The Savanna Theory of Happiness

Chapter 14

Savanna

"Earth to Savanna?" Again, nasa eroplano kami ni Lukas.

Limang oras at kalahati ang flight. Nanghihinayang ako. Parang kulang pa ang oras na nalaan ko sa Tahiti. I doubt I'd ever return here.

"Pagdating natin sa Pitcairn, what then?" bigla kong tanong. Kahit ako hindi rin alam kung saan nanggaling 'yon.

"Bakit mo tinatanong sa 'kin 'yan?" taas-kilay niyang usal. Ang taray rin ni rich kid kung minsan e.

"'Di ba life coach kita?" Kahit pa baliw ka kung minsan. No. Palagi.

"Maybe?" He chuckled. "But in the end, it's your say, right?"

Dahil sobra siya kung mag-spend ng energy, ang bilis nakatulog ni Lukas during the flight. His face is pressing against the window that I'm seeing his worst possible expression. Ang pangit.

I'm tempted to take a picture. Which reminds me...

It has been five days since I last saw my father. Pinilit kong tumayo. Buti at na-convince ko si Lukas na this time ay sa aisle banda para makatawag kuno ng kailangan sa mga stewards.

Nanginginig-nginig pa ang mga binti ko. Nang makaangat ay kaagad akong humawak sa headrest sa harapan para umalalay sa 'kin. At mahirap man, sa itaas, kung saan nakalagay ang ilang gamit namin ni Lukas.

Mahimbing pa rin ang tulog niya. I had enough time to reach for my cellphone. Bumagsak ako sa upuan at bumunot ng malalim na hininga.

Who would have thought my body would finally cooperate this soon?

Nang buksan ko ang phone, sunud-sunod na messages at missed calls ang pumasok. Ewan ko ba kung bakit nakaramdam ako ng kaba. No one really tries to contact me but Tatay Arnold.

I read Archer's text first.

Savanna, bakit kasama mo si Lukas? I cancelled my flight. Please, sumagot ka sa mga tawag ko para malaman kong okay ka.

And indeed, ang dami nga niyang iniwang missed calls.

Binabaliw mo ko Savanna. Kung saan man kayo ngayon, umuwi ka na please. That guy is dangerous. I promised the dean I won't tell anyone but Lukas killed his brother at kapag may ginawang kung ano yang gagong yan sayo makakapatay talaga ako.

My heart drummed against my rib cage. I slowly turned to face Lukas. What the fuck is Archer talking about?

Why oh why of all people e ang psychopath pa na yan ang kasama mo. He's crazy. STAY AWAY FROM HIM. He's a guy with a 130 IQ but he's freaking crazy!

And another message. I shouldn't have let him anywhere near you. I'm sorry. Please reply. Asap.

I had to close the phone from all these info. Hindi ko na kailangang basahin pa ang ibang messages para malaman na may problema nga rito sa lalaking katabi ko ngayon.

Pinatay niya ang kapatid niya? Bakit?

He looked so innocent, with his long lashes resting on his cheeks and his lips slightly parted. I would never have guessed this is how the adventure would end. With a murder confession.

But part of me was nagging at myself. Of course you knew it would come to this. Wala ka naman talagang mapagkakatiwalaan, 'di ba? Kahit nga sarili mo, pwede kang linlangin.

Para mas lalo pang torture-in ang sarili ko, muli kong binuksan ang phone. It was only then that I noticed a message from Hope.

Your dad needs you.