Cold-blooded

Chapter 40: Absence

Tulala, laging malalim ang iniisip. This is Yngrid right now. His absence is really affecting her. I smiled bitterly as I looked at her.

I know he's in the hospital, binabantayan na naman si Delaine. What is he thinking? Inaalagaan si Delaine tapos pinapabayaan ang girlfriend niya.

I took a glance of her. Nakatingin ito sa labas ng bintana. Tulala at parang wala sa sarili. Binabaybay namin ngayon ang daan papuntang Davao Airport.

"You're thinking too much." Napalingon ito sa akin. Nagtatanong ang mga mata na nakatutok aa akin ngunit ngiti lang ang isinagot ko rito.

"Am I?" Tanong nito sa akin.

"Not really. Just get used of your set up for now. Dahil sa larangang pinasok niyo, hindi maiiwasang walang panggulo. And I know, between the two, he will choose you." Pierre will choose her. I am very sure of that. He loves her, dati pa.

Muli itong tumingin sa bintana at tumulala. She's thinking again. And this time, deeper. 

Hindi ako masaya na wala si Pierre. Bakit ako sasaya kung ganito ang nakikita kong Yngrid? I'm not selfish to take advantage of the situation. Hindi ko kaya. Magiging akin siya pero hindi naman siya masaya.

We arrived at the airport na tahimik pa rin ito. We are waiting for her best friends. At hindi nga nagtagal ay nakita ko na si Keila at Gem papalabas.

"Zack! What a surprise!" Bungad ni Keila nang lumapit kami dito.

"Yeah, I was around the neighborhood. I visited her." Her mouth formed an Oh. Hindi ata naniwala.

"Buti naman at pumunta kayo. Oh Gem, kumusta ka? Puyat?" At tumawa ito.

"Ito kasing si Keila eh, gusto kong matulog tapos daldal ng daldal." Kinuha ko ang mga maleta ng mga ito kahit na kaya na raw nila.

Kahit sa sasakyan ay nagkukwentuhan pa rin sila. Parang isang taong hindi nagkita.

"Yngrid, how are you? Did he?" Nabigla ako sa tanong nito at napalingon. Then I saw Keila glaring at me. I kept my mouth shout.

Fine. I won't talk.

He is nowhere to be found yet Yngrid's heart and thoughts are with him.

Buong byahe akong walang kibo. I know, Keila and Gem are wondering why I am here. I am too, is wondering.

It is true na magka-subdivision lang ang pamilya niya at ang lola but the truth is, sinundan ko siya dito. Rumors spread like wildfire. I wasn't stalking. Walang kaso.

Her family welcomed Keila and Gem. They even smiled to me. Parang kilala na ako sa pamamahay nila. And then I saw her brother. I shook my head. I knew he had this grudge for me kaya pinili ko ang lumabas.

I will be leaving soon. Babalik na lang ako bukas. I will give them some time to hang out. Nasa malayo ang pag-iisip ko nang naramdaman kong hindi ako nag-iisa.

"Zachariah? Right?" I nodded to Lemuel. Umupo ito sa tabi ko at tumingin sa langit.

"I like you, for my sister, of course. But I think, it's for her to decide. You were brave enough to be here when in fact, si Lasaca ang dapat nandito." He sighed. The cue for me to say something.

"Brave but not for long, kagaya ng ginawa ko 5 years ago. Unti-unti nang bumababa ang depensa ko." He patted my shoulder.

"Yeah, they said,  women fall in love in the presence of a man and you are here. In the other hand, men fall in love in the absence of a woman. Therefore, nasa kay Ate lang talaga ang desisyon if you know what I mean." I looked at him like he was from another planet. Para atang hindi ko na naiintindihan ang sinasabi niya.

"Hay, pag-ibig nga naman. Hihilahin ka nito pababa hanggang hindi ka na makahinga at ang magagawa mo nalang ay bumitaw at magpaubaya." Matapos sabihin ang mga katagang iyon ay umalis na ito. I shook my head. Really? What's wrong with them?

In the second thought, he was right. He was 100% right.