The Man I Chose To Let Go (Under Editing)

Chapter 17: Shadow

"You're feeling that someone is stalking you?"

Tumango siya sa doctor, "Since po umalis ang parents ko parang mas naging madalang iyong pakiramdam."

Tumataas ang balahibo niya sa nararamdaman. Tipong kahit umaga ay napapalingon na lang siya sa paligid dahil sa kaba.

"Are you living alone?" She nodded. The doctor took some notes in her paper at nagtanong pa ulit kung kailan umalis ang magulang niya.

She was listening to her actively. Maintaining eye contact at her.

"Maybe it is part of your adjustment, Ms.Dela Paz. This is the only time you were apart from your parents, right?"

Tumango naman siya rito. Sabagay, tatlong araw pa lang naman mula nang umalis ang magulang. Grabe, pakiramdam niya isang buwan na!

"Ang iniisip ko po kasi, baka epekto lang ng aksidente sa akin o dahil matagal akong na-comatose. Hindi po kaya naalog itong utak ko?"

Huminga nang malalim ang doctor at binaba ang ballpen nito pagkuwa'y pinagsiklop ang kamay, "Your test result shows otherwise, Ms.Dela Paz. If this feeling makes you feel uncomfortable, maybe you need to trust your gut feeling. Why not go to the nearest police station and report this. Do you have an idea who might be stalking you?"

Sino ba? Wala naman siyang kilala maliban sa Amiel Tesoro na nagpanggap na nurse niya noon. But, he's in a mental institution. He can't go out.

"Wala po," aniya.

"Give yourself an allowance to adjust, Ms. Dela Paz. Usually beginnings are hard."

Somehow, she did feel better after the consultation. Umupo muna siya sa reception area at binuksan ng messenger.

Fred sent a message.

Kahapon ito umalis at nagpunta na Sydney. He just made sure that she's all set in the condo before he gave her the space.

She opened his message. Picture iyon nito kasama ang dalawang pamangkin. Both girls who obviously adores him so much.

Ang cute nila!

She replied. Wala pang ilang minuto ay nagreply na ito kaagad. So, he's online.

Of course, mana sa Tito.

Asa.

Huh? You don't believe?

Kamukha ni Ate Carmen. Sorry ✌️ Gawa ka na lang sarili mong anak. Haha!

Ready ka ba?

Nanlaki ang mata niya sa sinabi nito. Hindi siya nakasagot!

😂 I wish I could see the look on your face.

I hate you.

No, you don't.

She turned off her phone for a while. Baka hindi siya makapunta ng Sining kapag pinagpatuloy niya ang pakikipagusap rito.

Today, she would be passing her resignation letter just for formality. Tutal nandoon naman na si Mandy kaya may kapalitan na talaga siya.

She would report for the last remaining days, susulitin niya na rin dito. After all, Sining is her first job. She would miss this place.

When she arrived, she got the most surprising news. Samuel and Miles got together, may maganda naman nangyari pala noong Valentines.

Not only that, Miles is pregnant with Samuel. She's already 6 weeks. Iba din, natulog lang siya pagkagising niya may baby na ito.

"Who would have thought that you'll be a father soon?" Sambit niya sa kaibigan, "Congratulations!"

"I'm excited, too." He said, "We'll be getting married in a civil ceremony. I hope you can be my witness."

"Oo naman, ikaw pa?"

It was a fun day. Unti-unti na rin niyang inuuwi ang ilang gamit niya para hindi mabigat. Baka magulat si Fred sa dami ng gamit niya sa condo pag-uwi nito.

Are you home?

He left a message 10 minutes ago. She just got in the building, may bitbit siyang kahon kaya hindi niya muna iyon nireplyan.

Syempre konting pakipot.

She waited for the elevator to go down. Tumabi siya nang kaunti nang may isang lalaki na sasakay rin sa loob.

He gave her a faint smile. Siya rin ay ngumiti rito. When she was about to step in ay nag-kasabay sila.

"Sorry, go ahead." He said.

"Thank you,"

"Floor? He asked.

"10th." Sagot niya at agad naman nitong pinindot ang floor button para hindi na siya mahirapan. He is from the 16th floor. Mauuna siyang bumaba rito.

It was a silent ride. Nagpasalamat siya rito nang pababa na at tumango lang ang huli pagkuwa'y ngumiti.

"Why are you not replying to my messages?" Bungad na tanong nito pagkasagot niya ng tawag. Hindi naman ito galit o nagtatampo, he was just plainly curious.

"Kakauwi ko lang. May dala akong box, paunti-unti naguuwi na ako ng gamit."

He nodded. She heard squeals from girls, halatadong babysitter ang CEO ngayon. "Kumusta part-time job? It seems that they are enjoying your company."

He chuckled and showed her the twins playing, "Hi!"

"Hello!" Bati niya pabalik, "What are your names?"

Nagpakilala naman ito sa kanya. Beautiful names. Misra and Ezra.

Kilala naman niya ito. Hindi pa nga lang nagsasalita ang mga ito noon.

"Is she your girlfriend, Uncle?" Muntik na siyang mabulunan sa sariling laway sa narinig. Hindi niya nakita ang reaksyon ni Fred.

"She's pretty. We like her!"

Natawa na sila Fred doon. Kids and their thoughts. How she wish it was true.

Nagulat si Amanda nang biglang may narinig na nabumagsak sa bandang kusina.

"Aims, what's wrong?" Alertong tanong ni Fred.

She couldn't get up, para siyang napako sa kinauupuan, "I-I heard something..."

"What is it?"

She sighed, "Sa may kusina..." Naglakad siya papunta doon pero agad na natigilan dahil sa naaninag niyang anino.

It's a shadow of a person. Sigurado siya.

"Aims." Fred called her name, "What's happening?"

"I-I forgot to buy something..." She said, "Wala pala akong kape..." Hindi siya nagpahalata na napansin niya na ito. She tried her best to maintain her composure dahil baka mahalata nito na tatakbo na siya papalabas.

"Coffee? Hindi ka mahilig---" agad niyang pinatay ang cellphone at nagmadali sa paglabas. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag ng may nakita siyang ibang tenant.

Nagmamadali siyang pumunta sa reception area at nireport ang nakita kanina.

"Ma'am, we have checked the entire flat. Wala kaming nakita na tao, and there's no traces of anything broken. Ang sabi po ninyo may bumagsak?"

Tumango siya, "What? Sir, nakarinig ako ng parang nahulog. It's impossible--"

"We can show you, Ma'am. Wala po talaga." At iyon nga ang nakita niya nang samahan siya ng mga ito. Nababaliw na ba siya? Mali ba siya nang narinig?