Her Forgotten Memory // VSOO

[Chapter Five] Wrong Lead

zana • five. wrong lead

Agad akong tumakbo sa pinakamalapit na tindahan para magpa-load.

Wrong sent?

Nah, imposibleng namali lang ang nag-text nito.

How does he or she know na umiyak ako? Paano niya nalaman na I wasn't fine?

This message was really meant for me. No doubt.

Pero does this mean na lahat ng nakita ko kanina ay totoo at hindi lang imagination o panaginip?

Pagkatapos kong magpa-load, dali-dali akong umuwi at umakyat ng kwarto.

Agad kong ni-replyan ang nag-text.

To: 09107437731

André?

Sending...

Sent, 6/6/16, Mon, 5:15 PM

Hinintay kong mag-reply siya. I was eager to know kung siya ba talaga 'to.

Pero dumaan nalang ang isang oras at wala pa ring bumalik na text sa akin.

Silence means yes? I don't know.

But one thing is for sure, the sender of this message holds the truth.

Hangga't hindi pa siya nag-rereply, hindi ko mapapatunayan na totoo 'yong kanina.

Na si André talaga ang nagligtas sa akin.

•••

Maaga kaming pumasok ni Enzo ngayon. Nakiusap kasi ako sa kanya kahapon. Pumayag naman siya sa pakiusap ko kaya kahit 7:00 pa lang ng umaga ay narito na kami sa campus.

Nagtanong-tanong ako kanina dito kung anong oras pumapasok si André.

Ayon sa aking source, madalas, 6:00 AM ay narito na raw siya pero nale-late ito sa first period dahil nakagawian na nitong tumambay sa rooftop. 'Di raw kasi masyadong naririnig ang bell doon kaya nahuhuli siya sa klase.

At first, I was unaware na avid fangirl pala ni André ang napagtanungan ko. She confronted me if I like André and I said I don't.

She even threatened me na kapag nalaman niya raw na may gusto ako kay André, kakalbuhin niya raw ako. Hindi raw siya magtitira ni isang buhok sa ulo ko.

Siyempre, na-shock ako. Akalain niyo, I just wanted to seek for the truth pero before having it, I had to risk the existence of my hair to earn her trust.

So to assure her, I just lied na it was for an article in the school paper. Mabuti naman at nauto siya.

Nakakatulong rin pala ang mga retarded 'no?

With the information I gathered, sa rooftop na 'ko naghintay. I'm going to ask him personally.

I was sitting on the floor of the rooftop when I heard footsteps climbing up the stairs.

"What are you doing here?" And as I expected, it was André. I stood up and faced him.

"Can't I stay here on the rooftop? It's open to everyone, not only you." Taas-kilay kong pagtataray sa kanya habang naka-cross ang mga braso ko. He just laughed and smirked right after.

"Your answer didn't satisfy my question. You really are stupid after all." Pambabara niya sa akin. Kahapon pa siya e. He keeps on insulting me. Does he really enjoy my despair? Tsk.

"Well, if I'm stupid. You're arrogant." That's me, trying to make a comeback. He raised an eyebrow and just chuckled a little. Yeah, I sucked.

"I'm not arrogant. I'm just committed to telling people the truth." Sabi niya habang nakapamulsa. Hmm, truth. Just the thing I was looking for.

"The truth? Since you mentioned it Mister Madrid, I'd like to ask you something. And I want you to tell me what's the truth."

"Actually, I have no time for a date later. I'll be attending a family dinner so if it's a date you're asking for, I'm sorry but I have to decline." Ano bang pinagsasabi niya? Anong akala niya sa 'kin? Isa sa mga die-hard fans niya?

"Hindi ba? I just caught you staring at me yesterday." Did he just read my mind? At tsaka ano raw? Staring? Iba kaya 'yon sa looking. Hindi porket tinignan ko siya ay may gusto na 'ko sa kanya.

"I just looked at you for like six seconds. How can you conclude something so delusional?" And again, he chuckled. Does he really find this funny?

"Psychology says, it only take 0.2 seconds to fall in love. Now, is that fact enough for my conclusion?" Natameme ako sa sinabi niya. Talaga? 0.2 seconds? Ganiyan kabilis ma-inlove ang tao? Wow! Ang galing niya tala—ay teka! I am here to confront him, not to praise him!

"I don't care with your psychology trivia, what I demand for is the truth! Tell me the truth!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. Pero imbes na magulat siya, he was just stoic about it. His expressionless face was slowly filled with a grin.

"What truth? The truth that I am handsome?" Aniya habang pasimple niyang hinawi ang buhok niya na rang model. Hindi naman masyadong malaki ang ulo niya 'no? Mas malala pa siya kay Enzo, e.

"Why are you so full of yourself? You're not handsome, okay?!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang inis ko. He kept on dodging my questions and statements with his nonsense.

"Your opinion won't change the way I view myself." He said nonchallantly. Napahilamos nalang ako sa kamay ko. Seriously, am I talking to a high school student or an elementary pupil?

"Listen, Mister. I just need you to answer my question honestly. After that, I will leave the rooftop peacefully." Offer ko sa kanya. I know he badly wants to kick me out of here so he can't resist my offer.

"Fine, let's get this done with." He finally took the bait. This is great.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago ako magsalita.

"Did you save me yesterday?" Tanong ko sa kanya. His forehead creased.

"What are you saying? Saved? You? From what?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong. Teka, hindi ba talaga siya ang nagligtas sa akin? I swear, siya 'yong nakita ko.

"Kahapon, when a group of guys attempted to assault me sexually."

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe ikaw ang delusional sa ating dalawa." He said while crossing his arms. P-Pero, siya talaga 'yon, e. Hindi ako nagkakamali, siya 'yon.

"I know it's you. Ikaw ang nagligtas sa akin kahapon. I'm affirmative about it, it's really you. You even sent me a text message." Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone mula sa bulsa ko at hinanap ang text na natanggap ko kahapon. I showed it to him.

"I'm sorry but this is not my number." Sabi niya sa akin.

Ano? Hindi sa kanya 'to? Kung hindi sa kanya 'to, kanino?

"I'm sorry but it's mine." Nagulat ako nang may isang lalaking biglang nagsalita. Kakarating niya lang sa rooftop.

Paglingon ni André rito, napalaki ang kanyang mga mata. Gulat na gulat ata siya.

"A-Alex?"