"I thought you were out?" Inabutan ako ng mga kapatid ko as they got home from class.
"I was. And I'm going out. Babalik muna akong Quezon."
"Why?"
"Nothing. Just... take care of yourselves. I'll be back hopefully tomorrow." I kissed them and went to the bus station.
I didn't even bothered to bring my car. Baka kasi kung wala man siya sa bahay at nakita niyang andun yung kotse, baka hindi siya umuwi. I know he needs time and space to think of things pero, I'm not definitely going to let him sleep with a heavy heart.
I reached Quezon after a few hours. Madilim dilim na din. I tried calling James pero hindi niya sinasagot. Nagpunta ako dito not realizing na hindi ko pala alam ang daan papunta sa kanila.
"Hello po. May kakilala po ba kayong Madeline Green?" Umasa akong kahit papaano baka may nakakakilala kay Nan dito, pero wala.
Ang tanga Beatrice, sobrang tanga.
I tried to call James again. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. The number you have dialed is busy at the moment, please try your call later.
Hi James. I'm sorry. I'm going to make it up to you, please let me. I'm back here in Quezon. I love you. Sent.
Tinawagan ko ulit siya, kaso The number you have dialed is out of coverage area. Asan ka James?
My phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hi Elle. Where are you?"
"Nasa bahay, bakit?"
It was noisy on the other side of the phone, pero he's not speaking.
"Hindi ko naman alam na bahay mo na pala 'to." The moment I saw those brown shoes in front of me, I knew it was him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Uhm, I work there?" Sabay turo niya sa hospital nilang halos nasa tapat lang ng bus station. "So what are you doing here?"
"James and I fought. Hinatid niya ako sa bahay kanina pero narealize ko na I should go after him. He isn't answering my calls and just now it went out of coverage area."
"So you went here? How sure are you na he came back here?" He was half laughing habang nagsasalita.
"I don't know. I, just don't know, Jay."
"Alam mo ba kung saan yung bahay?" Umiling ako and his face looked funny. I could have laughed at it if the situation was all good. I told him na nagtanong ako kung may nakakakilala ba kay Nan. "Madeline Green? I know her. Let's go."
I was so happy, wala na ako ibang naisip kundi ang makita si James.
But he wasn't there.
The lights are off, Nan probably is asleep. No cars around. No signs of him.
"Paano mo siya nakilala?"
"Ms. Green?" I nodded my head. "She was once my patient. Tapos hindi na niya ako nakalimutan. I was her first doctor daw kasi in her entire stay in the country kaya at times she still visit me sa office." Once again I nodded my head.
I don't feel like talking. Parang nanunuyo yung lalamunan ko kaya wala nang malabas na boses. That's why the drive became quiet. We're on the way home now. Di na ako nahiyang makisabay sa kanya pabalik ng Manila, delikado na magbus pauwi.
"Naging prof mo si Gen diba? Salvador?"
...
He waited for my answer. Pero lumilipad ang isip ko. It was just the singing on the radio that you will be hearing.
...
"She's my-"
"What? Fiancée?"
"My half-sister. She's older than me."
What?
