Remembering Sir Tisoy

Spider

Semester break. Finally, she'll have some time to rest. This instance, she actually wants to do something...different. Her usual semester breaks consisted of sleeping in, sitting in front of her laptop, and throwing in some time to catch up on certain shows - such a teenage thing to do, but it's what she enjoys. However, she has now made the decision to actually go ahead and do something worthwhile. Climb a few mountains. Discover abandoned buildings. Go for a bush walk. Anything. Just as long as she gets her mind off of the coming semester...because he'll be back.

Oh right. About 'ST', she figured - actually assumed - that it was just Sheen who sent her the letter. She's already confronted her, and Sheen's denied it over and over again, but Maine's set on her mind that she did actually do it. It could not have actually been from him, right? Right? Right.

Staying at home would mean that all she's going to do is think about him. At least if she goes to the outdoors and ends up thinking about him...it'll be more worthwhile? Yup, sige lang, convince pa more beh.

There weren't any letters that followed. She's got to be honest that she did expect for more to come. However, she is also somehow thankful that it didn't happen.

-

"Malayo pa ba?" Sheen complained as she stomped with her heavy backpack.

"You asked that thirty seconds ago, Sheen. Patience, my friend," Maine says out of breath.

She takes a sip from her water bottle to alleviate the heat.

"Kasi naman, sinabi ko nang ayoko sumama. Bakit ba pinilit mo po ako?"

"It's going to be worth it, Sheen. Lahat ng pagod na 'to...lilipas din, kasi you were willing to endure it."

"Huwaw, lalim ng hugot natin. Kasing lalim ng...HUKAY!" Sheen screamed the last word, whilst pointing to something in front of Maine.

"Ha? AAAHHHHH!"

Maine suddenly found herself falling inside a deep ditch. She wasn't looking in front of her, and so she is now lying on the ground. She had scraped her elbows and grazed her knee, but thankfully, she didn't hit her head or break any bones, it just plainly hurt everywhere.

"MS. MENDOZA! 'WAG MO 'KONG IWAN BES! HINDI KO KAYA! MARAMI PA AKONG PANGARAP PARA SA'YO!" Sheen expressed hysterically, sitting on top of her calves, beside the ditch and placing her palms on her knees.

"Baliw! Pinatay ko talaga ako? Ah, ang sakit." Maine complained as she examined her elbow and knees.

"Mabuti naman at ligtas ka!" she says, relived.

"Ang OA mo talaga, Sheen," Maine jeers as she stands up and pats away the dirt from her shorts. "Tulungan mo ako bes. May nakikita ka bang tali, or matibay na vine, diyan?"

Maine sees Sheen walk away from the hole. A few minutes pass, and Sheen comes back looking stressed.

"O, ano?"

"Bes...waley."

"Ha? Eh, paano na 'yan? Wala pa namang signal, dito."

"Miss! Miss! Ok ka lang?" they both here a manly voice shout out.

Sheen turns around, and pauses for a little bit - fear clearly showing in her whole face.

"Huy, sino 'yon?" Maine half whispers to Sheen.

"Ah, bes...diyan ka na lang kaya. 'Wag ka nang umakyat. Mas makaka buti yata 'yon sa'yo."

"Ano?" Maine asks, frustrated. "Sheeb, nakakaloka ka ah. Joke ba 'yan? Anong klaseng trip 'yan?"

"Miss, sinong kausap mo diyan?" Maine heard the man asking, Sheen.

"Kuya!"

"Meng, 'wag," Sheen says through gritted teeth.

"Tumigil ka nga, Sheen! Kuya! Tulong please! Nahulog ako dito!" Maine panics, waving her arms in the air.

The man walks near the hole, crouching down to get a better look at her situation. Once Maine got a better look at him, she could feel the darkness start to close in on her.

He, on the other hand, rubs both of his eyes with his knuckles, unable to comprehend the situation he was in.

"Ms. Mendoza? Maine? Is that really you?"

Crap. So much for trying to escape the thought of him/him altogether, she thought. Maine didn't know what to reply. She was torn between confessing, and actually just following Sheen's suggestion of staying inside the ditch.

"Maine! It's me! Richard! Mr. Faulkerson!" he says full of excitement.

"Maine? Si-Sinong Maine?"

"Hahahahaha! Nakakatawa ka pa din, Ms. Mendoza!"

"At, nakakatawa din ang sitwasyon niyo ngayon," Sheen interrupts, which he ignores, whilst Maine ignores.

"I'll help you out of there, Ms. Mendoza."

"Ha? Ayoko nga, hindi kaya kita kilala."

"Ms. Mendoza, don't me. I know those eyes when I see them," he claims as he starts to lie on his chest, his upper body leaning over the hole. "Here, grab my hand," he adds as he reaches out for her.

"'Wag na, sayang lang ang effort mo, di naman ako worth it to save."

Richard pulls his hand back and stands up.

"So, ganiyanan tayo, Ms. Mendoza. Fine, if you want to hang out with all the spiders and rats, then so be it," he scares as he starts to walk away.

Maine looks around her, and quickly sees the cobwebs that seemed to enclose her, making her freak out.

"WAIT! SIR TISOY! SIR TISOY! TULUNGAN MO NA AKO!"

He smiles to himself, before turning back around and giving her his hand once again.

"Ang pabebe talaga ni bes," Sheen frustrates, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.