Waiting To Hear You Say "I Love You"

Chapter 35 --- Queenie

Chapter 35

Queenie

Felix's eyes wandered around the restaurant, looking for Queenie. He found her at the table by the corner. Tungung-tungo ito at halatang humihikbi-hikbi pa. Nagmamadali nya itong nilapitan. He knelt by her side. "Queenie."

Nilingon sya nito. The moment her gaze met his, she started crying river. Tinakpan man ng dalaga ang mukha nito, gamit ang kanyang mga palad, ay may kumakawala pa ring paghikbi mula rito. Napapatingin na sa kanila ang ibang customers ng naturang restaurant.

He reached out for her hands and held it. "Come on. I'll take you home."

She shook her head. "Ayoko sa bahay."

"Okay. Sa'n mo gustong pumunta?"

"Take me anywhere except home."

---

"Samantha?"

Napatunghay si Samantha sa boses na narinig. It was Amethyst. Ang kanina pa nya pinipigil na luha ay hinayaan na nyang lumabas. She just cried. Naalarma naman si Amethyst. Naupo sya sa tabi nito at inalo-alo ito.

"Anong nangyari? Asan si Felix?"

"U-Umalis. I-Iniwan nya ko," Samantha answered in between her sobs. Maalala lang nya ang biglaang pag-alis ni Felix ay sobrang kumikirot ang puso nya. Parang pinipiga. Nahihirapan na syang huminga.

"Paanong umalis?"

Amethyst's voice is demanding a complete detail of information, so Samantha spilled the beans. It didn't took Amethyst a while to get mad at her twin brother. Lalo na nang banggitin ni Samantha ang pangalang Queenie.

"Sigurado ka bang Queenie ang narinig mong pangalan?" Samantha nodded, rubbing her nose. Pulang pula na ang ilong nya kaiiyak at kakapunas dito. Amethyst sighed and handed her handkerchief to Samantha. Tinanggap naman iyon ng dalaga.

Hinayaan na nitong kumalma si Samantha on her own. Di nya napigil ang tawagan ang kapatid para pagalitan. She heard the ringback tone so she waited, only to be connected to the voicemail. Sinubukan nya ulit itong tawagan pero hindi talaga nito sinasagot ang tawag nya. Nakatunog yata na pagagalitan lang nya ito. So instead, she called Archie. Di nagtagal ay sinagot nito ang tawag nya.

"Is Angela done eating?"

"Oo. Tatawagan pa lang sana kita. Asan ka?"

"Near flying fiesta. Yung bench na inupuan natin kanina para magpahinga. Can you come over? Kasama ko si Samantha."

"Sige."

Archie really is not the prying type. Ni hindi na ito nagtanong pa kung bakit sila magkasamang dalawa.

"Si Archie ba yon?" Samantha asked to which she nodded. "Bakit di kayo magkasama?"

"Hinayaan ko nang masolo ni Angela si Archie sa pagkain. I was looking for a good souvenir for Angela when I saw you."

Tumango tango na lamang si Samantha. Hikbing-hikbi ito. Kung umiyak pa naman din ito ay parang bata.

A few minutes later, Archie arrived with Angela. Agad nilapitan ni Angela ang kapatid habang si Archie naman ay sya ang agad na nilapitan.

"Felix left," pag-umpisa ni Amethyst. May bahid ng galit ang tono nito. "I'll just call someone. Can you take over?"

Tumango si Archie. Sya naman ay dumistansya para tumawag. She called Renzo. She's not so sure if the number registered on her phone is still reachable but she gave it a shot. She thanked nobody when it ring.