My Perfect Stranger

-Last-

Hindi nagtagal sina tita sa clinic. Nang malaman nilang wala talaga akong alam kung saan nagpunta si Aidan, nagpaalam na sila. Magtatanong-tanong pa daw sila sa ibang kaibigan ni Aidan. Naalala ko si kuya. Baka alam niya kung saan.

"Hello kuya...." As soon as Katrina and tita Glenda went out of the clinic, I immediately dialed kuya's number.

(Nasaan ka na? Umuwi ka ng maaga. Mag-uusap tayo.) His voice was firm. Nawala tuloy sa isip ko yung reason kung bakit ko siya tinawagan. Kinabahan akong bigla. Minsan lang maging ganito ka-seryoso si kuya pero anong ginawa ko? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama sa pagkaka-alam ko.

"N-nandiyan ka na kina mamita?"I stuttered with my answer. I started to pace back and forth in the area. Buti na lang lahat sila nasa lounge dahil para akong baliw dito mag-isa.

(Papunta pa lang ako.) His voice didn't change. What the hell did I do??

"Sige pauwi na rin ako. May itatanong din ako sa'yo." Binabaan akong bigla ni kuya. Kung normal na mga usapan to, tatawagan ko kaagad si kuya para awayin pero alam kong seryoso siya kaya hindi ko ginawa.

I went back to the lounge and hastily go through my notes. I just found myself fumbling with my things on my desk and I scrawled with my notes so I just decided to go home and finish these first thing in the morning tomorrow. I grabbed my things in my locker and say goodbye to my colleagues. While walking along the hallway, I was thinking of the possible things I've done wrong that will make kuya sounded like that but I swear I can't think of anything. This madness is draining me. Akala ko tapos na yung mga kaguluhan sa buhay ko, ano na naman ba to? When I reached the façade of the hospital, I hailed the first cab that I saw.

In less than half an hour, I'm already in front of mamita's house. I opened the gate and went straight to the door.

"Maupo ka." I saw kuya sitting on the sofa and his voice was full of authority. I was startled a bit. I didn't expect him to be here at the living room. Usually when he's here, he would go straight to the kitchen, busy rummaging Mamita's ref. This is something serious. Mukhang kanina nya pa talaga ako inaabangan.

I inhaled deeply and mustered all the courage I need to face him. As I make my way in front of him, I started speaking. "Ano bang ginawa kong kasalanan kuya?" Thank God I didn't stammer! But the moment kuya lifted his gaze, I shuddered with the way he looked at me.

"You and Dax. You broke up because of Nikola." It was not a question. His tone sends shiver down my spine. Hindi kaagad ako nakapagsalita. Shit!

"Kuya....."

"Hanggang kailan niyo balak itago sa akin yung totoong rason o baka naman talagang wala kayong balak na sabihin sa akin."

Bloody hell! I wanted to talk but I don't know what to say. When I broke up with Dax, I didn't tell my family right away. I waited for a few weeks before I told them what happened. I didn't tell the real reason why our relationship had come to an end.

"Personal differences shit! Fuck! Why did I fall for that reason!? I should have known that prick did something to you!" Napatingin ulit ako kay kuya. Nakatayo na pala siya at nakita kong nakakuyom na yung kanang kamay niya.

"Kuya tapos na yun..."

Bigla siyang sumigaw kaya napaupo ako sa sofa. "Bakit kailangan nyong pagtakpan yung kagaguhan nung lalaki na yun! Tangina nun! Ang tino ng usapan naming dalawa. Sabi ko na eh. Puta! Bakit ako naniwala sa kasinungalingan nya!?" Bloody hell! This is not good. Takot ako kay kuya pag ganito siya. Huli kong nakitang ganito si kuya nung napaaway si mama sa palengke. Muntik ng mabugbog ni kuya yung lalaking nakaaway ni mama buti na lang kasama si kuya Joey kung hindi, ewan ko na lang. Anyone in the house knows how furious he can be when something or someone hits his nerve. Hindi naman kasi basta-basta nagagalit si kuya.