INTERNAL CRIES

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20
Confused

Kanina pa umalis si Kheeno, pero hanggang ngayon ay malakas pa rin ang kabog ng dibdib ko at nanginginig pa rin ako.

I forgot that Asher was calling me, pero dahil inabot na yata ng ilang minuto na naka-mute ang tawag ay namatay na rin ito.

My phone beeped, and I saw Asher's name flash on the screen.

‘I think you’re busy. You still have a meeting, right? Call me back na lang if you’re not busy, okay?’

Bumuntonghininga ako at agad na nagtipa ng reply kay Asher.

‘I’m sorry, I had an emergency. I’ll call you back if I'm not busy, okay?’

I hit the send button and tossed my phone on the table.

Bumuga ulit ako ng hangin at inisip ang nangyari kanina.

I don't know where I went wrong or why Kheeno was mad at me. As far as I remember, I don’t really know him. Pero duda ako na parte siya sa mga alaalang nakalimutan ko. And if he ever was, I don't know if I wanted to know about him.

There is something about him that stops me from wanting to know more about him. Parang may babala na kaagad sa akin.

If he is important from my old life, I think my father will let me know him, right? Pero dahil iilan lang naman ang pinakilala ni Daddy sa akin mula sa nakalimutan kong alaala, then I assume that he isn't important to me and that he isn't playing an important role in my life. Kasi kung oo, e ‘di sana ay nasa mga videos ko na siya.

But he wasn't. Wala ni isa sa mga video na pinakita ni Daddy sa akin ang lalaking iyon. It’s only Rhomisor and Joysie.

Umiling ako.

Kheeno was Rhomisor’s brother, but then, why shouldn't my father have, at least, a video showing him, right? Or isn't he really that important to be part of my life? Or whatever it is, it is starting to confuse me now.

Hindi ko na nagawang basahin pa ang mga papeles na hiningi ko, dahil sinakop na ang isip ko tungkol kay Kheeno. Inabotan na ako ng alas sais ng hapon dahil sa kaiisip.

My phone beeped again, and this time, it’s from my father, asking me if I was at home already. Kaya kaagad akong nagtipa ng reply.

‘No, Dad, I’m still in the plantation office.’

Then I hit the send button.

Hindi ko pa man naibaba ang cellphone ay tumunog na ulit ito, dahil na naman sa text ni Daddy.

‘I’ll call Kheeno to fetch you there, okay? Don’t leave your office alone. May meeting pa ako. Take care.’

My heart hammers again from just reading his name. Saka ko lang din naalala na pinakuha ko nga pala ang sasakyan ko kanina dahil balak ko sanang ipahatid si Thunder dito, kaso ginabi na ako kaya hindi ko na lang pinatuloy.

Naalarma kaagad ako, kaya nagmadali agad akong magtipa ng reply kay Daddy before he calls that man.

‘No, Dad! I’m fine. I’ll call the driver na lang. Huwag niyo na pong abalahin iyong tao. I can handle myself anyway.’

Agad ko iyong se-nend iyon, pero lumipas na ang limang minuto ay hindi na si Daddy nag-reply pa. It just means that the meeting has already started.

Shit! Sana nabasa ni Daddy ang text ko!

I stood up and went to the mini refrigerator inside my office and grabbed a bottle of water to calm myself. Nang matapos kong uminom ay agad kong tinawagan ang driver sa bahay para magpasundo.