Rewind (Erityian Tribes Novella, #2)

06 - Glimpse

Pagbalik namin sa dorm ay agad na ikinuwento ni Akira ang nangyari kanina at ngayon ay ginamit niya pa ang inner voice para lang magkwento.

'Kanina, nakasalubong namin sina Hideo at Mitsuo. Tapos 'di ba parang laging aloof siya kay Naomi pero nagulat kami nung lumapit siya sa kanya. Tapos—'

'Stop it, Akira!' sigaw ko pero patuloy pa rin siyang nagkwento.

'Tapos—hahahaha! Sabi sa kanya ni Mitsuo, "please stop hitting me" tapos natulala lang si Naomi kanina at napasagot siya ng "okay" My gosh kung nakita mo lang 'yung itsura nila kanina! Nakakatawa talaga!'

I felt the embarrassment showing in my face so I immediately hid inside the bathroom. However, I can still hear Akira's voice and Akemi's laugh.

"Nakakatawa talaga! As in seryosong-seryoso 'yung expression ni Mitsuo eh. Ganito, oh. Please stop hitting me."

Umiling na lang ako at hinayaan siya sa pinaggagawa niya pero bigla kong naalala ang nakita ko sa isip ni Mitsuo. His image of killing people, smiling and covered with blood. I shuddered while remembering those thoughts.

Was that the real him? Was that the real him? The dark past he's trying to hide?

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nagstay sa banyo pero paglabas ko ay nakatulog na agad si Akira. Even though she teased me nonstop a while ago, I smiled when I see her peaceful expression. Meeting with Koharu after a long time must have made her really happy.

"Hey," tawag ko kay Akemi at lumingon naman siya. "Do you know anything about Mitsuo before he became a student here?"

"Oh. You're interested," she said while smirking.

"A bit. He's . . . intriguing."

Naupo naman ako sa tabi niya at naghintay ako sa pwede niyang sabihin.

"Well, no'ng una ko siyang nakita ay galit kaagad ang expression niya. I think he doesn't want to be part of this school at first. Ayaw niya rin sa Atama family. Sa pagkakatanda ko, conceited ang ginamit niyang term. I think dahil lang yata sa Lolo or Lola niya kaya siya napilitang pumunta rito."

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa narinig ko. I've seen one of his memories with an old man. That must be his grandfather. Sa pagkakatanda ko, hindi sila sa city nakatira dahil halos tuyo na ang lupa sa paligid at nag-iisang bahay lang ang nandoon. Hindi ko na maalala ang iba ko pang nakita dahil nakaramdam ako ng takot no'ng panahon na 'yon.

And a while ago, I saw another memory of him. Those piercing eyes and cold smile resembled Mitsuo's but I can't believe that that was him.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako at tuluyan nang humiga. Humugot ako ng libro sa drawer ko at napahinto ako no'ng nabasa ko ang title ng nakuha ko.

"An Emotion Called Love?" tanong ni Akemi na para bang nagtataka sa hawak kong libro.

"Ito ang nakuha ko sa drawer," sabay tingin ko sa lalagyanan ko ng mga libro. "Bought it last week."

"But why would you read that?"

"I don't know. Maybe to understand this complex thing?"

"Complex? Do you think love is a complex idea?"

I don't know if it's just me but I felt like there's a hint of judgement and anger in her tone.

"I still don't know. That's why I'm going to read it."

"You're just wasting your time," sabi niya at humiga na rin siya sa kama. "Love isn't something we need. It's just a hindrance."

"How about your family? I'm sure love is involved when it comes to family," mahina kong sabi at umikot siya para humarap sa akin.