Mai:
Walking back to our table, I don’t know if I can still stay in this ball any longer. Pumapayag akong lumabas kasama si Jeron para hindi ko siya maalala. But in this ball, everything reminds me of him. Yung mga matatangkad na tsinitong nakapaligid sa akin, si Gab, even the event itself.
I spotted Jeron standing beside our table, probably talking to someone. Binilisan ko ang lakad ko para maaya ko na siyang umuwi. Magdadahilan na lang ako.
Pinigilan ko ang paa ko to take that one last step to reach Jeron. Lumingon kasi sa akin yung kausap niya. He looks clearer upclose.
I know, natigilan siya nung makita niya ako. “About Mai.”
He looked at me, my dress and Jeron. Tinuloy ko na ang paglapit kay Jeron. “Jeron,” I called out his attention.
Jeron turned to me, held my hand and asked me, “Are you okay?”
Bumaba ang tingin niya. Sa magkahawak naming kamay ni Jeron.
Pinilit kong hindi maapektuhan. “Can we go now? Medyo sumama kasi ang pakiramdam ko.” I asked Jeron.
Jeron lifted his hand to touch my forehead, checking my body temperature. He looked away.
He held my hand again. “Let’s go.”
Jeron gently tugs me away, passing by his brother, who I think is having a hard time processing whatever he is seeing.
Jeron stopped the car when the light turned red and grabbed his chance to check on me. He looked at me and asked. “Okay ka lang ba talaga?”
I looked at him and put on a smile. “Okay lang nga. Sumakit lang talaga bigla ang ulo ko kanina.” Sagot ko.
He sighed. “I hope it’s not because of Kuya Gab.”
I looked away. Hindi naman si Gab ang nagpasakit ng ulo ko. It’s the memories that Gab reminded me of. Nakadagdag pa yung biglang pagdating ni Jeric kanina. “Akala ko, hindi pupunta si Jeric sa ball.”
Nag-drive na ulit si Jeron when the light turned green. “Akala ko din eh. Sabi niya kasi dati hindi siya pupunta. Kasi hindi din naman daw pupunta ang barkada niya.”
Though my eyes are not looking at him, alam ko, he looked at me before he asked his next question. “Dumagdag ba si kuya sa sakit ng ulo mo?”
I smirked, trying to hide the truth. “Hindi.”
I know, ipagpipilitan niyang nagsisinungaling ako kaya handa na sana akong i-elaborate sa kanya ang sagot ko kaya lang naunahan ako ng isang phone call.
“Hello,” Jeron answered. “Uhmm, I’m on my way home. … Oo. … Hindi ba pwede bukas? May kasama kasi ako eh.” He glanced at me when he said that. “Sige. Ihahatid ko lang siya tapos diretso na ako dyan. Okay. Bye.”
“Problem?”
“My thesis groupmates. Pinapupunta nila ako sa brain storming.”
“I can just take a taxi if you have to-“
“No. Ihahatid muna kita bago ako pumunta dun. Baka pagalitan pa ako ni mommy pag pinag-taxi kita.”
Napangiti ako. “Ikaw ang bahala.”
Soon, nakauwi na din kami. He just stopped the car in front of the house. “Pakisabi na lang kay mommy ha.” He requested.
“Oo. Sasabihin ko. Ingat ka ha.” I told him before closing the door. I waved a little goodbye before he drove away.
