My Perfect Stranger

-Just So You Know, She's Back-

Sumasakit ang ulo ko kakaisip, kung sino ba talaga yung si Stranger. Potek! Kahit anong gawin kong pag-analyze, hindi ko pa din alam paano i-decipher ang clue nya. My God! Nakakapraning! My brain cells can't figure it out, alone. I guess I need help from someone.

Ethan spoke "Anna, ready ka na? Okay ka lang ba?" It took me out of my reverie. Sinundo nya ako sa bahay ng kotse niya. Saturday ngayon, so it means ngayon yung opening ng resort ni Harold. Si Harold, kahapon pa nandun kasi marami siyang inaasikaso. Si Gonzales dapat ang susundo sa akin eh, ewan ko ba dun bakit wala. Si kuya naman mukhang si Joanne ang sinundo. Ayos di ba? Yung mga taong dapat susundo at kasama ko, may kanya-kanyang business. Nakakairita sila.

"Yeah, I was just thinking." I blinked twice and shook my head.

"Of what?" There's a hint of curiosity in his tone. He started the engine.

Si Ethan siguro matutulungan niya ako. Matalino siya, kaya niya to. "This is bothering me too much eh. Remember yung gift na nakita mo sa gate namin nung graduation party ko?" he paused for a while then nodded. Maybe, he's trying to remember that scene.

"Bakit anong meron dun?" he said without looking at me. His gaze is fixed ahead.

"I've received the same gift last Wednesday. I mean, pareho ng box and may note ulit. But this time shirt na ang regalo niya sa akin. Nataandaan mo ba yung kinuwento sa'yo ni Gonzales about the boy in the jeep?" he nodded again.

Gah! Ang hirap mag-explain. Kainis kasi si Gonzales! Just when I needed him the most, he's nowhere to be found. Asan ba kasi yun? Role niya to as my bestfriend di ba? Tapos ibang tao tuloy nakakausap ko. Well, friend ko naman si Ethan pero kasi ang hirap mag-go into details eh.

I continued "Yung shirt kasi na regalo sa akin eh yun ung suot nung lalake sa jeep."

He creased his forehead before answering. "Okay, what do you want to know?"

"May clue kasi siyang iniwan. Sinulat nya dun sa note niya na if I want to know him, I should check on the gifts that I've received on my birthday." I stated.

"Did you follow the clue then?"

"Yes, I did. My problem is I can't figure it out. Natutuyuan ako ng CSF. I keep on checking on the gifts every now and then but still my neurons can't puzzle it out. My brain is working too much." (CSF as in Cerebro Spinal Fluid. This is a fluid that cushions the brain. Alam ni Ethan yun kasi di ba medical student siya.)

He chuckled lightly. "I thought you're smart. Yeah, you're right. Your brain is working too much." We swerved towards the left.

"Kung makatawa ka parang ang dali lang i-solve yung clue ah. Kainis kasi magbibigay ng clue sobrang vague. Hindi naman ako kamag-anak ni Detective Conan or nagbabasa ng Sherlock Holmes para ma-solve ng ganun kadali yung iniwan nyang clue. Sige nga ikaw, how can I solve this out?" I challenged him.

"Okay, fine. Well, tama ang napagtanungan mo kasi, just so you know I like puzzles and riddles. But before I say what I think you should do, tell me why is this bothering you too much? Why are you so into this stranger thing? Paano pag na-solve mo nga to at nakilala mo siya, what will you do?" he asked me curiously without looking at me.

I paused for a while thinking of what to say. Errr "Gusto ko lang kasi siya makilala. Kasi......ewan. Basta para naman di na niya ako ginugulo." I flipped my hair in desparation .

"Ginugulo ka niya? Bakit? Paano ka niya ginugulo? Alam ba yun ni Daryl? " his voice is now concerned and he glanced at me for a second.