Amanda

Chapter 8

Mayroon nang mga nagkukumpulan sa labas ng bahay ni Amanda, napatigil na rin sa wakas yung babaeng nagwawala kanina. We could still hear her in the midst of the crowd, may mga iilang pulis rin ang nakaantabay baka sakaling may mangyari pang ganito. They check the area near us for any suspicious person, so far, they haven't found another one.

This woman, matagal na palang naninirahan rito pero hindi ko siya kilala, malamang ay lumipat sila rito noong umalis na ako.

"Okay ka na ba?" rinig kong ani ng pulis na lumapit kay Amanda. Nakapwesto kasi siya nakabukas na pintuan. This was the guy who gave me a smirk, pinasadan kasi niya ako ng tingin. He didn't mind that kasabay ako ni Amanda na lumabas ng bahay niya.

"Yes.. di naman ako nasaktan o ano,"  marahang tawa ni Amanda. She was hugging herself with her arms. This guy gave her arm a squeeze. "Baka delikado ka rito mamayang gabi," inilibot ko na lang ang tingin ko sa mga nakikiusyoso. Naipasok na rin yung babae sa sasakyan ng mga pulis. "What if you stay in my place for tonight?" suhestyon ng lalakeng to. I heard Amanda giggle. Lumayo na ako sa kanila at nakisiksik para makalabas sa mga nakaharang sa daan.

"Goodness, where we're you last night?" nag aalalang bungad ni mama nang nakapasok na ako sa bahay namin. She came out from the kitchen, with her apron and all. "Ah, nakauwi na pala kayo ma, sorry.. my battery died," sabay pilyong ngiti. "Sige na, change your clothes so we could eat lunch together."

"Right, nasaan si dad?" tanong ko bago aakyat sa hagdan. I couldnt see him anywhere, not in the living room. "Out! may binili pa," she answered from the kitchen.

When we we're done having lunch, Dad cleared his throat. "We're really sorry about Manuel.." panimula niya. Mom glance worriedly at me, she even gave my hand that was resting on the table a light squeeze. "Yeah.." I muttered. What else can I say? "Mabuti na lang at ligtas ka." puna ni mama. They both nodded. "How did he?—" Dad wanted to ask further but I saw how mom shoot him a glare. I chuckled, "It's fine mom, hindi ko rin alam, I haven't ask Sally.." I dont think I will ever know, I wanted to add.

"Teka, I need to answer this," pagputol ko sa usapan namin. Mom waved a hand away to me, "Sure hon," tumango ako. I excused myself habang tiningnan kung sino ang caller. It's an unknown number.

"Hello?" a static sound stretched for a few seconds then a voice from a girl, it's not Paula. I frowned. Sinulyapan ko muli yung numero. "Sino to?" I asked. Dumiretso ako sa sala.

"Uhh, hey! it's Rei!!" she sounded so excited, I had to pull away my ear for fear of damaging it. "Uhh, paano mo nakuha to—"

"Blah blah! that's not important!—"

"Miss, it is important. Para kang stalker na nyan—"

"Hep hep! in your dreams! anyway, nandito kami sa shop where you worked. They said you were fired? hahahaha!—"

"Great.. and so?"

"Sorry hahaha! nadala lang ako, so yun nga, my mom is off with her patient visit and I asked for your address—"

"What?—"

Naputol ang sasabihin ko sana nang may tumutuktok na sa pintuan namin. I opened it. At tama nga ang hinala ko, Rei was infront of me, on our doorstep with her baby blue blouse and skinny jeans. Napabusangot ako, I don't have time for this!

"Nandito ba parents mo? I hope I'm not intruding?" she said, glancing from my sides to see if theres anyone inside. Nasa kusina sila. "You're intruding us," naiinis kong ani. Rei smacked my arm playfully, "Aw, loosen up big boy!" god no wonder she's Marga's daughter! mali pala talaga yung first impression ko.

"Last time I remember, hindi ako pumayag sa gusto mo." I flatly said. Rei huffed her chest out, "Fine, whatever.. ako na lang mag isa ang mag iinterview dun sa babaeng nagwala kanina, I think you've heard of her?" she said deliberately, oh now she's baiting me with this information. Pasimple rin niya akong tinitigan, baka raw nagbago na ang ekspresyon ko.

"Delikado yan, it's not worth it," sambit ko. I atleast want her to give a warning. She laughed, "It's why it's worth it! kasi nga delikado!"

Napasapo na lang ako sa noo ko. Reasoning with her is futile. "Do what you want," I said with finality at sinaraduhan na siya ng pinto bago pa bumukas muli ang bibig niya.

Aalis na sana ako para bumalik sa kusina nang bumalik ang memorya ng mga deliryong matang nasilayan ko. Ah shit. I opened the door again, Rei was already on her car. Yung car na gamit ng mag ina. Nakita niya ako at nginisihan niya ako. "I told you so!"

Inabutan niya ako ng can of coke na iniinom niya at chips sa pagitan namin. Si Rei ang nagmamaneho. "Alam mo ba address non?" tanong ko, baka mamaya ura urada tong isa pero hindi naman nakapaghanda. Rei was humming to herself. "Ha?" she asked, pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin. "Oo, it turns out pasyente ni mama yung asawa ng babaeng yon. He's dead actually, just recently." she explained.

I drank from her can of coke. "The thing is, I actually dont care about this weird case.. but then parehas kasi silang same ang itsura ng katawan, yung blue purple na bruise.." she spoke further. Napahinto ako ng nguya ng chips.

"What— you mean, yung pasa sa buong katawan pati sa mukha?" I repeated in disbelief. "Have they found the cause?" I asked. Rei shook her head. "Ilang beses nang nagpa laboratory tests pero walang unusual sa kanyang organs well except for their blood, mom said that it appeared slowly but without the pain na usually kasama pag may pasa ka."

"What about the blood?"

"At first, simpleng anemic lang raw but it progressed to something else.. kahit nagdonate na ng dugo, ang problema ay yung katawan niya mismo, hindi raw tinatanggap yung dugo." huminto si Rei sa harap ng isang bahay. "Nandito na tayo."

"How come yung pasyente na nakita ko sa kabilang city ay buhay pa rin?"

"Good question," natawang saad ni Rei. She faced me and wore a serious look. "Guess what he's using as a substitute for replenishing the blood loss?"

I raised an impatient brow.

"Vinegar!" she burst out laughing, napamaang ako. "Ha?" you're kidding me right? I look at her like she's the one that needs to be put in a mental. Nang tumahan na siya sa kakahagikhik ay sinubukan niyang ibalik sa seryosong ekspresyon ang mukha niya. "Nagsasabi ako ng totoo, promise! iniinject niya raw yung vinegar then he'll be fine for awhile. Hahaha! so alam mo na ha, if you ever found yourself one day to be like him—"