Collide / [Park Jay]

33

I was able to read Jay's last reply before my phone went off on its own. Hindi ko alam kung magugulat ba ako dahil nag-shut down iyon bigla o dahil lang talaga sa nabasa ko.

I immediately looked around after getting off the bus. Is he really here? He wouldn't say that if he's not, right?

"Ang aga ng uwi mo, ah." Someone from behind said. I let out a sigh of relief because even without looking, I knew it was him.

Lumingon agad ako at doon nga'y nakita ko siya. Jay, on his dark hoodie and snapback, was leaning on a lamp post before walking towards me.

"Y-You're really here.." I simply said.

I suddenly became conscious of how I look right now. Naka-uniform pa rin ako at bitbit ko pa ang ilang libro namin. My mom picked me up at school earlier so I didn't have time to change. At ngayon ay bago pa lang akong makakauwi sa apartment ko.

"Gabi na." Komento niya na hindi ko alam kung para saan. If it's for me because I just came back or for him because I kept him waiting since he's about to give me our task.

"Sorry. Dala mo na 'yong task? Rush ba 'yon?" Tanong ko. Usually, may mga task kasi na ibinibigay sa amin na kailangan ring i-submit kinabukasan.

"I left it in our place." He said as he pointed a familiar direction.

"Oh, I thought you're giving it to me now that's why you're here.." Nagtataka kong sinabi. His eyebrows raised a bit as he let out a sigh.

"Tagal mo kasi, eh. I changed my mind. Ako na lang ang gagawa." Even though he complained, he doesn't look mad or anything.

"Let's just do it like the usual. Unfair naman 'yon sa'yo." Napansin ko agad ang pagkunot ng noo niya sa sinabi ko pero kalaunan ay tumango rin.

"Okay. I'll just get it there." He said calmly.

"Sige. Hintayin na lang kita dito." Sagot ko at itinuro ang waiting shed na ilang hakbang lang ang layo mula sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Gusto mong sumama?" He asked, a bit hesitant. "I mean, no. Come with me. It's quite dangerous to be out here alone." Dagdag pa niya.

I looked at him for a while, waiting for him to take back what he said. Pero tingin ko'y wala naman siyang planong gawin iyon.

"Would it be fine?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" He sounds confused.

"Okay lang ba na magpunta ako do'n?" Tanong ko ulit.

"Bakit hindi?" Mabilis niyang sagot.

Hindi na ako nakaimik nang magsimula na siyang maglakad. I had no choice but to follow him quietly.

Wait.. ibig sabihin ba nito, malalaman ko na kung saan siya nagpupunta dito? Are we heading that place? I mean, it's always been like a missing puzzle piece to me. Alam ko lang na dito siya nagpupunta but when I'm asked where exactly he is, I couldn't say anything.

Natigilan lang ako sa mga iniisip nang nilingon niya ako na parang hinihintay ako sa paglakad. He stopped in front of a building with a huge neon sign that says Odysseus. There are so many people going in and out of the place so I'm quite confused as to what's happening.

"Are we supposed to go inside?" I asked Jay out of curiosity. Nakita ko ang marahan niyang pagtawa sa narinig.

"Of course not." Sagot niya at naglakad ulit sa tabi lang mismo ng building na iyon kung saan mayroong hagdanan pababa.

Sinundan ko lang siya hanggang sa makarating kami sa parang basement noong building, though, it looks quite neat for that. I then saw Jay getting something from his wallet and I realized it's a keycard.

I was still few steps away from him because I thought I'm not supposed to enter. But when the door opens, he looked at me with a raised brow.

"What are you doing there? Come here." He said. I just slowly nodded as I made my way inside. Noong una ay nag-aalangan pa ako dahil baka narito ang mga kaibigan niya at magtaka sila sa biglaan kong pagpunta. Pero dahil nag-insist si Jay, sinunod ko na lang.

I can say that this place is quite far from what I expected. Its vibe feels dark for some reason. I can see a lot of posters on the wall and some abstract paintings. There's a huge couch on the corner and then, there's a platform stage where the lights are too dim.

"Is this where you usually hang out?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah." He answered.

"Are you alone here? Nakauwi na ba sina Minwoo?" Tanong ko ulit. Abala ako sa pagtingin sa mga painting doon kaya hindi ko namalayan na nakatingin na pala siya sa akin, tila takang-taka sa narinig.

"Since when did you become close to my friends?" He asked in disbelief.

"Obviously, they're regulars in the store where I work." Sagot ko. Parang hindi pa siya kuntento doon.

"You have no business with them. And even if they talk to you, h'wag mo na lang pansinin." Masungit niyang sinabi.

I lost my chance to say something when he turn the lights on, which allows me to see the whole place clearly. I don't know what to feel first but I'm pretty sure I'm extremely amazed of what's in front of me now.

"Wow! Kanino 'to?" Excitement is so evident in my voice as I run towards the platform stage. Mayroong drum set doon, iba't ibang klase ng gitara, speakers at kung ano-ano pa.

"That's... ours." He simply said.

"Can I touch it?" I asked but didn't even try to wait for his answer because I already tried to lift one of the guitars.

"Put that down, Yerim. We have to go now. Here's our task, by the way." Mayamaya ay sinabi niya. He then turned the lights into a dimmer shade again.

I have so many things I'm curious about and would like to ask him but he's right. I have to go now. Ilang sandali na lang at magsasara na ang building namin dahil sa curfew. And I have to go home before that happens.

"Are you gonna stay here for tonight?" I asked before getting my books in the couch.

"We'll see if I can still find a ride. Pero kung wala, I'll come back here." Malumanay niyang sagot.

I looked around and silently checked the place. Aside from the couch, there's no bed here that he can comfortably use. Pero parang sanay na naman siya dito since madalas ko siyang makita kahit sobrang aga.

Hinatid na niya ako agad pagkatapos noon. I just arrived on time before the guards lock the entrance. Jay is still standing outside, watching me write on our log book even though I already told him to go.

"Jay.." Marahan kong pagtawag nang may maalala. I want to ask him to, at least, let me know if he's home or kung maisipan niyang bumalik na lang doon sa pinuntahan namin kanina.

"Oh?" Sagot lang niya.

"Can you..." But then, I stopped in mid-sentence and that made him frown. Would it be okay to ask him that? Is it even necessary?

"What is it?" Tanong niya.

"Uh... nevermind. Ite-text ko na lang." I smiled awkwardly before saying goodbye.