Wrong Move

Wrong Move 9

Wrong Move 9

***

I think it was exactly 10 o' clock in the moring when I decided to leave the house para bumili ng regalo kay Shou. This time, I'm quite proud of myself dahil hindi ako nagsinungaling kay Mama. I really told her na bibili ako ng regalo para kay Shou at isasabay ko na rin yung pagbili ng regalo kay Maki. Pinayagan naman nya agad ako dahil taun-taon na namin ritual yun, ang magbigayan ng regalo every Christmas na I'm sure ritual din ng lahat.

Today is also the day na bibisitahin ko si Ian at sasabihin sa kanya ang totoo. I haven't contacted him since yesterday kahit nagtetext sya sakin at nangangamusta. Nag-kwento pa sya na mae-extend daw yung stay nya sa ospital because the doctor wants to do more tests on his leg. At first, nag-alala na naman ako pero nawala rin lahat yun nang sundan nya pa ulit ng isang message saying it was his Mom's request. Masyado raw kasing health conscious ang Mom nya at gusto raw lahat ay well-examined so there's nothing I should worry about. Isa pa, fourth time na raw yun since he was confined na mag-undergo sya ng test for his leg. Pare-pareho lang naman daw palagi yung result which is, he's very much okay raw. Alam nya sigurong mag-aalala ako kaya sinundan nya ng ganung message which honestly, wiped all my sudden worries away. And well, on this part pala, I can't totally say na nagsinungaling ako kay Mama. I just didn't mention that other than buying gifts, I have other plans pa.

"Ano kayang magandang regalo para sa lalaking yun?" I asked myself out loud habang isa-isang tinitignan yung mga shirt na naka-display. Will Shou like shirts? Won't it be too simple? Ugh.

After scanning every shirt, I ended-up leaving that section. I don't think a shirt would be enough. Isa pa, parang I don't feel like giving him one. Lumipat ako sa pants section, I even went to the belt and footwear section pero wala pa rin akong mapili. I just sighed in my mind. Taun-taon ko na lang din 'tong dilemma everytime na magpapasko or even kapag malapit na ang birthday nya. Hirap na hirap akong maghanap ng regalo para sa kanya. Ugh.

I was thinking of what to give him nang mapadpad yung tingin ko sa cap section. There was this black cool cap na I can't define, basta it's cool and I really think it'll look great on Shou. Kaagad na lumapit ako dun sa cap to check it carefully. "This one will really suit him." I said while smiling. Kumuha ako ng isa and went to the cashier.

Nasa pila na ako nun at dahil malapit na magpasko, medyo may kahabaan yung pila so I still have to wait before I get my turn to pay. Okay lang naman sakin since hindi ako masyado nagmamadali. While my eyes were wandering around the Mall, nakita ko yung dalawang kaibigan ni Ian na dumalaw noon sa kanya sa ospital. They're heading to where I'm standing at mukhang magbabayad din sila ng mga binili nila. Mukha naman hindi nila napansin na nakapila ako dahil nag-uusap sila habang naglalakad. I kept looking at them with the hopes that they will see me pero wala pa rin, and even when they were already standing behind me, hindi pa rin nila ako napansin. Siguro nakalimutan na nila ako? I asked to myself. Balak ko pa naman sanang mag-hello pero wag na lang. Ugh.

To be honest, I'm kinda disappointed and annoyed dahil hindi man lang nila ako nakilala. Imposible naman na nakalimutan agad nila ako dahil kailan lang kami nagkita. Just when I thought of being friendly, tsaka pa nangyari ang ganito. Ugh. They were too busy on their little chit-chat na syempre, normal lang na marinig ko dahil nasa likuran ko lang sila when suddenly, they talked about Ian's situation. I know I'm not at the right place to eavesdrop, I wasn't even giving too much attention dun sa mga naunang usapan nila pero nung marinig ko yung pangalan ni Ian, automatic na nag-on yung chismosa side ko.

"But man, I really pity Ian."

"I know. Everyone who knows him feels sad for him."

"Yeah, what happened will definitely have a huge impact in his life."