Kabanata 12
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Noong umuwi si Monty, naghimutok ako sa unit ko at bahagyang natulala. I was spacing out for I don't know how long, just staring at my screen, while my mind was in chaos.
My dad already passed away when I was just a baby, leaving her to raise me alone. I don't think I'll ever fully come to terms with it. I talk about her in my mind like she still haven't left, too.
There was this outrageously overwhelming urge that was pushing me to just jump up and run to her, to be with her again, to feel that little boy's happiness once more. Kaso baka ipahiya ko lang ang sarili ko. Hindi ko nga alam kung nasaan siya at kung saang bansa siya hahanapin. Sure, I can text her, or send a message that asking for her location, but she might not respond to it due to her overloaded work.
Even though I need attention and time, she couldn't give it because she's always busy with her work.
Lumiwanag ang screen ng phone ko at may nag pop up na notification doon. I wanted to check it out and see what that notification was all about. But I was too lazy to do it, so I just laid down on my bed with my back pressing against the soft blanket.
Pumikit ako ng mariin, sinusubukang matulog pero hindi ako dinadalaw ng antok.
I groaned frustratingly and opened my phone. I maneuvered my fingers across the screen as I saw the notification that popped up earlier.
It was a message from Sabrina.
Sabrina:
Hi, Isaac! I know this is sudden. But can you knock on Lavin's unit?
Kumunot ang noo ko sa message niya. Gusto niyang... katukin ko ang condo ni Lavin? Bakit? Wala ba siya ro'n? O kaya naman i-chat niya na lang?
Bahala na. Bumuntong hininga ako at tumayo sa pagkakahiga sa kama ko. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at pumunta muna sa kitchen para uminom ng tubig. Pagkatapos ay sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Sabrina.
I knocked on Lavin's unit. Hindi ganoon kalakas at hindi rin ganoon kahina. A couple of seconds passed, I still haven't got a response, so I knocked again.
Ilang minuto pa ay bumukas ang pinto at tumambad sa akin si Lavin, nakalagay ang glasses niya sa suot niyang t-shirt habang may hawak-hawak siyang libro.
"What?" he raised an eyebrow, as if getting impatient.
Tumikhim ako at nakita ko saglit ang loob ng unit niya. Hindi katulad sa akin na kulay cream ang interior, black and white ang nakita ko. I gazed at him and shook my head slightly.
"Nag text si Sabrina," sambit ko at sinenyas ang phone ko.
His face darkened for a second before nodding his head. Hindi ko na iyon pinansin at bumalik na ulit sa unit ko. I clicked Sabrina's icon and typed a message.
Ako:
Okay na Hahahaha
I find it funny. His reaction earlier, parang mukhang nainis.
Sabrina:
Thank you, Isaac! You're a life saver.
I just reacted at her message. Heart. And I didn't reply after that.
I decided to open my Instagram account and noticed that Lavin just shared a story. I viewed it, which caught me off guard when I saw that it was just posted forty three seconds ago.
Natutop ko ang bibig at umiling. Baka sabihin niya stalker ako, ah? Viewing story from my mutuals is just a normal thing for me. At isa pa, hindi ko naman alam na kakapost niya lang pala 'yon.
