Unveiling the vile behind

36

36

It was hard to run away from someone you consider as your home. It was one of the hard lessons I had to learn when I distanced myself to Xion.

Pagkukunwaring galit, pagtatampong nauwi sa pangungulila, at mga kasinungalingan na sinasabi sa sarili na kaya ko naman na wala siya... kahit ang totoo... alam ko sa sarili ko na iisipin ko pa rin siya.

Isang taon na halos na walang paguusap pero hanggang ngayon alam ko pa rin tono at himig ng boses n'ya. Isang taon na ang nakalipas ngunit tanda ko pa rin ang amoy ng panbango niya. Isang taon na pero hanggang ngayon tanda ko kung paanong isang araw naglaho na lamang siya na para bang bula sa buhay ko.

Isang taon na pero bakit ganoon? bakit ganito pa rin?

I heard him clear his throat from my back. Mariin naman akong napapikit ng mga mata, hinihiling na sana ay kainin na lang ako ng lupa at maglaho na lang bigla. Is it very awkward, or am I the only one who feels awkward?

"I heard na mayroong nagrereklamong costumer... Is that you?"

He walked by my side and sat next to Jes, where he was in front of me. Agad na nag-tama ang mga mata namin dahilan upang mapakurap ako ng dalawang beses.

Our eyes met... Our eyes fucking met.

Hindi ko na maramdaman pa ang tibok ng puso ko sa sobrang kaba.

He was so close. Kanina kasi, ang layo niya. He looked so much better up close, and I could smell his perfume. I could easily reach him with my hand.

Nothing changed in his physical appearance, but his shoulders widened even more. Does he go to the gym? Umangat ang kilay ko sa sariling kaisipan. May pinopormahan ba 'to sa Pilipinas?

Sandali akong na-blanko. What if mayroon nga? Paano kung may pinopormahan nga siyang babae? Hindi naman imposible 'yon... but without knowing the reasons why, I want to convince myself that it's impossible.

I rolled my eyes and faced him. "Ako nga. Nirereklamo ko lang naman na mali 'yong name ng restaurant na 'to. It should be a staple house, not a ramen house."

He looked at me deeper, as if I were an ocean he was diving in.

"That's why you called me at three in the morning?" His tone doesn't change at all, mapaglaro pa rin ito at mukhang inaasar ako.

Umamba ako at matapang na tiningnan ang lalaki sa kaniyang mata. "Seven ng gabi 'yon, anong alas-tres ka riyan?"

He shrugged. "South Korea is 8 hours ahead of Madrid. Kakatulog ko lang no'n, kaso ginising agad ako ng manok na parang natanggalan ng pari."

Manok? Tinawag niya ba akong manok na natanggal ng pari?

"Bakit ka kasi nasa Madrid kung nasa Korea ang negosyo mo? How can you entertain your customers if you are far away? At saka, ang bastos nang pakikitungo mo sa mga costumers mo. Nakikipag-usap ng maayos iyong tao, papatayan mo lang ng tawag?"

I didn't know that Xion and I would interact this way immediately after we met after almost a year. Nakakainis dahil ganitong-ganito ang unang pag-uusap namin; full of anger and resentment towards each other.

Pero... siya na lang ata ang galit sa'ming dalawa.

"Ikaw lang naman ang costumer na nag-complain," He leaned his head a little against me. "Why? Do you want me to always be by your side?"

Napauwang ang labi ko ngunit agad ko ring binalik ang postura. I gulped twice and blinked, not knowing how to warm my freezing hand. Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo upang depensahan ang sarili.