Just Let Me Love You

Five - How to Let Go

Nagmamadaling pumunta ng Administration Building ang dalawa. Hindi maiwasang hindi mapangiti ni Ice dahil sa ideya na ginagawa nilang dalawang pareho. Parang hindi sila malimit mag-away kung titignan mo sila ngayon.

Tumigil si Crim ng makarating sila sa main entrance ng building na siya namang nagpatigil kay Ice.

"This is nice, don't you think?" tanong ni Ice kay Crim habang nakangisi.

Absent minded si Crim na nililingon ang buong ground floor ng Admin Building, pero enough para maintindihan yung sinabi ni Ice. "What are you talking about?" kunot noo niyang tanong kay Ice.

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Ice habang nakatayo sa entrance ng building, tinitignan lang si Crim na hinahanap parin kung saan nanggaling yung tunog.

"Never mind," he just shrugged.

"Just shut up and help me find where that sound came from," mataray niyang sagot.

Ice rolled his eyes, as usual, matary parin si Crim sa kanya. Kelan ba siya naging nice sa kanya?

"What makes you think I'll do it ha?" pabalang na sagot ni Ice sa kanya. But Crim approached him na parang walang narinig na reklamo kay Ice. "You go search up in the 2nd floor. I'll stay down here," sabi niya.

Paalis na si Crim pero bigla siyang pingilan ni Ice. "Wala namang ilaw sa taas. Nandito lang yun sa baba." Angil niya.

Hinatak pabalik ni Crim yung braso niyang hawak ni Ice na parang nandidiri. "Sa tingin mo ba bubuksan nila yung ilaw if they'll try to sneak in?" Mataray na pambabara ni Crim kay Ice and pointed her temples. "Common sense, nahulog mo ata." Saka siya naglakad palayo kay Ice.

Nagmaktol si Ice careful na hindi makagawa ng ingay. He went up stomping his feet, but immediately regretting it kasi ang lakas ng nagawa niyang ingay and it only made the scene a bit creepier kasi nag echo yung ingay sa buong second floor.

He backed down a bit and called for Crim. "Uhh, Crim?" but no one answered. Sumilip siya sa baba and called again. This time, mas firm. "Crim," pero wala paring sagot.

He just shrugged and went on sa second floor.

**

Nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad si Crim, iniisa-isa niya yung bawat room sa first floor at pinapakinggan kung saan may tunog.

Napatapat siya sa Lecturer's Office and heard whispers.

Napatigil siya and smiled in relief. Gotcha!

She tried to listen first so she leaned closer on the door. She heard conversations, more on bangayan. So she listened harder.

"Paul, sigurado ka ba dito?" nag-aalangang tanong nung isa sa kanila.

Narinig ni Crim na may bumagsak na kung ano, but she wasn't so sure.

"What the fuck, Gary? Naiwan mo ba bayag mo sa bahay nyo?! Umayos ka nga!"

Crim can't help but smile. Duduwag-duwag pala yung mga yun ehh. Ang lakas ng loob na tumakas papasok.

She continued to listen trying to wait for a signal kung kelan siya papasok.

"Go on and check their drawers," utos ng isa sa kanila. Narinig niya yung tunog ng mga papel at yung pagbagsak ng mga pencil at kung ano-anong office supplies.

"Here, I saw one!"

That was her cue.

She swung the door open and caught two senior students taking a picture of the answer key of their exams tomorrow.