Alejandro's Hombre

Ch. 25: how to face tomorrow

tahimik ang byahe nila pa papunta sa DC Towers, with Chandler behind the steering wheel. there's no conversation, not even a song from the car's stereo. Chandler's eyes are on the road; while Khairie is just staring ahead, too.

Xander on the backseat leans on the window, his suit is covered with grass and a bit of mud. He looks emptily at nothing, as the Metropolis city night vibes just pass by as the car runs on the wide Altagracia Highway. It's 10 minutes before 9 in the evening.

then the traffic lights turn red and the car halted. there's a jeepney that pulled over beside them with few passengers. the night is peaceful, with only few motorist.

then they heard a music that's played from the jeepney.

a music they, specially Xander, doesn't want to hear at this moment.

saan nagsimulang magbago ang lahat?

kailan pa nung ako ay 'di na naging sapat?

ba't 'di mo sinabi nung una pa lang?

Ako ang kailangan, pero 'di ang mahal

awang-awa sina Chandler at Khairie habang dinig nila ang mga hikbi ni Alexander sa likuran. napatungo ito at itinukod ang mga siko sa mga hita, habang nakasabunot ang dalawang kamay sa buhok nito. sila itong nahihirapan sa sakit na iniinda nito ngayon. napaluha na rin silang dalawa habang patuloy ang tugtog mula sa Jeep.

saan nagkulang ang aking pagmamahal?

lahat ay binigay nang mapangiti ka lang

ba't 'di ko nakita, na ayaw mo na?

Ako ang kasama, pero hanap mo sya...

Hindi tuloy alam ni Chandler kung maaasar ba sya sa driver ng Jeep dahil sa totoo lang, bawat lyrics ng kanta ay parang punyal sa puso ng pinsan nya. tagos, lampas pa sa buto ang bawat linya na para bang sugat na binudboran ng asin na sinamahan pa ng purong suka. masakit, masaklap. mahapdi. but he can't do anything or say the rights words dahil wala naman syang alam sa mga ganitong hiwalayan na ganap, dahil wala naman syang experience. kaya mas minabuti nyang hayaan na lang na umiyak si Xander ng ganito, para kahit pa'no ay gumaan ang loob nito.

at kung masaya ka sa piling nya, hindi ko na ipipilit pa

ang tanging hiling ko lang sa kanya

huwag kang paluhain

at alagaan ka nya

Khairie stayed silent, too. He badly wanted to give Xander an advice, words of comfort and everything---pero wala naman sya sa posisyong gawin yun. may experiences nga sya sa about break-ups, pero hindi naman kagaya nitong kay Xander. wala naman kasi syang relasyon na tumagal ng mahigit isang dekada, kaya wala talaga syang alam na akmang sabihin. and lastly---he never experienced being cheated on. he knew a lot of people telling him how painful it is to be cheated by the one you love, but he don't know what that really meant until he see it happening on one of his friends.

ba't 'di ko naisip na merong hanggan?

Ako yung nauna, pero 'di ang wakas...

The Jeep run first the moment the traffic lights turn green. Chandler followed, speeding a bit para makarating na sila sa DC Towers. kanina pa umiiyak ang pinsan nya at ang dumi na rin ng suot nito, idagdag pa na kailangan na nito ng pahinga.

they arrive safely at the basement parking and they waited for Xander to get off the car. it took a lot of convincing from them to make him get off, dahil tila ba nawalan na ito ng lakas. they assisted him as they ride the elevator, with Xander slumped on the floor.