INTERNAL CRIES

Kabanata 26

Kabanata 26
Eat

“Can we come by my house? I left my cellphone behind.”

Sinamaan ko nang tingin si Kheeno nang tuluyan akong makaupo ng maayos sa driver’s seat. Prenting nakaupo ito sa passenger seat at inaayos ang sariling seatbelt. He will ride with me now, kasi, sabi niya ay nasiraan siya ng sasakyan habang nasa daan papunta rito sa hacienda, kaya pina-tow nito ang sasakyan kanina.

“Sino kasi ang nag-utos na pumunta ka rito?” masungit na tanong ko. Hindi naman problema sa akin na sumabay siya, ang sa akin lang, kung hindi ka ba naman kalahating bobo, ba’t ka pa pupunta rito, e hindi ka naman kailangan?

Kheeno just sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

“Sa kabilang subdivision lang naman, dadaanan ko lang ang cellphone ko. Naiwan ko kamamadali kanina.” Umismid ako. “I can drive though, so I don’t need to instruct you the location,” he added.

“No, thanks. I can drive. I don’t trust anyone in my car,” saad ko at pinaandar ang makina.

Kheeno gasped. “I’m a good driver, Arden. I don’t even have any violations due to reckless driving,” saad nito.

“Doesn’t matter. My car, my rules. I don’t trust you, so that's understandable.”

I heard Kheeno chuckle, but I didn’t mind him anymore; I focused myself on driving hanggang sa makalabas na kami ng hacienda.

Kheeno didn’t tell the exact location of his house, and I didn't bother myself to ask, basta nag-drive lang ako papasok sa kabilang subdivision. Hindi naman umiimik si Kheeno, does it mean I’m on the right track. Sasabihin naman siguro nito na mali ang dinadaanan ko kapag hindi ito iyong tamang daan papunta sa bahay niya.

While driving, habang papalapit kami nang papalapit sa gate ng subdivision, mas nakaramdam ako na parang pamilyar itong dinadaanan namin ngayon. I don't know if I was right, but it just feels so right. The houses we passed by were familiar to me.

Kheeno didn't say anything, kaya nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagmamaneho.

My heart beats faster as I was approaching the last house I saw in the subdivision. It was a two-story modern house. The double door was huge, and the second floor’s wall was made of glass. The roof was gray, as was the first floor’s wall. It has potted trees along the way towards his main door.

The more I drove the car near the house, the faster my heart beats, and I feel like vomiting any moment. 

I’m gripping the steering wheel tight, and my breathing becomes heavy and intriguing.

What the fuck is happening to me!?

I slowly parked the car just in front of the house. Nanatili ang paningin ko sa bahay at hindi ko man lang magawang alisin ang paningin ko rito. Patagal na patagal ang titig ko, pabilis naman nang pabilis ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko. The way my heart slams against my chest is deafening.

“Are you okay?” I heard a faint voice asking, but I didn't bother myself to look for it. Nanatili akong nakatitig sa bahay. It feels so familiar. The house looks so familiar to me, to the point that I can feel goosebumps.

“Arden, are you okay?”Another faint voice is asking.

My hands were trembling while I was still gripping tight the steering wheel.

“Arden—”

“Fuck!” gulat na gulat na sigaw ko nang hawakan ni Kheeno ang balikat ko.

My heart feels like it stormed out of my ribs and flew away.