Double Take

Chapter 35

Light

I leaned on my swivel chair as I accepted the incoming phone call from a friend. It was past ten in the evening and I am still here, staying in the darkness of my office instead of going home.

"Are you really sure about your plan, Benj?" Tila nang-aasar na tanong nito. I sighed and massaged my temple. Kung kanino niya nalaman ang tungkol sa bagay na ito, mukhang may ideya na ako.

"What are you talking about?" I fired in an irritated tone, acting oblivious of what he was saying. Humalakhak ito sa kabilang linya kaya mas lalo lamang akong nainis. I'm not proud of what I'm planning to do but for now, this is the only way I could get away with everything that has been pestering me.

"You know what I'm talking about." he teased. "Ano? Uuwi ka na?"

I scoffed. "Hindi na ako babalik sa lugar na 'yan-"

"I meant Cebu, not here in Palawan, Benj." He chuckled like an idiot that he is. Napairap ako. I suddenly felt my temper rising that I had to loosen my tie for me to be able to breathe. "Kasi bakit ka naman babalik dito sa San Vicente, 'di ba?"

Tang ina mo, Zancho.

"Pero nakapagtataka rin. For almost ten years, I never heard of you planning to leave Manila kahit na pwedi ka namang umuwi rito tuwing may okasyon. Kahit sa Cebu ayaw mong pumunta. Pero nalaman mo lang kahapon na single na ulit siya, biglang may plano ka na kaagad na lumuwas-"

I laughed with sarcasm. Kung kaharap ko lang ang gagong ito ngayon, baka nasakal ko na talaga hanggang sa magkulay violet. How he learned about my relationship with Rael in the past, I have no fucking idea. Kahit mga malalapit kong kaibigan, walang ideya sa bagay na iyon. Well, of course, except Diego.

"Sa Cebu ako pupunta. At para lang sa birthday ni Lolo." I answered confidently. Ganoon lang naman talaga kasi ang plano ko kaya bakit niya ako pinagbibintangan?

"Bakit? Every ten years lang ba nagbibirthday Lolo mo?" he taunted.

I clicked my tongue and tilted my head.

"How about you? Gusto mo pa bang magbirthday o ayaw mo na?" I shot back grimly that made him bark a laughter. Tang ina ng hayop na 'to. Masyado yatang bored at ako ang napagtripan ngayon.

"Baka naman dadaan ka lang ng Cebu tapos didiretso ka na rito?" Pang-aasar pa nito. "Tamang-tama, if you are indeed going to do that sketchy plan of yours, pweding dito ka na-"

"Hindi ko alam kung anong sinasabi mo, Zancho. Are you sick?" Gigil kong putol sa kanya dahil ayaw ko nang marinig ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon.

"Alam mo bang may sarili nang clinic sa bayan ang ex mong 'yon?" He shared like I didn't know. Alam ko. Pero hindi ko naman inalam kasi hindi na rin naman ako interesado. Narinig ko lang kay Miggy noong makausap ko ito. "For sure may discount ka roon kapag-"

"I don't care." Sagot ko at tumayo na. Uuwi na ako. "Kahit pa magkaroon siya ng sariling ospital, wala akong pakialam."

"Really?" Zancho asked playfully. "Baka marinig ko nalang sa susunod nag-ooffer kana na patayuan siya ng sariling ospital, ah?"

The heck?

"Ano ako baliw?" Angal ko na hindi niya pinansin.

"Anyways, I heard that you're finally getting married this year. Aren't you going to send me an invitation? Ang tagal mo nang engaged... ngayong taon mo lang naisipang sa wakas magpakasal?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Kanino mo naman narinig 'yan?"

Yes, I'm engaged but I'm not going to marry her.