The Faded Memories

The Faded Memories 1

The Faded Memories 1

Like the used bottle loitering in the roads of nowhere, I am living a life that has been exceeded by time. Umihip ang malakas na hangin at tinatangay nito ang nakalugay kong buhok. Hindi ko na inabalang ayusin o itali. Sa di kalayuan ay makikita ang isang gusali na abandobado. Doon daw kami magkikita sabi ni Tom.

"Pasiga naman, Trish."

Rinig kong sabi ni Ian sa tabi ko. There's a cigarette in his mouth that's still not lit. Kinuha ko sa bulsa ang lighter at inabot sa kanyang kamay na nakaangat sa ere. Sumindi ito at bumuga ng usok. Pareho kaming nakatingin ngayon sa abandonadong gusali.

"Sa tingin mo dadating pa sila? Kanina pa tayo dito, wala parin." Pagsira niya sa katahimikan.

"Tumahimik ka nalang at maghintay. Andami mo reklamo."

Kita ko ang pag-ismid nito na tila hindi nagustuhan ang sinabi ko. Muli ay tumahimik ang paligid, hanggang may dumating na grupong mga nakamotor. Ang kaninang walang katao-taong lugar ay napalitan ng ingay at tawanan. Umusok ang paligid dahil sa alikabok. Bumaba ang lalaki sa kanyang cruiser at lumapit sakin. 

"Trisha, anong ginagawa mo dito?" Gusto kong suntukin ang nakangiti niyang mukha. Kinuyom ko ang aking kamay at kinalma ang sarili.

"My dad called me earlier," Nawala ang nakakalokong ngisi niya kanina at mariin siyang tumingin sa akin. He knows where I was coming.

I've been so much good to them. Ni hindi ko nga sila sinunsumbong kapag may kalokohan sila. Pero hindi ko kayang palampasin ang ginawa nila nila sa pinsan ko. He isn't doing anything. He's been good to everyone and yet they think he's dangerous? What the heck?

"What you did to Ravor is unforgivable, Tom! How could you have accused him on something without strong evidence?"

"Trish, it's his fault-"

"Binugbog niya siya!" singhal ko. "And now Dad wants me to pay for it! I didn't even do anything! Sumasama lang ako sa inyo because I like you!"

Kita ko ang frustration sa mata niya sa sinabi ko. I've been so silent and compose. Heck, I even silent myself when they almost kill those thugs in the street for the reason that they don't like them. Is that even a valid reason to beaten them up?

"Trish, someone report to me that he is the whistleblower in the group. Nilalaglag niya kami kaya kailangan ko siyang patumbahin."

"Hindi mo manlang pinatunayan kung tama ba ang narinig mo?"

"There's no need for that. If someone said it's him then it's him. That's the rule."

Due to frustration, I brush my hair and stared at knower then face him with lethal stare. I shouldn't have let my cousin join then. Wala talaga silang mabuting dulot. When they told me he can join I should have refused, I should have been more careful with my decision. Hindi ko lang talaga akalain na gagalawin nila si Ravor kahit na pinsan ko siya. Hindi dapat ako nagtiwala. The wrong is in my part.

"Say you're sorry to him."

"What? No!"

"Magsosorry ka o hihiwalayan kita. Pumili ka Mr. Baltazar." Mariin kong sabi.

He clenched his jaw and stared at me with no answer. He has an image to his group that he's protecting and I know I can't bend his knees, because bending knees means you're weak, uncapable to be a leader. That's it! I have the answer now.

"Fuck you, Tom!"

Hinila ko si Ian paalis doon. Siya ang bestfriend ng pinsan ko at nag-insist lang siya sumama. Bago pa ako makailang hakbang ay may humila sa braso ko. Madiin. Masakit. Marahas. Mabilis akong lumingon kay Tom na ngayon ay galit na nakatingin sa akin.