Played Without Rules

29. Pictures

Dedicated to baby LaZy_MaRy

*************************************************************************************

Leen Xyriel Deverine

"Hey L, bakit?" Salubong sa'kin ni Kuya Daze ng mabungaran niya ako sa labas ng kanyang bahay.

He looks problematic with his phone on his ear.

"I got Daphne, Dee." That's what I call him and he calls me L. I reached for his forehead and massage it. "It's wrinkled."

He laughed and hugged me." Can't ...breath."

"Ow , sorry." Kumalas na siya mula sa pagkayapos sa akin.

"You missed me that much huh?" I teased him.

"Yeah, I texted you that I'm already here in the Philippines about a week ago. But you didn't show up,"sagot niya na may halong pagtatampo.

"Sorry Dee, I got tied up with so many things."

"Yeah I noticed," he answered smirking.

"Aren't you gonna invite me in?" wika ko.

"Ay sorry L, come in. I'll just go get Daphne," sambit niya at tumungo na sa kotse ko. I went inside and looked around.

Well, the place didn't change. Still the same. Every part is refreshing those memories, those--

"Remembering something?" Daze's words pulled me back to reality. Inabutan niya ako ng tsaa which I gladly accepted.

"A bit." I smiled and sip the cup of tea.

"How are you L?" tanong niya sa akin. Hindi ko mawari kung saang aspeto ba ng pagkatao ko ang tinatanong niya. Nakaupo na kami sa sofa ngayon.

"Same as old, how about you Dee?" balik tanong ko. Nakatingin siya sa akin with exactly the same look Daphne gave me earlier.

"Nothing changed, missing my old buddy," sabi niya sabay ngiti ng mapakla.

"I guess 8 years is not enough," I told him.

"You know why I came back right?" His question was looking for an assurance. I nodded. Alam ko naman talaga.

"You need to clarify things here," it came out as a whisper.

"How was he, L?" That question was expected. I gave him a faint smile. I couldn't say the words.

"Sa tingin ko nakuha ko na ang sagot. For how many months L?"

"5 months," I responded.

We talk about many other things and as the clock strike at 11, I decided to go home.

"Are you sure you don't want to spend the night here?" tanong niya sa akin. Nasa pintuan na kami at inihahatid niya ako palabas.

"Nah, I got class tomorrow," was my reply. I was supposed to say punishment.

"So the bad girl is now a good student," he chuckled. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pintuan ng kotse at siya na rin mismo ang nagsara nang nakapasok na ako.

"Goodbye L, I'll visit you soon," sabi niya bago tuluyang tumalikod. I started my car and followed the route out of the subdivision.

It was 11:25 already at dinadaanan ko ngayon ang lugar na madalang na pinupuntahan ng mga tao sa ganitong oras. Maybe because, it was the darkest part of the place.

I was driving slowly, and I passed by a group of men, mukhang mga lasing. Mga sampu o higit siguro ang bilang nila.

They were shouting and laughing, tsk.