The (not so) Sweet Serendipity

23.3

RICHARD

Kaya mo 'to Richard. Para kay Meng diba?

Inisip ko kung anong dala ko sa kotse, like change of clothes or shoes? Naka jeans kasi ako, mukhang mas mahirap pag naka jeans. Naka slippers rin ako ngayon, kailangan ba naka sapatos or pag nakapaa kaya? Nakapolo rin ako. Buti na lang may t-shirt sa ilalim, puti nga lang. Hay nako, Richard. Bakit ba kasi hindi tayo prepared?

Andun nako sa tapat ng window ni Meng. Hindi ko siya tinawag kasi baka tumakbo pa siya lalo palayo. This is my best chance. I looked up where her window was. May konteng ilaw. Good sign. I'm 100% sure she's there in her room. I then looked at what I was going to climb.

I considered to park my car really close to the wall so that the car would give me a lift. But who am I kidding, that's not really going to work. Think Richard, think.

Oh what the hell, just climb it. Step by step, Richard. Lets do this.

MAINE

Kenneth and Val were knocking on my door.

I opened it. "Thanks guys." I gave them both a hug.

"Ano ka ba, ikaw pa. Wala lang samin ni Kenneth yun, sobrang satisfying nga eh." Hay nako si Val, lumabas nanaman pagka bitchesa nito.

"Hindi naman siguro siya babalik agad, kasi medyo nagulat siya nung pinakita naming yung post."

"Talaga lang no, pero buti naman. Akala niya siguro hindi magpopost si Louise." Valeen added.

I was really getting tired with all this. "Let's just forget it. At least it's all done. Huwag na natin pansinin. May reunion pa eh, gusto ko masaya tayo dun."

"Kaming bahala ni Val sa'yo."

"Thanks talaga. Sainyong dalawa, sobra."

"O sige na, pero kailangan ko nang mauna muna. Pero tawagan mo ako as soon as may kung ano man. Okay?"

"Okay lang, thank you Val. Hatid na kita. Baka matulog na lang rin ako. Ikaw, Kenneth?"

"Wala naman akong kailangan puntahan o gawin. Okay lang ba, patambay ulit?"

"Oo naman."

RICHARD

Fuck! I already tried different ways to get through that one spot halfway. My hands were hurting and getting dirty but I didn't care. I was already so sweaty too but I have to try again.

Maybe if I stepped through this way.... And then grab this bit.... Feel the next step if it's stable, yes okay, ingat Chard. Andito na ulit tayo sa halfway spot na 'to eh. Isip... What if I grab that – Ouch! Fuck! – Nope not that. I checked my hand, yup its bleeding, talino mo kasi eh. But I still try to find another ledge. Come on, there must be a way through this.

"Richard, anak?"

Tangina, muntik akong mahulog! Pag tingin ko, putek, andito parents ni Meng. Hindi ko alam gagawin ko. Magkukunwari pa ba ako. Baka kung di ako gumalaw, makakatago ako. Para akong gago. Nararamdaman ko na sila nandiyan lang. Tumingin na lang ako sakanila. Ngumiti rin ako. "Hi tita"

"Jusko! Anong ginagawa mo diyan? Bumaba ka nga diyan! Baka mapano ka pa. Talaga itong batang 'to o."

Shet bakit ngayon pa, akala ko matagal pa sila makakauwi. Timing naman o.

Nung makababa nako, pinagpagan ko pa sarili ko as if naman mawawala lahat ng dumi. At kahihiyan po.

"Anong nangyayari? Bakit ka umaakyat diyan? Wala bang tao?" They know window yan sa kwarto ni Meng. And for me to climb it, there must be something.

"Ahh, hindi, meron po. Ano po kasi. Uhm."

"Dun ka na sa bahay mag explain, sakay ka na muna. Para naman makapag hugas ka naman. Kayong mga bata kayo, kung kailan kayo tumanda..."

Alangan naman hindi ako sumunod diba. "Sige po, sorry po." Sumakay na rin ako. Nakakhiya talaga. Ang dumi dumi ko. 

MAINE

"Thank you talaga guys ha. Hindi ko lang kasi talaga siya kayang harapin agad agad. Pero promise, aayusin ko 'to."

"Ano ka ba, Maine. Diba nga, hindi ka kasali sa gulo nilang dalawa. Hayaan mo sila." Val was right. Nakakainis lang kasi, hindi ko tanggap na kaya ako paglaruan at lokolokohin ni Richard ng ganun. Parang binalewala niya lang lalo pinagsamahan namin.

We were by the door na. Tumalikod si Val sakin before opening the door and gave me a big hug. "Kaya mo 'to. You are a strong girl and we are here for you, okay? Hindi ka nag iisa." Then she gave me a kiss on the cheek. Hay I love Valeen talaga. "Just give me a call, send a text, anything!"

When she let go. I opened the door for her to be greeted by the biggest surprise of my life, I swear after that post I thought I've seen it all but I was so wrong. Nothing prepared me for this. I never saw this coming even in my imagination.

Woah. "Mom! Dad!" I was really happy to finally see them. But in between them is Richard. Anong nangyari sakanya, bakit ganyan itsura niyan.

They were also not as happy. Uh oh...