I Think He Knows

FIRST

| CHAPTER 01 |

IRIS

"Are you sure that you don't need anything?" umiling ako bilang tugon sa sinabi niya. I can do this all by myself. Nanatili siyang diretsong nakatayo habang walang emosyon ang kaniyang mukha. I gave him a meaningful glance and he walked away after finally getting my point. Hindi ko na dapat siyang kausapin gaya ng dati pagkatapos ng tagpong 'to.

Hindi naman ako magtatagal dito. I just need to check something here in the Philippines. Though, it's a usual annual rotation around the world and gladly, this hometown will be my last stop. I have dealt with so much work since my last trip in France. Philippines wouldn't be so hard to finish. After all, this kind of job-related journey complements me. Like it's an access to travel freely, eventhough I am not just simply 'wandering'.

Sa ngayon, kailangan ko ng pansamantalang matitirhan. And I have my own headquarters here in 16th Avenue. Well, matagal na 'tong nakatayo dito at sa wakas, puwede nang gamitin. Ako lang din naman ang inaasahang makakagamit nito kaya ayos na rin. At alam ko rin na para sa akin lang lahat ng maaaring laman ng bahay na 'to.

Halos mga isang oras kong inayos ang gamit ko saka nagmuni-muni sa bahay. The ground area looks so normal, mukha ngang ako lang ang titira sa hitsura nito. The whole space was covered with brown and white color pallette designs. All the furnitures and appliances are complete, I can say na medyo magaling din ang pagii-interior sa palapag ng bahay na 'to, hindi nga lang pwedeng sumobra sa ganda dahil panlabas na anyo lang naman ito.

It looks very usual, kung anong prenteng bahay ang makikita mo rito sa Pilipinas ay ganoon ang ipinapahiwatig ng disenyo nito. Except that the entire surface was bombarded by.....what the hell?

Agad kong kinuha ang phone ko at tinawagan ang kung sino man ang may pakana nito.

[Glorious evening, Ms. Fede-]

"Where did you get these tiles?" inis kong sabi. Hindi ko agad napansin kung gaano kagarbo ang tiles na 'yon. It has pure marble qualities, alam ko na agad na mahal 'yon. Masiyado nga yata ako nasanay sa ibang bansa. At this point of time, it should be different. Nasa Pilipinas ako for pete's sake, iba ang role ko rito.

[It was from India, Ms. Federica. A later gift from a well-known floor tiles company there. Delivered last January 2013, 26th day of the month at exactly 11:30pm. Shifted to Philippines last May 2014.]