Played (Montellano series #1)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Pinigilan ni Darren si Kim sa pagtatanong sa akin at hinayaan na akong magpahinga. I didn't get enough sleep because I was thinking. Hindi mawala sa isipan ko na may nililigawan si Rake.

My phone rang and I opened my eyes. Hindi pa ako gaanong nakakatulog nang tumunog ito. I looked at it and saw Pau's name.

It's already morning. Papasikat pa lang ang araw. Tulog na tulog pa sina Ate at Nica. I don't know what time they went to bed. Nakapikit lang ako at nag-iisip. Maybe I fell asleep halfway.

Tumayo ako at lumabas ng kwarto. I walked in the hallway towards the veranda. Sa baba, tanaw ko ang malawak na sala ng mansion. Malinis ito at wala pang ni isa sa mga pinsan ko ang gising. Ang mga maid lang ang naririnig kong nag-uusap sa baba.

"Pau..." my voice was still hoarse from sleep.

"Hey, Mich..." mahinang bati niya sa kabilang linya. "I'm sorry again for calling you so early in the morning."

Pumikit ako at pinasadahan ng daliri ang buhok. I looked at the rising sun on the horizon. I can't appreciate its beauty now that my head is feeling light due to lack of sleep.

"What is it?" tanong ko habang pinupunasan ang mukha.

I heard him sigh heavily. I can also hear our friends' voices on his background. Seems like he's early in the university.

"You weren't answering my calls and texts yesterday. Have you seen them?"

"N-No, I haven't. Did something happen?"

Tumahimik siya ng ilang sandali. I only heard Vianca and Lisa's voices talking about some guy that they have a crush on.

"Mich, is there a problem?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya.

"What problem, Pau?"

He chuckled with no humor. "Why aren't you answering my calls?"

Umupo ako at minasahe ang sentido. I guess it's the lack of sleep that I can't think properly. Hindi ko alam kung anong gustong iparating ni Pau.

"Pau, I'm sorry. I was busy yesterday-"

"Sinong kasama mo?"

I almost breathed out a loud sigh. Pinigilan ko lang dahil baka kung anong isipin niya. Hindi ako agad nakapagsalita.

"Jett told me you were gone. Umalis ka raw bigla habang nanonood kayo ng game. You didn't take anyone with you."

"I did text Darren that I'll go somewhere. I'm sorry for worrying you. Hindi ko lang inasahan na matatagalan ako."

"They don't know where you went. And you weren't answering my calls." nagbuga siya ng mabigat na hininga at sandaling huminto. "Mich, sinong kasama mo noong umalis ka?"

"Wala, Pau. I just walked around. Hindi ko lang namalayan ang oras. I'm sorry for not responding to your calls. My phone was silent the whole time." I lied to avoid the talk getting long. "Anong oras ang klase mo?"

"Do we have a problem?" he didn't answer my question.

"What problem?" I chuckled lightly. "What do you mean, Pau?"

"Hindi mo na nasasagot ang mga text at tawag ko, Mich. You say you are busy there but how come that your cousins can still respond to me?"

I felt like I was hit by some bullet. Nagising bigla ang diwa ko nang makuha ang gusto niyang sabihin. Kinagat ko ang aking labi at pumikit nang mariin.

"Hindi mo lang ba talaga nasasagot ang mga tawag ko o nalilimutan mo kasi may iba ka nang gusto d'yan?"

"Pau, what are you saying?" tumawa ako para pabulaanan ang sinabi niya. "Hindi ko lang talaga nasasagot ang mga tawag mo. I'm sorry, okay?"