GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

32 SILENCE

YVES

"Tara na." aya ni Ate Aiah, habang inaayos ang bag niya at tumingin sa amin.

Sabay-sabay kaming tumango dahil bagong banda na ang pumalit sa stage.

Napansin kong sumabay sa paglalakad si Ate Aiah sa akin. "I saw that, Loi. Mga tinginan nyo ha." she gave me a teasing smile, raising an eyebrow before walking ahead of me.

As we reached the parking area, Sheena looked around and asked. "Hindi na ba sasabay si Nico sa atin?"

I texted her kanina bago kami lumabas, pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin siyang reply.

"Una na kayo."

"What do you mean, 'una na kayo'? Are you waiting for someone?" tanong ni Ate Aiah habang nakataas ang isang kilay.

"I'll wait for Uyab... magcocommute na lang kami." I answered.

Siguradong pagod na rin sila kung magpapahintay pa kami, atsaka 11 pm na rin.

Sheena who was standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Paano kung nakauwi na yun?"

I bit my lip, trying not to show how much that thought bothered me.

"Hindi naman siguro..."

Edi sana nakasalubong namin yun nong lumabas sa bar, unless may isa pang exit door na nilabasan sila.

"Update us sa GC ha, Loi. Antok na daw si Princess eh." sabi ni Jho habang itinuro si Stacey na naka-upo na sa passenger seat ng kotse niya.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Sure, Ingat kayo Jho."

With that, they drove off, at ang mga ilaw ng kotse nila ay dahan-dahang nawala sa aking paningin.

Sheena lingered for a second longer, her eyes scanning the lot. "Siguraduhin ko munang nandito pa si Nico bago ako umalis."

"If that's the case, I'll go na. Ingat kayo." Ate Aiah said, her keys jingling as she opened her car door. Handa na sanang pumasok sa kotse niya nang bigla kaming makarinig ng sigaw mula sa di kalayuan.

"Loi!"

Lumingon kami ni Sheena sa likod nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses.

Si Mikhs.

Malawak ang kanyang ngiti habang kumakaway papalapit sa amin.

Pero, mas napako ang tingin ko sa kasama niyang parang yelo kung tumitig, as if her gaze could freeze everything around us.

"Loi, Shee, I'll go ahead." sabi ni Ate Aiah not even giving us a chance to respond at mabilis na siyang sumakay at pinaandar ang kotse.

Pagkatalikod ni Ate Aiah, biglang sumulpot si Mikhs sa tabi ko. "You didn't even tell me na pupunta ka." sabi niya habang marahang tinusok ang pisngi ko gamit ang hintuturo.

Napangiti ako ng konti pero bago pa man ako makasagot bumulong siya sa right ear ko, her breath warm and close. Too close.

"And you didn't even tell me na kilala mo pala si Arceta."

It was only when she moved away that I realized just how near she had been.

"Bye, gotta follow her!" Mikhs called out with a wave before heading towards her own car na pinaandar na niya ng mabilis.

My heartbeat quickened, but not because of her. Something... someone else caught my attention.

There was a faint sound-someone clearing their throat.

I turned, at halos hindi ako makagalaw nang makita ko ang mukha ni Uyab.

Her face was unreadable, but the storm in her eyes was impossible to miss. Dark. Intense. Like she was holding back something heavy.