“Thomas, hindi ka na ba talaga magba-basketball?” my Mom asked Thomas while we were eating.
“Still thinking about it, Tita. I’m doing therapy and trainings to be back in shape po but no definite plans. A lot of things are on my plate as of the moment but I’m moving towards there,” Thomas answered as a matter of fact.
“Hopefully makabalik ka, sayang naman kasi. Sabi ni Ara, na-injure mo rin daw yung tuhod mo? Buti na lang nakapag-champion ka muna sa last playing year mo,” my father added.
Thomas smiled politely at my father, “Oo nga po eh.”
“Ano nga ba ang nangyari sayo anak? Hindi naman dahil sa basketball diba?” Mama asked.
“Ah eh, car accident po eh,” Thomas hesistantly said.
“Oo nga, walang makakwento sakin ng maayos kung anong nangyari sayo. Ano nga ba?” I added.
Thomas took a moment of deliberation before answering the question. “I went to the States po. I was driving. Medyo wala sa isip po kaya ayun,” Thomas vaguely said.
“Ano bang iniisip mo?” Kuya June curiously inquired.
Thomas smiled awkwardly. “Well…,” he started scratching the back of his head, a sign that he doesn’t know how to say it. “I was kind of searching for Ara everywhere. Medyo desperado po eh, naka-abot ng States,” Thomas eventually explained.
NAKAKALOKA. Ano po yung pinagsasabi ni Thomas? Parang timang.
“Talaga??” Kuya June was wide-eyes with surprise.
“Ba’t ka naman naabot sa States. At bakit dun?” I asked.
“Well… I don’t know. I think I saw a picture of you standing on the Golden Bridge. At that time, my family and I were in San Francisco and I was on my feet knowing that you were just around,” Thomas started.
“I drove around the city, kind of checked the hotels that I know if you were there. I was emotionally agitated that time. I wasn’t careful and then I met on the road another not careful driver. So there…” Thomas explained.
I just stared at him in awe.
Ginawa niya yun?
My heart slowed down. My head flashed its version of Thomas’ accident. It was horrible and uncomforting.
“Thomas,” I wasn’t able to stop myself. I wanted to reach for him and hide him within the confines of my arms to protect him from danger… and his stupidity too.
“Okay lang, Ara. Tapos na yun. Okay na naman ako. Maayos na lahat. Okay na tong tuhod ko, matibay na ulit. Higit sa lahat, okay na okay na ako kasi umuwi ka na. May freebie pa,” he said and looked at Tyrone. “Ang napaka-cute kong anak.”
He smiled sincerely at me that almost made me cry. I didn’t know what to say. Thomas naman eh.
“Edi ikaw na ang maganda,” I heard Kuya said to me then he turned to Thomas. “Sorry Thomas that you have to go through that.”
“Sabi ko nga po Kuya, okay na po ang lahat ngayon,” Thomas said. “Nasa San Francisco ka nga ba nun Ars?”
“I was, that was a short business trip. But the photo was taken months before my co-worker posted it.”
It made Thomas chuckle, amused to himself, “Ahh, ganun ba? Haha. So medyo OA nga ako.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Ara, okay na nga. Don’t feel guilty. It was me, I wasn’t thinking,” he consoled.
“Sorry pa rin,” I said again.
