After that scene, dinala kami ng guard sa police station to settle the incident. At makasuhan ang dapat kasuhan.
"So miss, you're telling us that this man" sabay turo nya sa lalakeng kaharap ko "is a stranger that harassed you all of a sudden?"
"Opo." I said truthfully.
"Babe naman. Tell him the truth." he looked at me with pleading eyes and proceeded to look at the officer and said "You see sir, kakabreak lang namin ng girlfriend ko. And I want her back. Nag papanggap lang sya na hindi nya ako kilala because she was hurt. I hurt her. And for the record, I wasn't harassing her." and his eyes went to my direction. "You know I will do anything to have you back babe. But this -- harassing you was never on the list. I love you very much and all I wanted was to explain things to you. That girl you saw the other day? She is my cousin! For Pete's sake, believe me! I just wanted to clear things up. If you really want to break up with me, do it after I've explained. You're being unfair. I'm sorry for hurting you but please hear me out. If you want me to say sorry, I can do it 'til my throat gets dry." He paused for a while and continued. "You are my life. Please don't leave me." There were tears in the corner of his eyes when he covered his face with both of his hands and he wiped his tears dry. The pain in his eyes made my heart soften.
They say that the eyes are the windows of the soul. And now, I can't imagine what suffering his soul must have gone through to have such sad eyes.
"Is what this man is saying true, miss?" Tanong ni mamang pulis. I felt a slight kick on my right foot. And I saw the man looking at me na parang may sinasabi.
It wouldn't hurt if I let this incident slip. I think. Bahala na.
Wala na akong nasabi. I just nodded.
"Sige, sige. Settle your love problem outside. You don't need a police but a love guru." Halos maluha na kasi yung officer matapos magsalita yung lalake.
"I have no way of helping you. Just be strong. Things will get better." Sabi ng police tapos tinapik yung balikat ng lalake.
"Thank you po sir." Sabi ko sa police officer.
Tumayo na ang lalake habang nakayuko parin at hinawakan yung kamay ko at naglakad na kami papalabas. I'm still speechless. Awang awa ako sa lalake na para bang gusto ko siyang i-hug. Feeling ko talaga sobrang sincere nya. Kung ako talaga yung sinabihan nya nun, I would've forgiven him on the spot. But the problem is, hindi para sakin yung litanya nya. I don't even know his name!
Nakatayo kami ngayon sa labas ng police station at nag aantay ng taxi. Ang tahimik. Awkward. "Magiging okay rin kayo ng gf mo. Tiwala lang." I said to kill the silence.
"Ha? Magkakilala ba tayo? Wala akong girlfriend uy." He looked at me incredulously. "Don't tell me naniwala ka sa mga pinagsasabi ko kanina sa loob?" Tumingin sya sakin na parang ineexpect nya na 'hindi' yung sagot ko.
Tiningnan ko lang sya pabalik.
"So naniwala ka talaga? Hahahaha. I should become an actor if I'm that good in acting!" Halos maglupasay na sya sa kakatawa. Ako nakatingin parin sa kanya.
"So, hindi totoo lahat yun?" Hindi parin nag sisink in na umarte lang siya kanina. Wow. As in wow talaga. Ang galing lang nya.
"H-how did you... Where did you get all those emotions? I mean, parang ang lalim ng pinaghuhugutan mo e."
Delikado 'tong taong 'to. He can fake emotions easily. Paano nalang ang magiging girlfriend nya? Hindi nya malalaman kung kelan ito nagsisinungaling o hindi. Kawawa.
"Well you know what they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. I had to do it. Kung hindi, makukulong ako. And it's your fault. Kung sumunod ka nalang kanina nung sinabi kong sabayan mo 'ko, e di wala tayo dito ngayon."
"So ako pa yung may kasalanan? Wow. Grabe ka. Ako ba yung unang lumapit at nanggulat ng taong mapayapang naglalakad sa mall? Pinakaba ba kita dahil akala mo kidnapper o killer ako? Hindi diba? Ikaw lahat yun. Ikaw ang may kasalanan punyeta ka. May pa babe babe ka pang nalalaman! Ginawa mo pa akong baboy."
"Whoa, chill! Diba babe naman ang common endearment ng mag syota? Anyways, let's just forget about this. Everything's fine now. I've done my mission and it's all that matters. Thanks for your participation though." Pinara nya ang paparating na taxi at huminto ito sa tapat namin. "Gotta go. Bye."
Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. One time, nag uusap pa kami, the next sumasakay na sya ng taxi. I didn't even have the chance to say anything. Umandar na ang taxi at naiwan akong mag-isang nakatayo sa tabi ng kalsada.
"Ganun lang yun? Hindi man lang sya nag sorry sa abalang dinulot nya saken?" I said to myself.
Biglang naalala ko yung sinabi nyang may word na 'mission'. Sinubukan kong habulin ang taxi na hindi pa gaanong nakakalayo habang sumisigaw. "HOY! ANONG MISSION YUNG SINABI MO?! BAKIT MO BA GINAWA YUN? LANGYA!" Humarurot yung taxi hanggang hindi na talaga kayang maabutan. Huminto ako para habulin ang aking hininga.
Damn him. Hindi man lang nya sinabi ang pangalan nya. Well, not that it matters. Hindi naman na kami magkikita e. Baka napagtripan lang nya ako at wala naman talagang dahilan kung bakit nya yun ginawa. Oh well. Bahala sya.
I felt my stomach churn. I glanced at my wristwatch. It's 8:47 p.m.. Hindi ko man lang namalayan ang oras. Kaya pala nagwawala na ang mga bulate ko sa tyan.
No.
Wait. Parang may nakalimutan ako.
Naku, 9:30 pm magsasara ang boutique sa mall na pinagbilhan ng dresses para sa debut na iheheld sa hotel nila Ashley bukas! Kukunin ko sana ngayon yun eh! Patay ako nito.
Malayu-layu pa naman yun dito. Kung pwedeng liparin ko nalang, ginawa ko na talaga. Ako pa ba yung magbibigay ng kapalpakan sa pamilya ng bestfriend ko?
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at wala paring taxi, jeep o tricycle man lang. Nananadya ba sila? Ano ba. Kung kailan kailangan, tsaka wala!
Sorry Ashley. Sorry uncle Keith.
Kasalanan talaga 'to nung gagong yun eh. I sat with a thud on the concrete out of frustration. Hindi ko na alintana ang sakit ng pwet ko dahil sa lakas ng pagbagsak ko. Heck, my mind was nowhere near worrying about my pained butt. I sat in a manner na parang nag memeditate and then I pressed my index fingers on both sides of my temple. I tried to think of a solution for my dilemma but came up with none.
Kung tumakbo ka lang kanina pa, eh di sana nakunan ng ilang metro yung distansya sa pagitan nyo ng mall! Baka nga naka isang kilometro ka na eh. I thought to myself.
Anong magagawa ng ilang kilometrong pagtakbo kung hindi ko rin naman maaabutang bukas yung mall?
At least you tried! Mas madali kang makakagawa ng palusot 'pag tinanong ka kung bakit hindi mo nagawa yung nakatokang trabaho sa'yo. Mas madali kang patatawarin kung nag effort ka!
I was battling with myself trying to justify my situation and to ease my wracking nerves.
Then out of desperation, this crazy idea popped out of my head. Why don't I just stand in the middle of the road and block those private vehicles and ask for a ride?
Pwede.
I glanced at my wristwatch. It's 9:05. Dali dali akong tumakbo sa gitna ng kalsada at dumipa na parang scarecrow sa maisan. Pinagkaiba lang, imbis na nagtataboy ay nagpapalapit ako. At ang scarecrow, hindi mamamatay. Ako? I'm gambling my life on this. Baka may siraulong driver na nag dadrive habang inaantok at hindi ako makita at masagasaan ako. O kaya naman may drunk driver, tsugi ako. This is my last resort. Kailangan gumana 'to or else, goodbye work. Goodbye scholarship. Goodbye school.
Graduating pa naman ako. I need to do this.
I was pulled out from my train of thoughts when I heard a car honking repeatedly. Nasilaw ako sa headlights ng kotse and I shielded my eyes from the glare.
Kung sino ka man, thank you sa paghinto!
