The Ex-Marine

9

Goodbye

Next day when she was there, hindi na magulo ang cabin, parang ilusyon nga lang ang nakita niya kung hindi lang dahil sa basag na bintana sa may sala. Uno wasn't talking to her either. Para bang bumalik ito sa dati.

Why was he suddenly not nice again?

Hindi niya maintindihan. Bakit kailangan siya nitong idamay? She thought they were okay, that they're friends. Pero sa paraang pagtaboy nito sa kanya and the way he treats her right now, pakiramdam niya siya ang may kasalanan. She just wants to know what's wrong...

"Uwi nako." Paalam niya.

Sa sunod na araw ay ganoon din. At sa isa pang araw.

Rexes closed the book.
"Uno," she tried. Matagal bago siya nito tinapunan ng tingin. He raised an eyebrow, questioning.

"Wala..."

Alam niyang malapit nang matapos ang mga furniture, kita niyang pinipinturahan na lamang ito ni Uno. Mabilis pala talaga siyang gumawa kapag walang istorbo. Mabilis pala siya kapag hindi siya nito kausap. Her presence wasn't needed here, he didn't need it at all. Ngayon ay alam na niya, parang pinag siksikan niya lang ang sarili niya dito.

"Sinabi ko naman sayo noon, sana sumama ka na sa akin..."Rinig niya ang hirap sa boses ni Uno habang may kausap ito sa cellphone. Who refused to go to him, his girlfriend? That's why he's in a grumpy mood? Damn it.

"Hindi ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sayo..." Something inside her chest hurt when she heard him say that. His voice, it was too gentle. Na parang inaalo niya ang isang bata. He sounded like a tamed wolf  when he said that--- and it wasn't a good thing for Rexes. She's hurt about something, Yung parang masakit ang nararamdaman niya, iyong parang napipiga ang puso, it was all new to her.

Oh no, she can't be...

No, don't you go there, Rexes.

Before sunset, she decided to have a one last look at the river. Her fingertips reached for the water, pinasadahan niya iyon ng kanyang daliri. It was so cold, and calm. Parang si Uno lang din.

Kinuha niya ang kanyang bag pack sa sala. She glanced everywhere. Inaalala ang bahay sa kanyang memorya, malungkot siyang napangiti. She's gonna miss it here even she was unwelcomed.

Si Uno ay bumalik na sa pagpipintura ng furnitures. Siguro sa susunod na araw, tapos na ang lahat.

"Uwi na ako." Paalam niya. She didn't get a nod, a reply kaya nag lakad na siya papunta kay Macoy but she realized she had to say what's on her mind.

"It's the last time I'll go here." Pormal niyang sabi. Dahilan kung bakit bumaling sa kanya si Uno. For the first time he became attentive.

"Thank you, for having me here. For the food, and the company. Pasensya na kung naistorbo kita dito. I should have known, ayaw mo pala talaga ng may kasama. You should have just told me. My brother would have understand." She exhaled.

"I just want to say na sana kung may problema ka, huwag kang nandadamay. You didn't need to be so rude when I was asking what's the problem. I was worried, Uno. I worry because you're my friend, I didn't think I deserved that. I had never been rejected, shouted at, my whole life."

Nanginginig ang kanyang labi. She bit her lower lip hard. No, she's not gonna cry over a man. That won't happen right now.