Shooting Star (Completed) [R-18]

7 : X

Martee

Kailangan ko ng matulog dahil kailangan kong gumising ng maaga bukas upang maghanda para sa arraignment ng kaso nila papa.

It has been 30 days since that incident. Thirty days of losing everything. Our bank accounts are running dry and I hated the fact that I am spending money like water.

I gazed up the stars. Hanggang kailan? Hanggang kailan ito? The wind blew. Ang lamig ng simoy ng hangin. Looking from the balcony, my view is perfectly focused on the car parked infront of our house.

Tonight, just like every single night, I can see the same car parked infront of our house. Kilala ko kung kaninong sasakyan ang nakapark sa labas. Madalas ay halos tatlong oras itong nakapark dun na para bang may hinihintay.

And for the first time, my heart ached as I realized that my heart beats fast whenever I see his car.

Ano bang iniisip niya at ginagawa niya ang mga 'to.

I forbid myself to see him more so talk to him. Because of what happened, he got all the sympathy of the people. Siya na ngayon ang pinapatakbo bilang susunod na gobernador ng probinsiya namin. And I know that he will win.

Truth is. He is a good leader.

I remembered the look in my father's eyes. Takot at pangamba. But despite what happened, I will not turn my back against my father.

I gazed back again at his pick-up. Gone are the days. I guess it will never be the same again. Kung mananalo man siya bilang gobernador ng probinsya, maskaya niyang manipulahin ang batas. And he will make sure that father will rot in jail.

It's already 10 in the evening.

Hindi ba ito magsasawang gawin iyon araw araw? Sayang ang oras niya. He must go home and rest.

" Ma'am Martee" Rinig kong tawag sa akin ni Manang Nancy.

Tumingin agad ako sa pintuan ng kuwarto ko at tinungo ito.

Pinagbuksan ko siya ng pintuan at nakita ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya.

" Bakit po manang?" I asked her.

" Mukhang nasa labas si Sir Santi. Kanina pa siya dun" She said. Tumango ako.

" Hayaan niyo nalang po si Santi sa labas manang. Aalis din po iyon" Magalang kong untag.

Umiling si Manang Nancy.

" Palagi nalang nandun ang batang iyon. Maginaw sa labas at mukhang uulan pa. Papasukin-" Nagsalita agad ako.

" Huwag na po manang. Aalis din po siya" Kunwari ay napatingin pa ako sa relo ko. I heard her sigh.

" Huwag mo sanang idamay ang binata sa away ng pamilya niyo. Alam kong mahirap ang sitwasyon niyong dalawa pero nakikitaan ko siya ng malasakit para sayo" She muttered.

Ako naman ang huminga ng malalim.

" Pakisabi sa guard, huwag niyang papasukin si Mr. Villamor" Pinal kong untag. Umalis na mabigat sa kalooban niya si Manang Nancy.

I will not be moved emotionally. Papapasukin ko para saan?

I went back to the veranda and saw him outside his car. His back resting on his car's door. Ang akala niya siguro ay natulog na ako. His pitch dark eyes stared at me dangerously. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto kung gaano siya nakakatakot tignan sa seryoso niyang mukha. But I know better.

He looked at me but I looked away.

THE ARRAIGNMENT happened that day, umuwi akong mabigat ang kalooban dahil sa naging pinal na paratang ng korte sa ama ko.

I haven't talked yet to tita Kristina but by the look in her eyes, hatred and anger is evident in it. Na kahit umiyak pa ako ng dugo, walang kapatawaran ang nagawa ng mga magulang ko.

Ilang sandali pa ay lumabas na ako. Kailangan ko ding bisitahin si lola sa ospital dahil dalawang araw na akong hindi nakakabisita sa kaniya. Kahit wala paring magandang balita ang doktor sa akin ay hindi parin ako nawawalan ng pag-asa.

I got inside my car and turned on my car's engine to leave but my car's engine won't just work.

Damnit! Napamura na lamang ako sa isip.

I tried again but failed until I took multiple attempts but still failed. Lumabas na rin sila Santi pero nandito parin ako. At pinagpawisan na ako pero hindi parin gumagana ang kotse ko. I wanna curse out loud when I saw him approach me. Nakita kong napatingin ito sa sasakyan ko. He saw me starting my car but failed to.

He tried opening my car's door but it was locked. Tumingin ito sa akin mula sa tinted na bintana ng sasakyan ko and motioned me to open it and acted on instincts as if I am in a risky situation.

I unlocked my car's door. Agad niya itong binuksan.

" What's wrong?" He immediately asked.

" It's okay I've got it." I answered politely but knowing Santi, he doesn't believe me.

Umusog ako papuntang shot gun seat at siya naman ang pumasok sa driver's seat. He tried starting the car's engine and it miraculously worked.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

" Where are you heading to?" He asked after a moment.

" Thank you but I think my choice of destination is none of your business Mr. Villamor" I told him. He rested his back on my seat and took a pause.

" Right, kaaway mo nga pala ako." He slowly muttered.

Natahimik ito pagkatapos.

A minute passed then another but he isn't just moving. He should get out of my car. Nagpasalamat naman na ako.

Tumingin ako sa relo ko, ten minutes had passed and still parang wala parin siyang balak lumabas ng kotse ko.

" I'm running late for my appointment, Mr. Villamor" Naglakas loob na akong nagsalita ngunig nakapikit lamang ang kaniyang mga mata at hindi gumagalaw.

" Santi-"

" Just another ten minutes, Martee. Let me just rest for a little bit." He muttered. He looks tired and drained.

Para rin siyang walang tulog ng ilang gabi.

" Umuwi ka at magpahinga ka kung ganon" I heartlessly stated. He opened his eyes and averted his gaze at mine.

" Come home with me then" He acknowledged.

——