng anak ninyo... I'm sorry about what happened, pero gusto ko po sanang tumulong para malutas ang kasong ito. Kung papayagan po ninyo, I'll help find your daughter." June was even surprised he didn't stutter. Hindi niya alam kung saan nagmumula ang confidence na 'to, but it doesn't matter right now.
Finding Cornelia is what's important, and June is willing to dedicate himself in investigating her disappearance.
Sandaling tinitigan ng nanay ni Cornelia si June, tila ba hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi nito. Tatanggihan pa sana nito ang tulong, pero tila ba parang may nagbago sa pananaw niya nang makita ang determinasyon sa mga mata ng binata.
She stepped back and opened the door wider, inviting him in.
Now, June could see the man sitting on a sofa, half-listening to their conversation, half-trying to act like his attention was on a random TV commercial.
Albeit the evident lack of sleep and exhaustion, Cornelia's mother smiled.
"Pasok ka muna, 'nak. Maraming salamat sa pagpunta mo rito..."
Now being in the same room as her parents, June finally saw the resemblance. Naupo siya sa isang bakanteng sopa at inilapag ang kanyang bag sa tabi. His eyes drifted to the sole picture of Cornelia, taken a few years back when she won an art competition. There he was in the background, the younger June staring at her like she was everything.
June smiled at the memory.
'She is everything and so much more.'
Taking in a deep breath, he faced at her parents. Walang pagdadalawang-isip niyang itinaya ang lahat.
Even if he had to lie about being friends with her.
"Hindi po ako titigil hangga't hindi natin nahahanap si Cornelia."
---
BINABASA MO ANG
✔ Dreamcaster
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