He Was My Umbrella

48

He waved goodbye to my Dad, but not to me. I hate him talaga.

"What happened between you two?" Tanong ni Dad while pouring me a glass of water.

"I don't know, Dad. I was really stoked to see him when I got back here, but I guess our feelings weren't mutual at some point. He didn't even say hi when he saw me. He just looked at me for 1 milisecond. That's it,"

"Hay nako. Just don't cut ties with his family, they've been your family too. He's been your family too."

Well, he really was.

"I won't. I love them way too much to cut ties, Dad."

The next day, I didn't go to work since I can't walk properly. I do a lot of walking at the office, but there's one place that I could go to that wouldn't require me to walk much.

I changed into skinny jeans, a black spaghetti strap. I just wore a black blazer so that I won't get cold. I wore a black ankle-strap. Heels pa din kahit injured, siyempre!

I fucking forgot na wala pala akong kotse! Ngayon, kailangan ko pang mag-commute!

I arrived at the library with a smile. The smell of books feels like home. I took a deep breath, and yes, I was at peace.

I wanted to read a few books that's why I strolled between bookshelves for a long time. There was this particular book that I remember reading in my first year of high school.

Naalala ko pa, binabasa ko iyon sa library ng school. Tapos, mamaya-maya pala, makikita ko na siya. Malay ko ba noon. Kala ko ganun-ganun lang. Crush-crush lang. Hindi pala.

I came back to my thoughts later on. I found that book! But it was on the top shelf. I'm tall but I'm short for it.

"Shit, bakit ba ang liit ko?!" Inis kong sabi.

Maya-maya, may nag magandang- loob na ikuha para sa akin ang libro.

"Thank you-"

I turned around to thank the guy. But well, how can fate be so cruel?

"Taking a day off, Attorney?" Inabot niya sa akin ang libro.

"U-uhm, yes, Engineer." I stuttered because I was nervous. "Y-you?"

"Obviously." Malamig niyang sabi at umalis.

I scoffed at pumunta doon sa reading area. May mga lamesa iyon at malalambot na upuan. May study lamps din para additional lights. I love my life talaga. 'Yun nga lang, may sumira na ng araw ko.

Umupo siya sa harapan ko dahil wala nang upuang bakante sa reading area.

"You read books pala," sabi ko.

"Malamang, alangan panoorin mo. Siyempre, babasahin, kaya nga libro, e." Sagot niya nang hindi tumitingin sa akin.

"Pilosopo." I scoffed.

"At least hindi sinungaling," sagot niya.

"Ah, so sinungaling ako?" Inis kong tanong.

"I didn't say that, did I?" He smirked and finally looked at me.

Naiinis lang ako kaya hindi na ako nagsalita at pinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ko ng libro.

Inabot na ako ng gabi sa library dahil mga 5 PM na rin ako dumating doon.

Lumabas ako at naghihintay ng jeep. Inaantok-antok na din ako dahil nagpuyat ako kagabi.

"Hindi mo pa kinuha ang kotse mo?"

"Obvious ba? Kaya nga naghihintay ng jeep, hindi ba?" Umirap ako.

Bigla na lang siyang nawala sa likod ko. Hindi ko na rin alam kung saan pumunta.