"Hey, tell me something. I'm so bored." sabi ni Ri pagkatapos nyang maupo sa harap ng desk ko. It is supposed to be our third subject pero nagka-emergency ang teacher kaya naging study time.
"It's a study time, Mariestella Pilar." sabi ko habang gumagawa ng assignment na due pa bukas.
"Eww, Lo. Wag mo ngang buuin yung pangalan ko. Ri for short okay?" reklamo pa nya.
"Don't bother me. I'm busy." sagot ko.
"Hey, that's due tomorrow. Ano pang gagawin mo sa inyo mamaya? Stop mo na yan." sita nya sa ginagawa ko.
"Find someone else to bother, Ri." sabi ko habang binabasa ulit ang instruction.
"Fine, Lawrence "suplado" Gamboa. I should talk to myself na lang." mataray na sabi nya. Nawalan na ako ng gana na gumawa ng assignment. I lost my focus.
"On second thought, I have something to share." sabi ko habang nagliligpit ng gamit.
"Ayan naaa so what's the tea?" excited nyang tanong.
"You might find this boring but here this goes. I knew someone in junior high, he's smart, friendly and athletic. The nice-nerdy guy type." panimula ko.
"Pogi?" tanong nya agad.
"Is that important?" tanong ko na ikina-simangot nya.
"Well, I guess he looks alright. It's the middle of the school year so andaming ganap as I remember. We are all busy except for him. He even find the time to help others so we are grateful." pagpapatuloy ko sa kwento.
"Baka tatakbong SK o konsehal in the future. haha" she said.
"Seriously, do you want me to continue or not? Stop interrupting me." naiinis kong sabi sa kanya.
"Fine. Go on." mataray nyang sagot.
"But after all the submissions, he became noticeably quiet. Some people ask why but he only keeps on smiling and telling he's not having good days. We didn't mind after that. Then after a month, nag-absent sya. We are talking about a nerdy and athletic guy so we are all confused, not worried but confused. The next day, pumasok sya and someone asks bakit sya absent but he's smiling like always and the day goes on." kwento ko.
"Eh baka nagkasakit lang." sabi ni Ri.
"Then after a week, nag-absent ulit sya. We didn't mind kasi the day before eh okay naman sya. After that week, our first period teacher came and told us that he is dead and we're free to pay our respects after class." patuloy ko sa kwento.
"Holy shit! Ano kinamatay?" curious nyang tanong.
"At that time we didn't know and the day went on like any other day. May mga nagbubulungan during breaks pero walang naging issue. During our visit, I went to that guy's brother and asked what happened. He told me that it was suicide because they found a paper in his hand." I said sadly.
"Oh my gosh. But what's written in the paper? " reaksyon ni Ri.
"The voices in my head. They are too much." I answered.
"Hala." she said teary-eyed.
May sasabihin pa sana si Ri pero dumating na yung teacher for next subject.
I inhaled and exhaled to calm myself. I didn't told Ri that it was really a girl in my story. It was my sister who died of depression and I was the brother who found her lifeless body that morning.
