How To Train A Wolf Boy

22 Bang!

I stared down at the brown envelope lying unopened. Bigla ako nakaramdam ng hilo kakabasa ng paulit-ulit sa mga letrang nakasulat sa likuran ng envelope.

To: Antlia D. Garcia

From: Frenancia L. Garcia ㅡ si Lola.

Today's my Lola's funeral and I refuse to come. I want our last meeting to remain as a happy memory.

It will stay as that. Where she bid her goodbye while ruffling Moks' styled hair as she pats his back to get on the car. Her genuine smile before closing the door, waving at the tinted windows of our car as Papa drove off. I want this as my last memory of her. Not the one where I'll be seeing her in a box, wearing white.

Sinong mag-aakalang iyon na pala ang last meeting namin.

Hindi ako umiyak at hindi rin ako naiiyak. I just feel like I lost something but couldn't remember what was it. Kung meron man akong dapat maramdaman ngayon, it's probably I feel offended. I feel offended dahil hindi siya nagsalita, I feel offended dahil umalis nalang siya ng ganun. I didn't even get a chance to know her well. I'm offended by the fact that she let the dementia take over her. Let it take over her life.

At ano itong envelope na 'to? Pamana niya sa akin over knowing that the cause of her death is suicide? Wow lola, well planned na well planned. I can't even put my words into it.

Bubuksan ko na sana ang envelope nang tumunog ang fone ko indicating I got a text.

[iMessage]

Annoying Reb

Janus is missing! He escaped!

And then there's another pop.

Lia, where are you?! Kanina pa kita hinahanap dito. 'Di ko naman makausap sila Tito at Tita because they're busy with the guests

Another pop.

Please reply asap!

My breath hitched while reading the continuous pop of messages. I typed back immediately.

I'm home with Moks! How did you know about his escape?

*pop*

On twitter! It's on the news apparently! Stay safe Lia, baka puntahan ka. Pumunta ka na kaya dito?

I can feel Reb's concern kahit na text lang siya. Instead of replying, I opted calling.

"Lia! Punta ka na dito!" Reb instantly shrieked at the other line. I had to distance my fone kasi ayoko duguin ng eardrum.

"Reb! Aatakihin ako ng panic sayo, wag ka ngang ganyan!" I said as I trudge down the stairs. "I don't want to attend the funeral." Sabi ko habang nila-lock ang front door. Tumingin ako sa paligid, napaparanoid ako.

"Hey, I'll call you later. I need to do something lang."

"Liaㅡ"

I ended the call and quickly checked if all our windows are securely locked. I also closed the curtains. Feeling ko kasi may nakamasid na sa akin. Right when I turned around, napahawak ako sa puso jusko!

"Ano ba Moks! Nagulat ako sayo!" Nahampas ko siya sa sobrang pagkagulat. "Umupo ka nga lang d'yan at iche-check ko ang backdoor." Sumunod naman ito at naupo sa sala.

Bumalik din ako agad nang ma-check ko lahat ng pwedeng pasukan ng tao. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Moks at huminga ng malalim. Okey lang ako. Okey lang ako. I raised both of my hands and hindi talaga ako okey shit. My hands are trembling and I can't stop it.