RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN (Completed)

CHAPTER 17: WE CAN DO IT

Chapter 17: We Can Do It

Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ko ang bahagya pang umuusok na abo sa mesa. I really can’t believe it. A bomb was just dropped in front of me. Inisip ko kung bakit kailangang magself-destruct ng memory card na iniwan ni Papa to the point na kailangang maging abo pa iyon. The answer I get in my mind is that not to leave trail for me or anyone who wanted to follow him. The things he told me are highly confidential at hindi ko alam kung ano ang pwede kong gawin dahil sa lahat ng mga nalalaman ko.

I wanted to shout in elation dahil sa nalaman na buhay si Gon. Unang pumasok sa isipan ko si Nikon pero bakit kailangan pa niyang magpanggap? Is it their plan? Kung plano man nila, why not inform us?

Lumabas ako ng bahay at pumunta sa kapitbahay. Gusto kong makita si Stella and after what happened, I haven’t heard about her. Nakauwi na kaya siya? Ayos lang ba siya?

Nagtanong-tanong ako sa kapitbahay ngunit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin si Stella. I was worried about her. Dumagdag pa talaga ang pagkabaliw ni Moran. Mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay natatanaw ko ang mga Capital buses na inihanda para sunduin ang mga matatandang papatayin at ng kanilang mga pamilya. I mumbled a curse under my breath. This is not right. Definitely not right!

Tama. I need to settle some things first before this. Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa at bumalik sa istasyon ng tren. I need to see three people. Hilary, Jean-Claude and Trench. Alam kong mahirap hanapin ang naunang dalawa kaya si Trench ang una kong pinuntahan. After few hours of travel from 3rd Ward to 1st ward ay nakarating na ako sa Academy.

Parang ghost town ang academy dahil sa tahimik ng paligid. It was because of the absence of the students. It’s a little bit eerie but I brushed off the feeling at tumakbo patungo sa District 9 dormitory. I didn’t bother to knock dahil hindi naman nakasarado ang pinto. The receiving area is clear but I know someone is inside the room.

“Mariano!” I called out. I can go upstairs and open the door but I prefer not to. Paano kung may ginagawa siya habang nanunuod ng -- err-- basta. Uh, this is Pentagon’s fault for instilling such thought on my mind. Puto! Or paano kung nagbibihis siya? Okay, I’m hungry but I want real food. Hindi lang basta ulam.

Hindi ko na kailangang tawagin ulit ang pangalan niya dahil bumukas ang isang pinto at lumabas si Trench mula roon. His hair was bed-made na para bang may sumabunot sa kanya. His eyes were a little chinky-- eh? Tulog ba siya? Did I wake him up? He rubbed his eyes before he stepped out of the room.

And holy mother of all puto.

Nakasuot siya ng itim na sando, displaying his flexed arms. Puto, sa mga pagkakataong ito, nagiging thankful ako sa extensive training na ibinibigay sa amin ni Armstrong! I mentally spanked myself for thinking such. Siomai, this is not the time to think about this!

“You’re here,” wika ni Trench nang makababa siya sa hagdan. He still rubbed his eyes and tried to stay awake. It’s a statement than a question but I still nodded as an answer.

“May sasabihin akong importante,” wika ko. His sleepy gesture is a bit distracting kaya pusangina niya marupok ako. “Could you first wake yourself up first?”

Nagtataka siya sa sinabi ko ngunit gayunpaman ay tumango siya. Akala ko ay babalik siya sa kwarto niya at maghihilamos ngunit sa halip ay naupo siya sa sofa na naroon at sumandal. He closed his eyes firmly and for a while, he was a different Trench Mariano. He looked so peaceful with his eyes pressed close.

Trench is still a mystery to me me but one thing is for sure. He values people important to him more than himself. Nakatitig lang ako sa mukha niya at nag-isip ng maraming bagay tungkol sa kanya. Dapat ay nagtatatalak na ako ngayon, I told him to wake himself, not to sleep. But I didn’t do so. Nakatayo lamang ako at nakatitig sa mukha niya.