Maya't mayang lumilipad ang isip ko sa lalaking nakita sa café kanina habang nakikinig ako ng lecture. Panay ang buntonghininga ko at pilit na pagbalewala rito para mag-focus sa klase, ngunit hindi pa rin ako nilubayan ng pangamba.
Something about that guy was unsettling. But then again, I couldn't be sure if he was real or just made up from my imagination. Because I'd seen him before. I was sure of it.
"Are you sure?"
"He's that guy."
"That."
"You know. That. Guy."
"That."
A laugh.
"That."
"I've seen him before too."
"That."
"Pst!"
"Look here!"
"That!"
"Hey!"
"We meet again."
"Hey!"
"Are you sure you remember me right?"
"Eunice!"
May bumulaga sa harap ko. Marahas akong napasinghap at nanigas sa kinatatayuan, yakap ang dalang mga libro sa dibdib.
"Hey, bitch. Have you gone deaf? Kanina pa kita tina—what's that look on your face? Mukha ba akong multo?" kunot-noong ani Dina sa harap ko. "It's freaking cold here why are you sweating like a pig?"
Lumunok ako at marahang umiling. Bahagya kong pinalis ang pawis sa noo habang sinusubukang huminga nang maayos. Tila noon lang napansin ang bilang na mga estudyanteng naglalakad sa hallway.
"Sorry, I'm... I was just thinking of—"
Tumili ako at napatalon sa gulat nang maramdaman ang pagbagsak ng mga palad sa magkabilang balikat ko. Lumagabag ang mga librong dala ko sa sahig nang mabitiwan ko ang mga iyon. Sunod ang lingunan ng mga nagdaraan, may bahid ng pagtatanong ang mga ekspresyong nakadirekta sa akin.
"Woah!"
"You idiot!" Sinapak ni Dina ang gulat na si Cali. "Can't you see she's having an episode?!"
There was an erratic pounding in my chest when Cali quickly turned to me. Nakataas ang magkabila niyang palad sa ere tanda ng pagsuko.
"Sorry, Eunice. I didn't know. You okay?"
"That guy?"
"It's him. Who?"
Anxiously, I turned my head on both my sides. Nang wala akong makitang kakaiba ay sinubukan kong pakalmahin ang sarili. It's just voices. In my head. They're not here, they're not real.
"Pst!"
"Look! Look here!"
"Mukha ba siyang okay?" Dina threw Cali a sharp look before pointing to my books on the floor. Agad naman iyong pinulot ng huli, pasulyap-sulyap sa akin.
"Do you have your meds with you?" bakas ang pag-aalalang tanong ni Dina.
Tumango ako, bahagya nang kumakalma. "It's... it's in my locker."
Dala ang mga libro ko, tumindig nang maayos na tayo si Cali. Pagkasulyap kay Dina ay sinabi niya ito, "Come on, we'll go with you."
Muli na lamang akong tumango.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Other 'I'
General FictionFed-up with Terrence's cheating on their more than a year relationship, Eunice decided to cool things off between them -- for she can't find the courage to end it in the midst of her indecision and overwhelming emotions. But as she struggled to try...
