After the incident that day, 20 years old, Rowoon Ko became restless thinking about the woman he accidentally met at the alley in Joseph's neighbourhood wherein he and his best friend Randy invited to have dinner at their home. Still figuring out th...
I stopped and saw the red light on the road. I heard someone shouting and buzzing.
Hearing my name, "R-rowoon Ko!" napatingin ako sa right ko and seeing Randy waving at me.
Binaba ko ang window ko and smiling at him.
"Dude, whatsapp! late ka na din?" tanong ko.
"Yeah, man, you're crazy! it's not you!, what happen?" akusa ni Randy na first time kong ma-late sa buong buhay ko.
Shouting at him, "masama ba?" sabay kindat.
"Nah, man! It's okay, congrats, like that, you've changed!" natatawang sabi ni Randy
Yellow Light... switching to Green Light...
"Rands, it's green, let's go!" sigaw ko.
We started our engine U-turn to our University Hospital, we met at the parking lot. Meeting at the exit, sabay nagsalita ng.
"Dude!"
And fist-bumping our hands while laughing.
"What time ka nakauwi kagabi, Ro?" he ask.
"I think past 11:00pm, bro, ang hirap kong sumakay ng taxi, nakakainis!"
"Awww, sorry dude, sana you called me para pinuntahan kita."
"No, bro, it's okay, I discovered something in my life, may natutunan ako sa buhay ko" answered him with amazement
"Oh, you look inspired, what is it dude?" pangungulit ni Randy
"I discovered the grab app!" proud kong sabi.
"Haha,LOL!" si Randy as in laughing out loud siya feeling ko ang out of this world ko talaga.
"Uyyy, why are you laughing bro, is there something wrong on discovering grab app?" tanong ko na may pagtataka
"Man! you're crazy, what happened to you, you are not yourself, you look like another person." Randy's teasing voice.
"Rands, you're crazy, when did you know this app.?" napipikon ko ng boses
"Seriously?"
"Dude, yes I'm dead serious!" answer him with irritation
"Ro, pikon ka na ngayon, what happened? may problem ka?"
"Rands, wala naman" pagsisinungaling ko
"Hmmm, it seems that something is troubling you,--- you share. I'm willing to listen, you know we've been brothers for so long."---
"We've been together since elementary until now, dude. So many years tapos ngayon para kang naputulan ng dila, gosh man, you're crazy." Pagsesermon ni Randy
"Hindi ko pwede sabihin sa kanya about Jam, hindi ko pa kaya, buti nalang talaga na wala na siya kahapon or else"
I was speaking my mind but the last part came out of my mouth.
"or else."--- what?" malakas na tanong ni Randy
"When I am ready, I will tell you, but now just keep it to myself muna." sagot ko kay Randy na with assurance.
"Yeah, sure bro! ikaw pa ba, ako pa ba?" - - - - "What are friends are for?" sabi Randy habang tinatapik balikat ko at inakbayan ako.
Tahimik lang akong nakatingin at nakangiti sa kanya.
Hinatak ako ni Randy.
"Let's hurry! 9:00 am late na tayo ng 1 hour, conference pa naman ngayong morning."
"Haba naman kasi ng lecture niya at oras sa conference nakakapagod, isipin mo halfday." pagrereklamo ni Randy.
***
"At long last, we are here in the conference hall," Randy exclaimed while our sweat was already soaking our uniform in front of the door.
Dahan dahan kaming pumapasok na nakayuko para hindi kami makita ng mga classmates at ni Prof. Guddy pero nakikita kong most of our classsmates nakatingin sa dako namin dahil siguro hindi nila ine-expect na may papasok pa ng ganitong oras dahil sa ilaw na nagspark sa gawi nila ng may nakita akong kumakaway sa akin one of our group members sa ER.
"Good grief we're finally in the hall," I whispered to him.
"Yeah, bro!" he whispered to me while he took his things out of the bag, ready to jot down all the professor's lectures.
I was also taking out my things from my backpack when I saw Jam's black bag. I carefully and slowly take it back to my bag Randy might see it.
Surely, I don't know how to explain to him. Of course he will investigate all that matters hanggang sa mapapasuko ka na niya sa kakulitan.
"Dapat 'to hindi Medicine ang ti-nake na course kundi Journalist. Hilig mag imbestiga." natatawa kong pangba-bash kay Randy sa isip.
"Bad mo Rowoon." sita ko sa sarili ko.
Kinalabit ako ni Randy dahil nakatingin sa amin si Professor Guddy at mukhang may itatanong.
"Mr. Ko, why are you late, how about you Mr. Dayer? It's been 2 hrs since the conference started."---
"Mr. Ko, this is my first time seeing you late for four years. What's wrong?" announced it loudly on a mic.
Tinakpan ko ng notebook ang mukha ko cause I was so ashamed to face our classmates and other students from another school.
They were all staring at me, feeling like I'm a celebrity in the spotlight. All I could do was slowly bend my legs down so that I sink into my seat and they don't see me anymore.
"Grabe naman si Prof. Guddy kung maka-announce, bro." bulong ko kay Randy na ganun din ay nakatingin sa akin na nakangiting aso.
Nakakainis si Randy kasi never na hiya sa announcement. Makapal talaga ang mukha niya walang kinatatakutan. Palibhasa kasi lagi siyang late kaya sobrang dedma na lang sa kanya ang ganitong mga eksena. Tinawag ulit ako ni Prof. Guddy.
"Rowoon Ko, I'm asking you!---hmm why are you shrinking yourself in the seat?" Naiinis na tanong ni Prof. Guddy.
In response to Prof. Guddy, "Prof., can I explain later after this." nakangiting sumagot habang nakayuko dahil sa kahihiyan.
"Okay fine. — Let's continue. You two are distracting my lecture." gigil na sabad ni Prof. Guddy sa amin.
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