Divine Intervention

XIII

I excused myself, went back to our hotel room and hurriedly tapped Trisha's number.

Inaya ko sila para sa plan ng barkada tomorrow. Unfortunately, Kuya Atsushi and Trisha have plans na pala for tomorrow and for the next days.

I was glad to hear her voice again but her voice felt sad. I wonder if she's sick or what.

I texted Trisha first thing in the morning.

Di sya nagreply. Baka natutulog pa.

We're having our breakfast in the resort's resto and suddenly, I saw Trisha with Kuya Atsushi. They went straight in the kitchen.

I was waiting for them pero it's been almost an hour, di pa rin sila lumalabas sa kitchen. I wonder kung may ibang way exit.

I want to wait a little longer kasi I want to talk to them kaso, we would be late on our plans for today.

We're on our way in Mount Victoria. Di ako mapakali kaya I decided to call Trisha but it cannot be reached. Baka her battery had died lang.

We already went back to the hotel. I called her again pero still.....it cannot be reached.

Days and weeks had passed. Her number was still cannot be reached. Did she change her number?

I even sent messages at her Twitter and Facebook account pero I did not get any respond.

Is she busy? Or.... Umiiwas sya?

"Well, the heck naman TJ kung iiwas sya sa'yo!" Marco scolded me.

"I know. I know."

"Alam mo naman pala e. Busy lang yun. Isa pa, rich kid pala sya. Baka nasa ibang bansa."

"Well, maybe."

Di ko na rin nakikita si Kuya Atsushi sa simbahan. Baka pumunta nga sa ibang bansa. But then....

"San ka galing?" I asked Ate pagkapasok nya sa pinto.

"Kela Atsushi." Then she sat on the couch beside me.

"Hay.... Busog na busog ako." She said.

"Is Trisha there?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Pumunta ba sila sa ibang bansa?"

She laughed.

"Why?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"Pumunta nga ba sila ng ibang bansa?"

"No. Bakit ba?"

"Ano ginawa mo dun?"

"Kumain kami tsaka nag movie marathon."

"Kayo lang ni Kuya Atsushi?"

"Kasama si Trisha. Bakit ba kasi?"

"Iniiwasan nya ata ako." I frowned.

"Baka busy lang!" Ate answered.

"Pano mo naman nasabi?"

"Well, kanina kasi nung pumunta ako, tinanong ko si Atsushi kung nasan si Trisha. Di lang sya sumagot basta inaya nya lang ako sa kwarto ni Trisha tapos pagkabukas ni Trisha ng pinto nya, ang daming mga libro na nakasabog sa kama nya. Sabi ni Atsushi, break time daw muna sya. At first, she refused. But I insisted kaya sumama na rin sya sa amin manood."

"Oh. Kaya pala."

"Grabe nga yung batang yun e. Sa halip na i-enjoy ang bakasyon, nilulunod nya yung sarili nya sa pag-aaral at pagbabasa ng mga libro."

I'm glad na hindi nya pala ko iniiwasan.

The next day, pumunta ko kela Marco. Wala lang, nag-aya lang sya bigla.

"Assuming ka bro!" Sabi sakin ni Marco nang kinwento ko sa kanya yung sinabi sakin ni Ate.

Biglang nag-text si Geneva kay Marco. Pinapapunta raw sya ng grandparents ni Geneva for dinner.

Maaga tuloy akong uuwi ngayon.

I'm walking along the street as I saw......Trisha?

This is my chance to talk to her. I miss her so much! Kaya I didn't waste this opportunity. I called her.

"Hey." She muttered.

She stopped and I went near her.

"San ka galing?" I asked.

"Sa inyo."

"Sa amin?"

She nodded.

Seriously? Ano ginawa nya sa amin? I want to ask her sana kaso mas maganda kung itanong ko na lang sa kanya habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kanila.

"Tara hatid na kita sa inyo." I offered.

"No need. May dadaanan pa ko e."

"Okay lang. Dyan lang naman e."

"Di na. Okay lang talaga. Sige. Bye!" She said faster and walked away.

I held her arm before she can go farther.

"Hey." I said.

She faced me.

"Are we okay?" I asked.

"Of course. I just.....really have to go. Bye!" She smiled and left me.

Iniiwasan nya ba ko? Or, ganun lang talaga sya ka-busy?

Nah. But still I'm glad na nakausap ko sya sandali. And bonus na yung malapitang smile na binigay nya.

I came home as I saw Ate holding the telephone on her hand (talking to someone) while texting on her other hand and a laptop on her lap — multi-tasking.

When she saw me, she's still talking on the phone while looking at me.

"Sige, sige. Spread the word. Okay? I'll PM them too. Bye!" Sabi nya sa kausap nya sa phone.

"Finally! You're here!" She said.

I sat beside her.

"Anong meron? Ba't parang busyng busy ka ata?" I asked.

"Tomorrow's Atsushi's birthday. Trisha and I have a surprise party for him."

"Oo nga pala! Bukas na pala birthday ni Kuya Atsushi! Kaya pala galing dito si Trisha. Yun pala yon."

Akala ko iniiwasan nya ko. She's really busy lang pala talaga for Kuya Atsushi's birthday. Napaparanoid lang siguro ako.

"Nagkasalubong kayo?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"Pero himala ah. Ang aga mo ata nakauwi."

"E Geneva texted Marco e. You know naman. Boyfriend duties."

I took a deep breath.

"So.... What do you want me to do?"

She ordered me to text or call our co-sacristans para bukas. Dapat daw lahat makapunta.

The next day, we're all complete at Suzuki's residence. I saw Trisha once. After nun, I saw her went to the kitchen. And since nang natapos yung surprise nila for Kuya Atsushi, pumunta na sya sa kitchen and it's been hours. She's still there!

Makikita ko naman kung pupunta sya sa room nya or what e. Dead-end kasi yung kitchen nila.

I've been waiting for her to come out kanina pa.

What's her problem? Di naman sya ganto usually e.

She likes to entertain guests kaya. Don't tell me she's still busy. It's her onii-san's birthday! She can sacrifice this day and have some fun with.........us. Right?